Smiler's Miscellany: Part Seven

My photo of a selection of cards from my new beloved Postcards from Puffin collection. It'll be hard parting with any to actually put them in the mailbox!



Currently reading, listening to,
and slowly browsing through:
Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 by Carol Squiers
The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson by David P. Silcox
Amsterdam Stories by Nescio
Selected Poems by Carol Ann Duffy
♫ Muriel Spark: The Complete Short Stories
♫ The Crazy Kill by Chester Himes
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer

            




Favourites of 2012 (4.5 and up)
On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry
Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd
L'Assommoir by Émile Zola
Études de Femmes by Honoré de Balzac
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes
Troubles by J. G. Farrell




12/12 Challenge
1. The First Half 1901-1951 6/12
2. Tea with Georgie, Vickie & Eddie - 18th & 19th Century Classics 5/12
3. Picked for me - chosen from my shelves at random by LTers 3/12
4. Guardian Knows Best - Guardian 1000 6/12
5. The Dark Side - Crime & Mystery 6/12
6. Going Places - International authors & places 4/12
7. Young at Heart - Children/YA/Fantasy 7/12
8. Hot Off the Press - Published since 2011 4/12
9. Visual Treats - books on art, photography, design, or just beautiful books 2/12
10. Beyond Fiction - non-fiction 6/12
11. Litérature Française - read in French 2/12
12. From My Treasure-Trove - off the shelf (acquired before 31/12/11) 4/12
Total read: 55/144

Books completed in April
48. ♫ Death and Judgment by Donna Leon ★★★½ (review)
49. The Last Song by Eva Wiseman ★★★★ (review)
50. ♫ Letter from an Unknown Woman by Stefan Zweig ★★★★½ (review)
51. ♫ Fear by Stefan Zweig ★★★★½ (review)
52. A Murder of Quality by John Le Carré ★★★★ (review)
53. Call for the Dead by John le Carré ★★★½ (review)
54. The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin by Peter Sís (review)
55. ♫ David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (review)
56. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler ★★★★ (review)
57. ♫ The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller ★★★★⅓ (review)
58. My Letter to the World and Other Poems by Emily Dickinson, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault ★★★★★ (review)
59. Selected Poems by Roger McGough ★★★¾ (review)
60. ♫ The Great Poets: W. B. Yeats ★★★½ (review)
61. ♫ Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman Stefan Zweig ★★★★½ (review)
62. Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei by Peter Sis ★★★★ (review)
63. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck ★★★★⅓ (review)
64. ♫ Running Blind / The Visitor by Lee Child ★★★★ (review)
65. ♫ The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le Carré ★★★⅓ (review)
66. ♫ The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark ★★½ (review)
67. ♫ Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper ★★★★ (review)
68. The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger ★★★½ (review)
69. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (rating & review coming soon)

Books completed in May
70. ♫ The Ballad of Peckham Rye by Muriel Spark (rating & review coming soon)
71. Queenpin by Megan Abbott (rating & review coming soon)
72. The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye (rating & review coming soon)



My rating system:
★ - hated it (may or may not have finished it but listing it for the trouble)
★★ - it was just ok
★★★ - enjoyed it (good)
★★★★ - loved it! (very good)
★★★★★ - all-time favourite (blew me away—will read again)

⅛ ¼ ⅓ ½ ¾ ⅞

♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf
☀ = TIOLI

Suggested reads for April

✔ The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (12/12 GR)
♫ David Copperfield (75ers GR)
The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
✔ Call for the Dead by John le Carré
✔ The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger
✔ The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
♫ Fear by Stefan Zweig
♫ Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman Stefan Zweig
♫ The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
❉ Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei by Peter Sís
❉ The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin by Peter Sís
❉ Tibet Through the Red Box by Peter Sís
❉ Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, illustrated by Maira Kalman


Suggested reads for May

✔ The Worst Hard Time (to coincide with Steinbeckathon)
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (12/12 GR)
A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor (Virago Modern Classics GR)
♫ Persuasion by Jane Austen (Tutored by Liz)
✔ The Glass Room by Simon Mawer (12/12 Picked for Me)
The Observations by Jane Harris
❉ Tibet Through the Red Box by Peter Sís

May Murder & Mayhem options:
♫ When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
♫ Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri
♫ The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
♫ The Crazy Kill by Chester Himes
✔ Acqua Alta by Donna Leon
✔ Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
✔ Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey
✔ Queenpin by Megan Abbott

♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf
❉ = library
℮ = eBook
☛ = TIOLI

2012 Planning

Steinbeckathon:
January: Cannery Row (208*) - Ilana/Smiler69**
February: The Wayward Bus (288) - Mark/msf59
March: The Winter of Our Discontent (304) - Lynda/Carmenere
April: The Moon is Down (112) - Linda/lindapanzo
May: The Grapes of Wrath (496) - Ellen/EBT1002
June: Of Mice and Men (112) - Brit/weejane
July: East of Eden (640) - Ellen
August: The Red Pony (112) - Ilana
September: In Dubious Battle (384) - Mark
October: Tortilla Flat (224) - Tania/wookiebender
November: Travels With Charley and The Pearl (256 + 96) - Ilana
December: Sweet Thursday (288) - Mark

* approximate # of pages
** names indicate who will be heading up the threads.

Anyone is welcome to join in at any point, for as many or as few books as is desired.


Group Reads
January: Orange January, The Secret River by Kate Grenville (75ers), Cannery Row by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
February: Fantasy February, The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
March: Christine Falls by Benjamin Black, The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (12/12), The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
April: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (12/12), David Copperfield (75ers), The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
May: May Murder & Mayhem, Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (12/12), A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor (Virago Modern Classics), Persuasion by Jane Austen (Tutored)
June: River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh (75ers), Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (12/12, tutored read), Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
July: East of Eden by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon), Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks (12/12), Angel by Elizabeth Taylor (Virago Modern Classics)
August: The Red Pony by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon), Middlemarch by George Eliot (12/12)
September: In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon), Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams (12/12)
October: Blindness by José Saramago (12/12), Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
November: Travels With Charley and The Pearl by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
December: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)


Books my fellow LT pals picked from my shelves for 12/12:
Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood - Picked by MickyFine
Études de Femmes by Honoré de Balzac - Picked by bucket yell
The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger - Picked by msf59
Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Branddon - Picked by avatiakh
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carré - Picked by casvelyn
Arabian Nights: Four Tales from a Thousand and One Nights by Marc Chagall - Picked by Donna828
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Picked by DragonFreak
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver - Picked by calm
No Great Mischief by Alasdair MacLeod - Picked by KiwiNyx
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer - Picked by DeltaQueen50
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk - Picked by Deern
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende - Picked by LauraBrook
Blindness by José Saramago - Picked by Whisper1
Caravan of Dreams of Idries Shah - Picked by PiyushChourasia
The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) by Jonathan Stroud - Picked by -Eva-
Candide by Voltaire - Picked by Fourpawz2
Native Son by Richard Wright - Picked by EBT1002
Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman - Picked by bohemima

Books Read in 2012:

January
1. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
2. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett ★★★★ (review) ☀
3. ♫ Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson ★★★ (review) ☀
4. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi ★★★¾ (review) ☀
5. ♫ Fight Club by Chuck Palaniukh ★★★½ (review) ☀
6. The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary by Reading Is Fundamental ★★★★ (review)
7. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
8. ♫ To Fear a Painted Devil by Ruth Rendell ★★★⅓ (review) ☀
9. No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey ★★★¾ (review) ☀
10. ♫ Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick ★★★★ (review) ☀
11. From the Mouth of the Whale by Sjón ★★★ (review) ☀
12. ♫ On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry ★★★★½ (review) ☀
13. ♫ The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo ★★★ (review) ☀
14. ♫ Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
15. ♫ Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd ★★★★½ (review) ☀
16. Paris: Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bijkerk ★★★★ (review) ☀
Madlenka's Dog by Peter Sís ★★★★ (review)
Madlenka Soccer Star by Peter Sís ★★★ (comments)
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney ★★★★ (comments)
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say ★★★½ (comments)
17. ♫ The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West ★★★⅞ (review)

Unfinished
♫ Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
♫ Soulless by Gail Carriger

February
18. L'Assommoir by Émile Zola ★★★★½ (review) ☀
19. ♫ The Quiet American by Graham Greene ★★★ (review) ☀
20. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole ★★★★ (review) ☀
21. ♫ The Difference Engine by William Gibson ★★½ (review) ☀
22. The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
23. ♫ Rebeccaby Daphne du Maurier ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
24. Drawing from Memory by Allen Say ★★★ (review) ☀
25. The Secret River by Kate Grenville ★★★★ (review) ☀
26. Le vieux chagrin by Jacques Poulin ★½ (review) ☀
27. The Seeing Stone by Holly Black, illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi ★★★⅞ (review) ☀
28. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís ★★★★ (review)
29. ♫ Doomsday Book by Connie Willis ★★★ (review) ☀
30. ♫ Études de Femmes by Honoré de Balzac ★★★★½ (review) ☀
31. ♫ The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark ★★★¾ (review) ☀
32. ♫ The City & The City by China Miéville ★★★★ (review) ☀

March
33. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh ★★★★½ (review) ☀
34. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman ★★★★ (review) ☀
35. On Cats by Doris Lessing ★★★★ (review) ☀
36. ♫ Dracula by Bram Stoker ★★★★ (review) ☀
37. The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck ★★★ (review) ☀
38. ♫ The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins ★★★★½ (review) ☀
39. ♫ Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen ★★★★⅛ (review) ☀
40. The Dream Stealer by Sid Fleischman, Illustrated by Peter Sís ★★★★ (review)
13 Words by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Maira Kalman ★★★★ (review)
41. ♫ This Sceptred Isle Vol 3: The Black Prince to Henry VIII 1327-1547 by Christopher Lee ★★★★ (review)
42. ♫ A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes ★★★★½ (review)
43. Troubles by J. G. Farrell ★★★★½ (review)
44. ♫ Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon ★★★★⅓ (review)
45. ♫ Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley ★★★★⅓ (review)
46. ♫ The Thief by Fuminori Nakamura ★★★ (review)
47. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi ★★★⅞ (review)



Books with touchstones are rated 4.5 and up.

Books I'd like to read in 2012 (ambitious list, as always)

✔ Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
✔ The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
✔ The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
✔ Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
✔ East of Eden by John Steinbeck
✔ The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
✔ Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck
Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck
✔ Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
✔ The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
✔ The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
♫ David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
✔ Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
✔ A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor
✔ Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
✔ Angel by Elizabeth Taylor
✔ Blindness by José Saramago
✔ Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood
✔ ♫ Études de Femmes by Honoré de Balzac
✔ The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger
✔ ♫ Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Branddon
✔ Arabian Nights: Four Tales from a Thousand and One Nights by Marc Chagall
✔ Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
✔ The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
✔ No Great Mischief by Alasdair MacLeod
✔ The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
✔ ♫ Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
✔ Le Grand livre de la tendresse by Jacques Salomé -unfinished
✔ Caravan of Dreams of Idries Shah
✔ The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
✔ Candide by Voltaire
✔ Native Son by Richard Wright
✔ Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
❉ Une page d'amour by Émile Zola
✔ Nana by Émile Zola
✔ Pot-Bouille by Émile Zola
❉ Au Bonheur des Dames by Émile Zola
❉ La joie de vivre by Émile Zola
❉ Old Filth by Jane Gardam
✔ Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
✔ The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
✔ Living Well is the Best Revenge by Calvin Tomkins
✔ Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
✔ Troubles by J. G. Farrell
✔ A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes
✔ A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
✔ Queenpin by Megan Abbott
✔ ♫ Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
✔ ♫ Persuasion by Jane Austen
✔ Timbuktu by Paul Auster
✔ Moon Palace by Paul Auster
✔ Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
✔ Jamrach's Menagerie Carol Birch
✔ The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
✔ Angels & Insects by A. S. Byatt
✔ Possession by A. S. Byatt
✔ Call for the Dead by John le Carré
✔ A Murder of Quality by John le Carré
✔ ♫ The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carré
✔ The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
✔ ♫ Running Blind by Lee Child
✔ ♫ A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
✔ The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
✔ The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble
✔ Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
✔ Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
✔ Atonement by Ian McEwan
✔ Music & Silence by Rose Tremain
✔ The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
✔ ♫ Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
♫ 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf
❉ = library
℮ = eBook

Books Acquired in 2012




January
1. ♫ Persuasion by Jane Austen (Au)
2. ♫ Just Kids by Patti Smith (Au)
3. A Murder of Quality and Call for the Dead by John le Carré (CI) - Read in April
4. ♫ Soulless by Gail Carriger (Au) - Unfinished
5. The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck (BD) - Read in February
6. An Ermine of Czernopol by Gregor von Rezzori (BD)
7. A Russian Journal by John Steinbeck and Cornell Cappa (BD)
8. The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey (BD)

February
9. The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck (BD) - Read in March
10. ♫ Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Au) - Read in February
11. ♫ Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds (Au)
12. At Large and at Small — Confessions of a Literary Hedonist by Anne Fadiman (CI)
13. Emma by Jane Austen (White's Fine Edition) (BD)
14. Hella Jongerius: Misfit by Louise Schouwenberg (CI)
15. The Bay of Angels by Anita Brookner (BWB)
16. Leaving Home by Anita Brookner (BWB)
17. ♫ This Sceptred Isle Vol 1 by Christopher Lee (Au) - Read in February
18. ♫ Dracula by Bram Stoker (Au) - Read in March
19. ♫ This Sceptred Isle Vol 2 by Christopher Lee (Au) - Read
20. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (White's Fine Edition) (BD)
21. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (White's Fine Edition) (CI)
22. Emma by Jane Austen (Penguin Threads) (BD)
23. The Secret Garden (Penguin Threads) (BD)
24. Black Beauty (Penguin Threads) (BD)
25. The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck (BD)
26. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (BD)
27. ♫ Bleak House by Charles Dickens (Au)
28. ♫ The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh (Au)
29. ♫ 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (Au)
30. ♫ Middlemarch by George Eliot (Au)
31. ♫ The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (Au) - Read in March

March
32. ♫ Out of Africa by Karen Blixen (Au)
33. ♫ The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (Au) - Read in April
34. ♫ Muriel Spark: The Complete Short Stories (Au)
35. ♫ Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey
36. ♫ This Sceptred Isle, Volume 3: 1327-1547 by Christopher Lee (Au) - Read in March
37. ♫ Elizabeth I by Margaret George (Au)
38. ♫ I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (Au)
39. ♫ Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (Au)
40. ♫ The Once and Future King by T. H. White (Au)
41. ♫ The Great Poets: W. B. Yeats by W. B. Yeats (Au) - Read in April
42. ♫ A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes (Au) - Read in March
43. ♫ The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Au)
44. ♫ The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye (Au)
45. ♫ The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Au) - Read in April
46. ♫ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Au)
47. ♫ The Thief by Fuminori Nakamura (Au) - Read in March
48. ♫ The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll (Au)
49. ♫ Pavane by Keith Roberts (Au)
50. ♫ Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson (Au)
51. ♫ A Burnt-Out Case by Gramam Greene (Au)
52. ♫ Death and Judgment by Donna Leon (Au) - Read in April
53. ♫ The Crazy Kill by Chester Himes (Au)
54. ♫ An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo (Au)
55. ♫ The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats compiled by John Kavanagh (Au)
56. ♫ Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (Au)
57. ♫ This Sceptred Isle Vol 4: Elizabeth I to Cromwell 1547-1660 by Christopher Lee (Au)
58. ♫ This Sceptred Isle Vol 5: Restoration and Glorious Revolution 1660-1702 by Christopher Lee (Au)

April
59. ♫ David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (Au) - Read in April
60. Paul Klee: Selected by Genius, 1917-1933 (CI)
61. The Siege of Krishnapur by J. G. Farrell (BD)
62. Amsterdam Stories by Nescio (BD)
63. ♫ Life by Keith Richards
64. ♫ The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
65. ♫ Birds of a Feather Jackeline Winspear
66. ♫ White Butterfly: An Easy Rawlins Mystery by Walter Mosley
67. The Observations by Jane Harris
68. Gillespie and I by Jane Harris
69. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (pre-order)
70. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., Illustrated by Maira Kalman
71. Karl Blossfeldt by Hans Christian Adam
72. Selected Poems by T. S. Eliot
73. Selected Poems by W. H. Auden
74. Selected Poems by W. B. Yeats
75. Selected Poems by John Betjeman
76. Great Fashion Designs of the Fifties Paper Dolls by Tom Tierney

May
77. Great Fashion Designs of the Forties by Tom Tierney
78. Classic Fashions of Christian Dior by Tom Tierney
79. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

Au = Audible
BD = BookDepository
CI = ChaptersIndigo
BWB = Better World Books




Books Read from My Shelves in 2012




January
1. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (entry date: 2011-09-09)
2. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (entry date: 2008-12-16)
3. ♫ Fight Club by Chuck Palaniukh (entry date: 2011-03-09)
4. ♫ Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (entry date: 2011-09-18)
5. Paris: Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bijkerk (entry date: 2009-05-20)

February
6. L'Assommoir by Émile Zola (entry date: 2010-10-15)
7. ♫ The Difference Engine by William Gibson (entry date: 2011-06-11)
8. ♫ The Quiet American by Graham Greene (entry date: 2011-10-30)
9. ♫ Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (entry date: 2011-06-16)
10. The Secret River by Kate Grenville (entry date: 2009-05-26)
11. ♫ Études de Femmes by Honoré de Balzac (entry date: 2011-06-23)
12. ♫ The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark (entry date: 2011-03-30)

March
13. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh (entry date: 2008-11-12)
14. Troubles by J. G. Farrell (entry date: 2011-09-14)
15. ♫ Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon (entry date: 2011-02-18)
16. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (entry date: 2011-01-13)

April
17. ♫ The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le Carré (entry date: 2011-03-12)
18. The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger (entry date: 2010-08-26)
19. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (entry date: 2010-10-12)

May
20. Queenpin by Megan Abbott (entry date: 2011-05-05)

Hello Ilana,
Up top are your postcards are they not? What a lovely colourful image to start off with! Congrats on new thread.

Hi Ilana, haven't read all the posts in the old thread yet, but thought I could say 'Hi' here already. My parents are leaving this afternoon and then I'll dedicate some hours to LT.

Hi Ilana- Nice colorful new thread! Lucky 7. I only have less than a 100 pages left in DC, should finish today. Have a great weekend.

Good heavens, Ilana!
The beginnings of your threads always blow me away!
You are so organized and creative - I can't stand it...
Love the postcards!
And, someday I will go back and read all the book titles and ratings you have so beautifully posted. Gah...

So you were a hard working lady last night! What did you have for a midnight snack?

I'm currently reading The Moon is Down... and thankfully it is short so I can finish it in the month intended! geesh!
Have a great Saturday!

Hi Ilana. I love the Puffin postcards and I also enjoyed your reviews of the first two George Smiley books. My husband is a big fan of the George Smiley series and I've been meaning to try one for a while, especially after I enjoyed the recent film of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Did you know le Carre was an intelligence officer for MI5 and MI6 himself?

Those Alice in Wonderland tattoos were a real work of art and I loved all the other Alice illustrations you collected on your blog. The edition of Alice in Wonderland that I read as a child had the Tenniel illustrations so, for me, those are always going to be my favourites.

Sorry to hear about the frustrations with your dad and computer issues.

Love the passel of book postcards at the top, Ilana! Hope you're enjoying David Copperfield, and having a good weekend.

OK, now I want those postcards - how lovely! Congrats on you new thread! You make me want to read le Carre - I have only read one of his books, but I loved it - The Constant Gardener; it is not one of the Smiley books. I have The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but think I would want to start at the beginning. I love all of you stats and lists up above, but especially like the list of books you's LIKE to read this year - great idea; I may have to borrow that.

*edited to fix the touchstone

Those postcards look very cool.

Ilana I think a stamp of approval is required for the postcards and I send you a message on anyone of them wishing you heartiest congratulations on thread part 7!

Hi everyone! Welcome to my new 'home' for the next month or so, though you would all me a great favour to keep posting as much as possible in the next couple of weeks so I can start the next thread with the new month... otherwise I'll have to resort to strange tactics to up my post count!

Today has been very slow. I ended up spending part of the evening in a shopping mall (of all places) last night. Not my favourite sort of place to be and this one is particularly monstrous in size. I was going there to accompany a friend on an errand and we both were very hungry, so as I had a craving for a burger and fries, indulged in that guilt-free, since I almost never have junk food. Polished off my fries and everything. Should have known better though, because I then felt sick all night long, so ended up sleeping the day away. It was a really good burger all the same though.

Finished David Copperfield last night. I think other than A Christmas Carol, it was my favourite CD novel so far (the other two read until now being Oliver Twist and Great Expectations).

Have now started listening to The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Am 6 or 7 chapters in and thoroughly hooked.

I have mixed feelings about Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, and should probably have just returned it to the library with other books I brought back today since it's due tomorrow, but I've somehow made up my mind to finish it, even if it means returning it late. I couldn't renew it since it's a new book and already on reserve. I very rarely return anything late, so not feeling too guilty about it, though I'll probably spend the rest of the evening reading so I can make serious progress on it. If anything, I want to make some headway on this month's reading goals.

#8 Hi Megan, those are indeed my recently acquired postcards. I took a bunch of pictures of them the night before last especially so I could post them here and probably on my blog too. I might even go as far as actually sending a few in the mail, though on the whole I like them to much to part with them!

#9 Hi Nathalie, I'm sure with your parents gone you'll also want to dedicate some time to your reading...

#10 Hi Mark, David Copperfield ended as I had wished and predicted it would. If only real life were as convenient! It was a great read and I'm glad your spurred us all to pick it up. Even though I didn't participate much in the discussion, I'm certainly glad I made room for it this month.

#11 Hi Claudia. I'm not as organized as I seem, I assure you. I just spend a little time organizing each section one at a time, and then keep pasting them onto my successive threads is all! Though it does give me a certain sense of control which is quite gratifying! Haven't started on The Moon is Down yet. Don't feel in a great rush to get to it for some reason, but I will make room for it this month to be sure.

#12 Heather, I found out that Le Carré had worked for the Secret Service when I looked him up recently to get a bit of background information on the series. I guess that's one of the reasons he was prompted to create in Smiley a spy character who was more based in reality than in fantasy.

I've always love the Sir John Tenniel Alice illustrations too of course, though have to admit to being quite partial to those by Arthur Rackham as well, which I only discovered a few years ago as I was putting that blog post together. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a nice edition with those.

#13 Thanks Joe, the weekend is almost half over and I haven't yet started taking advantage of it, but I'm not allowed to complain as every day of the week is pretty much the same for me!

#14 Mamie, much like you, I got The Spy Who Came in from the Cold first somehow, but then ended up getting the two first books so I could read them in order. Which made me doubly annoyed with Penguin Canada for then publishing the first two novels out of sequence in the omnibus edition I got. But I'll live. I've also just added The Constant Gardener to my wishlist (weird, the touchstone points to the movie version first), as saw the movie a when it came out, not even realizing it was based on a novel. It would have made more sense to me had I read the book first no doubt.

#15 I agree Chelle, I've spent quite a lot of time poring over them already.

#16 You have such a way with words Paul! Always impressive. By the way, I should thank you for recommending Roger McGough when I had posted the Penguin Poetry collection with covers illustrated by Petra Börner. I've been reading a couple of poem a day from that book for the past while and am nearing the end. It's been a very enjoyable and interesting experience. I also have Tony Harrison from the collection, whom you'd also recommended, and got Carol Ann Duffy too, who'll probably be next in rotation.

I fixed the touchstone in my post - thanks for pointing that out, as I didn't even think to check it. I have not seen the movie version because I liked the book so much - I'm funny that way sometimes with not wanting someone else's vision of a book to interfere with mine.

I will post away every time that I visit to help you reach your "thread goal" for the month!!

I love the fact that a new generation are rediscovering Le Carré though does make me feel a tad old....

you might also look up Charles Cumming .....

Ilana - hope you are having a lovely weekend my dear and appreciate greatly your appreciativeness! So pleased to see you with McGough and Harrison. I really like reading poetry that I can understand and a shared background with Harrison in particular (he's from Leeds) helps. For this reason writers like Larkin and Betjeman are favourites. For absolute lyricism and beauty of language I would take Dylan Thomas everyday.

I just finished The Song of Achilles and absolutely loved it! Glad to hear you're enjoying it so far. Mine was a library copy but I wish now that I'd bought my own.

Just stopping by to say "Hi!" to my favorite Canadian artist! ;-)

Hope you have a good Sunday -
laundry day for me today to wash sheets/towels (that were used once - last night) to greet new company for tomorrow. *heavy sigh*

Slept half the day away again today. It wouldn't matter really, except for the fact that there's an huge exhibit of works on paper (photographs, drawings, prints, watercolours, etc) I really want to spend some time visiting today before they take it down. Will make my way there shortly after breakfast of coffee and apple crisp (yes, more apple crisp). I'd really like to get this sleep thing sorted out, but it seems to be a huge stumbling block. Can't seem to get myself to bed early, and then can't seem to be able to get by on just a normal eight-hours sleep. Rome wasn't conquered in a day though...

Last night, was busy into the wee hours posting a few things on my blogs, a poem by W. B. Yeats, and some artwork: http://fromsmilerwithlove.com/

Lovely Yeats poem and cool artwork, Ilana.

Glad you liked David Copperfield, and your reaction gives me further encouragement to read The Song of Achilles.

I like the idea of a week that is like the weekend. I'm going to try to get in that frame of mind. :-)

#20 Mamie, there's all kinds of funny stuff that goes on with the touchstones. Half the time they don't point to the work that's best known and refer to an obscure book by the same title instead. But it's the first time I see a touchstone point to a movie version instead of a book! I don't always double-check, but I'm becoming more vigilant now they've ceased being reliable. I think I understand what you mean in terms of not wanting your vision interfered with, though I've been surprised and delighted sometimes to find a movie better than what I could have imagined. But maybe that's just because I don't have all that much imagination!

Thanks for helping toward my thread goals! :-)

#21 Alex, I haven't delved into spy novels at all, so have yet to find out if it's a genre I like. Though of course, great writers have the ability to make us like their books regardless of whether we're into a specific genre or not. I don't know Charles Cumming yet, though I see he's a mere child... just two years younger than me! ;-)

#22 Ah, Dylan Thomas. Another poet I've yet to discover, though I did listen to him reading A Child's Christmas in Wales when it came recommended on TIOLI last December. Reading through McGough, I find a lot to appreciate, though I can see how one would have a clear advantage and greater appreciation for local references and lingo.

#23 Heather, The Song of Achilles is a very good yarn indeed. I just got to the part about the centaur. Very amusing. If the part about Achilles being the son of a goddess didn't qualify this story as fantasy, then this certainly does!

#24 Hi Claudia! Don't forget to make time for some fun stuff too... you'll enjoy your company better for it. They're no doubt coming over to visit your new bathroom! Will have to make my way to your thread soon to see what that's about. Right now, I'm off to walk Coco before I abandon him to his crate so mommy can go look at work by other Canadian artists. ;-)

Hi Joe! Sorry I missed your message. I'm new to Yeats, as you saw, but I'll try to make up for it in future. Thanks for visiting my blogs! I came by the seven-day weekend in a way you probably wouldn't want to explore for yourself, but of course, I won't complain about it... I'll just thank my stars that I'm being looked after in times of need.

Lovely art work yet again, I wonder can someone be taught to be good at drawing as you are, or do you have to be born with the talent? Either way I bet practice helps. They are really good! I like the 3 blue people on top right :)

Thanks Megan. The three figures on the top right are by me. The others are by my classmates. If you visit the blog, you'll be able to view them all larger.

I guess learning to draw is like learning most things. Some people have natural aptitudes in drawing, music, languages, etc, and some have to work harder at it. I often find that those drawings done by less skilled draftsmen(women) are often a lot more creative. Skill is often overrated when it comes to art, if you ask me. One thing I've always had my doubts about is whether a sense of aesthetics can truly be taught, but that's entirely up for discussion.

Hi Ilana. I'm envious that you already got your Postcards by Puffin. Apparently they are available in Canada before they are available here in the U.S. It looks like a fun collection!

I'm still working my way through David Copperfield (I always type that as "Copperfiled" and have to go back and correct it) with interruptions for other reads. I'm loving No Great Mischief and I very much enjoyed the audiobook A Study in Scarlet.

I love the nudes done by you and your classmates. A variety of styles (of course), and I like yours best but I'm not sure I'm unbiased.....

I hope you've had a good weekend --- and that spring is finding its way to you out there in the eastern time zone!

Hi Ellen! I'll only be sending out Puffin postcards to those who can truly appreciate their worth. And even so, I'm not so sure I'm willing to part with any, save for two contemporary books that didn't make for such great visuals. I wouldn't consider sending those to anyone—just wouldn't seem right to give away something just because I don't like it. Does that make sense? Does to me.

I look forward to getting to No Great Mischief too. Have heard nothing but good things about it. In fact, I have several books on my list this month that I really want to get to, but at the rate I'm going, doesn't seem likely I'll get to them.

I had a restful weekend. It was warm enough today to go without a jacket which was a nice treat. It's so funny seeing people walking around with everything from shorts and flip-flops to huge puffy winter coats right alongside one another! This time of year is wonky for that. The trees haven't yet bloomed their greenery, though some are showing signs of new life. This is when I regret not going to France where Spring is indeed in full bloom, unlike here which is dirty and grey grey grey. Oh well.

I'm barely keeping my eyes open now. Will visit one or two more threads and then close up shop for the night.

Oh, Ilana, that makes complete sense! I could imagine myself buying two sets of the postcards: one for sending and one for keeping. :-)

I am loving No Great Mischief more than I expected. Maybe it's because my grandmother's maiden name was MacDonald. Heh. No, really, it's a wonderful novel. I hope to finish it in the next day or so and I will write a review of it (I don't always get around to that).

I'm glad you're getting some spring, even if things aren't really blooming yet. I agree that it's a funny time of year. Here in Seattle (and I bet this is true in your neck of the woods, too), people get so excited by 50F that they break out the shorts and flip-flops immediately! I have to admit that I love sort of in-between weather --- I'm happy to wear shorts and flip flops and a sweatshirt, all at the same time!

Sleepy-eyed, myself, so off to bed.

xo

Ilana, I am another Dickens fan, my reads include A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities, the last one being my favourite amongst the three. I am picking up The Song of Achilles to add to my TBR.

I have never been into poetry, as mentioned in your blog, they seemed too technical, and yet abstract. And I am no connoisseur of arts either, and nudes, well, they just distract me :)

> 17: *delurking* to add post to your thread

still following your interesting thread & love the Puffin postcards :-)
*back into lurking until you need post again*

#33 Ellen, the postman just came to deliver my Postcards from Penguin. I took my time poring over them and really like them a lot, though I almost wish I'd received them before the Puffin ones, because as you've seen from my picture above, these are so playful that the Penguin ones seem (and are) much more sober in comparison. The good news is I'll probably be more willing to part with those and actually put them in the mail! As you know, I imitated you and reserved the postcards from The New Yorker as well (those should be quite great I think), but there's yet another collection that's been making eyes at me, Postcards from Ladybird. I may have mentioned them already? In any case, just found this blog post by someone who took several pictures of them. I've never read any Ladybird books, but I can see there are quite a few in there I'd have a hard time parting with too (the The Ladybird Book of Motor Cars being one of them—I had a boyfriend who had and E-Type just like that!)

#34 Piyush, I've really been enjoying catching up with Dickens since last year. So far, I've read Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol and of course David Copperfield. I also have A Tale of Two Cities, Bleak House, and Hard Times currently in my collection to look forward to and am quite sure I'll get to at least the first two this year. All of these on audiobook by the way.

When it comes to poetry, I think I'm starting to appreciate it more now that I look at it as painting with words and don't concern myself with the technical aspect or trying to make sense of it too much. Whatever hidden meanings there are are completely lost on me too and I doubt I'll ever become a connoisseur, but I do enjoy being able to snatch a few poems here and there in passing between doing one thing and another.

#35 Hi Anita! Thanks for contributing to the cause! :-)

No Pullitzer Prize in the fiction category?!? WTF?!? Just saw that in my mailbox from The New York Times. Off to read up about it.

eta: no explanation given whatsoever. Here's the list of winners in the other categories.

eta2: The finalists in the fiction category were Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, Swamplandia! by Karen Russell, and The Pale King by David Foster Wallace. Still no explanation on why no winner.

I would like to understand that myself- finalists but no winner? Why? I think it has happened before, but I just don't get it.

17: otherwise I'll have to resort to strange tactics to up my post count!

Add your voice here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/126131#3333733 ... 100 would be easier than 200.

>30 Smiler69: I truly had no idea that the piece of art that I liked best was the only one of the lot that you painted! I thought they were all by you actually..... that is funny. And maybe shows we have similar taste as Im sure you wouldnt paint something you didnt like let alone post it :)

#39 Mamie, I'll be curious to find out what the reasoning was behind this decision. If you find out anything, do let me know!

#40 Done! I didn't take time to read the conversation from the beginning, but yes, I'm all for the 100 post mark.

#41 Megan, the image I posted here was just meant as a teaser to encourage readers to go to my blog post (http://createthreesixty5.com/2012/04/15/nude-studies-elissa/), where I've provided more details and pointed out which pieces were by me (and also posted them quite a bit larger). I'm flattered that you like my work, thank you!

Ilana, I have to get to bed, but wanted to stop by to say hi. I will be checking out the Postcards by Ladybird. :-)

No winner? Weird. And Swamplandia! was a finalist? Hm. I have to admit that I have come to appreciate it more from a distance, but Pulitzer? Really? It wasn't that good! IMO, that is.....

Okay, so apparently there are three judges for the fiction category, and this year they each voted for a different book - making it a draw with no winner. This has happened 10 times before in the fiction category, and the last time was in 1977. I don't understand why there isn't something in place to determine a winner in the event of a draw - especially since it has happened before. (I wasn't overwhelmed by the three finalists, either.)

Stopping by for a much belated "Hello"

I love postcards...I have a set of old, hand-tinteds that I will never part with...have to keep hiding them from myself...if I can figure a decent way to photograph them, I will

;-}

#43 Ellen, I remember you saying Swamplandia! was good but not excellent (my words), and given the general feedback I read about it, was surprised to see it on the list. But then, I know nothing about the other two finalists either.

#44 Aha! Ask and ye shall receive! :-)

I agree with you—you'd think if it's happened that often already they'd have figured out something to avoid this happening. Did you read all three novels?

#45 Hi Jude! Always nice to see you in these parts.

I have to say I have a thing for stationery in general and postcards in particular and have been collecting them since I was a child (lots of it was lost amid constant moves though). I think somehow this prompted me to want to become a designer when I was younger. I'd love to see your hand-tinted treasures... DO take pics if you can and show me!

*waving* at Ilana

I want the Charlotte's Web postcard, please :)

#47 Hi Stasia, lovely to see you in these parts! While I'm grateful for your visit, as I said in my first post, I'm not necessarily prepared to part with any of my Puffin postcards, and Charlotte's Web is in the top-10 league of cards I've resolved to keep ALL to myself! Not to say that you won't be getting something your way though!

Just dropping by to say Hi, Ilana. I am trying to catch up on various threads after being away for a couple of weeks. I love your postcards at the top of this thread. You've convinced me to add The Song of Achilles to the wishlist.

I've just spent the last couple of hours catching up with a single thread. That would be Darryl's thread which is so rich in content on any given month, but this month being devoted to National Poetry Month, offers even more to read and reflect upon (his selection of daily poems alone is worth the detour).

Nothing much to report on the home front, today having been a particularly lazy day, though somehow quite satisfying all the same. Maybe listening to the last 90 minutes of The Song of Achilles while doing chores (as an excuse for listening only!) had something to do with it. I have two minor quibbles with the story, but otherwise though it was pretty great. Reading The Iliad first isn't necessary, but I wish I had, if only because I enjoy knowing what is being referred to and while I'm almost certain I read it in my student days (having been part of a Greek Studies group), can only vaguely remember bits and pieces of it now. This would necessarily have been the Robert Fagles translation; I've been very tempted to try out Stephen Mitchell's most recent streamlined translation but the article I've just read in The New Yorker isn't all that encouraging. Could a comparative study of the Iliad be in the stars for me?

Can't answer that now. Both Coco and I need to wrap it up for tonight. I started reading The Moon is Down yesterday, which I'd been resisting this month, but found it completely exceeds my expectation so far. Steinbeck does have a way of surprising his readers with every book, which confirms to me how glad I am that we decided to devote a whole year to a selection of his work. I'll be finishing up the rest of the night with him pretty soon.

eta: want to start a new audiobook as I walk Coco shortly and perform my nightly ablutions. Not sure what I'll go with at the moment... how exciting... so many options! :-)

#49 Hi Judy! I was busily composing the above message when you posted. Glad you stopped by my humble place!

Just seen: a novel for adults by J. K. Rowling? Called A Casual Vacancy. I have a feeling it'll be much talked about, no matter what.

eta: more details here http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/12/jk-rowling-the-casual-vacancy

Just caught up and not much to add; except I will probably be trying to squeeze The Moon is Down in as well this month. Don't see me reading the Rowling but Darryl and yourself have got me thumbing my anthologies and clicking my tongue in appreciation at some of the gems I am finding there.

(blushes) Thanks for the lovely compliment, Ilana!

The new Rowling looks interesting, and I'm sure it will be a best seller.

I'll be very interested to see what Rowling writes now.

HI Ilana!
I will be one of the people that runs out and buys JK Rowling's new book on release day. I hope that she writes for adults as well as she writes for teens!

I also think Darryl is correct, it will most likely be a best seller just like most King and Patterson books become bestsellers, because of the author's name. People, me included, will buy the book whether it gets good reviews or poor reviews because of who she is.

Hi Ilana- Seems everyone has enjoyed The Song of Achilles, I'll have to get to that one. And I take it, the audio version works just fine?
I read and loved The Moon is Down last year. I'm glad it's working for you too!

Now you make me want to reread The Iliad before reading the Song of Achilles as it has been many years since I read it. I do own a very nice copy though. I will be in the group checking out the new book by J.K. Rowling. And I will have to check out Darryl's thread - poetry, oh my!

#53 Paul, I'm nearly done with The Moon is Down. Just two short chapters to go, so I'll definitely finish it today. I really wonder now why I was resisting reading this one so much. Maybe so I could be pleasantly surprised!

#54 Don't mention it Darryl, I spent a very pleasant two hours chez vous last night and since I like sharing my favourite reads, it was only natural for me to share that experience as well. :-) That being said, I'll try to stop by more often, but we'll see. As you may or may not know, I've slowed down my activity here on LT somewhat in the past couple of months. I was literally spending my entire days here before, which was lots of fun, but I'm trying to balance my time and fit in more activities, which makes it harder still to visit all the threads I want to. I couldn't do it before on a full-time LT schedule, so I don't know how others manage at all, but speed readers have a much easier time getting around no doubt!

I wonder if you'll be a reader of the new Rowling book?

#55 Same here Lucy. I have no doubt it'll be a best-seller, that's guaranteed already. It's never a reason for me to pick up a book in and of itself, though I must admit I'll be curious to find out what people have to say about it. I doubt very much I'll be one of the first to buy it, but I'll keep my eyes peeled. I might change my mind if it gets mind-boggling reviews. I only found out about it yesterday because they're advertising it on the Chapters Indigo site as it's available for pre-order. I'm sure it'll be a big event when it comes out in September.

#56 Chelle, I have no doubt that she'll be as good a writer of adult fiction. Why should she not be? She's already proven she's a great author after all. I hear most writers of teen fiction don't start out writing with that audience in mind and it's mostly the publishers who market their books that way.

I very rarely run out and buy a book the minute it's been published, mostly because I have so many books at home I want to read already, and also because I don't like buying a book just because of the buzz it generates (there are always exceptions of course). I liked the first three Harry Potter books, but didn't continue after, so I can't say I'm a huge fan, but I'll be very curious to see what early adopters like you will have to say about it!

#57 Mark, I thought the narrator of The Song of Achilles, Frazer Douglas did a very good job. In fact, I looked to see if he'd narrated anything else as I wouldn't mind listening to him again, but only found one other book by him, Nature's Shift: A Tale of the Biotech Revolution, which looks to be a sic-fi novel... as I don't read much sci-fi and can't even find it listed here on LT, I'll skip it for now. I'll just have to content myself with looking at online photos of him. I'm not much into beefcake or men in general lately, but he seems to be quite the looker.

Ah, what the heck, here's a little something for the girls. And of course, for the guys too eh? ;-)



#58 Mamie, like I said, reading The Iliad is by no means necessary to appreciate The Song of Achilles, so if you want to get to it soon, go right ahead. As I said, I had considered reading The Iliad first, but was too impatient to read this novel, though it ended up making me want to pick up The Iliad even more after reading it. What translation do you have?

I finished reading Selected Poems by Roger McGough this morning. There's a huge range here, since the selection spans a good part (all?) of his career as a poet. I probably won't write a review for it as wouldn't know how to review poetry, but will probably quote a couple of my favourite choices.

Whatever "goals" I had at the beginning of the year as far as book-buying and reading off the shelf goes have been left far behind. First I was hoping for one for one. Then two books bought for every one read, now I've adjusted my counter to allow for a dozen purchases a month, but since I already very nearly reached half that amount... *sigh*. So while I'll still keep track of purchases and books from my shelves read, just for my own interest, I won't bother making excuses anymore.

This week's purchases:

From Audible (current 50% sale)
Life by Keith Richards (narrated by Johnny Depp)
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
Birds of a Feather Maisie Dobbs, Book 2 by Jackeline Winspear
White Butterfly: An Easy Rawlins Mystery Book 3 by Walter Mosley (will have to get my hands on book 2 at the library unless it comes up in a sale...)

Also in my cart (still undecided): Lost by Michael Robotham

From BookDepository (current 10% sale):
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (new softcover pre-order)
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., illustrated by Maira Kalman (after borrowing it from the library having to give it back because of a reservation—decided I must have it)

I'm also shopping around for a book of Emily Dickinson's poetry. There's a good chance I'll get My Letter to the World and other Poems for a nice small selection and gorgeous illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault (I showed the cover on my previous thread, but forgot to "review" it and show more, which I'll do soon), and might get Dickinson: Poems the Everyman's Library edition as well as I like their books and the fact that it's based on an authoritative version. Suggestions are welcome.

> 59: Not bad, Frazer Douglas, not bad at all, thank you Ilana :-)

#50 I also wanted to read The Iliad after finishing The Song of Achilles. I read the same article about the Mitchell translation and after making a lot of use of the amazon 'look inside' feature, think I have decided for either the Stephen Lombardo translation or the Fagles at some point.

#52 Can I confess that I've preordered the new Rowling book? I knew I would want to read it whatever all the reviews say if only to make up my own mind and remember having to wait over a year for Wolf Hall on the library reservations list and I got an email from Waterstone's saying you could preorder it for half price...

#60 Books! There have been a lot of positive comments about the Johnny Depp audio of Life - I hope you enjoy it too.

>59 Smiler69: I'm glad you enjoyed the conversation on my thread, Ilana. Of course, the participation of everyone who posted made it interesting.

Yes, I had noticed that your LT activity has slowed down recently—and I think it's a good thing. I'm trying to do the same thing, particularly on my days off, so that I can have a nice balance between online and off line activities.

I read the Guardian article about Rowling's new book, and it sounds interesting to me. I think it's very likely that I will read it.

Hi Ilana! I'm alive! :) I just caught myself up with your thread (the most overdue thread of the bunch, I'm sad to say), and all of your book buying has a nice partner down here in Wisconsin! I have 3 stacks of books to upload to my LT/goodreads library. It's quite a terrible problem, especially as I haven't been reading as much this last month, and my work load has dropped off severely so $ is tighter than ever. Oh well - they were all cheap! I hope you're feeling well (sounds like you are), and I'll be back again later!

Just saw you mention bookdepository 10% sale, see ya!

Hi Ilana!
You sure are busy lately - despite your assertion that you have "lazy" days. ;-)

If there IS an extraordinarily lovely book of Dickinson's poetry, I would like to know about it too. I have a book packed with her poetry - but the presentation is not esthetically pleasing. She deserves better in my library.

Your purchases sound great! Enjoy.

Ilana, I've posted a link on my thread that I am sure will make you laugh.

I very much enjoyed The Moon is Down when I read it a couple of years ago. Glad to hear that you are liking it, Ilana!

I guess I will forgive you not sending me the Charlotte's Web postcard. I would not want to part with it either!

Ilana, in answer to your question about which translation of the Iliad I have - I have the translation by Robert Fagles. I have the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition which is really beautiful with deckle edged pages. And I really think that I will reread it before reading Song of Achilles, even though, as you said, it isn't necessary in order to enjoy the Miller book.



*edited to display the cover

Ilana, I managed to purchase the following lovely looking book, as bragged about on my own thread, so thanks for the heads up on the sale!

It's been a looooong day and filled to the brim. Lovely to come here and find all your comments. I'm so tired right now I could cry, so I'll come back to respond tomorrow after a good looooong sleep (hopefully) since I only got a few hours last night (rare bout of insomnia).

Most of you are tucked into bed right now so sweet dreams, and g'day to those of you on the other side of the equator reading within the next few hours, and those of your who'll be reading this after a good night's sleep (HOURS before I'll be up, no doubt!)

Hi Ilana,
Sorry I've been away for a day or two. Life is too busy -- for all of us! I have put Song of Achilles on hold, but don't know when I'll get it. I might investigate the audio-options.....
Oh, and I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about Darryl's thread these days. Between the daily poem and the lively discussion regarding awards (pros, cons, quibbles, etc.), I've had a good time perusing it. It's funny how everyone's thread has rhythms to it; probably depending on the "owner's" energy and focus, and just whether a good discussion gets sparked. I love it all.

I have a stressful day ahead of me, so I'm off to face it. It's one of those days when I wish I could just stay in bed with my dear Abby and a good book or two.

#61 I'm glad you enjoyed that Anita. I was pretty sure at least one person would!

#62 Heather, I just spent a good part of my afternoon looking at poetry collections and comparing translations of The Iliad, and finally opted for the Fagles after reading excerpts from Lombardi, Fagles and Mitchell, as well as reading about Pope, Lattimore and Fitzgerald (I found the "most helpful" review by Esquire indeed the most helpful, and also enjoyed a comparison between Fagles and Mitchell by the top reviewer here, which cinched the deal). As I'm also partial to Penguin Classics Deluxe editions, I've now got that one coming my way. :-)

If the Rawling book were offered at 50% off here, I would probably pre-order it too!

#63 Darryl, I agree that what I read in The Guardian article about the Rawling book also made me that much more curious to read it. Mind you, at this point the question would be who isn't curious?

Finding a balance between online and offline activities has always been difficult for me. It's much too easy to find a million-and-one interesting things to do on the computer and spend the whole day there without noticing time passing by.

#64 Hi Laura, thanks for taking the time to catch up with me, I know it's not always easy to do! I think I actually spend more time seeking out and comparing and shopping for books than actually reading. My latest dirty little secret revealed!

#65 Yes, I did mention the sale thinking someone might be interested in benefiting from it, and I see you've made very good use of it! I got that very same book at the beginning of my year to prepare for the Steinbeckathon and am now finishing up The Moon is Down in it.

#66 Claudia, you're right, I've been both extremely lazy and very busy these days. One doesn't necessarily exclude the other in my world! :-)

So far, from what I've seen I think the two editions of Emily Dickinson poetry I've mentioned are the two most well packaged as far as visual appeal. I didn't want the complete works at this point, but rather to be able to dip my toes in and savour a few choice morsels, and both offer that very nicely. I say that about Everyman's because I've seen quite a few of their books, but not this one in particular. Yet. It's on it's way to me now though. ;-)

#67 Lucy, as you saw from my message on your thread, it worked! Always lots of goodies to be find on your thread and plenty of lively conversation. I haven't watched an episode of Black Books for a while. Must remedy to that this evening!

#68 I guess I will forgive you not sending me the Charlotte's Web postcard

Phew! I was starting to feel guilty for refusing you (no kidding). If and when I buy a second set, then I'll reserve that card especially for you, and that's a promise. Ok?

I was going to finish The Moon is Down last night but then was too tired to stay up as late as I usually do. Opted to finish listening to 24 Hours in the Life of a Woman by Stefan Zweig instead, and must say it was time well spent. Another fabulous author who sure know how to pack a lot into small volumes!

#69 Mamie, that's the edition I just ordered a few minutes ago too. I don't know if I'll read it as soon as I get it though, not that the temptation is lacking, but I do have so many other reading goals I'm already falling behind on!

#72 Ellen, no apologies necessary, I completely understand and am actually most flattered you'd take time out from a busy morning before a stressful day of work ahead. Hope it went well?

You put words into my... eh, mouth? fingers? with your comment about the thread's main author setting the tone, something that I was thinking about too after spending time on Darryl's thread. That's what makes each thread so unique and interesting!




Right. Time for me to get off the computer for a while. Will walk Coco in the warm evening before sundown and then do a bit of artwork. Then... we shall see...

Also wanted to say though...

Now that I've finished the audio for Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman Stefan Zweig, it's time to start another audiobook as I take out Coco. Hadn't planned enough audiobooks for the month, so now I'm all on my own, so to speak, to make a decision. And there's sooooo much to choose from. YIKES!

Also finished reading Starry Messenger by Peter Sís today. What a master. His Tibet: Through the Red Box is next. I look forward to it, though now I almost wish I hadn't condensed so many of his books into such a short time. They're dense and meant to be savoured, so I'm considering actually returning it to the library along with a few others I have and picking them up another time. Do I dare? Would that be some sort of ungrateful gesture toward the master's work??

Have started on another poetry collection, this time it's the Penguin collection of poems by Carol Ann Duffy. The few I've read so far have been inscrutable... hope I find something to connect with and a bit less bleakness maybe? At least by degrees, otherwise I'll move on to something else for now. No lack of choices here as I've been stockpiling poetry collections this month. If not during poetry month, then when? Have just added three more books from the BookDespository sale: they're from Faber and Faber's 80th anniversary Poetry Classics collection, so I now have W. H. Auden, John Betjeman and T. S. Eliot selections coming my way. There are six books in that collection, each more beautiful than the next. The only two I've decided to skip are those by that cheery couple, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hugues. After reading selections from both, I've decided I don't need to be reading poems to kill myself by anytime soon!



I believe I was going to get off the computer to do something... what was it again? Right! COCO!!!

Sorry I've been missing for a while, Ilana ... I'm slowly getting back to all my favorite threads, yours included.

I'm loving the longer daylight these days and warmer weather ... it feels odd to say that considering how warm a winter we've had here in MA, but the weather now is just helping me wake up earlier in the morning and going for a run before work. And I love that it's still light out when I come home in the evening... plus now that it's warmer, I get to wear my lovely open toe shoes again. whoohoooo

Oooh ooh.. is there a review of the Zweig book being posted soon, Ilana? I've not read this one yet.

Hi Ilana- I just finished Tibet: Through the Red Box. I knocked it out in one sitting. It's another terrific little gem. I also have His Darwin GN at hand too! I love this guy's work.

Ilana - great selections on the poetry front and wonderful covers. See if you can find any Philip Larkin - I think you wil like his view of the mores of life.

#76-7 I'm loving the longer days too Caro. Not so much about open toe shoes because I got annoyed with the pedicurist nearest me and my feet are a disaster! Plus, I've always felt strange about having someone down at my feet, and really annoyed that they speak among themselves in languages I can't understand, especially when it's obvious they're talking about the customers or even oneself! Ugh!!! But homemade pedis don't quite do the job...

I'm due for a rash of reviews in very near future, so the Zweig will probably be mentioned soon. It was really good!

#78 Mark, Sís is an amazing artist, I'm glad you're enjoying his work. Having visited and loved Prague and been to Brno, his birthplace (my exe's family is from the Czech Republic and my best friend is his brother's wife), I feel like I have small connection to Sís, however tenuous!

By the way, I also ordered River of Smoke today. A gorgeous hardcover to match the first book obviously. I'll be all set for the GR, even though I don't contribute much to the convos most of the time...

#79 Ugh! And here I was thinking I was done with buying poetry for a while! I'll look Larkin up. Why does his name ring a bell I wonder?

You may recall his poem that I included in my thread last year and got me censured for the language contained therein! I seem to recall you coming to my rescue at the time.

AHA! I knew I'd come across Larkin's work somehow. And of course, how can I forget that diplomatic incident? It almost had Canada at war with Malaysia an England! I saved the day by adding gas to the fire and pissing off the offended even further. How could I possibly forget having so much fun?! :-)

I think we were cross-posting on each other's threads by the way.

We were indeed! I remember apologising profusely at the time for my obsenities to an extent that Caro still thought to chuckle about it when I met up with her in KL.

I remember apologising profusely at the time for my obsenities to an extent that Caro still thought to chuckle about it when I met up with her in KL.

Really?! How funny! It was quite a memorable incident I admit. Next time, post obscenities here and/or over on Jude's threads. Much safer.

Now why does that sound ALL wrong??

Forgot to mention that I started listening to Running Blind by Lee Child today. To balance out all the lovely poetry and stuff. Boy is Lee Child addictive. I start listening and I just don't want to stop!

I feel so terribly tempted by those postcards... And then: should I get Puffin or Penguin or both? I'll have to pay shipping fees anyway. The Puffin ones look nicer, but I know more of the Penguin titles. I'd like to frame some of them and hang them on my hallway wall. The hallway sadly is too narrow for book shelves, so I'd love to have at least book covers there instead.

I missed the Larkin incident last year. And now I am all curious. Can it still be found on old threads or was it deleted?

A bunch of us read The Aeneid trans. by Fagles and it was a peak reading experience, and I ran out and bought the Fagles Iliad and Odyssey. I would love to join you but I don't know..... I've been reading a lot of doorstops lately, need a break.

Nathalie - storm in a teacup I assure you - probably November last year. I don't delete anything so it will be there, of course the PMs are not for consumption!

#86 Nathalie, I'm afraid I'm no good at helping you decide between the Penguin and Puffin since as you know, I resolved the issue by getting both. And both would look great framed too.

The Larkin incident happened when Paul posted a poem by of Larkin's containing a expletive and the person who's thread this was on got very upset about having "that sort of language" posted on her thread. I thought it was all rather amusing, but only because I have a twisted sense of humour sometimes.

#87 Lucy, after reading excerpts from various translations, I know beyond a doubt that Fagles is the one for me. But if I remember correctly, then I should probably read The Odyssey before The Iliad, right? We could still aim to read it together. You definitely need a break from huge tomes, and I don't think I'll be starting on it for a while, but we could start together and aim to break it down into digestible bits and read it over a period of several months.

#88 Paul, I'm feeling mischievous today. How about you post the poem again right here and see what happens this time? Or, you know... another poem of his with an equally naughty word or two? he he. :-)

I finished The Moon is Down last night. Will have to head over to the discussion thread (http://www.librarything.com/topic/135104) later today when I have more time to discuss it. I need to get prepared shortly for an appointment with my occupational therapist.

I had three other books from my shelves planned for this month:
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger
and The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
but at the rate at which I'm reading print these days, with only about an hour of reading time before sleep, it's looking unlikely that I'll be able to manage just one... so far this month have read NOTHING off the shelf and I'm feeling kind of guilty about that. I might dedicate a few days exclusively to reading to try to fit at least a couple in there.

The Larkin Incident Sounds like something out of a British spy novel!

The Iliad is the battle for Troy, The Odyssey is the endless endless trip home...... Overall The Odyssey is more fun..... I would do The Iliad first..... I do have them both.... I'm sure once I recover from Infinite Jest (although I'm not sure one ever does recover from it exactly) I'm sure I'll be game. Just keep me posted.

#90 You're right! It's a great title!

#91 The Iliad is the battle for Troy, The Odyssey is the endless endless trip home

Yes yes, I remember well since I read The Odyssey a hundred years ago for Greek studies. The only reason I thought they might be read the other way round is because Odysseus appears in The Song of Achilles and mentions Penelope quite a lot, so I assume he does the same in The Iliad (I know I read it but I didn't pay much attention at the time since I thought it was just a boring book about war). But either way is fine with me.

I actually put off purchasing The Iliad just now when I saw my shopping cart was still full. Apparently I'd forgotten to finalize my purchase. I'll get it in May because my book-buying is out of control and this way it gets spread out at least a little bit...

>84 Smiler69:
Yep, anyone who wants to swear, profusely, is welcome...on my thread. Just remember to be a bit clever and respect the English Language..and, if you get really vulgar, to the point that it bothers me...i'll come after you with a paddle and an Uzi....

Oh, Paul...you can post your Naughties on my thread, any time!

How's that, Ilana?

As usual, I can't keep up...but, I read The Iliad and The Odyssey in high school...partially, in Latin (yep, I was a nerd).....finished them in college, in English...loved the both

;-}

I believe I was going to get off the computer to do something... what was it again? Right! COCO!!!

LOL! I know for certain that you don't ever forget your little furmonster. Get distracted, yes. Forget? Never.

Nathalie, I'm with Ilana. Get both. ;-)

Boy is Lee Child addictive.

So true.

#94 Jude, you read Homer in high school in LATIN? Why Latin? Wouldn't Greek make more sense? Just saying... :-b

#95 I get distracted about everything. It's horrid. Sometimes I let my kids go without food for a good part of the day, especially since I forget to feed myself to begin with. But then Mimi usually starts to nudge me along and eventually starts requesting her food out loud. They certainly won't LET me forget them!

#97 I spent nearly six hours listening to Lee Child's Running Blind today! Had to force myself to take the earphones off so I could do other things with my day. Sometimes I do artwork while listening to audiobooks, but Lee Child is all wrong for artwork somehow. Or not the kind of artwork I have in mind right now anyway. My bathroom is really clean! But mostly I've just wandered around aimlessly just listening. Once when I was feeling exhausted and sick (kind of like today, since I wrestled with my pillow and bedclothes all night), I just sat on the couch and listened to the whole book in one sitting. Which I guess is pretty much the way a lot of people must read his novels.

eta: almost forgot: I also reorganized my art books by category while listening to Running Blind. My collection has grown to the point where it makes sense to separate them that way.

I'd forgotten I had ordered The Observations by Jane Harris from an independent vendor on eBay. Gillespie and I will be arriving within a week or so, so now I'll have a big problem deciding which to read first... this is NOT helping me towards my goal of reading more books off the shelf!

Ilana when I'm back from the office later I will post up Mr. Larkin's ditty to parenthood just for you and Nathalie. It is a given of course that expletive fuelled messages are welcome over at Jude's so long as they are on point and grammatically correct!
Lee Child's Reachers are a must have series for me...have read all of em (in order of course) and whilst there can be a little bit of repetition there sometimes they deliver everything that such books should.

So even though I have nothing to say really, I'll add to your thread in order to help you along toward May! Those Faber & Faber covers are gorgeous! If I were going to buy the postcards, I'd have to wait until I could get two sets - one to have and one to send.
I'm glad that you loved *D. Copperfield*. *Bleak House* is the good one though, as I'm sure the 75 world is tired of hearing me say. And you are making me sure that I'll start *Achilles* next week when I've finished Foreign Bodies. After some rather random diversions in the first 20 pages, it is beginning to settle down for me being only occasionally irritating.
(The Latin I text that I had in high school had the story of The Odyssey in Latin with no attempt to put it into poetry, thank heaven!)
I'm envious that your bathroom is really clean. Ours is not off-putting, but not 'really clean.'

#100 Paul, maybe you can post the ode to parenthood along with another one... is there an ode to single girls maybe? I'd love to see what other selection you'd come up with.

I started on the Reacher series with the third book, Tripwire, but only because it was on sale for $4.95 on Audible. Then I went back to start from the first one and I'll definitely be taking them in in publication order from here on.

#101 Peggy, wonderful that you're contributing to the cause! :-)

For someone who had "nothing to say" you did quite well! Why do you say Foreign Bodies is irritating? I hadn't heard of this book till now, and don't see myself picking it up until I've at least read The Ambassadors. I believe I already have you down as one of the recommenders for Bleak House (just checked my tags and see three other people but not you, so I've rectified that!) I really look forward to it after all the great things I've been told about it.

The Odyssey & The Iliad are going non my TBR list - currently reading The Song of Achilles so no guessing why ........

Completely agree with you about Lee Child. I love the Jack Reacher books!

#103 I think it's wonderful when a new book comes out which makes us want to reach for the classics. I'm assuming you're enjoying The Song of Achilles?

#104 I'm assuming you've read them all Stasia?

#99 Ilana, the way I see it, the only way to read books off the shelf - is to put them on there in the first place!

Leaving you with that pearl of wisdom (lol) as I drag myself to bed.
Nighty night! Hope you sleep well tonight :)

#105 - very much so on both counts ....

Ilana- Usually Claudia cracks me up before I go to bed and she did tonight too but you capped it, my friend, over on my thread. Thanks and good night.

#106 Claudia, I'm gathering up your pearls my dear. Pretty soon I'll have enough of them to make a necklace, so keep them coming! ;-)

#107 Oh good! I don't know what I'll say about it in my review... maybe just "Read it ASAP".

#108 Oh yay! Glad I gave you a good laugh Mark. My brain has been buzz buzzy dysfunctional all day from lack of sleep so I haven't even tried to make sense today!

Just passing through to say Hi, Ilana!

Nate likes those Lee Child books. I haven't started them in fear of becoming addicted to yet another series!
Maybe I'll give them a try when I finish a couple series that I am already working on

Ilana, here's Suzanne's review - post 188 - on Foreign Bodies. I like the narrative, but then she goes off into an almost stream-of-author's-consciousness that is too much for me. Somehow, I could forgive her more if this were a longer book. I'm a bit past the half-way mark in it, so I don't think that there are going to be any stylistic surprises. It is making me itch to reread The Ambassadors, and as somebody just said somewhere, I think on this very thread, a book that drives you to a classic does a good thing. And now I'm off to see what you and Claudia have been up to on Mark's thread.

#110 Hi Lori, thanks for dropping by!

#111 Chelle, I agree you're better off staying away if you're not prepared to start on another series. Then again, how much harm could that do?

#112 Thanks for the link to Suz's review Peggy. Heavy blancmange eh? I think I won't bother with that one and just keep my sights on The Ambassadors, which has been on my wishlist for a while already. I was the one who said that about returning to classics this time, though I've seen that thought expressed elsewhere by others too.




I overslept today and feeling like a zombie. It's grey and raining and I'm not sure what to do with myself. I have reviews, molto reviews to catch up on (10 of them at this point), and I want to do some artwork, and I want to do some reading, and I definitely want to finish up Running Blind. I picked up The Global Forest last night. Hadn't realized my aunt had had it signed by the author for me. I can't decipher what's written between "To Ilana... from Diana BEresford-Kroeger" might be something in Gaelic. I really want to like this book of essays on how important trees are, because I agree completely, but it's... a strange brew. My head hurts. Maybe I'll just lie down and do nothing for a while.

54. The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin by Peter Sís ★★★½
(Read for 12/12 Category #9: 9. Visual Treats)

For this lavishly illustrated biography on the man who formulated the theory of evolution, Sís based himself on Charles Darwin's own many detailed notes, letters and various writings. We follow Darwin from birth to his student days and then his five-year voyage on the Beagle which took him around South America, to South Africa and Australia, among other places and during which time Darwin spent much time on dry land collecting plant and animal samples. This voyage eventually led him to formulate his theory of evolution, something which he hesitated for a long time to publish because he knew that it would be badly received by religious institutions. Each spread is richly illustrated and brimming with information, almost too much information for my liking, which wouldn't have been a problem had I not found it difficult to navigate through it. This wasn't my favourite book by Peter Sís so far, but it is an interesting and very beautiful to look at overview of the famous naturalist's life.

55. ♫ David Copperfield by Charles Dickens ★★★★
(Read for 12/12 Category #2: Tea with Georgie, Vickie & Eddie)

'Good day, sir,' said my aunt, 'and good-bye! Good day to you, too, ma'am,' said my aunt, turning suddenly upon his sister. 'Let me see you ride a donkey over my green again, and as sure as you have a head upon your shoulders, I'll knock your bonnet off, and tread upon it!'

It would require a painter, and no common painter too, to depict my aunt's face as she delivered herself of this very unexpected sentiment, and Miss Murdstone's face as she heard it. But the manner of the speech, no less than the matter, was so fiery, that Miss Murdstone, without a word in answer, discreetly put her arm through her brother's, and walked haughtily out of the cottage; my aunt remaining in the window looking after them; prepared, I have no doubt, in case of the donkey's reappearance, to carry her threat into instant execution. — CHAPTER 14. MY AUNT MAKES UP HER MIND ABOUT ME

An epic and semi-autobigraphical story of young David Copperfield, born six months after his father's passing, who suffered a miserable childhood during which he was abused by his mother's tyrannical new husband Edward Murdstone and his sister, who sent him to a school were punishments were handed out routinely and frequently. When his mother passes away, Edward Murdstone puts nine-year-old David to work in London, where he is left to fend for himself. David makes his escape and makes a long difficult journey on the road to seek out his great aunt Betsey Trottwood. This wonderful character takes David under her wing and gives him a loving home and an education until he is ready to pursue his studies toward a respectable career. As a young man, David falls in love repeatedly and eventually becomes obsessed with Dora Spenlow, a young lady he is determined to marry one day. The novel takes us through many twists and turns and introduces a great number of fascinating characters, some likeable, some absolutely revolting with many plots which are only resolved toward the end of the novel, when David, now a well-known writer, has gained in maturity and found his heart's desire. We all know that Dickens is verbose and he did not disappoint in that respect with this novel, which he considered to be his favourite child. I found much to like and was delighted with the light tone and David's good nature even as he went through incredible difficulties. The audio version wonderfully performed by Martin Jarvis is strongly recommended.

Ilana, great review! My thoughts exactly, although I am still making my way through it this time around (but it's my second read so I already know the story). I think I would only add the insertion of the words "the insipid" before Dora Spenlow! I really wanted him to end up with someone dynamic and confident. Oh well...

Great review of David Cooperfied. Thumbs up from me. Hello to you dear one.

Opps, I forgot to mention that I love your opening photo. I want to look for this book...and purchase it!

Grrr. I really want to download an audiobook for my Sunday in the garden and audible.com is having trouble - I can't get it to open and stay open. Frustrating.

I love your review of David Copperfield and I'm off to bed now to pick it up (chapter 29, I think) and try to push toward completion.

I hope you're having a good weekend, Ilana.
Hugs to you, as well as to Coco, Mimi, and even Ezra. :-)

Ilana - balanced and enjoyable review of one of my favourite Dickens' novels. A little too much saccarine for me to swallow the whole things completely but that weakness is also part of its charm. As promised yesterday a repeat run of Philip Larkin's Ode to Parenting (my title not his, his was 'This be the Verse").

They fuck you up your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy stern
And half at one another's throats,

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself.

Not difficult to hazard why I like Larkin so much!

Nice coincidence, I had just been online reading the NYT's book page and a review for "The Complete Poems by Philip Larkin" and subsequently NOT put it into my shopping basket on amazon.co.uk, but chosen a smaller selection instead. Haven't ordered yet, I can't buy any more books in April.

I like this poem, it's easy to understand and quite true. What was the problem, the f-word or the disrespect towards the forefathers or both?

Ilana, I fully agree with your review on DC. It's not my favorite Dickens and during the Spenlow episodes I almost abandoned the book, but I still liked it a lot. I never cared much for David, but aunt Betsey Trottwood is one of my favorite DC characters ever.

#116 Mamie, I couldn't agree with you more about "the insipid" Dora. In fact, every time DC went on and on about her, it put my teeth on edge.

I'm glad you liked my review, though I honestly thought I'd made quite a mess of it. I was tired and none too inspired last night but just felt I must get some reviews written and try to stay on top of my reading. The bit I quoted from Betsey Trottwood's speech to the Murdstones was possibly my favourite part of the whole novel. I actually rewinded the audio 4-5 times to listen to it all over again and cheering all the while! :-)

#117-8 Hi Linda, thanks for the thumb, you're such a sweetie. I've been terribly remiss and I hope you're not upset with me for neglecting you. I'll have to make up for it some way. I'll think of something... ;-)

#119 Hi Ellen, I visited your thread a bit earlier and left my comments there both about Audible and David Copperfield. I think I made a decision at some point that I was going to take in all of Dickens's work on audio format because otherwise would never tackle his gigantic tomes. It wasn't a conscious decision, just happened that way, but it's working out quite well for me. Seems like an author that people would have been reading to each other out loud anyway.

I'm sure Coco, Mimi, and especially Ezra much appreciate your attentions. As do I of course.

#120 A little too much saccarine for me to swallow the whole things completely but that weakness is also part of its charm

Yes, much agreed Paul. I felt the same way, and sometimes wanted to throttle our hero, but the whole thing was kept in balance with a few truly horrid characters and of course that feisty dame Betsey Trottwood. I believe her and Uriah Heep, and Murdstone of course, saved the show as far as keeping the sweetness in check.

The Ode to Parenting is quite great. I'm tempted to respond to it with Roger McGough's Pay-Back Time, but I've also been saving that one up for what will pass as my "review" of his poetry collection.

#121 Nathalie, I don't know if it's for the same reasons as me, but I wouldn't buy the complete works by anybody unless I was already familiar with their writing and really wanted to immerse myself fully. This is why I'm quite happy getting shorter collections and selections, such as the ones I recently purchased from Faber and Faber.

I believe the issue with the Larkin poem was the use of foul language. Something along the lines of the person not wanting their thread soiled by that kind of language. At first I thought this was said with a touch of humour, but no. So Paul and I had a good laugh about it, naughty children that we are. :-)

I haven't read all the Dickens canon at this point, but would also say that Betsey Trottwood is one of my favourite characters of his by far. Mind you, I also loved that strange Miss Havisham in Great Expectations.

I really shouldn't be buying any more books in April or ever for that matter, but yesterday while visiting Kerry's thread, she mentioned My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell and looking it up I felt sure a novel about a kooky family and lots of animals would be right up my alley. Then when I checked to see what editions there were out there, I found this one below and so fell in love with the cover image that I had to order it right there an then. Mind you, with BookDepository's current 10% sale it was entirely reasonable. But no more new books until May (she tells herself...).

Nice review of David Copperfield, Ilana! One of these days I'll read something by Dickens.

Thanks Darryl! I don't think I remember seeing any classics on any of your reading lists. Several Dickens aficionados have assured me that his best work is Bleak House, which I have on standby and much look forward to.

Hi Ilana - don't think you'll regret the Durrell book. What's great about MFaOA is that he observes not only the local fauna but also his family so you get a real fun view of Lawrence Durrell as well. My intro to the book was through the 2005 movie, I got it for my children to watch and we all loved it a couple of years back.
I have a couple more of his travel books on my backburner, The Whispering Land and The Drunken Forest. I still haven't read The Alexandria Quartet or anything else by Lawrence Durrell though will be heading that way, maybe next year.

56. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, Illustrated by Maira Kalman ★★★★
(Read for 12/12 Category #7: Young at Heart)

In this ode to first love and it's aftermath, Daniel Handler—aka Lemony Snicket—pairs up with his friend, illustrator Maira Kalman to tell the story of modern love gone awry. Min (for Minerva) Green is known as an "arty" girl, who hangs out with equally arty friends and has a passion for old films. One day as they are celebrating her best friend's "Bitter Sixteen" party, jocks Ed Slatherton and his buddy come crashing the party. Min can't refuse a date from Ed, the very handsome co-captain of the basketball team whom she would never have imagined would have ever set eyes on her. Her friends disapprove and his friends can't understand what he sees in her, but Ed claims he likes her being "different". Min brings Ed to the repertory cinema to see old movies (all convincingly made up by Handler), and though Ed doesn't really get it, he's willing to play along when Min decides they must throw and 89th birthday party for her favourite film star.

The story is told by Min in a letter to Ed following their disastrous breakup. This is no Hallmark romance story, and these kids are dealing with real issues which include numerous gorgeous ex-girlfriends and sex as a foregone conclusion. With her letter, Min is returning a box of memorabilia to him, filled with items she's collected over their brief romance, from movie stubs to elastic bands, rose petals, beer caps, a dish towel, and more which Kalman has illustrated throughout the book. An interesting way to present a story we're all familiar with and which inevitably brings us back to our own first romantic experiences and crushing disappointments. I don't know that I'd want to have my teenage daughter reading this book considering the sexual content (Min and Ed have frequent "everything but" make-out sessions before she surrenders her virginity to him), but it might be a good way to open up a conversation about self-respect, being different and how to handle pressure to have sex.

57. ♫ The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller ★★★★⅓
(12/12 Category #8: Hot Off the Press)

While it deals with the Trojan war with it's main participants, this is first and foremost a love story about Patroclus, a rather ordinary and not particularly talented young man and the god-like hero Achilles. Told in a first person narration, Patroclus tells us about his early childhood as a prince and subsequent banishment, whereupon he is sent to live among a gaggle of boys trained to become soldiers by none other than Achilles's father. All the boys venerate Achilles for his great beauty and grace, for he is in fact the son of a goddess and as such possesses special gifts, but one day Achilles chooses Patroclus to be his close companion. Why he chose Patroclus, who had nothing to distinguish himself from the others, was shy and uncommunicative isn't made clear, but nonetheless the boys end up spending their childhood together and eventually come to be lovers and entirely devoted to one another. When the war on Troy is declared, both Patroclus and Achilles are sought out by Odysseus to join the war effort. Everyone knows that Achilles is destined to be the greatest warrior of his generation, and everyone also knows about the prophesy which dooms Achilles to die shortly after having killed Hector. Patroclus on the other hand is not a fighter and finds his own ways to distinguish himself. Beautifully told, this story brings mythical characters to life and makes even fantastical creatures, such as a centaur and sea goddess seem absolutely believable as essential elements in the narrative.. A very interesting take on a mythical tale, this made me badly want to revisit The Iliad—in fact, I almost wished I'd read it first to refresh my memory, but this is by no means essential to fully appreciate The Song of Achilles. The audiobook narration by Frazer Douglas was excellent. Much recommended.

Ilana - this one isn't out yet in my part of the world but it looks like one to snap up when it does. Good review and great that top class writing can make greek classics accessible.

Hi Ilana- Wow, you've been busy my friend! Good reviews. I plan on getting to The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin. Nice thoughts on DC. I need to get over to the G. R. Thread, it's dead in the water. I'm not sure if everyone, who hasn't finished it, got bogged down or not.
My library system doesn't seem to have The Song of Achilles on audio, as of yet. Everyone seems to really love this book.

Ilana - not sure if you've been to Brain Pickings, I just discovered it through a link to this article and gorgeous visuals of Yayoi Kusama's illustrations for a new edition of Alice in Wonderland.

You're right, Ilana. I own several classic books, especially the free Kindle versions, but I strongly prefer post-World War II literature. Thanks for recommending Bleak House; I've just downloaded the free e-book onto my Kindle.

I'm glad that you also enjoyed The Song of Achilles. I finished it last night, and I've also given it 4-1/2 stars. As you said, I want to read The Iliad ASAP.

#125 Kerry, I really look forward to reading My Family and Other Animals. I have a feeling I'll love it and it won't be my only Gerald Durrell book. Do you have the other two books in the Corfu Trilogy?

#128 Paul, this seems to be the book of the moment and is much talked about, and for good reason. This one and State of Wonder, which I should receive and intend to read soon, are probably the only two books currently on the Orange Prize shortlist that I'll have read before the prize is awarded.

#129 Mark, I'm sorry to say I've not been much of a contributor on the GR threads in general this year. I mostly like knowing I'm reading a book along with others, and while I value input, I absolutely won't risk reading any spoilers from the threads, so stay away while I'm reading, and then by the time I'm done with the book, I've moved on to something else...

I got the audio for The Song of Achilles on Audible. Our library system has very little available on audio ever, so I can't depend on them for that at all.

#130 I wasn't familiar with Brain Pickings before, and signed up for their newsletter when I visited earlier today. I think Yayoi Kusama's Alice in Wonderland is interesting visually, but I can't say I'm a fan really. I think when it comes to this book I tend to have rather classic tastes and rarely like more contemporary interpretations. I did see Dali's version on the blog and a version from 1949 which were both interesting, but again, not entirely to my liking.

#131 Darryl, I'll look forward to your review of Achilles and also look forward to reading your thoughts on some classics.

58. My Letter to the World and Other Poems by Emily Dickinson, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault ★★★★★
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #2: Tea with Georgie, Vickie & Eddie - 18th & 19th Century Classics )

This is my letter to the World
That never wrote to Me —
The simple News that Nature told —
With tender Majesty

Her Message is committed
To Hands I cannot see —
For love of Her — Sweet — countrymen —
Judge tenderly — of Me

I read this book in March, but forgot to review it and wanted to make sure I gave it it's due as I think others here would also greatly enjoy it. This slim volume presents seven of Emily Dickinson's greatest poems, accompanied by gorgeous and haunting illustrations. This was my introduction to Dickinson's poetry and had me hooked on her work immediately. I recommend this both to those who are new to Dickinson as well as to her fans who will no doubt appreciate the artistry with which Isabelle Arsenault has treated her subjects. I borrowed this book from the library and have been holding on to it for as long as I possibly can, but will be getting my own copy to keep for certain.


“‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers — / That perches in the soul — /
And sings the tune without the words — / And never stops — at all —”


“And sweetest — in the Gale — is heard — / And sore must be the storm — /
That could abash the little Bird / That kept so many warm —”

Oh, Ilana, I really want that book! Love the artwork in combination with Dickinson's poetry - lovely!

Pretty sure I don't have the other two Durrell books set in Corfu.
Regarding Alice, I also love the original John Tenniel illustrations, I read, loved and still have my mother's childhood copy of Alice. I was pleased to find out about Brain Pickings - looks to have fairly interesting content.

Hi Ilana. Well, I clearly need to get My Letter to the World and Other Poems from my library. Thanks for including some of the illustrations; they look beautiful. I had another book of poetry, One With Others by C.D. Wright, on hold at the library and I missed the deadline for picking it up. That doesn't happen often and I was hoping they would still have it (yesterday was the deadline!) but they are, in fact, efficient. Oh well.

I'm looking forward to Song of Achilles more and more. If both you and Darryl are giving it 4.5 stars, it's a must-read.

I'll put Song of Achilles to my WL. The Kindle version right now is a bit too expensive in my country, and I might at least have a look at The Iliad first. Generally those retellings of classical stories are not my favorite genre since reading some not so great Marion Zimmer Bradleys in my youth (wasn't there a book around Cassandra?), but I know there are some good ones, and this book seems to be among them.
Another one I enjoyed was Lavinia back in 2010, but I know I'd have appreciated it less, had I not read the real The Aeneid first.

I have a collection of Emily Dickinson's poetry at home and just decided to pick it up again. I might be the only person in the world who is not completely in love with her poems, and I feel really bad about it. I read some of them and while I thought they were good, they just didn't touch me.
Maybe it was the wrong time. The edition you are presenting here is beautiful.

You will be delighted to learn that Masterpiece Theatre did a delicious rendition of *My Family and Other Animals*. Durrell wrote zillion books - the first five or six are the best. I was a voracious reader of 'man and animal' books in my teens - Gavin Maxwell, James Herriott (he was a bit later, I think) Farley Mowat and so on - Maxwell's Ring of Bright Water is about his relationship as a boy with an otter and is one of my other favorites.

Ilana - Still, for me Robert Frost is the greatest of North American poets, but Dickinson is the Queen of them for sure. Like the poetry that Darryl and yourself have re-energised this month.

#134 I'm glad you like it Mamie. I'm really enamoured with it myself!

#135 Kerry, I love John Tenniel's illustrations of course, but also discovered the ones done by Arthur Rackham a few years ago when I was looking for other illustrators who had done their own version in the early part of the last century. Don't know if you saw my blog post about it? I showed the work of several illustrators in it http://fromsmilerwithlove.com/2008/01/15/more-alice-in-wonderland/

Brain Pickings does indeed seem to have interesting content, thanks for pointing it out to me. Yet another site I won't have time to visit nearly enough! *sigh*

#136 Ellen, I've been late picking up things from the library and have been pleasantly surprised to find they gave me a grace period, but usually I hurry on down there to make sure I don't miss anything.

The fractions I use appear really small on screen, but if you look closely, I actually gave The Song of Achilles 4.33 stars. My thinking is that 4.5 and above ends up on my favourites of the year list, and while I thought it was really very very good, I wasn't completely blown away by it either.

#137 Nathalie, I'll look forward to reading your comments when you do manage to get a better priced version of The Song of Achilles. I've only read one or two Marion Zimmer Bradley books in the Avalon series maybe a decade ago and enjoyed them a lot at the time, then got the third book in the series and didn't read it, so that now if I want to, I have to go back to the first two books to know what it was all about. It hasn't seemed like a top priority so far, but eventually I'll make the time for them. Maybe.

#138 Lucy, I wish I'd limited my activities to reading "man and animal" books in my teens instead of all the nonsense I got involved with... but since I didn't, I'm making up for it in my adult years. I have Farley Mowat's The Dog Who Wouldn't Be and been meaning to get my hands on Never Cry Wolf forever. Never heard of Gavin Maxwell before, but I see you have his Ring of Bright Water a full 5 stars. I'm almost ashamed to say I've never heard of James Herriot and feel I should have, since I'm at least familiar with the title of All Creatures Great and Small. Gee wouldn't you know, more books to discover!

#139 Paul, since I've mostly steered clear of poetry for the better part of my life, they are for the most part all new to me. I've heard the names of some of the most well known ones of course, like Robert Frost, but haven't yet read anything by him. I don't see myself reading cartloads of poetry every month all of a sudden, but will definitely continue having a book of poetry on hand so I can read one or three between other activities during my day. It's a new thing for me and quite enjoyable. Though I must say that the latest book I've been perusing is Carol Ann Duffy's selected poems and I'm finding her very very depressing so far.

Hi Ilana!
Your home must be a cross between a library and an art museum. Your thread is dessert at the end of my today :)

Thanks for the treat in #133 - Emily Dickinson
hugs!

My evening was mostly horrid. It was so bad I started thinking of what I should write as my last message to the world. I spoke to a friend who assured me that I had something to offer to the world, aside from my craziness. So I'm more or less ok now. Bruised ego mostly. Bruised elbow too, but that's no big deal.

I was going to write about it here, but it got too long and I don't want to bog down my thread with ugliness. So it's here if you're interested http://fromsmilerwithlove.com/2012/04/23/beware-the-crazy-woman/

#141 Oops, hi Claudia, sorry I didn't respond to you first. Was busy putting together a blog post and then didn't check if anyone had written again.

My home? It's mostly a mess with lots of books in it. Nice looking books mind you.

>142 Smiler69: oh dear. I hate those times when we look back and regret something we've done.
I snapped at the lovely lady at the pool a long time ago, she was so lovely and it wasn't her fault that the sauna wasn't operating, and she wasn't to know it was my first outing from the house in the evening in weeks and weeks, and that I had been so looking forward to sitting in the sauna and relaxing....I ended up filling in a customer survey months later and praising her skills in dealing with me in my irate state. Doing that made me feel slightly better....

I hope the well dressed gent on the stairs will think twice about pushing past people in future!

Sorry you had such a bad day!
Among the many things I don't miss in my new place there's the subway. I hated it most of the time and on bad days found it unbearable. Crowds/ rude people can certainly make you aggressive, and this guy clearly was rude. There are those days when it feels like your nerves are just too thin to bear anything out of line, and it seems like that woman in art class had used up all your reserves yesterday.

The only Zimmer Bradley I actually liked was the first of the Avalon books, although in retrospect I am not so sure if it was any good. I read it at a very young and impressionable age and tried to re-enact the magic stuff with tea-leaves instead of the magical herbs. I didn't know there were more books. I half-read and didn't like the "Troy/Cassandra" book (in German Die Feuer von Troja/ The Fires of Troy), then there was a retelling of the "Magical Flute" which I really hated.

Also sorry that your day turned out to have a few bumps in it. I'm all for avoiding those crowds of bustling, pushy people.

Ilana - it may surprise you but I have also been on a large scale downer over the last few days with work piling up, bills piling up, wife full of complaints about the 1001 things I should have done that I haven't go round to, my family elsewhere in crisis with my twin borderline suicidal (you do feel the twinges as a twin belive me!), my health not at its best with asthma interrupting a little, and my best staff hospitalised - last night I went to bed at 9.00 pm which as you know is not par for the course with me, the both of us being nocturnal creatures, and told myself this morning to dig in and not let the bastards (inner or outer) grind me down. Just thought I would share rather than make my usual attempt to put a smile on your face - cause the upshot is similar - don't let the bastards grind you down.

I also hate subways and I hate crowds and am fortunate that my long suffering mute of a driver whisks me nicely away from all that - I moved into my condo because the metro station is across the road but after the hustle and bustle and the constant irritation of people staring at the crazy white guy trying furiously to finish his chapter on a crowded train - I gave up and decided it had to be the car for me.

Oh, Ilana, it sounds like a very bad evening. I hate rude people. In my world, they are often college students who simply don't see anyone else who might be trying to use the sidewalk. Sometimes it's all I can do not to growl "stop texting or get off the sidewalk." So, sometimes I guess I'm that impatient walker who wants to go faster, but usually I'm just someone who's walking and wishes others wouldn't run smack into her. Or someone waiting to board a bus who can't believe the teenager who is pushing her out of the way to get on the bus first. Whatever.

In any case, there is NO excuse for actually trying to push someone up or down the stairway at a faster pace! I'm so sorry you had that experience -- and ended up in a puddle. And Ezra..... well, my dear, I'm just glad he still purrs when you pet him.

I hope today is a much, much better day. And I confirm what your friend said: you have much to offer the world and I would absolutely hate to see that very rude man take you any closer to the edge of doubting it.

Take care today. xoxo

oh Ilana, sorry you had to deal with some rather rude people! I had a similar experience like that in an airport while walking very fast to get to a plane I thought I was going to miss, I don't think I could have walked much faster. A lady pushed herself around me, almost knocking me down and said "move" in my ear as she went by. It took all my willpower not to push her down the escalator!

Hope you are feeling better today!

That is beyond rude, Ilana! You have every right to be upset at that@#*$!. No one should put their hands on anyone else, ever, and I'll bet if that guy had attempted to push someone out of the way in NYC, Philadelphia or elsewhere he would have had a fight on his hands, or at least a heated argument. I'm sorry that this happened to you, and I hope that you have a much better day today.

Hi Ilana. I can't believe people's attitudes today. There was no excuse for him putting hands on you and I'm glad that you told him so! The fault lies in others, my dear. I hope you are feeling better about everything today.

Thank you so much Megan, Nathalie, Kerry, Paul, Ellen, Chelle, Daryl and Judy for leaving such kind and understanding comments today. Felt quite bruised today, both figuratively and literally, and it was nice to get so much sympathy, when I mostly felt ashamed for my own actions of yesterday. I always think I should be able to rise above unpleasant situations and people, and it's a crushing disappointment when my tempter gets the better of me and makes me act like a fool. I'd rather put the whole incident behind me at this point—it brought about some dreadful self-destructive thoughts in the aftermath which I'd also rather leave behind.

I spent the day away from the computer and putting order in my paperwork, something I tend to leave off doing for the better part of the year, but obviously today I felt like I needed to put my house in order.

Tonight watched the first part of the BBC production of David Copperfield with Maggie Smith et al. which I'd borrowed from the library. Wonderful to see it so soon after reading the novel.

Today started listening to The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie which is a re-read, and also to The Complete Short Stories by Muriel Spark, this week being devoted to Spark in the Virago Modern Classics group. This is the thread if anyone's interesting in joining: http://www.librarything.com/topic/132710

eta: I received Gillespie and I in the post today and it was all I could do not to jump on it immediately. But I've got The Elegance of the Hedgehog going at the moment and I fear that if I start on another book I just won't continue with it. Not that I don't think it's good, it's just quite heavy going. Will have to make room for GaI soon though!

#144 Thanks Megan

#145 As I said Nathalie, I may revisit the first book in Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series eventually and will decide then whether I feel like continuing with it or not (or even if I want to finish the first book!) But it's not a priority at the moment.

#146 I see even more taxi rides in my future Kerry.

#147 I'm so sorry that things aren't going well for you at the moment Paul. We all have moments when difficulties seem to come all at once and find it hard to cope. I hope for your sake that things let up soon and you can enjoy some easier times. A great guy like you deserves to have a good time.

#148 Thanks Ellen. Today was a slow and restful day. I also got to speak to my therapist, which was probably good timing.

#149 Thanks Chelle.

#150 Thanks Darryl, it was nice to be in my quiet and safe little bubble that is home today. I should say especially nice. I can see a phobia about public transit starting to gain ground on me, and probably for good reason!

#151 It's funny when we say that things are bad nowadays—in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, at one point Miss Jean Brodie complains to her students that she probably won't be able to get a seat on the tram (I think it was) because "this is 1932 after all" (paraphrasing as not sure of the year, but you get the idea).

Stronger willed than I - by not jumping into Gillespie and I straight away .... but then there are so many good books .... I wanted to stay home & read all day but it was not to be

#133 Gosh, the Emily Dickinson book looks beautiful. I've never read any of her poetry before either.

#142 Aargh, what a nightmare day! I'm really shocked to hear how you were manhandled by the man on the escalator - I thought the London tubes were a bit of a scrum during commuter times but I have never seen anyone behave that badly. Hugs.

#152 I'm also hoping to get to The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie this week but somehow it's Wednesday already and I need to read and return The Snow Child to the library by Friday...

Hi Ilana, I've been mostly off LT the last couple of days and the number of posts that have piled up on the popular threads like yours have been humbling. I loved just catching up with you and will be ordering a copy of My Letter to the World and Other Poems since my library doesn't have it and have put The Song of Achilles on hold at the library since that one they did have.

I was sorry to read about your subway incident. It sounds like the height of rudeness to me to push someone up the stairs and makes me appreciate the uncrowded lifestyle of living in Idaho even more. I hope your art class isn't impacted negatively by the returning student. That class has always sounded so perfect for you.

Hope your spirits have revived. Your posts are always so interesting.

I read your horror story on yr. blog. Oi. Much sympathy.

#154 Alex, I've decided that I must read The Observations before getting to Gillespie and I. Since the latter is the stronger novel of the two, I want to give The Observations a running chance so I won't be comparing it unfavourably with GaI, as I've heard it's also very good.

#155 Heather, the first time I read Jean Brodie two years ago, it was from a print copy. I got my hands on the audio version recently and thought maybe I'd appreciate it more in that format, but nope. I'm very close to the end—will finish it tonight but came close to dropping it several times. I've really enjoyed several of the novels by Spark I've read so far, but this one obviously isn't a favourite, no matter that it happens to be the most popular.

#156 Hi Pat! Thanks for dropping by. I keep checking in on LT several times a day, so I don't see my thread moving fast since I just see less than a handful of messages at a time or none at all usually. I'm glad I've inspired your to get the Emily Dickinson book and I hope you'll find it a worthwhile investment. As you know, I definitely think so!

Sometimes I do wish I could get myself a house in the country or a quiet suburb somewhere, but I'm so used to city living that I'm not sure how I'd handle being so isolated, even though I DO spend most of my time holed up at home.

#157 Thanks Lucy. Better now.

Big day tomorrow, starting at 7:30 a.m. which is when I'm usually getting my best sleep. I'll be starting on my day-long figure and portraiture painting class, which should be very interesting. I'm very stressed out about having to get up with the birds though, since I haven't done so in a very long time and will have to go to bed extra early tonight, which in and of itself is a tough enough challenge.

Am not very happy on the reading front since a few days ago. Am finishing up on the audio of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie tonight, which was a reread and which I didn't enjoy any more than I did the first time (which was not a lot), though I was hoping I'd like it more now that I've read and enjoyed several Muriel Spark novels. Then I've got The Elegance of the Hedgehog going which is a very good novel, just very dense and hard to connect with and get into. Then that book of essays about trees, The Global Forest. I love trees and recognize fully well how important they are to the planet and humanity, but it's so dispiriting reading about all the nature that we're destroying ever faster day by day. And the poems by Carol Ann Duffy aren't exactly a walk in the park either. Oh my. Of course I feel like dumping them all and jumping into some Jane Harris and/or a bunch of other promising books in my tbr, but I've set my sights on finishing these books as I'll be disappointed with myself if I don't. The Global Forest was a gift from my favourite aunt, and The Elegance of the Hedgehog has been on my tbr for ages and I was really looking forward to it. So... that's that I guess.

A few very quick reviews and then... bedtime!

Hi Ilana- Have you been watching GOT? It was another terrific episode. I'm sad I don't have anyone here to chat with about it. How about that Smoke Baby?
Thanks, you reminded me about the BBC DC series. I completely forgot about it. It's funny how fast our minds move on to something else.

59. Selected Poems by Roger McGough ★★★¾

This collection of poems covers the whole span or writings by McGough, from the 60s to this day. Born in Liverpool, he's been called 'The patron saint of poetry' by fellow poet Carol Ann Duffy, and he is one of the most popular poets currently living in England. As can be expected, there was a wide range of topics, styles and tones here. I was drawn to his first poems written in his youth before the harsh realities of life set in, but reading his more mature works, I grew to appreciate his mordant humour and undeniable wit. There's no right or wrong way to go about reading a poetry book, but I learned from this one that it does pay sometimes to read them in order. As I was casually flipping through, I saw a poem called "Happy Ending" which was about a man who walks through a meadow and ends up shooting himself. Great I thought, this guy is a real barrel of laughs. Turns out the previous poem, titled "Rabbit in Mixer Survives" was inspired by an incident reported in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, and is about a rabbit that has survived some great ordeals. It ends on a sad note when a man with a gun approaches the bunny who fails to see his killer. So the Happy Ending of the next poem was actually meant for the bunny, whom the man, about to kill himself, fails to take notice of, which I guess for an animal lover is a consolation after all, and shows that McGough indeed has a wicked sense of humour. I don't know how to review poetry, since it's all new to me, so here is one of his poems that I liked, which also appears on his website:

PAY-BACK TIME

O Lord, let me be a burden on my children
For long they've been a burden upon me.
May they fetch and carry, clean and scrub
And do so cheerfully.

Let them take it in turns at putting me up
Nice sunny rooms at the top of the stairs
With a walk-in bath and lift installed
At great expense.....Theirs.

Insurance against the body-blows of time
Isn't that what having children's all about?
To bring them up knowing that they owe you
And can't contract out?

What is money for but to spend on their schooling?
Designer clothes, mindless hobbies, usual stuff.
Then as soon as they're earning, off they go
Well, enough's enough.

It's been a blessing watching them develop
The parental pride we felt as each one grew.
But Lord, let me be a burden on my children
And on my children's children too.

60. ♫ The Great Poets: W. B. Yeats ★★★½

Being new to poetry, Yeats wasn't familiar to me other than by name, so this poetry collection, which includes brief introductions to each poem with biographical comments was a great introduction, especially here as read by a cast headed Jim Norton. Many of the poems were taken from the latter part of Yeats's career and didn't appeal to me all that well, but the first, and one of his best known is already among my favourites:

Down By the Salley Gardens

Down by the salley gardens
my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens
with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy,
as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish,
with her would not agree.

In a field by the river
my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder
she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy,
as the grass grows on the weirs;
But I was young and foolish,
and now am full of tears.

Ilana, I just love reading your reviews. It is obvious that you put time and thought into each one, and I learn a lot even when reading your reviews about books that will not make my TBR. I love the investment that you make in evaluating the work of others - you are artistic in every venture and it makes reading what you have to say that much more valuable. I was so sorry to read about the rudeness that you encountered the other day and worry about where we are headed when we begin to think that the progress of someone else is slowing us down. I do not understand the callousness that makes people think that they have the right to push others around so that they may get to where they are going that much faster. Do we no longer have time for courtesy? No one ever has the right to push you or to touch you in a hostile manner. You were right to stick up for yourself. If no one steps forward to say "NO" then the action becomes acceptable. I think you were brave.

Thanks for sharing yourself so honestly with all of us. That is strength, not weakness.

Agree, not for the first time, with Mamie - enjoyed your reviews immensely. McGough and Yates are favourites of mine and your selections represent both well. The churlish humour of McGough and Yates wistfully lyrical. Which dreamer cannot connect with the unrequitedness of his poem?

Really getting into the poetry now, that's great. I'm glad you seem to be enjoying them.

Mamie's comment above is so lovely, and so well said, I think most people would agree with the content too. I hope when you log on (in the morning before class?) your visitors comments will have left you with a warm feeling for the day.

161> Love the cover art.
xo

Thanks, Ilana! I enjoyed your reviews of the two poetry collections, along with the poems you posted.

#159 I hope your portraiture painting class goes well Ilana, despite the early start.

#161 I do like the cover Penguin have done for the Roger McGough book.

Oh WOW. I really shouldn't be here right now. Am not in fact, not really, just breezing through. I've re-read the first part of Mamie's comment several times, about what I have to say being that much more valuable, and boy, is that ever a heart warmer!

Thank you all for your kind comments. I'll be back later tonight for an update and individual responses. In the meantime, we're expecting loads of rain in the afternoon, but in the meantime, there are beautiful rays of sunshine pouring into my living room, even as the grey clouds loom at large. Must make hay while the sun shines...

Big hug to everyone who sees this!

Hi Ilana - What an exciting day for you! You get to see the world in the early morning (a must do every once in awhile) - and, a great art adventure waiting to happen. Have fun!

{{{Ilana}}} BIG, big hugs!

All quiet on planet Ilana - hope you are feeling swell and I wish you a lovely, peaceful and trouble free weekend. x

Just checking in - hope you had a great day.

As can be expected, yesterday was a very full day. I woke up early filled with energy and excited about the class, managed to get there early (a rarity for me!) and really enjoyed my first painting day in a long time.

As I was writing the above, it turned into quite a long and elaborate description of our subject matter and details about how the class was conducted, which I thought would be more appropriate to post on my blog for those interested. I won't have time to finish the post tonight, but will post a link when it's up.

Last night, I was tired out from a long day in the studio, so made myself some fried liver and onions with sautéed potatoes (organic, all), then sat in front of the telly to watch the second part of the BBC adaptation of David Copperfield. It was quite good, but it felt strange seeing that sprawling novel so filled with details condensed into a mere three hours of screen time.

Today: slept in, went shopping at the dollar store for some knickknacks, did odds and ends, and here I am. Every day I set out wanting to spend a few hours reading, and every day I somehow don't manage to do it, but other than that all is well.

I treated myself to a bit of girlie fun and yesterday received Great Fashion Designs of the Fifties Paper Dolls in the mail. I like those so much I decided to also order Great Fashion Designs of the Forties and Christian Dior Fashion Review Paper Dolls. The only trouble is they're too good to cut out of the book...

Hi Mamie, Paul, Megan, Ellen, Daryl, Heather and Claudia thank you all again for your comments yesterday, they really made me smile and put me in a good mood for the long day ahead.

Paul, Claudia and Mamie, thanks for checking in on me tonight. I meant to come here much earlier and had a bunch of things to do, including setting up a new thread for The Grapes of Wrath, but somehow time always flies along and I never seem to be able to get anything done!

eta: I started listening to a new audio yesterday, which I finished today. It was Fallen Grace and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in 1861 about a "fallen" young girl, inspired by Dickens and lots of fun. I'll review it when I get there!

Ilana, I got my box of Puffin cards yesterday (from Amazon.uk since it's not yet available in the U.S.) and today I got a box of 100 postcards from "The World of Beatrix Potter." Many cute book covers, but also some notes from Ms. Potter's creative process. Pretty cool.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for setting up the thread for The Grapes of Wrath. I don't feel like you should have to do the thread for all twelve months, so when we get to East of Eden in July, I will take responsibility for setting it up. I'll probably just follow your creative lead, but I can do the work itself.

I hope your weekend is a good one.

Hi Ilana. You always find such interesting books. I used to love paperdolls. I got my copy of My Letter to the World and Other Poems from Amazon today and I liked it so much I'm going to look into getting the other books in the Visions in Poetry series. Now I'm off to check out The Grapes of Wrath thread. I can't believe it's almost May.

Hi Ilana, the paper doll books look great! I'd love to get them as a gift for my niece, but I fear she's too little to appreciate them as I would myself. So guess that means I'd be getting them for myself like you did! There's nothing like a nostalgic treat :)
Glad you had a great painting day.

Hi Ellen, glad to see your postcard collecting is still going strong! I have yet to actually write on one of them and send it in the mail! So far I've limited my use to putting them in service as page markers, and that's it.

Don't worry about the thread set-up. I enjoy doing it, really. Makes me feel important ;-)

Seriously, I do miss being "in charge" of stuff from my old days as a VIP art director sometimes, so this small chore does satisfy the control freak that I am in meaningful ways. :-)

For those interested in the Steinbeckathon, here's the discussion thread for The Grapes of Wrath: http://www.librarything.com/topic/136379

#177 Pat, I had the same instinct as you when I saw this Visions in Poetry series, though lucky for me they are all available here at the library (as they should be, since the series is by a Canadian publishing house), and I borrowed all of them, save for one or two I think. For some reason, My Letter to the World and Other Poems ended up being my favourite of the lot by a long stretch, both in terms of poems and illustrations individually, and how they worked together. I didn't so much like the art for The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, though I like the poem a lot, and while I loved the art for Jabberwocky, the poem itself doesn't do much for me. I love love love The Owl and the Pussycat and liked the art a lot (by an artist I think is amazing and who was a candidate for the Hans Christian Anderson award this year, Stéphane Jorisch), but somehow I didn't feel like I NEEDED to own it. But if there was another one to buy, that would be it, imho.

Hi Megan, sorry hadn't seen your message before I posted the above. Somehow, I don't think these dolls are really made for small children, because they're printed on a thick paper stock (like cardboard) and need to be cut out, probably with an X-acto knife or similar precision blade. Unless of course they're left as-is to just look at. I'm really tempted to cut them out, but it seems like such a big sacrifice... unless I decide to purchase a second book to keep intact of course! Let me know if you do get them!

I used to spend hours and hours with paper dolls.
I cut my own from Gram's old Sears catalogs and glued them on heavier stock that was avail. Then I cut out whole wardrobes (reminding myself "don't forget the tabs!") and accessories.
There were several handicapped amputees in my crowd due to various poses. LOL Now, if I were any kind of artist, I would have come up with artificial limbs! It was also a challenge to get the right sizes to match clothng and doll. Lots of fun on rainy days.

Glad you loved your art class! You don't give yourself enough credit for all you do! Looking forward to your blog ;-)

Ilana, thanks for your input on the Visions in Poetry series. My first choice for the next one to buy was The Owl and the Pussycat so I think I'll go ahead and order that one and then see. Hope you have a great weekend.

I, too, am a lover of paper dolls. We have several of those sets you mentioned above, Ilana, as my daughters loved to play with them. They are a bit more work to cut out, but they hold up to lots of use. My middle daughter loves art and now she designs her own clothes for them, so now although she is sixteen, the paper dolls still have a place of honor - they have moved from playthings to design inspiration. I certainly got my money's worth out of them.

Another endorsement of Mamie's post (>163 Crazymamie:), really enjoy your comments here, Ilana.

Love the Roger McGough poem! May have to send it to our kids as a hint.

Yeats is wonderful. You'll like his poems more the more you read.

I plan to read Grapes of Wrath with the group, but I may come in late, as I'm starting a doorstopper, Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell.

I ended up waking up much later than I wanted today as hadn't set up my alarm right, and now I'm annoyed because I really wanted to cram in a lot into my day, including making some chicken pot pies and a soup, spending a bit of time on a creative project of sorts, reading, catching up here on LT with friends and my own reviews, completing one or two blog posts, and maybe visiting a friend in RL. Overly ambitious, as always. I think I'll just have to start with some quality reading time though, because that's what I miss the most these days and I'd like to finish off at least a couple of books by the end of the month. If I don't put that first it just won't happen.

For those who are fans of paper dolls, I just discovered a new-to-me paper doll artist yesterday called Gregg Nystrom. He doesn't have a book out yet, but Dover is publishing one in 2013 which is available for pre-orders. Below, two fashion icons of the 1950s, Dovima and Suzy Parker, as published in the Winter 2011 issue of Fashion Doll Quarterly (I found this info on a blog called The Paper Collector).

  

#181 Claudia, I don't know why you keep saying you're not artistic, because what you describe of your experience making and outfitting your own paper dolls as a child sound very creative to me!

"There were several handicapped amputees in my crowd due to various poses"

That made me smile! It sounds like it would have been a very difficult project indeed. I might have tried my hand at it when I was a kid too, but wasn't very patient then and probably gave it up before I got anywhere.

#182 Pat, I think you'll be very happy with The Owl and the Pussycat. Jorisch has a very unique style that is a lot of fun and very creative, and of course it's a wonderful poem as I'm sure you well know. Will look forward to your comments on the book. I must say I'm always tickled when I see that I've influenced others to look up books, and really happy you've gone as far as purchasing these two. They're truly quality projects which aren't ever likely to make any bestseller lists.

#183 Mamie, it does sound like you've gotten your money's worth with those Dover publications. I remember as a kid we had one book about photographer Karl Blossfeldt and another about snowflakes by photographer Wilson Bentley, and both have always remained with me. I'd be curious to know what doll collections you'd gotten her?

#184 Thanks Joe, very sweet of you to say.

Even though I'm not a parent, I quite savoured that McGough poem and can imagine that most parents would love it too.

I too get the feeling that Yeats is one of those poets that just keeps growing on you the more you read him, which is why I'm happy I got that lovely book.

Lovely that you'll be joining us for The Grapes of Wrath. No pressure at all as to when you pick it up though. I myself am not reading it again since I re-read it last year, but I'll be reading The Worst Hard Time and watching the John Huston movie to remain within the scope of the work. I've got the audio of Dance to the Music of Time: First Movement, which I'll pick up one of those days. I'll look out for your review of course!

How great would those paper doll images look nicely framed on a wall? *ideas flashing through my head for nieces birthday gifts*

On Etsy (a recent discovery for me) I saw someone was selling old dictionary pages with black images screen printed onto them. Selling for NZ$8....I favourited a few....and then the other day I saw the same ones (different images but same pages) for sale here in a fancy boutique home store, selling for NZ$39! There are so many ways to create nice images for framing, so thanks for another idea with the paper dolls :)

Megan, I love Etsy and have been receiving their daily emails for at least a couple of years now. There are many many talented people offering their handmade wares there, but also, as you've discovered, it's a treasure trove of ideas.

Just finished The Global Forest. It's a strange little book, written by a woman who is obviously passionate about trees. It's message is an important one I think, but it's also a distressing read since, as we all know, trees are continually being cut down at a scary rate.

Haven't done anything with my day so far other than go to the library, finish this book and think about cooking and baking, making art and blogging. I'm getting very sleepy, so remains to be seen if I'll get anything at all done. For now, I'll read a few more chapter of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which I'd really like to finish before May 1.

How are you liking The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Ilana?

I'm not sure how I like it Ellen. There's lots about it I like, but it's also very very dense and often makes me feel dumb. :-(

PS my favourite postcards (in case you are writing out your last will and testament today....) are the Call of the Wild, and also on top right corner, the Snowman (I remember being so sad at the thought of him melting).

in case you are writing out your last will and testament today

I wasn't, but I've often asked myself who I could possibly leave all my earthly possessions to...

Ilana - I'd gladly take all the books! But hopefully you won't need to "decide" that was aeons yet. I will be joining the Grapes of Wrath for my annual dose of Steinbeck. Don't know why this remains one of the few of his I haven't read yet.

>192 LovingLit: wasn't trying to be morbid! I haven't considered who will inherit my books yet....someone who will appreciate them that's for sure. Maybe a low decile school library?

I say things like that in jest (?), too
;-)

Like... "In case I die tonight, I put such-and-such in the whatever... or, such-and-such stills needs to be done"
So many people hate when I say that!
It's when they start writing their names on the bottoms of things that I get a little worried :{

The 50's were my mother's fashion era and she had some wonderful dresses and suits!

I settled the 'who will get my stuff should I suddenly die' question years ago. My friends know who will get the first pick on my books and who's next. Okay, the Italian books might go to the library, but I am not worried about the others.

I also had my difficulties with "Hedgehog" when I read it in 2010. I ended up posting two quite different review alternatives on my thread and giving the book the combined rating.

Ilana, there's an small gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on fashion drawings between the 1940s - 1980s that I think you would enjoy. Most of the drawings were used in Lord & Taylor advertisements or in fashion magazines. Some were actual fashion sketches by designers. But they provided a really nice look at the evolution of fashion through the years.

Keep with The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Ilana. It may grow on you. I loved the book even if I wished for a different ending.

#194 Glad you'll be joining in Paul, The Grapes of Wrath is a must-read!

#195 I didn't think you were being morbid Megan. Maybe that's because I am?

#196 t's when they start writing their names on the bottoms of things that I get a little worried

:-)

#197 Whatever was going on in the 50s, at least people looked good doing it!

#198 The Elegance of the Hedgehog is definitely not an easy one to define. I'd be curious to read both review you wrote, can you post the links?

#199 Caro, that gallery in Boston sounds wonderful. Definitely the kind of thing I'd enjoy.

Well, I've had a blue day, and now I've just finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I can't say my blues have been alleviated any.

Again, so many things I wanted to do, and last night, absolutely exhausted, I got to sleep a whole hour earlier than is my habit these days. But then, I fought with my bedclothes again all night and into the morning. I guess I should have just have given in, gotten up and done things, but after sleepless nights I'm a complete wreck. Every part of my body, eyes, hair, heart, fingertips; hurts. Even breathing is an effort. In short, I don't do well on too little sleep.

So no, I didn't cook. Didn't work on my blog post, didn't write any postcards and letters or put together a nice package I've been promising my mother, didn't do any artwork. What DID I do?

• Watched the four last episodes in season 2 of Black Books, which made me laugh a little
• Finished a book
• Posted a haiku on my blog to try to encapsulated the angst I've always felt on Sunday evenings.

It's called Sunday Blues Haiku:

Sunday evening falls
All that’s left undone; a weight
Darkness closes in

Oh boy. I'm a real bundle of laughs tonight. My apologies.

Did you write that haiku?

Oh yes, I did. Forgot to mention that.

Also forgot that Game of Thrones is on in thirty minutes. Perfect sort of escapism I seem to really need today. Off to throw together a potato spinach and cheese omelette for sustenance...

That haiku is really excellent and I get it.
But I am hoping "Darkness" will be a peaceful night of sleep and sweet dreams for you...
though I don't think that is what you meant.

Still - cheer up!
Tomorrow starts another week and you have all that time ahead of you to make the world a wonderful place -
which you do, whether you realize/acknowledge it or not :)

btw, it is not clear on your blog that you are the poet... perhaps you will make a note of that.

Warm hugs and more hugs!

Ilana, I love your haiku - haikus are so wonderfully sparse and are forced to convey depth and meaning in just a few carefully chosen words. I can feel the heaviness of your thoughts. Here's another take on what you wrote; it's what I would say back to you:

Sunday evening falls
All that's left undone will wait;
Night embraces you

Just a thought. Take care, Ilana. Sending warm thoughts your way.

#206 Claudia, you did indeed get my meaning. As I mentioned earlier, I really don't do well at all after a bad night's sleep. I feel feverish and very sick and depressed, so yeah. Feeling kind of like a sorry case. Going on 43, brilliant career behind me, headed nowhere fast. Oh my god, I've just written another haiku!

Going on 43,
brilliant career behind me,
headed nowhere fast.

Thanks for the note on the authorship not being indicated. I've taken care of it now.

I have no right feeling sorry for myself, I do realize. And you're a doll. Thanks so much for believing in me, even (especially?) when I don't. I'll be better once I've gotten a proper night's sleep. xx

#207 Mamie, that's a wonderful response, and very very kind. I'll take that thought with me as I get ready for what I hope will be a restful sleep.

Lovely haiku (the Sunday evening one) and a good way of encapsulating current thought, I do want to see tomorrows one though, once you've ticked some of the things off your list and are feeling a bit better *mock tell off voice*.

Here's my one:
37 years soon
av career behind me
no career ahead.

But after my coffee it could just as easily be:
Opportunities;
All around and everywhere
they wait to be discovered.

Hope Monday is better for you :)

wow there are a lot of great poets on this thread! I won't even attempt as poetry and I don't get along, but I do hope you get some sleep tonight and hope tomorrow will be a nice shiny bright day for you!

You really sound quite ill. I hope you are getting some rest right now while I am typing this and that you feel much better in the morning.

I love those Haikus! I feel strongly with Ilana's, but I just copied Megan's second one and stuck it to the edge of my office computer screen to help me against the Monday morning blues!! And I might put Mamie's on my nightstand as a remedy against my Sunday afternoon/evening/night angst.

#200: it's post #10 in this thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/87066
I felt bad and bitchy when I wrote it, but couldn't help the feelings I had with this book. I have a tendency to be over-critical with popular books, but in this case I wasn't even aware then (still new to the world of LT threads) of its great popularity. I had bought it simply because it caught my eye in a bookshop, I liked the cover and the quality of the paper.
I just reread my double review and still agree with it, I'd just lower the rating, because I am much stricter now with my books (2 stars/ 4 stars ==> 3 stars combined).

I forgot I wanted to add sth to the paper doll discussion. A friend of mine gave me a 'build your pefect man' paper doll book for my last birthday, and though all three guys (blond, brunette and dark, but all looked like Ken) looked just silly, no matter which clothes I chose, I had a lot of fun with the book. There was a rocker outfit, sports clothes, business suits, etc. and there even was a leash with a cute labrador puppy you could attach to them.

Impressive series of inspired haikus here Ilana - not my forte I must admit but here is mine - and the source is the stresses and strains of life that sometimes get us down:

Paul's Haiku

The unlimitedness
of feelings, are like stones
crushing me.

Well, this is a somewhat different take on National Poetry Month! Sunday evenings are almost always tinged with the blues for me. Something about the promise of the weekend and the dread of the work week, even though, once I get to work on Monday, it's never so bad. Still, your initial Haiku captures the feeling too well, Ilana. And I'm enjoying the others, too. (I suppose "enjoying" is not necessarily the right word).

I loved The Elegance of the Hedgehog without reservation. I read it while vacationing on Vancouver Island in August 2010, for my 50th birthday, and couldn't put it down. Unfortunately, that was before I had discovered LT, so I wasn't writing reviews or comments and now I can't remember much about the novel! :-P

> 201: love your haiku Ilana, and the ones that followed too!

at home many years
made me loose the feel of what
day comes after day

Not very optimistic either, I fear... but many days I don't actually know what day it is

I took a "sick" day today and slept till I could sleep no more and feel better for it now. This means I missed my art class, but I don't even feel badly about it, though I should, I guess. All I know is I didn't want to be in the same room as that irritating woman. My bruises from last week have gone from blue to greenish yellow and cover a good portion of my upper and lower right arm as graphic reminders of just how badly I handle stress. I took advantage of some sunshine today on a nice walk with Coco, and was visited by my lovely friend Kim who was in the area, waiting for her bus to take her home.

As an accompaniment to my walk, I started listening to the audio of The Gods of Gotham, which is set in New York city in the mid-1840s, when a huge wave of Irish immigrants came in following the Potato Famine and the police force was created, as told from the point of view of a young man who was more or less forced into becoming a policeman following tragic circumstances. So far enjoying it quite a bit.

I'm feeling better today, at least on the physical front, and though I can't say I've accomplished anything so far, this doesn't seem like as big a deal as it did yesterday. But a day without suffering is a good day as far as I'm concerned. So my haiku for today would be... let's see...

Well rested, no pain
Could have been more creative—
Good enough for now.

a day without suffering is a good day as far as I'm concerned. Right on.
And I like your haiku for the day.
And I'm glad you and Coco got a walk in the sunshine.

#209 Megan, I don't know all that much about haiku, and haven't read any of the classic ones like Basho, but I've been playing around with them for a few years now. I like sticking to the 5-7-5 format, although I know it doesn't have any relation to the Japanese construction—I just do better within strict boundaries, and that specific layout of syllables seems to come to me very naturally. I love your contributions, but you have to fill me in on what an "av career" is. I wish I could have your optimism. I lost the capacity to hope for anything better somewhere along the line.

#210 Chelle, I only took to poetry in the last month or so. Before that I had very little interest in it. But I'm glad I've inspired others to contribute their own haiku. I've gotten plenty of sleep and feel much better for it, though of course the disadvantage is I'm left with few hours to do anything...

#211 Wow Nathalie, I think you really hit it over the head with your two reviews of The Elegance of the Hedgehog and couldn't agree with you more. Would you mind if I just copy/pasted them into my thread so I could be done with it? I read the original French and did wonder how it translated into other languages because everything about this novel was so very FRENCH. And PARISIAN. Even the obsession with another culture is so very much from a FRENCH point of view. And the type of philosophizing they're doing is so very French, and so very... obnoxious, I find, when the French go about it. And I'm allowed to say all these things because I LOVE the French culture and have always part of me belonged there because I feel it in my veins, so therefore can see all it's downfalls. I agree the author must have felt compelled to demonstrate something; how clever she is. And I agree I was also annoyed with all these assumptions about the reader; why would I necessarily be surprised that a concierge could have such refined tastes. But then... I also see how she was playing with the whole stereotype of the Parisian concierge, and how the French are very much stuck on stereotypes... and the ending... my mom, who told me she read it in our last email exchange, said: "Bien aimé, sauf pour la fin qui m'a pare plaquée", in other words I think she means the ending felt pasted on. One one hand I completely agree. On the other hand... but I'll save that for the review, if I have any hope of writing a coherent one with my own point of view...

Love that gift your friend gave you, with the "build your perfect man" paper doll. Sounds like something my friends would have given me when I was in my late 30s and absolutely obsessed with meeting my husband-to-be so I could get started on a family. Very funny they have a dog on a leash as an option! :-)

#212 Love your contribution Paul, and I can relate to the feeling all too well my friend, all too well. Hugs to you.

#213 Something about the promise of the weekend and the dread of the work week

Yes, indeed a different take on Poetry Month, the thought did occur to me too when I saw all the other haiku as a response, and I was so happy to see that! You summed it up very well with the above statement Ellen. For me, I remember vividly at one point being 9 years old and scrambling to finish my homework on a Sunday evening and feeling utterly discouraged... for some reason that specific felling has stayed with me through the years... I was going to calculate how many Sundays that makes that I've had that specific brand of Sunday blues, but then I remembered I'm NOT Paul! LOL :-)

Kidding aside, I'm glad to know, and shouldn't be surprised really, that others out there feel the same way. Most people have Monday blues, but you're right. (Most of the time) Mondays turn out not so bad after all. Though what do I know? I'm saying that with hindsight of 5 years spent without working... if I remember correctly, every day seemed like an insurmountable struggle. Sheesh.

#214 Anita, thanks for sharing your haiku with us, and again, I understand the feeling well. It's funny thought, because after all these years of being at home, I can't seem to lose track of the days. Maybe because I've got touchstones throughout my weeks, with the art classes and appointments with therapists, and garbage collection days to keep track of and so on. Also seeing the huge lineups of people just down the street from me waiting for the bus from Monday to Friday, and then how quiet it is on the weekend...

#216 Thanks Ellen. "Good enough for now" has been my motto these past years. And really, whether we work hard at attaining goals, or just lay low and let time go by... there all just part of life, and we all die in the end, so whatever we do or don't do HAS to be good enough. Unless you're among those who feel compelled to leave a mark on humanity... I guess that's a whole different story. Though is it really? I wonder? What do you think?

>217 Smiler69: "av career" is a classic Kiwi abbreviation, for average ! Made the poem work. Back later to read more and comment better :)

Ilana- I've been hearing very good things about The Gods of Gotham. I'm glad you are enjoying it. I hope I can find it on audio, that way I could get to it faster.
I have been LOVING GOT! It is so smartly written and the acting is just superb. Wasn't little Arrya excellent? We need to see more of her. And the guy calling Tyrion a Demon Monkey, was priceless. I hope you are feeling the same way.

Very cool haikus on your thread, Ilana.

Hey, if you find yourself needing a reason to come to Boston, here's one: http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/figurefabricfantasy

I really have to get to The Song of Achilles! I have seen nothing but good reviews of that one.

Ilana - hahaha on the stats attack! I can check if you like?

Tip toeing in...
I wonder if you beat me to sleep tonight? Hope so!
I tried and failed -
Now what? Not used to being up this late :{
I can't do haikus.
Hi Coco....

Glad to see you are enjoying Gods of Gotham. I just bought that one when Nate took me to the book store. I had intended to buy some classics but ended up buying that one and an old Dean Koontz that I hadn't read yet.
I hope to get to them in May

Just a quick hello. Sorry you are feeling so troubled. Sometimes all you can do is keeping putting one foot in front of the other.

#219 You know you're welcome anytime Megan!

#220 Hi Mark, I got The Gods of Gotham on Audible, but of course if you can find it at the library that's even better.

Game of Thrones is indeed a very good trip. Arya is great—so expressive! And yes, the "Demon Monkey" bit was excellent. It's pure entertainment, and very well done. The special effects are also quite something. How did you like that opening scene, which followed up on last week's closing scene with the "shadows". That kind of thing is always hard for me to imagine, so I really enjoy seeing how the masters go about interpreting it for the viewing public.

#221 Caro, it's been a couple of decades since I was last in Boston, and I remember loving it then. That exhibit definitely looks like something I'd enjoy too...

#222 Stasia, The Song of Achilles definitely seems to be a favourite around here. I'd be surprised if you didn't love it too.

#223 Be my guest my dear Paul!

#224 Wow, Claudia, what were you doing up at that ungodly hour? We're slowly working, my OT and I on getting me to a more reasonable schedule, so we started this past week with a lights-out time of 2 a.m. (which is better than I'd been doing). I've been really good about it all week, so yes, seems I did indeed beat you to it this time. Seeing her again tomorrow... I'm ready to scale back some more!

#225 Chelle, Gods of Gotham is proving to be a very good piece of fiction. Must warn you that there are a few gruesome scenes involving children though... I didn't shock me too much, but I know some people might be really bothered by that.

#226 Hi Morphy! The past couple of nights have been much more restful, and needless to say I'm very relieved about that. Hopefully I'll have more interesting things to report soon...

61. ♫ Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman Stefan Zweig ★★★★½
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #1: The First Half 1901-1951)

This story within a story begins at a guesthouse on the French Riviera, where a scandal has just erupted: two of the guests, a seemingly respectable wife and mother and an attractive young stranger have fled together after speaking together for just a few hours. There is a raging debate among the guests about the morality of the situation. Should the woman be seen as a pariah, or were her motives of the heart pardonable? In this early 20th century setting, most of the guests believe the woman has committed an unspeakable act, but the narrator, a single man, doesn't think so. Mrs C, a respectable, white-haired English woman in her 60s, after a brief exchange with him, decides she must come clean about her past and proceeds to tell him a story from her younger days, when, within a 24-hour period she let her carefully constructed world of proper widowhood fall to pieces for stranger with a death wish. She had met the stranger in question at a casino, where she spent the evening observing the hands of the players and was taken in by his in particular—the most expressive she'd ever seen. Fascinated, she watches the stranger lose a huge sum of money, then, when he gives every sign that he has decided to do away with himself, she comes to his rescue and falls into a vortex of passion for which her life as a proper English lady had not prepared her: "Perhaps only those who are strangers to passion know such sudden outbursts of emotion in their few passionate moments ... whole years fall from one's own breast with the fury of powers left unused." But can one really expect true love and dedication from an addict? Another very short novel (around 100 pages) by Zweig filled to the brim with timeless human drama. Strongly recommended.

62. Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei by Peter Sís ★★★★
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #10: Beyond Fiction)

Another beautiful book by Sís, this time profiling physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher Galileo, who dared defy the long-held belief that the earth was the centre of the universe, and basing himself on observations through a telescope he had build and improved upon himself, proved that the earth actually orbited the sun. Filled with details about his life and times, from his birth in 1564 (the same year as Shakespeare's own birth and Michelangelo's death), with notes from his journals and his famous treatise from 1610, The Starry Messenger (Sidereus Nuncius), the first scientific treatise to be published based on observations made through a telescope, until his final days, which he spent under house arrest following an church inquisition which found him "vehemently suspect of heresy". Fans of Sís will love this, and it's a good starting point for those not yet familiar with his work.

63. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck ★★★★⅓
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #1: The First Half 1901-1951)

When the enemy forces take over a small town in an unnamed country, the occupation happens so quickly that the locals are too shocked at first to react. The town is of great importance to the enemy, both for it's coal mine and it's coastal location. Colonel Lanser, the head of the invading army decides to establish his headquarters in the house of popular Mayor Orden, in hopes the inhabitants will believe the mayor is collaborating with them and decide to follow his example. But as the occupiers impose their harsh rules, first forcing the workers to continue mining coal for them, then executing a man following a mock trial, the inhabitants begin to form a resistance.

This short novel was reportedly written as a piece of propaganda during WWII to encourage members of the resistance all over Europe and give them a guide of sorts on how to organize themselves. It was illegally published in Nazi-occupied France by a French Resistance publishing house, and then translated into several other languages and widely read. Several readers have stated that Steinbeck distanced himself from his usual approach with this novel because of the obvious pro-resistance stance and the didactic approach he adopted, but I disagree with this point of view. When compared with the kind of propaganda used by the Nazis during the war, which told the audience what to think (and later influenced advertising as we know it), Steinbeck's was a very subtle approach. He created complex characters, at least on the side of the occupiers; Colonel Lanser has fought in the first war and doesn't believe in what he is doing, his subordinates think of their families and hobbies, miss their homes and wish to be liked by the locals; one nearly losing his mind because of the difficulty of their situation. Steinbeck doesn't go out of his way to make a case for the occupiers either, but then, rare is the fiction writer who has come in defence of war and tyranny. His storytelling skills are evident here, with the attention to detail which characterizes his work and makes it seem so real and honest. Had the author taken a more hard-hitting approach, this piece of fiction would not have retained literary merit seven decades later, nor would it be likely that I'd have enjoyed reading it as much as I did. Recommended.

Coming Up:

64. ♫ Running Blind / The Visitor by Lee Child ★★★½
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #5: The Dark Side)

65. ♫ The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le Carré ★★★⅓
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #4: Guardian Knows Best - Guardian 1000)

66. ♫ The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark ★★½
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #4: Guardian Knows Best - Guardian 1000)

67. ♫ Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper ★★★★
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #7: Young at Heart)

68. The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #10: Beyond Fiction)

69. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #11: Litérature Française - read in French)

Very proud of you Ilana! Lights out by 2am!
Gonna make it 1 am for the next week?

I did get 2 hours of sleep last night - I mean this morning between 5-7. Was pretty happy to get that!
Think I'll try reading now - til my eyes give out.
Has been a busy day and there's still supper to make.
Oh, how I lurrrv making supper :PPP
Esp when I am more tired than hungry.

Later!

Very nice reviews, Ilana! I am adding the Zweig to my WL. I read his Chess Story last month and really enjoyed it - he sure can pack a punch into a few pages, can't he? I also have his The Post Office Girl waiting for me, but am not sure if I'll get to it this month. Hope today has been kind to you.

Didnt read your review of the Moon is Down as want to read it soon myself....but lovely to see the cover of the book that will be arriving in my letter box soon :)

Did however read the Peter Sis review, looks lovely indeed and off to see if my library has it. Hope the Sunday Blues has been replaced by the joy of what I have heard people call "hump day". Even if I dislike the term, I guess we all know that it means we are half way though :)

Thanks for the recommendation on Starry Messenger -- it's gone on my read-sooner-rather-than-later list!

Karen O.

Love to you, Dear. I'm still catching up on this thread...want to follow links and things...but staying with you.

xo

Great reviews, Ilana. I've got to add 24 Hours in the Life of a Woman to my obese wish list. I love the Zweig books I've read so far.

I spent the better part of the day in the kitchen today, making soup and apple crisp. All that peeling and chopping took seemingly forever, or at least five hours anyway. But I had the perfect accompaniment with The Gods of Gotham, which I'll no doubt be finishing tomorrow. According to my Audible app which keeps track of these things, I've spent almost 8 hours listening today. That's surely a record and doesn't even include the other hour of listening I do while getting ready for bed between walking Coco and brushing of teeth. Speaking of bedtime, I should probably start winding down now. I was hoping to finish off all my reviews of books read in April today, but it'll keep.

#232 Claudia, I don't know how you managed at all today on just two hours of sleep! Couldn't your husband make dinner to help out once in a while? Either that or order pizza or something? You certainly wouldn't catch me cooking when that sleep-deprived!

I doubt I can realistically make the jump to 1 a.m. so quickly. It's not just a question of turning the lamp off, but means I have to rethink my whole evenings and a lifelong habit of staying up late. For instance, I can't spend much time on LT in the evening anymore if I want to leave myself any time at all for reading... on the other hand, as I wake up earlier, I might come for visits earlier in the day!

#233 Mamie, I agree that Zweig certainly packs a punch into very slim volumes. I decided to read his fiction in order of publication as much as possible, so will get to The Post Office Girl last as it was published posthumously. But in saying this now, I just noticed that I'd skipped over one of his novels, Amok, which I'll have to borrow from the library soon. So far I've read three of his novels, all within the last few months and thought they were all brilliant.

#234 Megan, I skipped over all the reviews of The Moon is Down too before I read it, so I perfectly understand. Hope you get your book soon. It's a lovely edition, as you'll soon find out.

I might be mistaken, but I thought "hump day" was on Wednesday? In any case, I find time goes by much too fast and don't at all wish for the week to go by any faster than it needs to!

#235 Starry Messenger is definitely very good, but I read several other Sís books that I would also strongly recommend. The Three Golden Keys is one, and I also adored Madlenka which is geared to a young readership but is worth looking up for the excellent illustrations. I've got Tibet: Through the Red Box waiting on my coffee table as my next Sís experience.

#236 Hi Gail, nice to see you here. Hope you've enjoyed your visit. xx

#237 I've loved everything I've read by Zweig so far too Caro, and I'm quite confident you'll love 24 Hours in the Life of a Woman as well. One nice thing about his books is they're such quick reads that it's easy to fit them in between two longer planned reads at a pinch.

Nice reviews, Ilana. I loved the Zweig when I read it a couple of years ago.

Okay Ilana, I finally remembered to ask my daughter which paper dolls she has and she has an eclectic mix - several of the decades ones (I know for sure the 40s and the 60s), the Gilded Age ones, the French fashions, Yves St. Laurent, the Art Deco ones, and the Pride and Prejudice set. We have collected them over the years, and I have three daughters, so we have amassed an impressive haul. We also home schooled, so we bought period sets as we studied the different time periods. On an interesting side note, I also have my husband's grandmother's paper dolls! They are in great shape, and I have often thought about having them framed, but could never quite make up my mind what to do with them and so they sit waiting in a box.

#240: Aaaw... there's a P&P set :-)
And what a collection, Mamie!

Great reviews again Ilana. Your Zweig reviews make me want to revisit all those stories immediately, but unfortunately they are out of reach at my parents' place and I try to be reasonable and not buy a second collection!

Re. The Moon is down: the Nazis sure weren't very subtle when it came to propaganda, and I liked how Steinbeck looked into the hearts and souls of the occupiers. You can feel their desperation yet know that your compassion wouldn't help the case. You can feel it, but aren't to show it.
The most extreme example of understanding the enemy was the 2nd part of Suite Francaise for me. I don't remember if you read it. There's a Jewish author who not just had to flee from the Nazis, but who in the end was captured and killed in Auschwitz. And she wrote this beautiful piece about the occupation of a small French village and deals so compassionately with the young and insecure German soldiers who'd probably soon die in Russia. It gave me the chills reading it.

#239 Thanks Darryl!

#240 Wow, that's a pretty impressive collection Mamie. I like that you used the dolls as part of their schooling—now there's a good way to keep up the interest that I don't think they'd think to use in public (or private) schools!

You should definitely frame those vintage paper dolls, you'd probably get a lot more satisfaction from seeing them nicely laid out on the wall than sitting in a box, imho.

#241 Nathalie, I haven't read Suite Française yet, but it's waiting on my shelf. I first got it in English by mistake from BookMooch and then decided to order it in French so I could read the original. But I've been putting off reading it for some reason. I'm not sure why, but I've been resisting reading about WWII and the holocaust these past few years, while on the other hand, I have a recent fascination with WWI. I'm not sure why that is really?

Zweig: this is when I wish I could read in German, as I'm sure he must use language in a beautiful way.

64. ♫ Running Blind / The Visitor by Lee Child ★★★¾
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #5: The Dark Side)

In book 4 of the Jack Reacher series, a serial killer seems to _target women who have formerly worked in the army and won cases for sexual abuse. Reacher is strong-armed by the FBI to help them find the killer, presumably because he fits psychological profiling, then because of his army connections, and just to make sure he plays along nicely, a direct threat is made concerning the well-being of his girlfriend Jodie. Finding the killer is no mean feat; there are no clues whatsoever left on the immaculate murder scenes, and nothing indicating the way in which the women have died. But there is of course a signature left behind: the women are all found nude in their own bathtubs, which are filled to the brim with army-issue green paint. Meanwhile, on the personal front, Reacher is finding home ownership too constraining and longs to hit the road again, while a gorgeous FBI agent assigned to escort him might prove too hot to resist. I'm not too keen on reading stories about serial killers, and it took me a while to steel myself for this one, but I needn't have. Once again, Child delivers pure entertainment that is almost impossible to put down.

65. ♫ The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le Carré ★★★⅓
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #4: Guardian Knows Best - Guardian 1000)

I'm not sure how much I can reveal about the plot without spoiling it completely, so I'll play it safe. This is a pure spy mystery involving agent Leamas, fired by the Secret Service for failing to protect his agents properly and given only a minimal pension. He quickly falls into hard drinking and major debt, then lands himself in jail. The day he comes out of jail, he's approached by a stranger and is eventually taken to East Germany to deliver intelligence gathered in the years working for the British service. There is eventually a trial held by the communists during which it comes to light that everyone might be guilty of double and triple-crossing, and seen through the prism of totalitarianism and paranoia, all we've been told till then might be a complete fiction. I was expecting to enjoy this novel more than I did, especially considering the fact that I enjoyed the first two George Smiley novels quite a lot, but maybe I'm not such a big fan of spy novels after all? At one point it all got too confusing and convoluted for me to care much, but looking at the overall construction, it's a very good book and I can objectively say I can see why this is such a popular story and might appeal to such a large audience.

Hell and damnation!

I just spent the last 30 minutes writing a review of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, was just putting on the finishing touches (I was quite happy with it), then hit something by mistake and WOOSH!!! it's gone. Very dispiriting. Can't do much about it now as I have an appointment to get to. Will start over later. Sheesh.

Hallo

it's been a few minutes ...for me to catch up, here

I have pages of "notes" on this thread...but, they don't make sense

I'm here, as a friend...but you beat me to hell with your reading

I'll be in touch with you...sooner or later

;-}

#247 Hey Jude, hi friend! I'd love if you shared your notes, never mind if they make sense or not!

>238 Smiler69: it was Wednesday when I wrote that as I'm a day ahead here :) Now its lunchtime Thursday! Catch me if you can :)

66. ♫ The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark ★★½
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #4: Guardian Knows Best - Guardian 1000)

Miss Jean Brodie is a schoolteacher at a private girl's school in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has unusual teaching methods, and believes that science, mathematics and other items on the curriculum should take a back seat to teaching about beauty and culture. During class, she is perfectly capable of telling her students to open their math books in case the headmistress drops by and proceed to tell them all about her recent trip to Italy—this is the 1930s and she is a fan of Mussolini's "Black Shirts”—and about her love life. The story is centred on "The Brodie Set", a group of six girls who've attended her classes in primary school and have kept in touch with Miss Brodie as they grew up, visiting her at home for tea our accompanying her to cultural outings. Each of the girls has a particular characteristic she is known for. For instance, when we are introduced to them, we find out that Jenny is famous for her beauty, Sandy is famous for her "small, almost nonexistent, eyes", Monica is famous for mathematics and her anger, and Rose is famous for Sex, and these descriptions are repeated throughout the novel to form a comic motif. The novel travels backward and forward in time, and we know early on that one of the girls eventually betrayed Miss Brodie—the school has been trying to get rid of her for a long time, and the headmistress has questioned each of Miss Brodie's former students repeatedly to try to find something to pin on her, though of course we only find out who delivered the damning information toward the end, by which time we've learned how most of the characters have fared into their adult lives and the extent of the influence Miss Brodie exerted on them.

I read this novel a couple of years ago and it was my first foray into Muriel Spark's writing. I can't say I liked it much back then. I could see there was humour here, but it failed to amuse me, and it probably didn't help that I didn't like Miss Brodie much—no doubt her fascist leanings didn't help much. I was disappointed, as was expecting to love this book based on much of what I'd read about it. I decided to revisit it this year, on audio format this time, and while the narrator Miriam Margolyes did a fine job and I got a kick out of hearing the Scottish pronunciations (I'd forgotten that Edinburgh is pronounced "Edinborough"), I didn't get much more out of it than I did the first time. I wouldn't want to discourage others from reading this book, because it's got lots going for it, but if I were to recommend good places to start with Spark's writing based on my personal preferences so far, I'd sooner recommend Memento Mori or Loitering with Intent, which I both found excellent and very funny.

Nice reviews, Ilana!

Sorry to see you did not enjoy The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie more. I have not read that one yet.

#249 Oh yes of course, of course I know you're about 16 hours ahead of me, but somehow I didn't connect with you being a day ahead of me. Blonde moment, sorry! :-)

#251 Oops, missed your message Stasia, sorry! I decided to read this one again during Muriel Spark week over at the Virago Modern Classics group, determined to enjoy it this time, but nope, didn't work. I thought it might make a difference that I've now read several of her novels and have a better grasp for her brand of humour, which I enjoy quite a lot. Needless to say, I won't be trying a third time!

Hahaha Megan / Ilana - I'm only 12 hours ahead of Ilana and 4 behind Megan.
Ilana - I also felt that The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was her most overrated work.

#253: I have you ever read Spark's autobiography Curriculum Vitae? It is pretty good.

I didn't care for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie when I read it, but that was years ago and we had to read it for school. Your review makes me think that I still wouldn't care for it if I reread it now. I might try one of her others, though.

#253 I also felt that The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was her most overrated work.

I'm glad to see you say so Paul, because I keep wondering how come TPoMJB is her most popular novel, when others are so much funnier. Maybe it's the school setting that makes it more universally appealing? I really don't know.

I should have looked this up before, but glad to know you're exactly 12 years hours ahead of me. (I had a funny little slip there and all of the sudden was living in a science fiction world!)

#254 Stasia, I keep adding books by Muriel Spark to my wishlist, since she's written so many, but Curriculum Vitae hadn't made it's way there yet. Fixing that oversight right away, thanks for the recommendation! Have you read her novels? Which are your favourite?

eta: Stasia, I just checked to see if they have it at the library (they do) and was surprised to see her autobiography is as short as her average novel (just 213 pages), but I guess I shouldn't have—guess she's just like to choose her words and keep it brief!

There are lots of wonderful posts here! Chiming in on the earlier conversation re. paper dolls, they were an important part of my childhood. My sisters and I played with them for hours. Actually, my beloved grandmother spent rainy Saturday mornings with me as we thumbed through the Sears catalog looking at the models and then dresses, carefully cutting them out and making our own cut out dolls. It was great fun.

My favorite paper dolls were of the Lennon Sisters. I was a child of the 50's and they were very popular on the Lawrence Welk TV show.

#256 Mamie, I don't know if you've read anything else by Spark since you experience with TPoMJB, but I can say, having read 5 of her novels and several short stories that she is well worth exploring. One big advantage with her is if you don't like one particular novel, none of them are much over 150 pages!

#258 Linda, I get the feeling the Sears catalogues were used by lots of girls for the same purpose, Claudia was just saying the other day she did the same as you and had lots of "handicapped" dolls that were missing various body parts!

I didn't know the Lennon sisters, so went to see what they're about on YouTube. Here are two of the videos I watched:

Lawrence Welk show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opm1zuEHZUU

Same show, 1958: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwjbOdLcmpg

Why are there sometimes 3 of them and sometimes 4?

I'll have to ask my mom about them, I wouldn't be surprised if she liked them too.




eta: speaking of paper dolls, I just got two more Dover books paper doll collections today:


Great Fashion Designs of the Forties


and Classic Fashions of Christian Dior

I think perhaps the problem with TPoMJB is that it isn't meant to be funny in the way some of Sparks' other works are, and people come to it with the wrong sorts of expectations.

67. ♫ Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper ★★★★
(Read for 12/12 Challenge #7: Young at Heart)

When we first meet Grace Parks, she is a fifteen-year-old girl living in 1861 London who is just about to deliver her first child out of wedlock. Grace is orphaned, and has had to look after her sister Lily since their mother passed away. They are both poor and living in the slums from hand to mouth, often going without food when they can't manage to sell enough watercress on the streets. Given she hasn't gotten enough money to feed and clothe herself and her sister, let alone a newborn baby, it is possibly an act of mercy when the midwife informs her that the baby was stillborn. Grace is of course devastated, and feeling sorry for her, the midwife tells her about a way in which her baby can find proper burial in a beautiful cemetery just outside London, instead of being thrown into a communal pauper's grave. While at the cemetery, Grace will meet two individuals who will play large roles in the Parks sisters' fortunes, in the persons of the kindly James Solent, a law clerk, and Mrs Unwin, the wife of one of London's most successful undertakers, who suggests to her she has the perfect face, solemn and tragic, to be employed as a mute, or a professional mourner, though Grace, quite put off, doesn't intend to take her up on the offer. Directly inspired by Dickens' tales—the great writer plays a small role in the novel—and therefore peopled with wonderfully wicked characters in the shape of the members of the Unwin clan, the novel follows the sisters as they are forced onto the London streets and have no choice but to turn to the villainous Unwins for sustenance, much as Grace dislikes the idea of making a living from the funeral industry. This line of business is about to get an incredible boost upon the death of Prince Consort Albert in December 1861, when Queen Victoria declares the nation to be in a state mourning. Probably written for a YA readership, but who cares? it's a great yarn and worth the detour.

#260 Oops, missed your message as I was putting together the above review, sorry Liz. I really need to learn to check for new messages before I post.

Thanks for your input on Miss Jean Brodie. I'm fairly sure if I hadn't expected it to be funny when I first approached it, I might have enjoyed it more, but as it's considered "comedy" by many reviewers (it's listed in the Comedy category in the Guardian 1000) it's hard not to have that expectation. That's why I thought I'd enjoy it more the second time around, but I guess it was ruined for me the first time around, sadly. What did you enjoy about it?

Ilana!
You have been so prolific lately with reviews and accomplishing a lot! Even cooking!

Love the reviews - sounds like a few good'uns and a so-so.

I adored the Lennon Sisters in their day!

Out of curiosity, did you ever consider being a fashion designer? You have the creativity as well as interest in bodies and clothing. Just wondering.

Don't stay up too late... tomorrow is another day ;-)
Hugs.

68. The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger ★★★½
(Read for 12/12 Category #3: Picked for me - by msf59)

There is no question that Beresford-Kroeger, a botanist and medical biochemist who is an expert on the medicinal, environmental, and nutritional properties of trees set out with all the right intentions with this series of essays on the many reasons—both known and obscure—as to why trees are essential to the planet and to humanity. With essay titles ranging from "A Suit for Sustainability", "The Paranormal", "The Forest, the Fairy, and the Child", "Two-Tier Agriculture", "Medicinal Wood" and "Green Sex and the Affairs of the Heart" (yes, this one is about the sex life of trees), among many others, two things become clear: that this woman is passionate about trees and, while she makes scientific and climactic arguments that can't be argued with, her more spiritual leanings and esoteric ideas can't be an easy sale for the average reader. Which might explain why this book hasn't made any best-seller lists. It might have worked better were she a more gifted writer and better able to structure her ideas, but I found that from one essay to the other, some notions kept being repeated, while others were a bit too far-fetched for me, even though I have claimed in the past to be a Forest Fairy myself... I badly wanted to love this book, because I too passionately love trees (my name means "tree" in Hebrew, and I've often felt myself to be one too), and because this book was a gift from a beloved aunt who's opinions matter to me and who took the time to have the book signed by the author in my name. But really, it left me feeling quite dejected mostly, though I can't fault the author for that; it's just that, like most other appeals for conservancy and the preservation of nature and animal species, it just seems like such a lost cause sometimes, even though I support as many of the worthy causes as I can. But maybe that's just my own lack of optimism getting in the way.

#263 Dear Claudia—Argh! Did it again! Posted without looking both ways first! Sorry I skipped you. I always seem to write a huge amount of reviews at the end of every month, mostly because I want to start my new monthly threads with a fresh slate and I DO tend to put off writing reviews till the last possible minute...

Yes, tomorrow is another BIG day, with a full-day class starting bright and early, so it'll be an early night for which I'll be getting ready soon. I agree I've been productive in the last couple of days, but there's lots of things I meant to do that are left undone as of yet: a few blog posts, one of which was about last week's class and which I wanted to post before the 2nd class (hope it's not too late now, maybe I can just reword it a little so it doesn't go to waste), and didn't do any artwork at all in the last week... which I wasn't happy to report to my OT today! But oh well. One can only do so much, according to one's ability, right?

Hugs to you m'dear!

Finished listening to The Gods of Gotham today. Great story, definitely pulled me in, but I wasn't entirely convinced with the ending... we'll see how I feel about it by the time to write the review.

Tonight starting on the audio of The Crazy Kill by Chester Himes for May Murder & Mayhem (I should find the thread).

And now I've finished Queenpin (last night), I'm ready for a change of pace with The Glass Room by Simon Mawer, which came highly recommended by Darryl.

Off to visit one or two threads and then must get to bed!

eta: will start the new thread tomorrow, thanks to all those who helped fill up this one in the past couple of weeks! :-)

>>#262 I know it's classified as comedy, but I've only ever found it funny in the "ooh, ouch!" sense rather than the "ha, ha" sense. There's humour there but it's very dark. I think people go to it expecting to like Jean, and to side with her against "the system", but end up being repulsed by her. Dee (soupdragon) called TPoMJB "ascerbic"; I think that's a much better word for it than "funny".

Good to see that you enjoyed Fallen Grace, I loved the world she depicted too. I went on and read her Velvet and have The Betrayal on my iPod but need to feel like listening to it. I read a some of her other books a few years ago and enjoyed them all.
Hope you have a productive class tomorrow.

#267 I've only ever found it funny in the "ooh, ouch!" sense rather than the "ha, ha" sense.

Dee (soupdragon) called TPoMJB "ascerbic"; I think that's a much better word for it than "funny".

Yes, yes, definitely on both counts, completely agreed. and....

I think people go to it expecting to like Jean, and to side with her against "the system", but end up being repulsed by her.

I think this is a book that would definitely have benefited being read in a group context and I'm relieved to see you say that, because I think this is the aspect that bewildered me the most. I did get from Spark's other novels that she has an ascorbic sense of humour, and have enjoyed that about her, because so do I, quite often. Maybe I shouldn't discount this novel entirely—I may return to it in a decade or so and develop a fondness for it since I've truly been appreciating discovering this great author in the past couple of years.

#268 Oy yes, I've been meaning to come over and tell you that and thank you for introducing me to this novel. I don't remember you saying you'd read other novels by Mary Hooper, but now you say that, I'll definitely look out for them. Are they all in a Dickensian style or does she play around with various approaches?




Well, once again, shouldn't be here, but then, what else am I meant to do as I have my fortifying cup of coffee and bowl of apple crisp and (lemon) yoghurt? (yum!)

Just a few more minutes and then must be off to class. Really looking forward to it. I love working from the model, it's such a great treat. I mean... how often does one get to have a live person posing for one unflinchingly for hours on end?

Too bad you couldn't love the tree book -- we share the passion for trees. I'll muddle around in my books because I have read a few wonderful ones.... not sure if I've made a tag 'trees' so they may be a bit hard to find.....

From postcards to paper dolls...and lots of good books in between....all caught up! Whew. Remind me not to fall so far behind. I could have waited until you started a new thread, Ilana, but I do so hate to miss anything!

#270 They can't all be home runs I guess, right? I don't know why the baseball analogy, since I don't know the first thing about the game! heh. No rush finding those books Lucy since goodness knows my "dance card" is pretty full, but I'll gladly take down a suggestion or two when you unearth something.

#271 Donna, you're a much better woman than I, though that's been established long ago... I don't think I'd have the heart to try to catch up with 200+ messages, but I'm honoured that you did so. Have been hunting down images for the new thread tonight, and found something PERFECT, which I then had to hurry up and blog all about... anyway, I'll provide a link as soon as the new thread is up! :-)