PAUL C INTO THE ROARING 20S - Part 23

Some of the things I like and need.

Poem

Ontario Skylight

The caramelised sky of twilight.
Burnished and honeyed;
An encroaching darkness
With the light of the day retiring behind.

for Shelley.

January

1. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift (2016) 149 pp - BAC Challenge
2. Paper Aeroplane by Simon Armitage (2014) 232 pp
3. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson (1985) 171 pp - BAC Challenge
4. The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick by Peter Handke (1970) 133 pp - Nobel winner
5. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (2006) 312 pp
6. Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn (1972) 93 pp BAC Challenge
7. I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti (2001) 225 pp
8. Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding (1931) 252 pp
9. Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminski (2019) 78 pp
10. Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham (2012) 377 pp
11. James II : The Last Catholic King by David Womersley (2015) 99 pp
12. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911) 313 pp
13. The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot (1922) 41 pp
14. England and the Aeroplane by David Edgerton (1991) 172 pp

February

15. Loyalties by Delphine de Vigan (2018) 182 pp
16. The World's Two Smallest Humans by Julia Copus (2012) 52 pp
17. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (1991) 110 pp
18. The History Boys by Alan Bennett (2004) 200 pp BAC Challenge
19. Dregs by Jan Lier Horst (2010) 310 pp
20. On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis (2018) 313 pp
21. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski (1993) 280 pp
22. The Roominghouse Madrigals by Charles Bukowski (1988) 256 pp
23. Reading in the Dark by Seamus Deane (1996) 233 pp BAC Challenge
24. As it Was by Fred Trueman (2004) 397 pp
25. The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell (1973) 314 pp BOOKER WINNER
26. Varina by Charles Frazier (2018) 353 pp AAC
27. A Timbered Choir by Wendell Berry (1998) 216 pp AAC

March

28. Past Tense by Lee Child (2018) 461 pp
29. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk (2009) 266 pp NOBEL
30. Over the Moon by Imtiaz Dharkar (2014) 155 pp
31. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006) 287 pp PULITZER
32. Witness : Lessons from Elie Wiesel's Classroom by Ariel Burger (2018) 255 pp
33. Meditations in an Emergency by Frank O'Hara (1957) 52 pp
34. The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli (2013) 183 pp
35. Ivanov by Anton Chekhov (1887) 58 pp
36. Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson (2010) 252 pp
37. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (1811) 374 pp
38. The English Civil War by David Clark (2008) 154 pp
39. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (1996) 280 pp
40. The Librarian by Salley Vickers (2018) 385 pp
41. The Holy Fox by Andrew Roberts (1991) 414 pp

BOOKS READ SECOND QUARTER OF 2020

April

42. The Females by Wolfgang Hilbig (2010) 129 pp
43. Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill (1956) 110 pp
44. Look We Have Coming to Dover! by Daljit Nagra (2007) 55 pp
45. Icarus by Deon Meyer (2015) 360 pp
46. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo (2019) 452 pp
47. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (1972) 172 pp
48. Behind the Sofa : Celebrity Memories of Doctor Who by Steve Berry (2013) 216 pp
49. Please Sir! by Jack Sheffield (2011) 336 pp
50. American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin by Terrance Hayes (2018) 82 pp
51. The Sea Gull by Anton Checkhov (1896) 68 pp
52. The Memoir of an Anti-Hero by Kornel Filipowicz (1961) 70 pp
53. Divided : Why We're Living in an Age of Walls by Tim Marshall (2018) 288 pp
54. Frozen Moment by Camilla Ceder (2009) 378 pp
55. North by Seamus Heaney (1975) 68 pp
56. Cambridge by Caryl Phillips (1991) 184 pp
57. Rotherweird by Andrew Caldecott (2017) 456 pp
58. The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers (2017) 363 pp

May

59. The Drought by J.G. Ballard (1965) 233 pp
60. A Man For All Seasons by Robert Bolt (1960) 163 pp
61. The Village Witch Doctor and Other Stories by Amos Tutuola (1990) 115 pp
62. Tales of Long Ago by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1922) 186 pp
63. Fidelity : Poems by Grace Paley (2008) 87 pp
64. Atlantic Fury by Hammond Innes (1962) 308 pp
65. The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris West (1963) 375 pp
66. The War Hound and the World's Pain by Michael Moorcock (1981) 208 pp
67. Boomerang by Michael Lewis (2011) 212pp
68. Field Work by Seamus Heaney (1979) 56 pp
69. The Citadel by A.J. Cronin (1937) 401 pp
70. Unstoppable: My Life So Far by Maria Sharapova (2017) 289 pp
71. Selected Poems by Marianne Moore (1935) 109 pp
72. The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis (2005) 266 pp

June

73. Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot (1935) 88 pp
74. The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald (1978) 156 pp
75. Golden Hill by Francis Spufford (2016) 340 pp
76. The Great Impersonation by E Phillips Oppenheim (1920) 221 pp
77. Selected Poems of Odysseus Elytis by Odysseus Elytis (1981) 115 pp
78. Zonal by Don Paterson (2020) 68 pp
79. Staying On by Paul Scott (1977) 255 pp

BOOKS READ THIRD QUARTER OF 2020

July

80. Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (1999) 296 pp
81. Serve the People! by Yan Lianke (2007) 228 pp
82. The Expedition of Cyrus by Xenophon (c370 BC) 225 pp
83. Morvern Callar by Alan Warner (1995) 204 pp
84. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett (1953) 91 pp
85. The Seeker and Other Poems by Nelly Sacks (1970) 399 pp
86. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (2003) 208 pp
87. Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente (2011) 349 pp
88. Castle Richmond by Anthony Trollope (1861) 757 pp
89. Winnie-the-Pooh by AA Milne (1926) 161 pp
90. The Dark Film by Paul Farley (2012) 55 pp
91. Eight Hours from England by Anthony Quayle (1945) 228 pp

August

92. Sitting Bull: The Life and Times of an American Patriot by Robert M Utley (1993) 314 pp
93. The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (2010) 327 pp
94. The Dead and the Living by Sharon Olds (1983) 80 pp
95. Dominicana by Angie Cruz (2019) 319 pp

September

96. A Captain's Duty by Richard Phillips (2013) 286 pp
97. The Kingdom by the Sea by Robert Westall (1990) 255 pp
98. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (1914) 119 pp
99. I am Sovereign by Nicola Barker (2019) 209 pp
100. Station Island by Seamus Heaney (1985) 121 pp

BOOKS READ FOURTH QUARTER 2020

October

101. The Ways of the World by Robert Goddard (2013) 525 pp
102. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (1895) 75 pp
103. Selected and Last Poems, 1931-2004 by Czeslaw Milosz (2011) 325 pp
104. The Corners of the Globe by Robert Goddard (2014) 499 pp
105. The Ditch by Herman Koch (2016) 306 pp
106. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian (2007) 385 pp

November

107. This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga (2018) 363 pp
108. Averno by Louise Gluck (2006) 76 pp
109. Levkas Man by Hammond Innes (1971) 322 pp
110. Taller When Prone by Les Murray (2010) 82 pp
111. Class Trip by Emmanuel Carrere (1995) 150 pp

Currently reading

READING PLAN FOR 2020

I always start out ambitiously but not having made 100 books in the last two years I am going all out to read 20 books a month next year and go well past 200 for the first time since my University days.

20 Categories for 2020 which will also give a nod to my other challenges and longer term projects.

The twenty categories are :

1. British Author Challenge
2. British Poetry
3. Contemporary British Fiction
4. World Poetry
5. 1001 Books
6. Plays
7. American Author Challenge
8. Non-Fiction
9. History
10. Current Affairs
11. Booker Nominees
12. Nobel Winners
13. Scandi
14. Series Books
15. Thrillers/Mystery
16. Classic Fiction
17. 21st Century Fiction
18. World Literature
19. Science Fiction / Fantasy
20. Pot Luck

BRITISH ISLES AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2020



The general thread can be found here : https://www.librarything.com/topic/315141

January: Jeanette Winterson & Graham Swift

February: The 1990s - https://www.librarything.com/topic/313878#6991758

March: Jane Austen & Walter Scott

April: Bernardine Evaristo & Caryl Phillips

May: New Wave Sci-Fi : Michael Moorcock, J. G. Ballard, & Brian Aldiss

June: Penelope Fitzgerald & Patrick Gale

July: Elly Griffiths & Winston Graham

August: The Brontë Sisters : Charlotte Bronte, Anne Bronte & Emily Bronte

September: World War II - https://www.librarything.com/topic/313878#6999459

October: Joanne Harris & George Orwell

November: Fay Weldon & John le Carré

December: The 2010s : https://www.librarything.com/topic/313878#6999620

Wildcard: Playwrights - https://www.librarything.com/topic/313878#7000002

AMERICAN AUTHOR CHALLENGE



January Charles Frazier - Varina
February Grace Paley - Fidelity : Poems
March David McCullough
April Francine Prose
May E. Lynn Harris
June Jean Stafford
July Wendell Berry - A Timbered Choir
August Robert Penn Warren
September Dawn Powell
October Ward Just
November Ann Petry
December Tony Hillerman

My last decade of reading (probably my worst since I started reading).

Total Books Read : 1,145 books

1 book every 3.2 days

Best Reading Year : 2013 with 157 books

Worst Reading Year : 2019 with 76 books

My Books of the Year on LT:

2011 : Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2012 : The Road Home by Rose Tremain
2013 : Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes
2014 : Plainsong by Kent Haruf
2015 : Winter King by Thomas Penn
2016 : The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
2017 : The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
2018 : Country Girls by Edna O'Brien
2019 : The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

Personal Reading Challenge: Every winner of the Booker Prize since its inception in 1969

1969: P. H. Newby, Something to Answer For - READ
1970: Bernice Rubens, The Elected Member
1970: J. G. Farrell, Troubles (awarded in 2010 as the Lost Man Booker Prize) - READ
1971: V. S. Naipaul, In a Free State
1972: John Berger, G.
1973: J. G. Farrell, The Siege of Krishnapur - READ
1974: Nadine Gordimer, The Conservationist ... and Stanley Middleton, Holiday - READ
1975: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Heat and Dust - READ
1976: David Storey, Saville - READ
1977: Paul Scott, Staying On - READ
1978: Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea
1979: Penelope Fitzgerald, Offshore - READ
1980: William Golding, Rites of Passage - READ
1981: Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children - READ
1982: Thomas Keneally, Schindler's Ark - READ
1983: J. M. Coetzee, Life & Times of Michael K
1984: Anita Brookner, Hotel du Lac - READ
1985: Keri Hulme, The Bone People
1986: Kingsley Amis, The Old Devils - READ
1987: Penelope Lively, Moon Tiger - READ
1988: Peter Carey, Oscar and Lucinda
1989: Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day
1990: A. S. Byatt, Possession: A Romance - READ
1991: Ben Okri, The Famished Road
1992: Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient ... and Barry Unsworth, Sacred Hunger - READ
1993: Roddy Doyle, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
1994: James Kelman, How late it was, how late
1995: Pat Barker, The Ghost Road
1996: Graham Swift, Last Orders - READ
1997: Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things READ
1998: Ian McEwan, Amsterdam - READ
1999: J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace - READ
2000: Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin
2001: Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang - READ
2002: Yann Martel, Life of Pi
2003: DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little
2004: Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty
2005: John Banville, The Sea - READ
2006: Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss
2007: Anne Enright, The Gathering - READ
2008: Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger - READ
2009: Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall - READ
2010: Howard Jacobson, The Finkler Question
2011: Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending - READ
2012: Hilary Mantel, Bring Up the Bodies - READ
2013: Eleanor Catton, The Luminaries
2014: Richard Flanagan, The Narrow Road to the Deep North - READ
2015: Marlon James, A Brief History of Seven Killings - READ
2016: Paul Beatty, The Sellout - READ
2017: George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo
2018: Anna Burns, Milkman
2019: Margaret Atwood, The Testaments, and Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other

READ 31 of 55 WINNERS

Pulitzer Winners

As with the Bookers, I want to eventually read all the Pulitzer winners (for fiction at least) and have most of the recent ones on the shelves at least. Current status.

Fiction

1918 HIS FAMILY - Ernest Poole
1919 THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS - Booth Tarkington
1921 THE AGE OF INNOCENCE - Edith Wharton
1922 ALICE ADAMS - Booth Tarkington
1923 ONE OF OURS - Willa Cather
1924 THE ABLE MCLAUGHLINS - Margaret Wilson
1925 SO BIG - Edna Ferber
1926 ARROWSMITH - Sinclair Lewis (Declined)
1927 EARLY AUTUMN - Louis Bromfield
1928 THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY - Thornton Wilder
1929 SCARLET SISTER MARY - Julia Peterkin
1930 LAUGHING BOY - Oliver Lafarge ON SHELVES
1931 YEARS OF GRACE - Margaret Ayer Barnes
1932 THE GOOD EARTH - Pearl Buck
1933 THE STORE - Thomas Sigismund Stribling
1934 LAMB IN HIS BOSOM - Caroline Miller
1935 NOW IN NOVEMBER - Josephine Winslow Johnson
1936 HONEY IN THE HORN - Harold L Davis
1937 GONE WITH THE WIND - Margaret Mitchell ON SHELVES
1938 THE LATE GEORGE APLEY - John Phillips Marquand
1939 THE YEARLING - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
1940 THE GRAPES OF WRATH - John Steinbeck
1942 IN THIS OUR LIFE - Ellen Glasgow
1943 DRAGON'S TEETH - Upton Sinclair
1944 JOURNEY IN THE DARK - Martin Flavin
1945 A BELL FOR ADANO - John Hersey ON SHELVES
1947 ALL THE KING'S MEN - Robert Penn Warren ON SHELVES
1948 TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC - James Michener
1949 GUARD OF HONOR - James Gould Cozzens
1950 THE WAY WEST - A.B. Guthrie
1951 THE TOWN - Conrad Richter
1952 THE CAINE MUTINY - Herman Wouk
1953 THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA - Ernest Hemingway
1955 A FABLE - William Faulkner
1956 ANDERSONVILLE - McKinlay Kantor
1958 A DEATH IN THE FAMILY - James Agee ON SHELVES
1959 THE TRAVELS OF JAIMIE McPHEETERS - Robert Lewis Taylor
1960 ADVISE AND CONSENT - Allen Drury
1961 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - Harper Lee
1962 THE EDGE OF SADNESS - Edwin O'Connor
1963 THE REIVERS - William Faulkner
1965 THE KEEPERS OF THE HOUSE - Shirley Ann Grau
1966 THE COLLECTED STORIES OF KATHERINE ANNE PORTER - Katherine Anne Porter
1967 THE FIXER - Bernard Malamud
1968 THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT TURNER - William Styron
1969 HOUSE MADE OF DAWN - N Scott Momaday ON SHELVES
1970 THE COLLECTED STORIES OF JEAN STAFFORD - Jean Stafford
1972 ANGLE OF REPOSE - Wallace Stegner ON SHELVES
1973 THE OPTIMIST'S DAUGHTER - Eudora Welty ON SHELVES
1975 THE KILLER ANGELS - Jeff Shaara ON SHELVES
1976 HUMBOLDT'S GIFT - Saul Bellow
1978 ELBOW ROOM - James Alan McPherson
1979 THE STORIES OF JOHN CHEEVER - John Cheever ON SHELVES
1980 THE EXECUTIONER'S SONG - Norman Mailer ON SHELVES
1981 A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES - John Kennedy Toole ON SHELVES
1982 RABBIT IS RICH - John Updike
1983 THE COLOR PURPLE - Alice Walker ON SHELVES
1984 IRONWEED - William Kennedy ON SHELVES
1985 FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Alison Lurie ON SHELVES
1986 LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry ON SHELVES
1987 A SUMMONS TO MEMPHIS - Peter Taylor
1988 BELOVED - Toni Morrison - ON SHELVES
1989 BREATHING LESSONS - Anne Tyler
1990 THE MAMBO KINGS PLAY SONGS OF LOVE - Oscar Hijuelos
1991 RABBIT AT REST - John Updike
1992 A THOUSAND ACRES - Jane Smiley
1993 A GOOD SCENT FROM A STRANGE MOUNTAIN - Robert Olen Butler
1994 THE SHIPPING NEWS - E Annie Proulx
1995 THE STONE DIARIES - Carol Shields ON SHELVES
1996 INDEPENDENCE DAY - Richard Ford ON SHELVES
1997 MARTIN DRESSLER - Steven Millhauser ON SHELVES
1998 AMERICAN PASTORAL - Philip Roth ON SHELVES
1999 THE HOURS - Michael Cunningham ON SHELVES
2000 INTERPRETER OF MALADIES - Jumpha Lahiri
2001 THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY - Michael Chabon ON SHELVES
2002 EMPIRE FALLS - Richard Russo ON SHELVES
2003 MIDDLESEX - Jeffrey Eugenides ON SHELVES
2004 THE KNOWN WORLD - Edward P. Jones ON SHELVES
2005 GILEAD - Marilynne Robinson ON SHELVES
2006 MARCH - Geraldine Brooks
2007 THE ROAD - Cormac McCarthy
2008 THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO - Junot Diaz ON SHELVES
2009 OLIVE KITTERIDGE - Elizabeth Strout ON SHELVES
2010 TINKERS - Paul Harding
2011 A VISIT FROM THE GOOD SQUAD - Jennifer Egan ON SHELVES
2013 ORPHAN MASTER'S SON - Adam Johnson ON SHELVES
2014 THE GOLDFINCH - Donna Tartt ON SHELVES
2015 ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE - Anthony Doerr ON SHELVES
2016 THE SYMPATHIZER - Viet Thanh Nguyen ON SHELVES
2017 THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD - Colson Whitehead ON SHELVES
2018 LESS - Andrew Sean Greer ON SHELVES
2019 THE OVERSTORY - Richard Powers ON SHELVES
2020 THE NICKEL BOYS - Colson Whitehead ON SHELVES


16 READ
38 ON SHELVES
39 NOT OWNED OR READ

93 TOTAL

NOBELS

Update on my Nobel Prize Winning Reading:
1901 Sully Prudhomme
1902 Theodor Mommsen
1903 Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
1904 Frédéric Mistral and José Echegaray y Eizaquirre
1905 Henryk Sienkiewicz
1906 Giosuè Carducci
1907 Rudyard Kipling - READ
1908 Rudolf Christoph Eucken
1909 Selma Lagerlöf
1910 Paul Heyse --
1911 Count Maurice Maeterlinck
1912 Gerhart Hauptmann
1913 Rabindranath Tagore - READ
1915 Romain Rolland
1916 Verner von Heidenstam
1917 Karl Adolph Gjellerup and Henrik Pontoppidan
1919 Carl Spitteler
1920 Knut Hamsun - READ
1921 Anatole France - READ
1922 Jacinto Benavente
1923 William Butler Yeats - READ
1924 Wladyslaw Reymont
1925 George Bernard Shaw - READ
1926 Grazia Deledda - READ
1927 Henri Bergson
1928 Sigrid Undset
1929 Thomas Mann - READ
1930 Sinclair Lewis - READ
1931 Erik Axel Karlfeldt
1932 John Galsworthy - READ
1933 Ivan Alekseyevich Bunin - READ
1934 Luigi Pirandello - READ
1936 Eugene O'Neill - READ
1937 Roger Martin du Gard
1938 Pearl S. Buck - READ
1939 Frans Eemil Sillanpää
1944 Johannes Vilhelm Jensen
1945 Gabriela Mistral
1946 Hermann Hesse - READ
1947 André Gide - READ
1948 T.S. Elliot - READ
1949 William Faulkner - READ
1950 Bertrand Russell - READ
1951 Pär Lagerkvist - READ
1952 François Mauriac - READ
1953 Sir Winston Churchill - READ
1954 Ernest Hemingway - READ
1955 Halldór Laxness - READ
1956 Juan Ramón Jiménez
1957 Albert Camus - READ
1958 Boris Pasternak (declined the prize) - READ
1959 Salvatore Quasimodo
1960 Saint-John Perse
1961 Ivo Andric - READ
1962 John Steinbeck - READ
1963 Giorgos Seferis
1964 Jean-Paul Sartre (declined the prize) - READ
1965 Michail Sholokhov
1966 Shmuel Yosef Agnon and Nelly Sachs - READ
1967 Miguel Ángel Asturias
1968 Yasunari Kawabata - READ
1969 Samuel Beckett - READ
1970 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn - READ
1971 Pablo Neruda - READ
1972 Heinrich Böll - READ
1973 Patrick White
1974 Eyvind Johnson and Harry Martinson
1975 Eugenio Montale
1976 Saul Bellow - READ
1977 Vincente Aleixandre
1978 Isaac Bashevis Singer - READ
1979 Odysseas Elytis - READ
1980 Czeslaw Milosz
1981 Elias Canetti
1982 Gabriel Garciá Márquez - READ
1983 William Golding - READ
1984 Jaroslav Seifert - READ
1985 Claude Simon - READ
1986 Akinwande Ouwoe Soyinka
1987 Joseph Brodsky - READ
1988 Naguib Mahfouz - READ
1989 Camilo José Cela - READ
1990 Octavio Paz
1991 Nadine Gordimer - READ
1992 Derek Walcott - READ
1993 Toni Morrison - READ
1994 Kenzaburo Oe - READ
1995 Seamus Heaney - READ
1996 Wislawa Szymborska - READ
1997 Dario Fo - READ
1998 José Saramago - READ
1999 Günter Grass
2000 Gao Xingjian
2001 Vidiadhar Surjprasad Naipaul - READ
2002 Imre Kertész - READ
2003 John Maxwell Coetzee - READ
2004 Elfriede Jelinek - READ
2005 Harold Pinter - READ
2006 Orhan Pamuk - READ
2007 Doris Lessing - READ
2008 J.M.G. Le Clézio
2009 Herta Müller - READ
2010 Mario Vargas Llosa - READ
2011 Tomas Tranströmer - READ
2012 Mo Yan
2013 Alice Munro - READ
2014 Patrick Modiano - READ
2015 Svetlana Alexievich - READ
2016 Bob Dylan - READ
2017 Kazuo Ishiguro - READ
2018 Olga Tokarczuk - READ
2019 Peter Handke - READ
2020 Louise Gluck - READ

READ 71 OF
117 LAUREATES

LIT HUB'S 50 CHUNKSTERS & MY 20 ALTERNATIVES

These are the 50 Literary Hub Must Read Chunksters:

1. The Overstory by Richard Powers OWNED
2. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
3. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco OWNED
4. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee OWNED
5. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell OWNED
6. The Witch Elm by Tana French OWNED
7. The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood OWNED
8. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr OWNED
9. Little, Big by John Crowley
10. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides OWNED
11. The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt
12. Possession by A.S. Byatt READ
13. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel READ
14. The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
15. The Secret History by Donna Tartt READ
16. The Parisian : A Novel by Isabella Hammad OWNED
17. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie OWNED
18. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters READ
19. The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami OWNED
20. Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson OWNED
21. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie READ
22. American Gods by Neil Gaiman READ
23. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon OWNED
24. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu OWNED
25. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen OWNED
26. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray OWNED
27. A Naked Singularity by Sergio de la Pava
28. An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears
29. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James READ
30. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson OWNED
31. The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe OWNED
32. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara OWNED
33. Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin OWNED
34. JR by William Gaddis OWNED
35. Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko
36. Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon OWNED
37. Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany OWNED
38. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett OWNED
39. The Stand by Stephen King OWNED
40. Underworld by Don DeLillo READ
41. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton OWNED
42. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke READ
43. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry OWNED
44. 2666 by Roberto Bolano OWNED
45. Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra OWNED
46. Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann OWNED
47. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace OWNED
48. Parallel Stories by Peter Nadas
49. Women and Men by Joseph McElroy
50. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth OWNED

& My Alternative 20

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (1995) 624 pp
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (2001) 544 pp
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (2005) 720 pp
The Far Pavilions by MM Kaye (1978) 960 pp
Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess (1980) 656 pp
White Teeth by Zadie Smith (2000) 560 pp
The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman (1982) 896 pp
Saville by David Storey (1976) 560 pp
To Serve Them All My Days by RF Delderfield (1972) 672 pp
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres (1994) 533 pp
Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth (1992) 640 pp
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (1993) 528 pp
Sophie's Choice by William Styron (1979) 656 pp
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh (2008) 544 pp
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998) 626 pp
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (1989) 656 pp
The Singapore Grip by JG Farrell (1978) 704 pp
Magician by Raymond E Feist (1982) 864 pp
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (1986) 672 pp
A Chain of Voices by Andre Brink (1982) 512 pp

BOUGHT AND READ IN 2020

These are the books that I have added this year. My new rule is that any book I buy I should read before the end of the following year!

1. Submarine by Joe Dunthorne (2008) 290 pp
2. I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven (1967) 158 pp
3. The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W.E. Bowman (1956) 171 pp
4. The Spare Room by Helen Garner (2008) 195 pp
5. Look We have Coming to Dover! by Dajit Nagra (2007) 53 pp READ APR 20
6. Hame by Annalina McAfee (2017) 577 pp
7. The Holy Fox by Andrew Roberts (1991) 414 pp READ MAR 20
8. The History Boys by Alan Bennett (2004) 200 pp READ FEB 20
9. Himself by Jess Kidd (2016) 358 pp
10. Lazarus by Morris West (1990) 375 pp
11. Judith Paris by Hugh Walpole (1931) 757 pp
12. The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope (1864) 665 pp
13. The Seventh Cross by Anna Seghers (1942) 398 pp
14. The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers (2017) 363 pp READ APR 20
15. The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich (1985) 331 pp
16. The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard (1990) 578 pp
17. Eight Hours from England by Anthony Quayle (1945) 228 pp READ JULY 20
18. Dregs by Jorn Lier Horst (2010) 310 pp READ FEB 20
19. Loyalties by Delphine de Vigan READ FEB 20
20. The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli READ MAR 20
21. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski (1993) 280 pp READ FEB 20
22. War and Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans (2013) 293 pp
23. Deviation by Luce D'Eramo (1979) 344 pp
24. Caging Skies by Christine Leunens (2019) 294 pp
25. The Hunters by James Salter (1956) 233 pp
26. The Watch by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya (2012) 310 pp
27. The Memoir of an Anti-Hero by Kornel Filipowicz (1961) 70 pp READ APR 20
28. Darius the Great is not Okay by Adib Khorram (2018) 312 pp
29. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo (2019) 466 pp
30. Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham (2013) 441 pp
31. Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen by Fay Weldon
32. Selected Poems: 1950-2012 by Adrienne Rich
33. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
34. Divided : Why We're Living in an Age of Walls by Tim Marshall READ APR 20
35. The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis READ MAY 20
36. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
37. Witness : Lessons from Elie Wiesel's Classroom by Ariel Burger READ MAR 20
38. Lucy Church, Amiably by Gertrude Stein
39. Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich
40. The Village Witch Doctor and Other Stories by Amos Tutuola READ May 20
41. After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell
42. The Librarian by Salley Vickers READ MAR 20
43. Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors
44. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (1993) 311 pp
45. The Drought by J.G. Ballard (1965) 233 pp READ MAY 20
46. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (2012) 391 pp
47. Clade by James Bradley (2017) 297 pp
48. Far North by Marcel Theroux (2009) 288 pp
49. The River by Peter Heller (2019) 253 pp
50. Ivanov by Anton Chekhov (1887) 58 pp READ MAR 20
51. The Sea-Gull by Anton Chekhov (1896) 68 pp READ APR 20
52. Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov (1900) 44 pp
53. The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov (1901) 58 pp
54. The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov (1904) 50 pp
55. The Females by Wolfgang Hilbig (2010) 129 pp READ APR 20
56. The Other Americans by Laila Lalami (2019) 301 pp
57. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli (2019) 350 pp
58. Lanny by Max Porter (2019) 210 pp
59. Late in the Day by Tessa Hadley (2019) 280 pp
60. Murder in the Cathedral by TS Eliot (1935) 88 pp READ JUNE 20
61. The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris West (1963) READ MAY 20
62. Fidelity : Poems by Grace Paley (2008) READ MAY 20
63. The Citadel by A.J. Cronin (1937) READ MAY 20
64. Golden Hill by Francis Spufford (2016) READ JUNE 20
65. American War by Omar El Akkad (2017)
66. Saltwater by Jessica Andrews (2019)
67. Unstoppable : My Life So Far by Maria Sharapova (2017) 289 pp READ MAY 20
68. The Great Impersonation by E Phillips Oppenheim (1920) 288 pp READ JUNE 20
69. The Collected Stories of Jean Stafford by Jean Stafford (1969) 488 pp
70. Odysseus Elytis :Selected Poems 1940-1979 by Odysseus Elytis (1981) 112 pp READ JUNE 20
71. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner (1926) 203 pp
72. Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou (2015) 199 pp
73. Zonal by Don Paterson (2020) 68 pp READ JUNE 20
74. The Porpoise by Mark Haddon (2019) 304 pp
75. Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila 2014 210 pp
76. 1934 by Alberto Moravia (1982)
77. Blue Moon by Lee Child (2019)
78. A Burning by Megha Majumdar (2020)
79. Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor (2017)
80. Henry, Himself by Stewart O'Nan (2019)
81. Woods etc by Alice Oswald (2005)
82. The Death of Murat Idrissi by Tommy Wieringa (2017)
83. The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezon Camara (2017)
84. The Last Man by Mary Shelley (1826)
85. Remembered by Yvonne Battle-Felton (2019)
86. Castle Richmond by Anthony Trollope (1860) READ JULY 20
87. The Seeker and Other Poems by Nelly Sachs (1970) READ JULY 20
88. Not a Day Goes By by E Lynn Harris (2000)
89. Potiki by Patricia Grace (1986)
90. Cane River by Lalitha Tademy (2001)
91. Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
92. Diary of a Murderer by Kim Young-Ha (2013)
93. Girl by Edna O'Brien (2019)
94. The Princesse de Cleves by Madame de La Fayette (1678)
95. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (2019)
96. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (2003) READ JULY 20
97. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
98. The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri
99. The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells
100. At the Jerusalem by Paul Bailey
101. The Emperor's Babe by Bernadine Evaristo
102. Sincerity by Carol Ann Duffy
103. Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne READ JULY 20
104. The Body Lies by Jo Baker
105. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer
106. The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
107. Death is Hard Work by Khaled Khalifa
108. Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson
109. Black Out by Ragnar Jonasson (2011)
110. The Street by Ann Petry (1946)
111. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak (2019)
112. Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (2019)
113. Weather by Jenny Offill (2020)
114. How to be an AntiRacist by Ibram X Kendi (2019)
115. Dominicana by Angie Cruz (2019) READ AUG 20
116. This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga (2018) READ NOV 20
117. Blue Horses by Mary Oliver (2014)
118. Pygmalian by George Bernard Shaw (1914) READ SEP 20
119. To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris (2014)
120. Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds (2012)
121. Trafalgar by Angelica Gorodischer (1979)
122. The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach (1995)
123. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E Frankel (1946)
124. The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste
125. Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi
126. The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld
127. Dimension of Miracles by Robert Sheckley
128. Felicity by Mary Oliver
129. Real Life by Brandon Taylor
130. Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis
131. Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay
132. Big Sky by Kate Atkinson
133. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde READ OCT 20
134. Salome by Oscar Wilde
135. An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
136. Lady Windemere's Fan by Oscar Wilde
137. A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde
138. Before the War by Fay Weldon
139. The Rose of Tibet by Lionel Davidson
140. Ape and Essence by Aldous Huxley
141. At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald
142. The Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks
143. Conclave by Robert Harris
144. Rules for Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
145. Second Life by S.J. Watson
146. The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
147. The Women at Hitler's Table by Rosella Postorino
148. Inland by Thea Obreht
149. Deep River by Karl Marlantes
150. The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld
151. Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
152. The Ditch by Herman Koch READ OCT 20
153. The Narrow Land by Christine Dwyer Hickey
154. A Crime in the Neighborhood by Suzanne Berne
155. I am Sovereign by Nicola Barker READ SEP 20
156. The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
157. The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
158. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
159. Final Cut by S.J. Watson
160. Mrs Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw
161. Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw
162. Candida by George Bernard Shaw
163. Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw
164. The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
165. Apeirogon by Colum McCann
166. The New Wilderness by Diane Cook
167. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
168. The Catholic School by Edoardo
169. Kaddish.com by Nathan Englander
170. The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
171. Who They Was by Gabriel Krauze
172. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
173. Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
174. Love and Other Thought Experiments by Sophie Ward
175. How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang
176. The Fall of the Ottomans by Eugene Rogan
177. Lords of the Horizons by Jason Goodwin
178. She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore
179. Underland by Robert MacFarlane
180. The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg
181. Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh
182. The Second Sleep by Robert Harris
183. Normal People by Sally Rooney
184. Poetry by Heart edited by Andrew Motion etc
185. Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
186. Stand by Me by Wendell Berry
187. Lord of all the Dead by Javier Cercas
188. Vernon Subutex 1 by Virginie Despentes
189. Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier
190. Small Country by Gael Faye
191. The Last Banquet by Jonathan Grimwood
192. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
193. A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes
194. Dance of the Jakaranda by Peter Kimani
195. Guapa by Saleem Haddad
196. Arid Dreams by Duanwad Pimwana
197. The Final Bet by Adelilah Hamdouchi
198. Coastliners by Joanne Harris
199. The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
200. Will by Jeroen Olyslaegers
201 Class Trip by Emmanuel Carrere READ NOV 20
202 Contact by Carl Sagan
203 Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
204 Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
205 The Return by Hisham Matar
206 The Island by Ana Maria Matute
207 The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
208 The Parisian by Isabella Hammad
209 Childhood by Tove Ditlevsen
210 Youth by Tove Ditlevsen
211 Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen
212 The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
213 Alone Time by Stephanie Rosenbloom
214 Springtime in a Broken Mirror by Mario Benedetti
215 East Lynne by Ellen Wood
216 A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
217 Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina
218 Me by Elton John
219 Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
220 Averno by Louise Gluck READ NOV 20
221 Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
222 Love in No Man's Land by Duo Ji Zhou Ga
223 The Damascus Road by Jay Parini
224 A Political History of the World by Jonathan Holslag
225 The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis
226. Eternity : Selected Poems by Tracy K. Smith
227. Original Spin by Vic Marks
228. The Turncoat by Siegfried Lenz
229. Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh
230. Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany
231. The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney by Okechukwu Nzelu
232. Will by Will Self
233. The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
234. Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith
235. Crossing by Pajtim Statovci
236. Promise Me You'll Shoot Yourself by Florian Huber
237. The Snow Ball by Brigid Brophy
238. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
239. The Curious Case of Dassoukine's Trousers by Fouad Laroui
240. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
241. The Illumination of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst
242. The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan
243. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
244. A Nest of Gentlefolk by Ivan Turgenev
245. A Quiet Backwater by Ivan Turgenev
246. A Lear of the Steppes by Ivan Turgenev
247. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
248. The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
249. The History of Pendennis by William Makepeace Thackeray
250. Masks and Faces, or Before and Behind the Curtain by Charles Reade

240 books added
40 already finished

Around the world in books challenge. I want to see how many countries I can cover without limiting myself to a specific deadline.

From 1 October 2020

1. United Kingdom - The Ways of the World by Robert Goddard EUROPE
2. Ireland - The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde EUROPE
3. Lithuania - Selected and Last Poems by Czeslaw Milosz EUROPE
4. Netherlands - The Ditch by Herman Koch EUROPE
5. Armenia - The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian ASIA
6. Zimbabwe - This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga
7. United States - Averno by Louise Gluck
8. Australia - Taller When Prone by Les Murray
9. France - Class Trip by Emmanuel Carrere


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

BOOKS OF THE YEAR

January - Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift
February - On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis
March - Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
April - North by Seamus Heaney
May - The Citadel by AJ Cronin
June - Golden Hill by Francis Spufford
July - Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
August - The Dead and the Living by Sharon Olds
September - The Kingdom by the Sea by Robert Westall
October - The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

Another resolution is to keep up in 2020 with all my friends on LT.

Next is yours

happy new one

>21 figsfromthistle: Anita! As usual you are the first or one of the first here. From next year I will restart my earlier habit of sending a book to the first up on my threads each time.

>20 PaulCranswick: Mine.

>23 weird_O: Very nearly, Bill and very welcome always dear fellow.

Happy New Thread, its been years since I've been even remotely this early. :)

>25 mahsdad: Ah but I caught you when you are active with the Christmas swap, Jeff. Thanks for stopping by and thank you for giving your time to set this up each year.

Happy new thread. I like that stack of books you have up there in post #1.

23 threads. 23. That’s got to be a record. Happy new one!

>27 avatiakh: Thanks Kerry. Quite a nice middle-brow blend if I do say so myself!

>28 drneutron: Nowhere near Jim. I think my best in a year is 37!

>28 drneutron: Most threads in each year:

2012 Paul 37 threads
2013 Paul 31 threads
2014 Amber 37 threads
2015 Amber 28 threads
2016 Mark 28 threads
2017 Paul 37 threads
2018 Mark 26 threads
2019 Mark 21 threads
2020 to date Paul 23 threads

Happy new thread!

>1 PaulCranswick: Books, beer, bits and a hint of coffee..., well life still has it's attractions.

Happy new thread Paul!

Well, this is the first year in a long while (if ever) that I've made it to four threads. 2020 isn't all bad.

Happy new thread!

>32 quondame: Believe it or not, Susan, there is no beer in the photo. It is actually nitro-brew jasmine peach tea and delicious.

>33 humouress: I have noticed that your thread has chugged along nicely and it is always pleasing for me when one of my pals in the group is so active.

>34 amanda4242: Thanks, Amanda.

Happy new thread, Paul! 23 thread, eh. I feel like a plodder in comparison.

>35 PaulCranswick: Ah yes, well, I do without the bit but not the beer. The coffee is default.

Happy new thread, Paul.
And thank you for sharing the poem.

Happy new thread Paul!

37 threads! Unbelievable. But this has been the max number, I see. No one has managed more in any year?

>2 PaulCranswick: Happy new thread, Paul. And thank you for the poem. I wish I knew a way to insert my sunset photo next to it, as I know that was what inspired you on my own new thread. Your words captured it perfectly. Thanks again.

>37 Familyhistorian: Quality over quantity in your case, Meg. xx

>38 quondame: Hehehe I will usually welcome a beer too, but looks in this case are deceptive.

>39 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas. Always great to see you here.

>40 EllaTim: No that is the most ever, Ella. I managed the number twice and dear Amber once. At this rate I won't get to 30 threads but it is an improvement on last years numbers at least.

>41 jessibud2: Indeed Shelley and that is why the four meagre lines were dedicated to you dear lady! The majesty of nature can still inspire.

Hiya, Paul, and happy new thread.

>1 PaulCranswick: Well, yay/drat. A BB, right out of the gate! Rules for Perfect Murders has now been ordered and will arrive sometime around the end of November. By then I’ll forget that I ordered it, and it will be a happy surprise when it shows up.

Happy new one, Paul! I love the topper. SO interesting about the tea - I thought it was beer at first glance, too. The tea sounds most yum.

>45 karenmarie: Thanks Karen. SWMBO picked a couple from the list but your choice was one of mine.

>46 Crazymamie: It really does look like beer, Mamie, and is pulled like a beer too. Tastes really nice on top of that. For some strange reason during the latest Movement Control Order, Coffee Bean have stopped serving it. :(

Happy new thread, Paul!

>1 PaulCranswick: Always good to see books at the top. I only have read the Robert Harris, a good one in my opinion.

>2 PaulCranswick: Lovely, matches good with Shelley's picture.

>48 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. I am sure that I will soon revisit Shelley's poem and polish it a little as it needs tying together somehow

Hi Paul, Happy new thread mate.

>1 PaulCranswick: Happy new thread, Paul. Conclave by Robert Harris is appropriately at the top of the pile. It's one of my favourite books.

Happy new thread, Speedy.

Coming by to wish you a happy new thread before it gets old, Paul!

>50 johnsimpson: Thank you, John

>51 VivienneR: I do like Robert Harris' books too, Vivienne. Nice to see you here xx

>52 richardderus: Thank you, RD. I am happy this year to be more engaged in the group. This year's thread count beats my last two years added together.

>53 bell7: Some way from getting old, Mary. xx

Reading update.

I have 5 books currently on the go (see >7 PaulCranswick:) having set aside The New Wilderness for a while which I was struggling with.

Hope to get all of them done by the end of this weekend and a readathon participation beckons I fear.

Happy New Thread, Paul! I like the stack of books at the top. I've read The Death of Mrs.Westaway and enjoyed it.

>57 Oregonreader: Thanks Jan. The Ruth Ware was a Hani pick but I will also read it because she raves about her books.

>42 PaulCranswick: Very diplomatic retort, Paul. Have a great weekend.

Happy new thread, Paul! #1 Oh you know how to make a book lover drool!
Is the Fitbit Charge yours or Hani's? My Fitbit Alta died recently and I'm considering the Inspire but I'd like to know what you think of Charge.
Have a lovely weekend, my friend.

>59 Familyhistorian: I missed my calling in Her Majesties Diplomatic Corps, Meg!

>60 Carmenere: I bought it for SWMBO, Lynda and she likes it a lot. Lovely to see you here.

Some more additions

226. Eternity : Selected Poems by Tracy K. Smith
227. Original Spin by Vic Marks
228. The Turncoat by Siegfried Lenz
229. Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh
230. Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany

>62 PaulCranswick: Ooh, Delany! He writes some dense stuff, but I find it rewarding.

Hope your weekend is going well.

Happy new thread, Paul!! Nice to see you topping the thread list again. : )

>63 amanda4242: It is on the list up top of lithub's top 50 chunksters of the last 50 years and it does look quite a tome.

>64 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers. I have had a couple of relatively quiet years before 2020 and we can't leave Mark all by himself! :D

A meme doing the rounds - I saw this on Kathy's thread

1. Name any book you read at any time that was published in the year you turned 18:
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
2. Name a book you have on in your TBR pile that is over 500 pages long:
Dhalgren by Samuel R Delany
3. What is the last book you read with a mostly blue cover?
The Dark Film by Paul Farley
4. What is the last book you didn’t finish (and why didn’t you finish it?)
The New Wilderness by Diane Cook; didn't suit my mood
5. What is the last book that scared the bejeebers out of you?
The Drought by JG Ballard; because it could happen
6. Name the book that read either this year or last year that takes place geographically closest to where you live? How close would you estimate it was?
We the Survivors by Tash Aw - Same city
7.What were the topics of the last two nonfiction books you read?
Somalian piracy and the Native Americans
8. Name a recent book you read which could be considered a popular book?
This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga; it was nominated for the Booker
9. What was the last book you gave a rating of 5-stars to? And when did you read it?
I don't really give those ratings but I might have given to The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
10. Name a book you read that led you to specifically to read another book (and what was the other book, and what was the connection)
I suppose The Corners of the Globe by Robert Goddard as it continues a story
11. Name the author you have most recently become infatuated with.
Chris Bohjalian
12. What is the setting of the first novel you read this year?
England between the Wars
13. What is the last book you read, fiction or nonfiction, that featured a war in some way (and what war was it)?
The Kingdom by the Sea by Robert Westall - World War II
14. What was the last book you acquired or borrowed based on an LTer’s review or casual recommendation? And who was the LTer, if you care to say.
Witness : Lessons from Elie Wiesel's Classroom by Ariel Burger - Stasia
15. What the last book you read that involved the future in some way?
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
16. Name the last book you read that featured a body of water, river, marsh, or significant rainfall?
A Captain's Duty by Richard Phillips - the Indian Ocean
17. What is last book you read by an author from the Southern Hemisphere?
This Mournable Body by Tstisi Dangarembga from Zimbabwe
18. What is the last book you read that you thought had a terrible cover?
The Ditch by Herman Koch
19. Who was the most recent dead author you read? And what year did they die?
Selected and Last Poems by Czeslaw Milosz - 2004
20. What was the last children’s book (not YA) you read?
The Kingdom by the Sea by Robert Westall
21. What was the name of the detective or crime-solver in the most recent crime novel you read?
Ruth Galloway by Elly Griffiths
22. What was the shortest book of any kind you’ve read so far this year?
The Waste Land by TS Eliot - 42 pages
23. Name the last book that you struggled with (and what do you think was behind the struggle?)
This Mournable Body - because it is written in a second person style
24. What is the most recent book you added to your library here on LT?
The Turncoat by Siegfried Lenz
25. Name a book you read this year that had a visual component (i.e. illustrations, photos, art, comics)
A Captain's Duty by Richard Phillips

>64 Berly: He's facing stiff competition from me ;0)

Happy weekend Paul! The downpours continue here - I suspect they are outliers from what the poor old Philippines are suffering since the rain seems to go on for longer than the usual monsoon deluges. We had dinner last night with folks who have relatives in Malaysia and they said that you haven't had any rain on your side (PJ) and, in fact, are going to have water cuts.

>67 humouress: Well no, Nina, it is raining the proverbial cats and dogs in Kuala Lumpur at the moment. Water cuts are because of contaminated water not shortages - Singapore still imports its raw water from Malaysia so that had better not be the case.

Hahaha thread count is a close run thing. xx

>56 PaulCranswick: Most folk seem to be having problems with that one Paul. It may lounge on my kindle for a while.

Happy New Thread, Paul. Love the topper! I hope you had a nice weekend and got plenty of reading in.

>69 Caroline_McElwee: It will probably go on and win the Booker then, Caroline. I hated The Sellout and that won too.

>70 msf59: Thank Mark and nice to see you. Weekend was food filled.

>66 PaulCranswick: Ooo! I like that one. Thieved.

Hi Paul. I'm curious how you are liking The Mournable Body. Or maybe you finished it? I agree that the second person narration was difficult. And I have not read her other works which, as I've read some reviews, may have helped me better resonate with the main character.

I see that folks are still wishing you a happy new thread so I haven't missed too much -- on this one. Heh heh.

I see you acquired a copy of Gun Island by Amitov Ghosh. I realize I didn't finish his Ibis Trilogy, have not yet read Flood of Fire. I'll note that for my unplanned reading of 2021. :-)

>66 PaulCranswick: Took me a while, Paul, the meme is now on my thread :-)

>72 richardderus: Very welcome, RD. I did exactly the same.

>73 EBT1002: Yes, I finished it, Ellen. I thought it was OK but I would be astonished if it was deemed worthy of the Booker.
I too have part three of Ghosh's trilogy to go and will get to it in the timescales you envisage!

>74 FAMeulstee: It took me a while too, Anita, but I like these memes a lot.

Happy new thread, Paul! I also have had a hard time reading books in 2nd person.

>66 PaulCranswick: Very enjoyable meme.
I snagged the list of questions from Richard's thread!
Your answers are really cool.
Many of the titles are unknown to me and others I just have never read them. Awesome wide-ranging literature, Paul.

>77 banjo123: To be honest, Rhonda, I am a bit perplexed at it making the shortlist for the Booker this year and even more surprised that it is the bookmaker's favourite to win.

>78 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks Sandy. I do like to read a mixture of stuff and get bored easily by repeating genres too often consecutively.

More additions

231. The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney by Okechukwu Nzelu
232. Will by Will Self
233. The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
234. Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith
235. Crossing by Pajtim Statovci

This week's additions:

>80 PaulCranswick: I was intrigued by The Queen's Gambit after watching the recent Netflix miniseries and didn't realize it was a novel going into it. Looking forward to your thoughts!

As always, I love the lists and the book covers so wonderfully displayed. I too have those books that I categorize as "having to have." Now, as I try to go through bins of books and try to whittle down the piles, I wonder why I thought I had to have this one.

I've done well this year at reading from my own collections. But, I know I will never finish all I have accumulated. I found a lovely book of poems for children. When I started reading, I thought this would be one to give away. Then, as I finished it, I now think I have to keep it.

Happy Day to you my friend. I look out to a yard of squirrels who are jumping and twirling round bread crusts thrown out earlier this morning. In a few minutes they all will be gone (the crusts, not the squirrels.) They found a home here and are multiplying.

>1 PaulCranswick: The Women at Hitler's Table looks like a book I "have to have!"

Paul you are ahead of me in books acquired this year - I have 212 so far. Mine will take up less space though, as most of them are digital. You have picked out some good ones.

Hoping the week is kind to you.

>82 curioussquared: Cover caught my eye in the bookstore, Natalie. I only later realised that it is on Netflix. I have read The Hustler many years ago.

>83 Whisper1: You, of course, have always done something similar on your own threads, Linda. I always try to show the actual cover that I acquired but the last one shown is in a brand new version that hasn't made it onto LT yet. I bought that one because the author hails from Kosovo and I am trying to assemble writers from all the countries of the world for my challenge.

>84 Whisper1: Believe it or not, Linda, that one came via a recommendation given to SWMBO.

>85 Crazymamie: Gone for the time being, Mamie, are the years that I add over a thousand books (done it twice on LT) but around a quarter of that this year will be respectable I think. I am stoked (as the Australian's say) to see you back and busy across the threads. xx

>81 PaulCranswick: My son watched The Queen's Gambit on netflix and got back into playing chess online, almost became an obsession. Anyway I saw it was based on a book so I'm in the library queue for it, probably sometime next year before I can get to it.
Robert Dinsdale has a new book out, I've finally started his The toymakers.

>80 PaulCranswick: I went and heard Will Self talking about his memoir, and the book was part of the package. I haven't got to it yet, but He is definitely worth seeing live if you can.

I'm a big fan of Patti Smith's memoirs Paul.

>88 avatiakh: My son likes to play chess already and I dabble occasionally.

Saw Dinsdale's new book in the store yesterday but still in the oversized versions that I don't care for. Will wait for the normal sized paperback to come out.

>89 Caroline_McElwee: Some of his novels are difficult and experimental in form and style but his memoir certainly called to me.

Patti Smith's music can be magnetically tuneless, Caroline, but she writes beautifully.

Hijacking your thread for a moment to say I've started announcing the 2021 BAC selections.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

>91 amanda4242: I will be along presently to see what 2021 has in store for me!

Hi, Paul. Happy (Somewhat) New Thread, mate.

I'm another one intrigued by the Walter Tevis book, The Queen's Gambit, after watching that mesmerizing tv series. Looking forward to your thoughts when you get to it. He also wrote The Man Who Fell to Earth, and one that got made into the Scorsese movie The Color of Money. I've never read any of his.

The actress playing Beth Harmon was Emma in the most recent adaptation of that book, so I'm going to track that one down.

>93 jnwelch: His most famous one was, of course, The Hustler, Joe, made famous by Paul Newman in the movie.

The Booker Prize will be announced today and I will go out on a limb and pick The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste as the winner. I am part way through it but it is very good and far superior IMHO to This Mournable Body. I have heard good things about Shuggie Bain which I have still to get to and I cannot see the winner coming from the other three.

Let's see because I am nearly always wrong!

>95 PaulCranswick: I didn't know that the Booker would be announced today. According to Google the winner was Marieke Lucas Rijneveld for The Discomfort of Evening. So looks like you continue your streak of not picking the same as the Booker judges, Paul.

>96 Familyhistorian: That was for Booker International Meg.

2020 Booker is announced tonight as Paul suggested.

Haven't read any of the shortlist so though have Shuggie Bain.

>96 Familyhistorian: As Caroline rightly points put, Meg, the earlier one was The Booker International which refers to Book in translation published in the UK. This is a book written in english first published in the UK in 2020. What most everyone classes as the Booker.

>97 Caroline_McElwee: I have heard good reports about Shuggie Bain too. I would be unimpressed if A Mournable Body wins but I still think worse books have won it before.

Hi Paul, Shuggie Bain announced as the Booker Prize winner.

*double checks* Yep, another Booker winner I have no desire to read.

>99 johnsimpson: Yes, John, I thought he had a fair chance of winning, although I guessed wrong again by tipping The Shadow King. A much praised book anyhow.

>100 amanda4242: Oh, I don't know, Amanda. I for one am looking forward to reading it.

As John noted above DOUGLAS STUART has won the Booker Prize for his debut novel Shuggie Bain. Apparently a unanimous decision amongst the judges.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54976523

Added some more at lunchtime:

236. Promise Me You'll Shoot Yourself by Florian Huber
237. The Snow Ball by Brigid Brophy
238. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
239. The Curious Case of Dassoukine's Trousers by Fouad Laroui

I also added

Southern Poetry Review Volume 58, 1 editor James Smith

Hi Paul, the books seem to treat you well. I hope you and yours are together again; is Yasmin still abroad? xx

>105 DianaNL: They continue to accumulate anyhow, Diana!

Yasmyne is currently working in Norway but seems a little homesick if truth be told. Lovely to see you here. xx

Not to be too much of a pest, Paul, but I've been following the post-election shenanigans pretty closely. Don't see any evidence that Joe's sleepy.

>107 weird_O: You may have noticed, Bill, I have stopping calling him such and refer to him as Uncle Joe. I wanted him to win as much as the next man.

I don't think I'll ever regard you as a pest, dear fellow. We may not agree on everything but it is a difference in emphasis not ideology.

>108 PaulCranswick:
When I see the name Uncle Joe I think of Joseph Stalin. and then next I think of the creepy uncle that everybody avoids at family dinners. For those reason I prefer President Elect Joe Biden.

It is interesting that as common as the name Joe is in the U. S. he is the first president to bear that name.

>103 PaulCranswick: #239 is lurking around here somewhere, I am sure, that title is like clickbait to me!

Enjoy your end-of-week.

Happy weekend!

>109 benitastrnad: I'll stick with Uncle Joe, Benita. Once he has banished Chump then any negative connotations about the name will be banished too.

>110 richardderus: It is a striking title isn't it, RD?

>111 amanda4242: The very same to you, dear Amanda.

I have started Shuggie Bain this morning since it was acclaimed by the Booker judges. So far so good although it could be quite a long read.

Have also been thinking much about the future these last few days and have decided that by Mid 2022 - when the PNB 118 project is done and dusted - we will finally relocate to the UK and we plan to open a coffee bar/ cafe & bookstore/lending library possibly in Leeds or in Sheffield. We will work on location over the next months and I will look at building up the capital to enable it.

A place to combine a few of our passions:

Books
Good food
Coffee &
People (an obvious LT meet-up venue)

Here is a sort of an update of the PNB 118 tower project of which I am the Senior Contract Head for the Main Contractor - Samsung. Interesting in the video the actual builder never gets a mention! The concept design architect has not been anywhere near the project for the last two and a half years either.

I am posting this while on a coffee break sitting in the site office situated in the building itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxiQo8R3WGA

2021 Reading Plan

1. BAC obviously
2. AAC if Linda takes it up again (please)
3. Around the World Challenge
4. Series Reading Double Headers
5. Nobel Challenge
6. Booker Winners
7. 1001 Challenge
8. Poetry
9. Bought and Read
10. This Century
11. Before this Century
12. Pot Luck

12 challenges is much more doable than this year's lofty and failed 20 in 20.
204 books is my aim for book totals (17 per month - which technically I can manage but never keep it up through a whole year since I have been on LT).

Series reading double headers :

I plan to read 1 series book per week and every fortnight it will be a double header - i.e. two books back to back in a series.

First few lined up:

Ben Aaronovitch - Peter Grant
Benjamin Black - Quirke
Bernard Cornwell - Sharpe
David Downing - John Russell
Kjell Eriksson - Ann Lindell
George MacDonald Fraser - Flashman
Winston Graham - Poldark
Graham Hurley - Joe Faraday
Conn Iggulden - Mongols series
Ragnar Jonasson - Arason series
Philip Kerr - Bernie Gunther
Donna Leon - Brunetti
Stuart McBride - Logan
Jo Nesbo - Harry Hole
Martin O'Brien - Jacquot
Anthony Powell - Dance to the Music of Time
Qiu Xiaolong - Chen
Ian Rankin - Rebus
CJ Sansom - Shardlake
Megan Whalen Turner - The Thief
John Updike - Rabbit Angstrom
Marco Vichi - Inspector Bordelli
Margaret Yorke - Patrick Grant
Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Cemetery of Lost Books

>115 PaulCranswick: Bookshop. But of course.

>115 PaulCranswick: What a lovely plan! But how will you bring yourself to sell books from the hoard?

>119 humouress: Of course.

>120 quondame: I probably won't let it get to the stage that I don't have a copy of a particular book, Susan. There will be a lending library section in addition to the book selling part.

>118 PaulCranswick: Peter Grant! Flashman! Sharpe! I love those series!

A little birdie told me that some soon to be announced BAC selections may help you with your plans.

>122 amanda4242: Yipppeeeeeeeeeee!

You may be pleased to note that we have just with that last post passed the total number of posts by the top 140 threads from 2019. 53 days ahead of last year.
Well done everybody.

>115 PaulCranswick: I like the sound of your new plans, Paul. Bookshops with coffee shops are always a good idea in my opinon! Unfortunately, the cafe in my local Waterstones closed during the first lockdown and is not reopening. Lots of other nice cafes in town, but I did use that one quite frequently as it welcomed dogs.

>114 PaulCranswick: Shuggie Bain was one of the books on the shortlist that I liked the look of. My reading has been focused on lighter reads at the moment, as it has been a stressful few months, but I am putting it on my Christmas list.

>125 SandDune: Dogs are something I do miss living here and they are an animal that many muslims are a little averse to. We will definitely add a dog to our family when we relocate - SWMBO wants a poodle but I have my heart set on either a spaniel (springer) or a beagle.

I am enjoying Shuggie Bain thus far.

>115 PaulCranswick: - What a wonderful plan, Paul! Good to have a goal to work toward, and 2022 isn't that far off!

>127 jessibud2: SWMBO is a marvellous cook and is presently half way through cookery classes in the UK (suspended because of the obvious) and is one of the most warm, welcoming and sociable people it is possible to know (ok I am a little biased) and I know a little bit about books and coffee.

Happy Weekend, Paul. I see you picked up the novel, The Queen's Gambit. The TV series was excellent and I was curious about it's original source. Good luck with those series books. I have not been reading many of those, these days but some on this list are exceptional. I am definitely looking forward to wrapping up the Cemetery of Lost Books quartet.

>129 msf59: I only realised subsequently that it has been on Netflix recently, Mark. I haven't seen it yet as I am watching my way through a Turkish series called Resurrection : Ertugrul which is fantastic but has around 450 40 minute episodes!

Hoping your Saturday has been a happy one, Paul. Lovely plans you are making, and it is always encouraging of hope to have something in the works. Personally, I am hoping that Hani gets her poodle - we have had four of them and just had to say goodbye to our sweet Bella this past August. They are such loving and intelligent dogs - very quick to learn and very loyal. No matter what you do decide on, you can't go wrong with a dog.

Hoping the rest of your weekend is full of fabulous!

>131 Crazymamie: How I have missed your Mamie fabulous!

She will get her way surely, but Belle seems to be siding with me on spaniels at the moment and she is one stubborn girl.

>115 PaulCranswick: That sounds exciting Paul. Maybe you will do some updates as your planning evolves. Find an image to mark your updates perhaps.

>133 Caroline_McElwee: One thing for sure, Caroline, there will be a sizeable poetry corner.

Good idea on the image and updates.

>126 PaulCranswick: they are an animal that many muslims are a little averse to We really noticed the difference in the number of dogs between Malaysia and Thailand which is presumably caused by this feeling, as the countries are next to each other. Everywhere we went in Thailand seemed to have its little pack of stray dogs, whereas we saw hardly any in Malaysia.

>126 PaulCranswick: My parents had a springer spaniel - they are lovely but they are very bouncy!

Hi Paul!

>115 PaulCranswick: Good for you – a wonderful goal, realistic, and it sounds like the perfect combination of your passions.

>124 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the reportage. I love our wordy group.

>135 SandDune: Hence the 'springer'?

>135 SandDune: You would see that Rhian because Malays will not keep dogs as a house pet. We had a springer spaniel when I was a boy and the main thing I can remember is how difficult he was to house train.

>136 karenmarie: Let us hope that we can make it a reality, Karen.
I will get some stats up this weekend.

>137 humouress: Made me smile because I thought just the same thing, Nina!

>115 PaulCranswick: That sounds like a huge, huge relief. Hani must be so pleased! Her executive-cheffing will make this such a joy of a place to eat.

And need we even try to mention the library...!

I'll expect a fraisier with pistachio marzipan when I visit. :-)

>140 richardderus: You could have whatever you wanted, dear fellow, on the menu or not.

>115 PaulCranswick: Great plan, Paul. And i love the combination of bookseller and lending library. And it would make it possible for me to pay you a visit!

>126 PaulCranswick: Poodles do have the advantage of not shedding and there are many poodle crossbreeds, my niece just got one as a therapy dog for her son as he has Charge syndrome.
We had a beagle and loved her dearly but she was trouble especially in the puppy years.
Your UK plan sounds amazing.

>126 PaulCranswick: I find that having a rather active dog in the house is not the best fit. Even my under 30 daughter has a hard time dealing with Nutmeg all day. I like my little sleep 95% of the day dachshunds, very comforting and as long as you watch the 5% pretty low maintenance.

I watched the video about the building. Are you sure that your part in this will be done in a year? It doesn't seem like the building is that far along. Kuala Lumpur seems like a really amazing place for someone like you to be working right now. Is it the political situation that is causing you to pull up stakes and leave, or is it the coruption?

>142 EllaTim: You would be treated as a VVIP for sure Ella.

>143 avatiakh: I am slightly biased against poodles, Kerry, as one of my school friends had one growing up and I distinctly remember him cringing when his dog had his coat sculpted giving his peers so much room for merriment.

I don't mind puppies being playful and difficult.

>144 quondame: You have a point, Susan, but I need a dog to get me out into the woods and the trails and one which will put colour into my cheeks.

>145 benitastrnad: The tower will be completed in around June or July 2022 (we have a presently agreed completion time at the moment of 12 March 2022 but that has been negotiated without the inclusion of final authority and fire permits which could take upwards of three months). We are looking at about 20 months from now, Benita.

I love Malaysia and we will keep a place here for sure - the politics is crazy but the place is safe and the people generally welcoming and the corruption is present but not impacting most people's lives so directly.

It is the lure of the UK - semi retirement, the welfare system, the four seasons, the country walks, the libraries, the theatres, the fact that all of the kids want to be in that part of the world.

>147 PaulCranswick: That's a whole different dog, for sure. Though our deal little Robbie was a game walker until almost the end, I'd never suggest a dachshund for the rough.

>148 quondame: Dachshunds always look practical little fellows, Susan. They do seem to possess the temperament to be a good family dog, but I think a spaniel more suited to the woodland ways.

>149 PaulCranswick: Dachsunds are very pragmatic - but only from their own point of view. They are very good at training humans to watch out for them, because the consequences of ignoring them are messy. A spaniel or two should do to keep you moving outdoors. While I was growing up we only had one dog at a time, but in this house at least two almost always. Nutmeg really likes having Gertie around and Gertie enjoys Nutmeg in smaller doses.

>150 quondame: I like the idea of more than one dog, Susan, but it does depend rather on circumstances and location. Let's see - I believe that SWMBO will get her way as she always does, but I do want a spaniel or a beagle for walking company.

>115 PaulCranswick: Does this bookshop plan include sleeping accommodations for visitors? Or maybe a cozy corner to camp out for a few years?

>151 PaulCranswick: Poodles are fairly nice dogs from what I can tell although the ones my friend has are rather full sized dogs, active with agreeable natures.

>152 kac522: Hahaha let me see what we can come up with!

>153 quondame: SWMBO has two friends with poodles and really likes both of them - the poodles that is!

One more addition:

240. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

I read and really enjoyed the first book in the series earlier this year and I shall certainly read the whole series.

>145 benitastrnad: No, he's trying to escape before we can have our meet-up.

>147 PaulCranswick: Jasper, our golden retriever, love rough and tumble play but has resigned himself to our family's inactivity after four years. But living in the tropics, we leave the front door open during the day so he can go out to the garden (we have gates) as and when he needs to. My husband's brother's family have a Bernese mountain dog (similar to St Bernards) - they are large but have a placid temperament while loving to go on outdoor rambles.

Okay, must dash. Dinner calls.

>157 humouress: I will not relocate until we meet up, Nina. PROMISE.

This climate is awfully difficult for dogs from the Northern climes. My brother used to have a Newfoundland which was enormous and covered everyone in his well-intentioned saliva.

>158 PaulCranswick: Mmhmm. Mmhmm. ;0)

Re dogs - I've always felt sorry for dogs with heavy coats living in the tropics - we once had a husky or something similar living in an apartment opposite us. But my husband promised the kids a dog without checking with me first and much to my sadness I'm allergic to fur (put paid to my ambition to be a vet, amongst other things). The kids, being under 10 years old at that point, were about as sensitive as you'd expect and daily exhorted me to go and get tested. Rather than having needles stuck in me, when Riding for the Disabled (where I still volunteer) co-hosted a charity fair day with an animal shelter I patted all the dogs I could and realised that I could manage with long haired breeds. Once the kids discovered that, there was no stopping them and I'd forgotten my objection to cold climate dogs living in hot climates, to be honest, since I hadn't intended getting a dog.

Poor old Jasper does suffer a bit on the hottest days but he's acclimatised and we keep the fan going for him. Dobby the Bernese lives in Seattle and apparently is quite happy to sit in the snow if he has to go outdoors for the necessary in winter.

>159 humouress: I'm sure that Jasper is happy as Larry with you all in Singapore. The love of a family will make up for inclement weather.

>160 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. I hope he is - he is kind of stuck with us now :0)

As a friend (who has a chocolate lab.) said when I showed her pictures of Jasper, he's always smiling.

>161 humouress: My father has a Golden Retriever still and I'm sure it is the main reason Belle was always pleased to see her Grandad (he and I are not at all close).

>162 PaulCranswick: She can always come over and visit Jasper.

>147 PaulCranswick: Border Collies are great at home or trekking through the woods!

Likely there are many rescues available around the Border countries.

>163 humouress: You will end up with a semi-permanent lodger.

>164 m.belljackson: Yes, Marianne, a Border Collie, is one I would definitely consider.

>115 PaulCranswick: Congratulations on your plans to move. It always takes a lot of time to work everything out so you are wise to begin now. Your idea sounds idyllic. And a dog! Wonderful.

>166 VivienneR: I do hope that I can make it much more than a mere pipe dream, Vivienne. x

Paul--Love hearing about all your reading plans for 2021 as well as the big move in 2022! And I am so relieved we have already passed our posting total from last year. Cuz I was really worried. ; ) Thanks for keeping the stats alive!!

>168 Berly: It is my pleasure, Kimmers.

A coffee bar/ cafe & bookstore/lending library - what a wonderful idea. I wish you all the best for the realization.
My first career wish was to be a bookseller, but life decided otherwise - not that I am unhappy. If the plan had come true, I would never have met my wife. So everything is good as it is.
A bookstore witch a dog is something beautiful, we used to have a dog too - a medium spitz, I like to think back to the time we had with him.
And by the way... thanks for the reference to The Death of Mrs. Westaway, it was a pleasure to read.

>170 SirThomas: It is a bringing together of passions, Thomas.

Glad to see that Ruth Ware hit the spot for you.

To keep the Tails Wagging around the Midnight Fire,
you could check out lists that rank the most intelligent, most friendly, etc.,
fun doggies.

It's great to read about your moving plans, Paul. I can imagine you and Hani living your passion in England. And dogs too. What a beautiful idea!

>172 m.belljackson: SWMBO came up with something today - a cross between a spaniel and a poodle which is inordinately cute. I think we have a deal.

>173 DianaNL: I hope you and yours will be able to make it across the channel to see us living our passions Diana. xx

Debbi and I plan to come visit when you and Hani open your cafe/coffee bar/lending library/bookstore, Paul. Sounds great!

Debbi and I worked together at a Chicago area bookstore before getting hitched, and had a blast. We talked about opening one in later life, but decided it was more than our slowed down metabolisms wanted to take on.

>175 jnwelch: That is something to look forward to, Joe. Our meet-up in London a few years ago was a lovely experience - you and Debbi, Darryl, Paul Harris, Bianca, Claire and her sister, Caroline and Luci - did I remember everyone?

>174 PaulCranswick: A cockadoodle! Oh, do!

(I know, I know, they're called cockapoo dogs, but I like cockadoodle better so there.)

>177 richardderus: Cockadoodle is a much better name. Cockapoo sounds like a bird...or possibly a sexual act.

Hi Paul, your future plans sound wonderful mate and i hope they come to fruition and we would certainly be visitors on a regular basis probably. Hope you have a good week mate and love and hugs to all the Cranswick clan from both of us.

>174 PaulCranswick: >177 richardderus: How cute!

>177 richardderus: That is exactly the beast she wants! I agree with you on the name - twas why I didn't enunciate it earlier.

>178 amanda4242: The mind boggles, Amanda!

>179 johnsimpson: I would hope very much that you and Karen would be regulars - I much prefer the certainly to the probably!

>180 quondame: I thought so too, Susan.

>178 amanda4242:, >181 PaulCranswick: I'd just refuse to use that other yclepture, but I'm a cranky old cuss.

>183 richardderus: It is the sort of "breed" that you would need to name the dog quickly and stick only to that.

>177 richardderus: that dawg is cute Richard.

>185 Caroline_McElwee: It certainly is, Caroline and I was shown others just as becoming.

Here's the Thanksgiving social distancing readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/326629.

>177 richardderus: Cockadoodle is a better name by a long shot. I think we should take an LT vote and impose our will on the rest of the world - and I think I see that we've already reached quorum.

>187 SilverWolf28: I have gotten so far behind with my reading that I really must participate this week!

>188 humouress: Well cockapoo is a no-no. My vote is cast already and I can guarantee that if and when one of their number joins our family, that breed misname will not be uttered!

>190 PaulCranswick: Well, they look cute (but you can say that for all dogs and most animals). Poodles and poodle crosses are recommended because their fur is different and usually non-allergenic.

ETA: as to breed names, a friend of mine and I have an ongoing argument as to whether German shepherds and Alsatians are the same or different. I maintain that they're different names of the same breed and my research indicates that the name change came about during the world wars as a propaganda exercise so the dogs wouldn't be associated with the enemy nation. (My apologies if that sentence is un-PC)

>191 humouress: I don't see anything un-PC there, Nina. It is a matter of historical fact that German names were amended during the last two World Wars because of domestic sensibilities particularly in France, UK and Russia (Soviet Union). I don't know the difference - if there is one - between Alsation and German Shepherd and have always considered them the same.

Amanda is doing a great job of planning for next year's BAC in its - seemingly much improved (my opinion) - post-Cranswick era! She will breathe new life into the challenge for sure.

With her June 2021 pick she has got me thinking about doing a Victorian Era Challenge whereby I read one book for every year of her reign:

She ascended the throne in 1837 The French Revolution by Thomas Caryle
and her last full year on the throne was 1900 Love and Mr. Lewisham by HG Wells (she died in January 1901) a total of 64 years.
I will read books from my shelves where possible and won't exclude non-British works (allows me to read favourites such as Balzac, Zola etc) but I will not replicate any authors. For example of of my unread Dickens books (Martin Chuzzlewit, Bleak House, Dombey and Son, Little Dorrit and Our Mutual Friend - I have read his other 11 novels) I must choose just one and fit it into the challenge.

I will start the challenge 1 December 2020 and hope to complete it by 31 December 2021 which means 5 books a month. Will help with my 1001 challenge too I daresay.

I will flesh out my planning for this one over the next day or so but will read Pendennis by William Makepeace Thackeray in December for 1850.

>193 PaulCranswick: Of your unread Dickens, my least favorites are Martin Chuzzlewit and Dombey and Son, although many find the latter book one of his best.
The others all have complicated characters and plots that amazingly come together in the end.
Bleak House takes on the law and courts, and has one of the first detectives, Inspector Bucket.
Little Dorrit takes on debtor's prison, but also the emotional imprisonment of long held grudges
Our Mutual Friend takes on the hypocrisy of Society in general.
All great books. I need to read them again.

>194 kac522: Thanks for that Kathy. I love my Dickens novels and, of the ones I have read, I enjoyed all of them but my absolute favourites fluctuate between:

A Tale of Two Cities
David Copperfield and
Great Expectations.

I know that he can be fairly criticised for verbosity (RD I do get that) but for the creation of emotional rollercoasters and memorable turns of phrase I still think he has few if any peers.

Trollope has his advocates but he has never quite gripped me by the lapels in the way Dickens often can.
Ainsworth and Scott wrote great historical novels and in particular Jack Sheppard by Henry Harrison Ainsworth is a wonderful adventure of a novel but they haven't stood the test of time as well. George Meredith, George Gissing and William Makepeace Thackeray were huge literary icons at the time but their respective stars have dimmed somewhat (possibly with the exception of Vanity Fair and New Grub Street). I have read most of Thomas Hardy's novels and his good ones are wonderful and into the Edwardian era Arnold Bennett and EM Forster are worth reading. Later still I have read all the novels of both Graham Greene and William Somerset Maugham and still think of the two of them, along with Howard Spring and JB Priestley as my favourite authors.

I don't think my choice will be Martin Chuzzlewit as it is the only Dickens I have seriously started previously but abandoned.

>193 PaulCranswick: That's quite a challenge Paul. You mean one book for each year, but it can date from any year?

>195 PaulCranswick: Bleak House does well when it comes to memorable turns of phrases, it's one of my favourites.

>195 PaulCranswick: I doubt I will do it in order, Ella.

So for each of the 64 years of her reign I will read one book first published in that particular year.
So, for example I shall cross off 1850 by reading Pendennis next month.

>198 PaulCranswick: Right! I was wondering if that was what you meant. Good luck, I will be following your choices, from a distance;-) I like that period.

>197 EllaTim: It has a good chance of getting chosen, Ella. 1853 was quite a good year for literature however with:

Vilette
Twelve Years a Slave
Cranford
and
Bartleby the Scrivener

also options for the year.

>199 EllaTim: Let's see Ella whether there are any choices you want to join me on.

>201 PaulCranswick: I was just thinking that I've never read anything by Thackeray.

Hi Paul, did you finish Shuggie Bain? I have heard positive talk of that book, despite the Booker Prize warning ;)

I would be interested to know what you thought.

>202 EllaTim: I will let you know how I get on with Pendennis when I start it soon, Ella.

>203 sirfurboy: Still ongoing Sir F. It is good but a heavy read so I am making steady if unspectacular progress with it. Very vividly written so I can certainly see why it has been so lauded.

>193 PaulCranswick: An impressive challenge Paul. The best I can offer is I may try and read a few of your choices along side of you.

"Alsatian" is better, somehow, than "German"? Because no one outside Europe is clear that Alsace, a German-speaking battleground between France and various German-speaking places, is...what, exactly? A non-place geopolitically since the 20th century?

*snort*

>191 humouress: I’m sure that they’re the same breed. When I was a kid they were Alsatians, and you pretty much only saw short-haired ones. But now they are called German Shepherds and you pretty much only see long-haired ones. We had an Alsatian living next door to us when I was eight or nine: those were the days when everyone let their dogs roam, and I was pretty frightened of next door’s Alsatian, although in retrospect it never did anything but bark. But it would never come anywhere near me if I had our own dog with me, a Welsh terrier, despite the fact it was a third of its size, as our dog definitely ruled the roost in the neighbourhood.

When I was a bit older there was also a local Irish wolfhound (called Murphy I remember) which used to walk up quietly behind me sometimes. It was a bit alarming to hear this heavy breathing suddenly in the vicinity of my ear - I was pretty short and Murphy wasn’t really much shorter than I was. But he was as gentle as anything.

>207 SandDune: Here’s me and our Welsh terrier (Siân) when I was a baby:



I’ve had a soft spot for Welsh terriers ever since.

>205 Caroline_McElwee: Would be great to have you along occasionally, Caroline. x

>206 richardderus: Agreed RD. I have always called them Alsatians. We always had one growing up (two of them, a labrador and a springer spaniel at different times) and they used to be my favourite breed. My sister had one about a decade ago that would attack anyone on any pretext whatsoever and caused me to reevaluate.

>207 SandDune: I think that you are right, Rhian that the trend is changing and the use of Alsatian is less common than in my youth. Probably the war is further from everyone's collective memory and "German" has today just as many positive connotations as it used to hold negative ones.

>208 SandDune: What a characterful photo! The Welsh terrier looks big enough to eat you!

>195 PaulCranswick: Sorry you and Trollope don't get on. If you do decide to throw in a Trollope (he wrote so many books, he could easily fill any gap), you might enjoy The Duke's Children. It is the last of the Pallisers, but in my opinion, it is the best. But you must be sure to read the newly restored version that has restored the 65,000 words he originally cut for his publisher--almost a completely different novel than the "cut" version.

Another one that is good is He Knew He Was Right, which is a stand-alone about a man whose obsession overtakes his life. I have not yet read The Way We Live Now, but that is argued as his best.

>192 PaulCranswick: >207 SandDune: Exactly! - same breed. I'd go with 'Alsatians' because it's shorter to say/ write.

>208 SandDune: Nice photo!

>206 richardderus: I didn't vote; before my time.

>199 EllaTim: I'll sit and spectate with you.

We had German Shepards for years (back when I lived in Kansas) and nobody would have known what an Alsatian was in the U.S. In the U.S. the breed was called the German Shepard. It was called an Alsatian in the U.K. and France, but a German Shepard everywhere else. The breed was created by a German in the last half of the 1800's so it is a newer breed, even though the prototype could be found in the Southern and Western parts of Germany prior to the 1870's. The German Shepard is genetically closely related to the French Picard and the Italian Mountain Sheepdogs (5 different breeds found mostly in the Italian and Swiss Alps and some parts of Hungary and Romania.) All German Shepards can trace their ancestry back to one stud dog - Horand von Grafrath, who came from the area of Germany around Wurttemberg.

There are several varieties of the breed. One of them is the Eastern-European Shepard. This dog looks like a bigger heavier German Shepard with lighter coloring (usually silver and black). It was bred by the Soviet Army to be more cold hardy than the German Shepard and is not commonly found in Western Europe or the U.S. In the U. S. there is the Shiloh Shepard. This is a long-haired version of the German Shepard with lighter coloring than a regular German Shepard.

The name variant of Alsatian (officially in the U. K. the name was Alsatian Wolf Dog) is purely a product of disassociation. The breed was Hitler's favorite and he had several of them as pets. Breeders in France and the U.K. did not want their dogs associated with Germany so used a different name for the breed. The name Alsatian is not, and was not, accepted by the American Kennel Club. In the U. S. the name as always been German Shepard Dog.

>211 kac522: I don't actively dislike Trollope, Kathy, although I admire more than enjoy reading his books.

I will probably read Barchester 3 aka Doctor Thorne from 1858.

>212 humouress: What about some Vicorian Sci-Fi?!

>213 benitastrnad: Thanks for that detail, Benita. It is of course true that it was Britain that lead the way in calling the German Shepard an Alsatian or Alsatian Wolf Dog.

>214 PaulCranswick: Victorian sci-fi? Possible. Sadly, steampunk - while set in that era - wasn't written then or there would be reams of material.

>213 benitastrnad: So there are several sub-breeds (as it were) of German shepherds? Maybe that's where my friend's confusion arose; he sent me pictures of slightly different looking dogs although I would still call them the same breed.

>216 humouress: There are even two more breeds that origin from the German Shepherd.
The color white was not accepted, white German Shepherds are now White Swiss Shepherd Dogs.
Long hair wasn't accepted either, so they became Oldgerman Shepherd (not a recognised breed yet).

Huh; now it's getting confusing.

>216 humouress: Haha no I was thinking of HG Wells, Jules Verne, William Morris and Edward Bellamy for example.

>217 FAMeulstee: Quite remarkable how much our number know about dogs, Anita!

>218 humouress: Even the, erm, Alsatians are confused.

Hey Paul! Of course, you know it's U.S Thanksgiving today and a great time for me to tell those outside our borders how thankful I am to have you as an LT buddy.
Have a nice Thursday :0)

>219 PaulCranswick: Dogs were a big part of our life, Paul, and we did breed a few litters of Chow Chows between 1998 and 2009. As a young girl I was always interested in all different breeds and later I saw many of them on the dog shows. I still have loads of clippings from dog magazines about dog breeds, mostly unsorted. Should work on that someday ;-)

Hi Paul - over here, despite our German heritage (Grandmother born in Alsace-Lorraine), German still has many negative connotations for our Fathers who fought in World War II. My grandmother's family still in Alsace disappeared during World War II.

It is also still terrifying when you come across interviews with those Germans in Germany who still NOW cherish their Hitler memorabilia, medals and uniforms.
As do their families.

>221 Carmenere: Nice of you to remember me, Lynda. This has been such a hard year for so many with a sharing of pain and tears but, I think, a deepening of group togetherness despite a number of trials.
I am proud to be able to call you my friend. xx

>222 FAMeulstee: Yes I do remember your fondness for "man's best friend", Anita. The kids had cats and living in a capital city apartment it was simply not possible to keep a dog, but I do miss their faithfulness and companionship.

>223 AliceKerr: Well I suppose it is Thanksgiving even for the Spam!

>224 m.belljackson: One of my favourite thrillers used to be The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth, Marianne, and I hadn't realised that there was more than a grain of truth in its telling. It is frankly terrifying that, in 2020 there is still so much hatred and prejudice in the world.

>216 humouress:
Yes. There are several types of German Shepards recognized by the American Kennel Club. Each type is judged according to standards for that type. Some types have to do with length of hair (long or short) and coloring. The build and stance of all of the types is much the same. German Shepard's should have a distinct "saddle" and not be solid colored. (either solid white or black was not acceptable.) long hair was considered bad. It appears that in Europe in the hilly and mountainous regions there were several types of Shepard dogs and genetically they are all related but they have distinct physical features. The Eastern European Shepard was specifically bred by the Russian Army to be heavier and squarer and more cold tolerant than the German Shepard. They are grey or silver with a less distinct saddle of black. Solid colored pups were destroyed because the dogs needed to be able to self camouflage. These dogs resemble a German Shepard but you can tell they are not "of type" that is common in the U.S. or Western Europe.

>222 FAMeulstee:
We didn't ever breed German Shepard's. We had only spayed females. My father was very picky about type and stamina. Our dogs stayed outside and he wanted smart dogs. It became very difficult to get bigger German Shepard's and eventually my parents didn't replace Dulcie. My Dad was really bothered by the desire for the sloping back end of the dog that was then favored by breeders. He wanted squarer dogs with sounder hips who were still quick on their feet when working cattle. And of course the protective attitude.

My sister now has a Belgian Malinois. I have a big back yard and no dog and she has a small back yard and a big dog, but she loves that Malinois! I laugh and tell her that it is not quite a German Shepherd but it is close. She tells me it he is better than a German Shepard because he is romantic. He speaks French!

>214 PaulCranswick: Doctor Thorne is one of my favorites. Plus there was a movie a few years back, so it would fit next year's BAC book/movie month.

I've seen a few of those cockapoo/cockadoodle out walking the trails with their owners, Paul. The ones I saw see very friendly and they are a good looking mid-size dog. Good luck with your 2022 plans.

>227 benitastrnad: Fascinating, Benita.

Since you don't keep a thread, I also want to wish you a lovely Thanksgiving from here. xx

>228 kac522: Kathy, that truly sounds like a plan.

>229 Familyhistorian: It seems to tick all the boxes for us to be honest, Meg. Become an odds on favourite to join Clan Cranswick in the near future.

>231 PaulCranswick: Choosing a dog I would always go for good character and good health over any other trait. Good health of the dog. A number of dog breeds have been spoiled by too much inbreeding, or breeders going for certain looks.
Friend of mine had a small poodle, fun dog, very friendly with children, and it loved to chase the ducks in the park;-) I like poodles, and a cockadoodle sounds like fun as well.

>232 EllaTim: You are spot on Ella because temperament is so important in a dog.

Late to visit, Paul, but I want to thank you for your lovely Thanksgiving message!

>227 benitastrnad: Belgian Shepherds are fine dogs, my first own dog was the black longhaired variety, a Groenendael.
I hate to disappoint your sister: Malinois is the French name, but they are named after the Flemish city Mechelen ;-)

>235 FAMeulstee:
That is the joke. Most Belgian's speak at least three languages. French being one of them. The most "romantic" one. Oh Lala! Mai oui!

>234 ronincats: Lovely to see you, Roni. I have so admired your stoicism and positivity in the most trying of times and hope that the move back to Kansas will bring much happiness and lots of pictures of a newly evolving garden. xx

>235 FAMeulstee: I don't think I have ever seen a Belgian Shepherd dog, Anita, and am quite surprised that there were sufficient hills and wide open spaces in Belgium to justify creating one!

>236 benitastrnad: And even less name one!

Hi Paul, I see you're planning to read Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time next year along with a whole lot of other series. (No idea why the touchstone won't work.).That is a favorite of mine. I read it at the rate of one book per month in a GR a few years ago so it took just about a year but it was wonderful. I might reread it in a few years.

>239 brenzi: Recommendation enough for me, Bonnie!

I have found over the years that I have very rarely if ever disagreed with you about a particular book or books so I shall move forward with Powell with virtually no trepidation. x

>225 PaulCranswick: Well, my son's best friend live in an apartment and they have a toy poodle. (Okay, I won't tell your kids.)

>227 benitastrnad: Ooh, a French-speaking/ trilingual dog. Jasper only speaks Food. Oh - and Happy; he's fluent in Happy.

>241 humouress: We wouldn't get away with it where we stay, Nina, as the house rules are particularly severe.

Only speaks FOOD........love that!

>242 PaulCranswick: Well, we all speak the language in our house *sigh*

>165 PaulCranswick: I meant to reply earlier; send her over. At least that's one member of your clan we'll get to see ;0)

>243 humouress: It seems to be a language common to book loving expatriates.

I will bring Belle with me when we can travel to Singapore.

More Additions

241. The Illumination of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst
242. The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan
243. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
244. A Nest of Gentlefolk by Ivan Turgenev
245. A Quiet Backwater by Ivan Turgenev
246. A Lear of the Steppes by Ivan Turgenev
247. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
248. The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
249. The History of Pendennis by William Makepeace Thackeray
250. Masks and Faces, or Before and Behind the Curtain by Charles Reade

>244 PaulCranswick: Ah - so it's a talent. That's alright then.

Sure - we'd love to see her. I should warn you that Jasper is super enthusiastic about meeting new people. But I should warn Belle that he's a bit sexist and tends to favour boys - much to my chagrin. (The way around that is, of course, to come bearing food. But then you have to contend with the enthusiasm.)

>246 humouress: She has a habit of palling up to canines like almost nobody I have seen Nina.

Happy Weekend, Paul. I hope all is well in your world.

Hello, Paul!

I know I've read A Lear of the Steppes, but I can't remember a dang thing about it. Huh. And also, Where the Red Fern Grows, eh? I suffered severe childhood reading trauma over that one. Cried for *days.* Just, fair warning.

>249 msf59: Tropical but restful here, Mark. Managing to get some reading done for a change!

>250 scaifea: I bought Where the Red Fern Grows with Belle in mind, Amber. Trying to see whether she will pick it up and read it instead of playing games on her phone all the time.

Hi, Paul! Hope you are having a good weekend.

Just had to let you know that I am finally up to date. Took me 3 days, but I'm done. Thanks for the push.

Hi Paul! I hope you’re having a good weekend.

>239 brenzi: and >240 PaulCranswick: I found 3 of the 4 ‘movements’ at the Spring 2015 Friends of the Library sale, original hardcover editions. Maybe next year.

>251 PaulCranswick: I cried my eyes out while reading that book and when watching the 1974 movie adaptation.

>251 PaulCranswick: Oh, how I would love tropical and restful right about now!!

>251 PaulCranswick: Hah! Yeah, that. My younger son still reads - occasionally. If she's of a slightly gothic bent, I can offer suggestions - Skulduggery Pleasant, Five Nights at Freddy's. Or the usual staples; Rick Riordan, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates, Tashi. If it's classics you're after, I can't help you. I've filled the bookshelf in the boys' room with classics but they don't read them. On the other hand, they usually pay attention if I pick it up for bedtime stories.

To be honest, that's a habit that's fallen off as they've grown older and I've left them to their own devices (usually phone) but I still make an effort occasionally and even my 17 year old will lend a reluctant ear. This week I'm trying Swallows and Amazons - I'm trying to start a global bookclub with my cousins in other countries, so let's see how that goes.

Hmph; touchstones are still being temperamental. I can see all of them in the side bar of the post but not all of them show in the preview.

>252 Fourpawz2: I always enjoy your reviews Charlotte and your presence here. I especially like your comments on the book covers as it is often that which attracts me to books in the first place.

>253 karenmarie: Tear jerkers seem to affect me more now I am getting older. I will read it fairly soon I guess.
I need to add the first movement, Karen. Have it on Kindle though, I think.

>254 ChelleBearss: More than welcome to pop over with those little cuties of yours. Well I suppose we would have to wait for all the travel bans to be over first!

>255 humouress: I have been looking for Swallows and Amazons for the longest time here, Nina, as it never seems to be in any of the stores these days. I want Belle to read much more in 2021.

>257 PaulCranswick: Yes, unfortunately I don't see travelling in our future until 2022. Hopefully the Atlantic will be allowing visitors by then as it will be our 10 year anniversary and we'd like to head back to Peggy's Cove and take Chloe to the area she was born.

>258 ChelleBearss: Is it really ten years already, Chelle?! Sounds lovely though to go back to Chloe's place of birth.

>115 PaulCranswick: That is an awesome plan, Paul. I wish you great success! It’s been a long time since we’ve traveled to the UK. We went once in 2000 and back again in 2001 when our daughter and her husband were living and working in Surbiton. So many wonderful memories...

>195 PaulCranswick: We are in total agreement on favorite Dickens’ books, however, I would have to add A Christmas Carol to the mix. Tis the season for a little fa-la-la-la-la, you know.

I love all the dog talk here and look forward to meeting the new family member whenever it happens. My daughter has a doodledog and he is a winner. We acquired our Penny from the Humane Society. She is a lively mixed breed (mostly Labrador Retriever and Boxer). I attribute my newly rosy cheeks to the two daily walks with her in this brisk late fall weather. She has brought a lot of joy into our lives during these troubled times.

It’s been great catching up, Paul. It looks like you are about due for a new thread. See you on the flip side!

>260 Donna828: >247 PaulCranswick:

Regarding Dog Rescues: All of our wonderful, loyal, friendly, beautiful dogs and cats

have also been rescues.

An online Search shows a UK Cockadoodle ... Rescue, with thankfully only a few!

I might join you in reading the Dance to the Music of Time series next year. I have been trying to work my way through the Poldark series and have gotten stuck after reading book 3. Reading a series like this with a group provides discipline and structure. We might all get through the series better that way.

>260 Donna828: I hope we will be able to realise the bookstore/coffeecafe dream, Donna.

I think I have read A Christmas Carol as much as any other book together with Of Mice and Men so I cannot disagree.

We had a Labrador when I was younger and he was a lovable rascal and probably the most sex crazed pooch I have heard of. Amazing how many pups in the village seemed to develop his glint.

>261 m.belljackson: I do admire those who run and support rescues but we have always taken dogs as puppies. A rescue dog does appeal though.

>262 benitastrnad: You would be most welcome, Benita. I like the Poldark books and must get to them again soon.

Pendennis!! Good goddesses, PC, isn't the misery of the world enough for you, that you must read the vitriol and slander emitted at Sir Francis Clavering?! And chucklehead Pen wasting every advantage that all the women who meet him chuck under his sensibly shod feet? The carnage he leaves in his wake...!

Well, you're for it now, bucko. See if you ever draw a happy breath again after that read!

>265 richardderus: ETA two days and counting to the miserable rest of my life then it seems, RD.

>115 PaulCranswick: Exciting plans! And I am looking forward to being able to travel more in the future, so you may give me a destination.

>266 PaulCranswick:

>267 banjo123: You and yours would always be heartily welcome, Rhonda.

>268 richardderus: Jeez, I wondered who'd pinched my hanky.

Hi Paul, I'm managing the group reads over in the category group for next year and there are a few people expressing interest in a shared/group read of Powell's A dance to the music of time there. I read the books a few years back so won't be participating.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/326368#7321152

Thanks for that, Kerry. I will certainly give it some thought for next year. I could well spend more time over there next year too.

Book #109



Levkas Man by Hammond Innes

Date of Publication : 1971
Origin of Author : UK
Pages : 322 pp

Reliable fare from Hammond Innes and a goodly while since I read this one.

Well researched plot of palaeontology and anthropology set in the sun dappled Aegean. A typically flawed hero and a love interest you know will be in his arms at some stage of proceedings.

Your Victorian Era Challenge sounds amazing, Paul. I am envious of your bravery and discipline.

>257 PaulCranswick: I want Belle to read much more in 2021. Good luck with that. If it works, I'll come to you for pointers.
I did, at some point, attempt to restrict the boys' screen time via the family sharing plan - but my husband undermined that one. In some respects, he's younger than the kids themselves. *wanders off, shaking head*

>273 Fourpawz2: Bravery I have in spades, Charlotte, discipline much less so. Good intentions for sure.

>274 humouress: Samsung presented their staff with a gift of a new tab yesterday and mine was immediately confiscated by SWMBO who then proceeded to have Belle show her how to use it. I may be fighting a losing battle here.

A few more additions while I continue to be in the mood:

251. Jack by Marilynne Robinson
252. The Interrogative Mood by Padgett Powell
253. The Kites by Romain Gary
254. In Arabian Nights by Tahir Shah
255. Empress of the East : How a Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire by Leslie Peirce

Book #110



Taller When Prone by Les Murray

Date of Publication : 2010
Origin of Author : Australia
Number of Pages : 82 pp

Oftentimes the cultural references defeated me, but there was much to love here too.

Mixing balladry and more inventive forms with a surprising dextrousness, Murray's collection is well worth the trouble of having several poems included which I couldn't make head or tail of quite honestly.

This is the deft little poem, Nursing Home which evoked my experiences in the early 1990s sitting with my Gran as she drifted away..

NURSING HOME
Ne tibi supersis:
don’t outlive yourself,
panic, or break a hip
or spit purée at the staff
at the end of gender,
never a happy ender –

yet in the pastel light
of indoors, there is a lady
who has distilled to love
beyond the fall of memory.

She sits holding hands
with an ancient woman
who calls her brother and George
as bees summarise the garden.

Murray passed away last year and I'll hazard that Australia will struggle to replace him.

If you haven't picked your Dickens yet, I'd recommend Bleak House, with the added benefit of the dramatization as a miniseries in 2006.

It also occurs to me to recommend The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman if you haven't read it already . . . aside from the fascinating history, she's just a joy to read (IMHO).

Happy reading! your volume impresses me . . . but I keep plodding along all the same.

>279 ejj1955: Lovely to see you here, Elizabeth and I certainly don't view you as a plodder!

I have read The Guns of August and agree that it is first rate.
Still not chosen the Dickens for next year but your suggestion has more than half a chance.

Better get in before you start a new thread:

Stopping by to say hello and dropping off a picture of my holiday tree for some inspiration on this dreary Monday morning. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

>278 PaulCranswick: Don’t outlive yourself is my new motto.

Hi, Paul! Just stopping by to see what you've been up to and manage to get hit by a BB - Levkas Man - right off the bat.

Paul, cruising through your thread to get caught up. So much going on. I love your bookstore/lending library idea.

I have been intending to read A Dance to the Music of Time for ages and you have inspired me. Maybe I'll be able to join you and whoever else is interested.

On the dog choice, my parents had a cockadoodle and he was lovable, very trainable, and loyal. A good choice.

>281 witchyrichy: Nice to see you, Karen.

Made me smile to see your tree - SWMBO did one for last year's Christmas celebrations and it put me on edge because I was absolutely sure that one or two of the books I had lined up for December reading!

>282 Storeetllr: It isn't a bad one to live by, Mary. Les Murray's collection had probably a third of the poems which went over my head a little bit as they were peculiarly Australian and I didn't pick up the references. Another third were balladic in form and that is something I always enjoy and the last third were observational ones on nature or the human condition including the one quoted.

>283 Oregonreader: Who knows Jan we might be able to start a chain of such establishments across the 75ers?!

Kerry has set it up nicely for me and the Category Challenge group will read one of the 12 books each month which suits me.

Saw this the other day. This sounds very interesting...

The Irish novel that was so good people were scared to translate for 60 years

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-irish-novel-thats-so-good-people...

>286 mahsdad: Indeed Jeff. I will have to go and seek out Churchyard Clay which now seems to be aka The Dirty Dust. A hidden and lost classic for sure. Fancy having a book rejected for being too "Joycean"!

>245 PaulCranswick: Thanks for reminding me about Interior Chinatown, Paul. I had meant to do something about getting that one from the library after I saw him on the virtual Vancouver Writers' Festival.

>288 Familyhistorian: It came to my attention, Meg, by winning the National Book Awards.

>289 PaulCranswick: I didn't realize it won the National Book Award, Paul. For a minute there I wondered which Nation but, of course, what other country besides the US just names their stuff National as though there is only one Nation. (Sorry, it's just hard to be a neighbouring nation at times.)

I thought that it sounded like a good book from the interview. He wasn't the only author being interviewed. i was also impressed by the other two authors interviewed who had debut novels come out - Megha Majumdar was interviewed about her book The Burning and Kawai Strong Washburn for his book Sharks in the Time of Saviors.

>290 Familyhistorian: Hahaha that is a little bit like their Baseball World Series (although Canada do have a few teams in the mix).

I bought A Burning earlier in the year and want to read it soon.

Book # 111



Class Trip by Emmanuel Carrere

Date of Publication : 1995
Origin of Author : France (9th country visited since 1 October 2020)
Number of Pages : 150 pp

Emmanuel Carrere is considered one of the most talented and original writers in France and on the strength of this quirky little novel, I can see just why.

A young boy, Nicholas, is driven separately to a school skiing trip but when he joins his class he realises that his father had driven off without all his belongings. As a boy from the trip has gone missing, Nicholas, a chronic introvert and bed wetter is forced to look beyond his imagination and face some uncomfortable conclusions.

Recommended.

>292 PaulCranswick: Sounds like a book I would like, Paul.
I have an other book by Emmanuel Carrère: Limonov on mount TBR, I will add this one too.

>293 FAMeulstee: It is chewable too at only 150 pages, Anita. Provoking little novel.

Hi, Paul.

I enjoyed your comments on Charles Dickens' books up there. Emotional rollercoasters and memorable turns of phrase - yup. The one of his I didn't finish was Pickwick Papers. Halfway through I realized there never would be any plot. I still want to go back and polish it off at some point.

I think you did name everyone there at the Golders Green meetup in London. What a lovely time that was.

>295 jnwelch: Not surprisingly with me Joe it was the first of his I read as I used to always follow publication orders quite religiously. I liked it but, you are right, it is a series of misadventures rather than a actual plot.

More additions

256. Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard
257. Night Theatre by Vikram Paralkar
258. The Caliph's House by Tahir Shah

DECEMBER READING PLANS

Starting my VICTORIAN ERA CHALLENGE :

Pendennis by Thackeray (1850)
Mrs Warren's Profession by Shaw (1893)
Masks and Faces by Reade (1852)
Lear of the Steppes by Turgenev (1870)
The Prince and the Pauper by Twain (1881)

Finish up:

Shuggie Bain by Stuart
Lords of the Horizon by Goodwin
The Coastliners by Harris

Poetry
Mary Oliver & Carol Ann Duffy

Maybe if there is time
Another BAC read
Another AAC read
Some around the world challenge books

>299 PaulCranswick: I haven't read The Prince and the Pauper in years! Maybe I should dig it out for a re-read.

>300 amanda4242: I have never read it, Amanda, and I think it is long overdue.

Squeezing in a hello before this here thread boils up and out of the pot, catching fire, and burning down the second tallest building in the galaxy. Cheers, old boy.

>302 weird_O: It had better not fall down, Bill, cause a lot of us would get into an awful lot of trouble.

Nice to see you here dear chap. I will have 40 winks and then make a new thread.

Class Trip sounds right up my alley, Paul! Thanks for the reccie. I hope I can find it here in the States.

>304 Storeetllr: My version was a brand new edition so it ought to be available, Mary.

Nice. I'll check to see if my library has a copy.

>306 Storeetllr: I want to go and look for the movie too which is apparently very good.

>284 PaulCranswick: At least, with Hani's tree, some of your books must have had a long overdue outing ;0) Will they get a chance this year too?

>308 humouress: She will decide!!!

>297 PaulCranswick: I enjoyed The Calif's House, and have seen a couple of fine performances of the Stoppard play Paul.

>310 Caroline_McElwee: It is a play that I have always wanted, Caroline, so I couldn't resist when it turned up on the shelves. I am interested in Morocco because of a potential project and Casablanca in particular.