Joe's Book Cafe 2016 Door 27

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Joe's Book Cafe 2016 Door 27

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1jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 10:29 am











Harry Potter illustrations by Jim Kay

Welcome to the year-end cafe!

2jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 12:40 pm

Top 5 First Quarter of 2016

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Tokyo Decadence by Ryu Murakami (finally available in the U.S.)
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Top 5 Second Quarter 2016

A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanthi
Without: Poems by Donald Hall
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

Top 5 Third Quarter

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
Strike Sparks by Sharon Olds

Top graphic novels so far in '16:

Super Mutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
The Sleeper Omnibus by Ed Brubaker
The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks
Pocket Full of Rain by Jason
How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman
Saga Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughan
Ms. Marvel Volume 5 by G. Willow Wilson
Velvet Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker
March Book 3 by John Lewis

3jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 28, 2016, 5:13 pm

2016 Books

January

1. Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson
2. Saint Odd by Dean Koontz
3. Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich
4. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
5. Cold Mountain by Han Shan (re-read)
6. Bryant & May and the Burning Man by Christopher Fowler
7. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler
8. Valis by Philip K. Dick
9. Neon Vernacular by Yusef Komunyaka

February

10. Tokyo Decadence by Ryu Murakami
11. The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
12. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold
13. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
14. Martian Time-Slip by Philip K. Dick
15. The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
16. Natural Birth by Toi Derricotte
17. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver
18. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
19. Heap House by Edward Carey

March

20. Evicted by Matthew Desmond
21. Paxby Sara Pennypacker
22. Voyage of the Sable Venus by Robin Coste Lewis
23. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
24. Dead Man's Mirror by Agatha Christie
25. White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones
26. Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs
27. Divine Invasion by Philip K. Dick
28. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
29. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
30. Fair Game by Patricia Briggs
31. Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs
32. Venetia by Georgette Heyer
33. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
34. Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer

April

35. Off the Grid by C.J. Box
36. Lighthead by Terrence Hayes
37. At The Threshold of Memory by Marjorie Agosin
38. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin
39. Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
40. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
41. Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith
42. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Inga Moore (re-read)
43. The Transmigration of Timothy Archer by Philip K. Dick
44. In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan
45. Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb
46. The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
47. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer
48. The Bangkok Asset by John Burdett
49. The Swallows by Adriana Ramirez
50. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
51. The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell
52. The Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

May

53. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
54. Shaman Pass by Stan Jones
55. Poems from the Typewriter Series by Tyler Knott Gregson
56. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
57. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
58. Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie
59. Without: Poems by Donald Hall
60. Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig
61. A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler
62. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
63. Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit
64. Zero World by Jason M. Hough
65. The Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich
66. The Highwayman by Craig Johnson
67. Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorenson

June

68. The Royal Wulff Murders by Keith McCafferty
69. Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
70. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
71. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
72. Dodgers by Bill Beverly
73. Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
74. Application for Release from the Dream by Tony Hoagland
75. Waterloo: The History of Four Days by Bernard Cornwell
76. The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
77. Silence in the Snowy Fields by Robert Bly
78. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
79. An Infamous Army by Georgette Heyer
80. The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison by Maggie Smith

July

81. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
82. What is This Thing Called Love by Kim Addonizio
83. Charcoal Joe by Walter Mosley
84. Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
85. The Spanish Bride by Georgette Heyer
86. Ubik by Philip K. Dick
87. Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
88. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
89. The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck
90. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
91. The Last One by Alexandra Oliva
92. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
93. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
94. Aeneid Book VI by Seamus Heaney

August

95. The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancy
96. The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu
97. Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes
98. Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry
99. Dragon in Exile by Sharon Lee
100. I Shot the Buddha by Colin Cotterill
101. A Question of Death by Kerry Greenwood
102. Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee
103. Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre
104. Strike Sparks by Sharon Olds
105. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

September

106. A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
107. Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty
108. Pines by Blake Crouch
109. Wayward by Blake Crouch
110. The Last Town by Blake Crouch
111. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
112. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison
113. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
114. Gods of Gotham by Lyndsey Faye
115. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
116. How the Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman
117. Disasterology by Maggie Smith

118. The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins
119. The Bookseller by Mark Pryor
120. Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman
121. An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor
122. The Crypt Thief by Mark Pryor
123. Zen City by Gregoire Hervier

October

124. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
125. Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb
126. The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith
127. An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson
128. The Hard Way by Lee Child
129. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
130. The Lost Leader by Mick Imlah
131. His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
132. Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
133. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
134. Way Station by Clifford Simak
135. Slow Burn by Ace Atkins

November

136. Great North Road by Peter Hamilton
137. Dead Boys by Adriana Ramirez
138. The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
139. The Last Star by Rick Yancey
140. Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer
141. Night School by Lee Child
142. The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
143. Florence Nightingale by Catherine Reef
144. A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
145. Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
146. Crooked House by Agatha Christie
147. Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard
148. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

December

149. The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami
150. Zero K by Don DeLillo
151. The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer
152. The Mammy by Brendan O'Carroll
153. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
154. Create Dangerously by Edwidge Danticat
155. Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham
156. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
157. Darktown by Thomas Mullen
158. A Love Story, and Murder by Harry Bingham

Graphic Novels

1. The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker
2. Concrete Park by Tony Puryear
3. The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua
4. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
5. Killing and Dying by Adrian Tomine
6. Sleeper by Ed Brubaker
7. Where is Jake Ellis by Nathan Edmondson
8. Lucifer by Mike Carey
9. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Omnibus by Philip K. Dick
10. Super Mutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
11. The Fade Out Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
12. Low Moon by Jason
13. The Fade Out Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
14. Fatale by Ed Brubaker
15. Demo by Brian Wood
16. Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna
17. Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton
18. The Property by Rutu Modan
19. Descender by Jeff Lemire
20. Ms. Marvel Vol. 4 by G. Willow Wilson
21. The Sleeper Omnibus by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
22. Lucifer Volume 2 by Mike Carey
23. Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan
24. The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks
25. Ruins by Peter Kuper
26. Harrow County by Cullen Bunn
27. The Story of Mu by James Cordova
28. Torpedo Volume 1 by Enrique Sanchez Abuli
29. Lucifer Book Three by Mike Carey
30. Pocket Full of Rain by Jason
31. Batgirl by Gail Simone
32. Descender Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan
34. Deadly Class by Rick Remender
35. How to Fall Forever (Black Science) by Rick Remender
36. Hawkeye Volume 3 and Hawkeye Volume 4 by Matt Fraction
37. Wonder Woman: Earth One by Grant Morrison
38. The Planetary Omnibus by Warren Ellis
39. Princess Black by Shannon Hale
40. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Amy Corzine
41. The Private Eye by Brian K. Vaughan
42. Missed Connections by Sophie Blackall
43. Patience by Daniel Clowes
44. How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman
45. Maggie the Mechanic by Gilbert Hernandez
46. Almost Silent by Jason
47. Saga Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughan
48. Lucifer Book Four by Mike Carey
49. Ms. Marvel Vol. 5 by G. Willow Wilson
50. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and Lewis Helfland
51. Jessica Jones: Alias Volume 1 by Brian Michael Bendis
52. Lumberjanes Vol. 4 by Shannon Watters and Noelle Stevenson
53. Lady Killer by Jamie S. Rich
54. Morning Glories Volume 5 by Nick Spencer
55. Morning Glories Volume 6 by Nick Spencer
56. Jessica Jones Alias Vol. 2 by Brian M. Bendis
57. The New York Four by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly
58. Rivers of London Body Work by Ben Aaronovitch
59. Velvet Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker
60. Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider by Devin Grayson
61. The Bronx Kill by Peter Milligan
62. Lazarus by Greg Rucka
63. Lazarus Volume 2 by Greg Rucka
64. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
65. Bandette by Paul Tobin
66. Morning Glories Volume 6 by Nick Spencer
67. The Unwritten Vol. 4 by Mike Carey
68. March Book Three by John Lewis
69. Serenity Better Days by Joss Whedon
70. Hack/Slash Omnibus Volume 5 by Elena Casagrande
71. Emma Frost Vol. 2 by Karl Bollers

4jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 9:58 am

Joe poem (still tweaking):

Ten Times Ten

We were all dead before, we'll be dead again.
Ten times ten years and back again.

Pour it all away now, girl.
Pour it all away.

You're a sweet cashier, counting the change.
Change is a mighty force, here's your lemonade.

If the heavens shouted really loud at us
Would we all begin anew.
Change is a cup of life, drink is what we do.

Twelve times twelve will build a shelf.
Zero times zero will make it melt.

If everyone asks a single why
Will each one get enlightened by and by.

If everyone refuses to ask
Will each one get to slip the mask.

Given two chances, we'll always need three
Given three chances, we're still hard to please.

If you find a way, don't bother reporting.
Dogs growl in the attic, memos in the morning.

Three times three, it's time for tea.
Cakes and custard, glum and glee.

Knocking heads, cursing, howling.
Here tomorrow, foolish, cowering.

Slow down, slow down, you'll hear the wind.
Ten times ten and back again.

Slow down, sit still, you'll find the way.
Accept the outrageous, then go out and play.

5jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 10:00 am



By David Zinn

6Crazymamie
Déc 20, 2016, 10:18 am

Hope I'm not too early, Joe. Happy new one! I really love those Jim Kay illustrations - he really captures the charm and the depth of Harry Potter's story.

7jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 10:26 am

>6 Crazymamie: You're right on time, Mamie! I'm glad you feel the same way about the Jim Kay illustrations. So cool to have illustrated editions of the Harry Potter books coming out.

I believe he also illustrated the very different A Monster Calls, and those were knockouts, too.

Oops, you deserve some on-the-house treatment for finding the new place and being the first in. Congrats! Here you go:

8brodiew2
Déc 20, 2016, 11:10 am

Good morning, Joe! I hope all is well. I had cold coffee this morning, but I'm thinking hot coffee is in order as well. I also thought about posting a fourth thread just for kicks, but there are only 11 days before the end of the year. I think I'll stick with the Justice Society.

9jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 11:20 am

>8 brodiew2: Good morning, Brodie! It's warmer and better on my end; hope all is well for you.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I toyed with the idea of not starting a new thread, but I'm so used to changing around 250 posts. It starts taking awfully long to load.

Let's get you that hot coffee, Turkish.

10brodiew2
Déc 20, 2016, 11:24 am

Thanks, Joe. The demi tasse is perfect!

11jnwelch
Déc 20, 2016, 11:27 am

12PaulCranswick
Déc 20, 2016, 11:28 am

Happy new thread, buddy.

13jnwelch
Déc 20, 2016, 11:29 am

>12 PaulCranswick: Thanks, mate.

I saw you might move back to the UK. As regular visitors to the UK, but not Malaysia, we're all for it!

14charl08
Déc 20, 2016, 11:38 am

Mmm. Muffins!

And I missed the chance to congratulate you on the near-retirement. Sounds great. Will you be doing more travelling, perhaps to British shores?

15drneutron
Déc 20, 2016, 11:43 am

Stopping by some busy threads to let folks know we have a new party spot!

http://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin2017

16jnwelch
Déc 20, 2016, 12:18 pm

>14 charl08: Ha! Thanks, Charlotte. We will indeed be doing more traveling, including Spain (Barcelona to start) in the Spring. Our plan is to be in London and thereabouts every September, coordinating with our pal Darryl. We'd love to see you if that can work out!

>15 drneutron: Great! Thanks, Jim. You're the best. Thank you again for all you do in making the 75er group happen!

I'll start one there as we teeter on the edge of '17, or maybe when we've fallen right into it.

17FAMeulstee
Déc 20, 2016, 12:42 pm

Harry Potter :-)
Just what I needed, happy new thread, Joe!

18jnwelch
Déc 20, 2016, 12:44 pm

>17 FAMeulstee: Ah good, Anita. Thanks! It's the best when your neighborhood cafe has just what you needed. :-)

19mirrordrum
Déc 20, 2016, 1:47 pm

HNT, Prop. last of the year. sounds crazy. love the HP toppers. and the punkin caramel choc muffles sound mighty tasty. suddenly i want an apple streusely muffle. i'll see if i can find one later.

St J does her last deployment on the morrow so i shall be holding down the critters.

have a good day, you fine-feathered fellow. :-)

20jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 2:48 pm

>19 mirrordrum: Hiya, Ellie. HNT? Hotel Nikko Tokyo? Humming Naval Tunes? Ah, got it. Heckuva New Thread. Thanks!

Last of the year, my friend. At least we've had a good year on LT. It's been a tough one in many other ways, yes?

Glad you like the HP toppers. I've got a soft spot for those books, and love the fact that illustrated ones are starting to come out. Yes, them muffles should prevent kerfuffles. I can never have enuffles of them mufffles. Please handcuffle me to one of them muffles? OK, don't bother, I'll put myself in timeout. Jeesh.

Last deployment sounds good for the St of the Little Pigeon River. She could probably use a few moments to catch her breath. Critter duty is happy duty in my book. Hope you have a good time.

Thanks for the good day wishes, o warbler of the southeast. I'm enjoying the wearin' of the feathers.

Hey, I finished the most excellent Create Dangerously. Thanks again! I'm going to try to put together a short review.

P.S. Please take a look at that tweaked poem up there when you have a minute. I tried to make it more accessible - I'd like this one not to be too elusively mysterious.

21jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 3:25 pm



"Create dangerously, for people who read dangerously. This is what I've always thought it meant to be a writer. Writing, knowing in part that no matter how trivial your words may seem, someday, somewhere, someone may risk his or her life to read them. Coming from where I come from, with the history I have - having spent the first twelve years of my life under both dictatorships of Papa Doc and his son, Jean-Claude - this is what I've always seen as the unifying principle among all writers."

What a powerful way to look at being a writer!

Create Dangerously is Edwidge Danticat's collection of essays about her Haitian roots She struggles internally with living in the U.S. and writing about Haiti, even though her roots are strong and her trips back seemingly frequent. She sees a duty to write, and the alternative unthinkable, but nonetheless is "anguished by my own sense of guilt." The guilt seems to stem from her ability to live well elsewhere, and benefit from her writing, while so many in her country suffer. Yet she sees her duty as bearing witness to them, and her country.

The book begins with the 1964 firing squad executions of CIA-supported Marcel Numa and Louis Drouin, who had hoped to overthrow Papa Doc. Her fascination with those two, and the way they are remembered in Haiti, threads throughout the book. They both had lived comfortably elsewhere, but came back to help Haiti. Exile, diaspora, and return, are central themes in the book. Her passion is compelling on every page. When she returns to Haiti, her visits are vivid for the reader. For example, she (arduously) and her cousin and uncle (easily) climb a picturesque mountain and visit her aunt in an isolated remote village that is filled with daily beauty and small miracles, e.g. making coffee, grinding corn, the noisy hens and roosters. She re-enters peaceful rural life, and for a while, the country's turmoil is forgotten.

She is so transparent here, this book is like talking to her directly. She has a profound mind, and gave me many new perspectives on Haiti (including the 2010 earthquake) and Haitians. Many thanks to Ellie for sending this my way.

22EBT1002
Déc 20, 2016, 5:17 pm

Hi Joe and Happy New Thread!

Back to your prior thread.... "We're going to be questing for good cafes to hang out in."
There are some lovely cafes in Seattle. Just sayin'. ;-)

>21 jnwelch: Wow. Onto the wish list it goes. And you get a thumb from me.

23Whisper1
Déc 20, 2016, 5:25 pm

Hi Joe

I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday! Thanks for your posts on my thread throughout 2017, even when I didn't post on your thread as often as I wanted.

May 2017 be a wonderful year for you.

24Morphidae
Déc 20, 2016, 5:37 pm

I got about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way through the poem and gave up. I felt like I should be "getting it" but didn't it - like a tip of the tongue thing. It's not your fault, it's mine. I hardly ever read poetry and don't understand its rhythms.

25charl08
Déc 20, 2016, 6:41 pm

>21 jnwelch: Wishlisted. Sounds wonderful.

26msf59
Déc 20, 2016, 6:42 pm

Happy New Thread, Joe! 27 threads? The Cafe rocked this year! You Go Boy! Love the Kay illustrations!

>4 jnwelch: The poem is deep and challenging. Thanks for sharing. I will have to return to it a couple more times and see how it takes shape my little postal mind. Does this come together all at once or in fragments?

27msf59
Modifié : Déc 20, 2016, 6:44 pm

>21 jnwelch: Good review of Create Dangerously. Thumb! Love the opening quote. I will have to search this one out, along with several more of her works.

28kidzdoc
Modifié : Déc 21, 2016, 8:54 am

Happy new thread, Joe! Great review of Create Dangerously, which I loved as well. If you haven't read it I would highly recommend another of her nonfiction books, Brother, I'm Dying, which is mainly about her father, her childhood in Haiti, and young adulthood in the US.

It looks as though my usual trip to London in September will take place a bit earlier this year. Margaret (wandering_star), Fliss (flissp) and I will meet up in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival in late August; I'll be there from August 22-25. I'll almost certainly travel to London by train afterward, and plan to spend roughly two weeks there. I'll need to be back in the US by mid September, as my medical school class's 20th reunion will be held in Pittsburgh starting on the 15th, and the national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics will be held in your fair city from the 16th through the 19th.

29kac522
Déc 20, 2016, 11:53 pm

Joe--Congratulations on your semi-retirement!

Looks like 2017 is the start of:



for the Welch clan. Enjoy!

30mirrordrum
Déc 21, 2016, 1:56 am

>20 jnwelch: >19 mirrordrum: HNT=Happy New Thread, twit. *sigh* ;-)

>21 jnwelch: wonderful job on a book i couldn't possibly review. i'd just have to say something ovular like, "wow. you gotta read this" or similar. review thumbled.

i'm at the part where she's talking about the things that bring people together and how 9/11 caused her to want to be a part of the USA and the man from, where, Afghanistan? who found himself wanting to wave the US flag. she also talks about how folks came together in the plane when a passenger went into crisis.

i mentioned this elsewhere, i believe. she's talking about community and its spontaneous creation, about inclusivity and what brings these things about. it is strange reading this material when, in my opinion, we've never in my life lived in a country so divided and with so little interest in creating inclusiveness. it's difficult when we know the earth and the biosphere are wounded and in crisis everywhere, and yet we are not sufficiently equipped, and the wounds too horrifying, deep and ever-present, for us to find a way to the greater good.

thanks for reading it, mi compadre.

31scaifea
Déc 21, 2016, 6:50 am

Happy new thread, Joe! LoveloveLOVE those toppers (of COURSE I do!).

32Caroline_McElwee
Modifié : Déc 21, 2016, 9:42 am

Morning Joe

Just stopping by for a nice sip in the café.

>4 jnwelch: Lots stopping me to cogitate in 'Ten times Ten', I like.

>21 jnwelch: love that quote. You might have hit me with a bullet on the Danticat Joe.

33maggie1944
Déc 21, 2016, 7:27 am

hopping, skipping, and lurking along. Happy New Thread! Create Dangerously looks very interesting.......

34Crazymamie
Déc 21, 2016, 8:01 am

Morning, Joe! Thanks for the muffin and the latte - I never get tired of those.

>21 jnwelch: Nice review - giving it my thumb. And adding that one to the Big List.

35jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 9:13 am

>22 EBT1002: Ha! Yes, we miss questing for cafes in Seattle, Ellen. We loved doing that in your most excellent city. Jesse is very happy in Pittsburgh, which is a lovely city in its own right, but we miss visiting him in Seattle.

Oh good. You're a natural for Create Dangerously, so I'm glad that review grabbed you. Danticat at her most accessible. Thank you for the thumb!

>23 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! Happy Holidays to you and yours! So happy your pain situation has improved, and you're with your family for the holidays.

Love that street scene. Makes me feel like caroling. :-)

36jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 9:18 am

>24 Morphidae: Thanks for trying, Morphy, with the poem. I do think it's partly my fault. I love the rhythm of it, but I still feel work is needed on the lines. The idea is a simple one (we have a short time here, we mess around and miss the pleasure of it, and we just need to slow down, be still, and enjoy what we're given), but it's proving hard to get down right.

>25 charl08: Glad to hear it, Charlotte! Knowing you, you can probably finish Create Dangerously) during breakfast. :-) I look forward to your reaction to it.

37jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 9:26 am

>26 msf59: Ha! I can't even remember whether that's a lot for the cafe, Mark, but it does feel like it rocked this year. Lots going on. You're on what, thread #50? It's been rocking even more over at Mark's library bar. :-)

Thanks re the poem, buddy. I'm still working toward what it's supposed to be, I think. For me, they normally come together as a whole (I "hear" them), but then need work to get out the dross and get closer to what they're supposed to be. I don't think they ever first come in fragments, although occasionally a short one will develop into something longer. More common is they're longer at the start, and taking out the dross tightens them. Kind of like a painter doing a drawing first for the painting, and then erasing parts, rearranging, introducing new elements, and then pulling it together in a finished painting.

>27 msf59: Ah, excellent, Mark. Thanks for the thumb! This was a tip from Ellie, as you can tell. I need to read more Danticat, too. I loved Claire of the Sea Light.

38jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 9:31 am

>28 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl!

Hey, great to hear you've read Create Dangerously and loved it, too! I will look for Brother, I'm Dying. Glad you liked the review of it.

OK, I'm going to pass on your earlier-than-usual London schedule to the lovely Debbi. I'm happy to hear you're going to Edinburgh and seeing the Fringe festival; we did that with the kids a few years back, and it was one of our favorite trips ever. Have you been to the Military Tattoo at the castle? Squeeze that one in, too, if you can. Oddball and great fun.

>29 kac522: Ha! Thanks, Kathy!

You got it - the Life of Riley, coming up. Can't wait!

39Familyhistorian
Déc 21, 2016, 9:33 am

Happy new thread, Joe. Quasi-retirement sounds lovely. I like the way your work still wants you to remain connected. We get letters of warning when we retire not to divulge corp info. You worked things out well to be able to do this at such a young age! There is much to be said for staying with the same partner and enjoying life together. I will finally get to retire also in 2017 but towards the end of the year.

40jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 9:44 am

>30 mirrordrum: Happy New Thread! Now, why didn't I think of that, Ellie? Can I come out of time out now?

I'm very happy you liked the review, and thanks much for the thumb. "wow, you gotta read this" would've worked, too, I think. Thanks again for getting me to read it.

You know, I'm a great believer in, you've got to get the ugly stuff out into the light so we can see it clearly and make choices. All these divisive and destructive developments you mention are right there inside us - thinking tribal (us and them), being self-centered and thoughtless of others, trashing where we are and leaving it behind (except we can't leave it behind any more; we're trashing our own home). It's awful to see and experience, but it does present us with a whole lot of choices, dunnit?

We're not going to significantly change until enough of us say, "that's not us", and even then, we're going to have some twisted louses and ignoramuses running around. This ain't an easy planet. Why was it all of us chose it again? There must have been a reason. Probably because it's also so darn beautiful.

Ah, thanking me for reading Create Dangerously - I appreciate it, but thank you for sending it to me, mi compadre.

41jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 9:50 am

>31 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

Ha! Of course you do! Isn't it great that they're releasing illustrated Harry Potter editions now? Jim Kay also did those terrific illustrations for A Monster Calls, so he should handle the darker HPs just fine.

>32 Caroline_McElwee: Good to see you, Caroline.

Thanks re the poem. I'm glad it grabbed you for cogitations. Any thoughts would be welcome from my fellow poet - I still think there's more to be done with it.

Isn't that Danticat quote a knockout? Well worth your time to read Create Dangerously, and it's not a particularly long one.

42jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 9:55 am

>33 maggie1944: Ha! I love the thought of you hopping, skipping and lurking along, Karen. I hope life's continuing to treat you well out in your beautiful part of the country. Yes, I think Create Dangerously would be right up your alley. I hope you get a chance to slide it into your reading.

>34 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

I could start every day with a latte and a muffin. Or a latte and some pizza. :-)

Oh, I'm glad Create Dangerously is making the Big List. It's a keeper. Thanks for the thumb!

43jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 10:07 am

>39 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg.

Ha! I love being referred to as being "at a young age." I still have some people call me "young man", and it always makes me smile. I know that Madame MBH enjoys being called "Miss".

Yeah, I'm always bound by confidentiality, so no need for that kind of warning letter. It was very nice that they wanted to stay connected; it sure makes it easier on my end, as I don't have to go through all that packing up or switch insurance. Plus I can get tech help when needed.

Yeah, Madame MBH and I have been together 33 years now, and we've helped each other through all the ups and downs. We had our kids while in our 30s, and I'm so glad. I would've been such an amateur parent in my 20s, particularly the early years. I think our kids benefited from our being older and wiser. Although there were times I wished I had the energy I had in my 20s!

A big part of this is the kids being able to take care of themselves. We're lucky in many different ways.

So great that you get to retire toward the end of next year! I'm sure you're really looking forward to it.

44Morphidae
Déc 21, 2016, 10:20 am

>36 jnwelch: I really like the rhythm and the phrases, it's the comprehension that's escaping me.

45souloftherose
Déc 21, 2016, 10:47 am

Happy new thread Joe!

I think on your last thread someone asked where the thread was for people to record their 5 best books of 2016? If someone hasn't already responded it's here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/243835

And there's also a list for people to add their books to:

http://www.librarything.com/list/11172/all/Top-Five-Books-of-2016

46brodiew2
Déc 21, 2016, 10:57 am

Mornin' Joe! I hope all's well.

Have you been to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story?

47msf59
Déc 21, 2016, 11:04 am

Morning Joe! Happy Wednesday! You must be savoring each of these final days. Sweet...

Not bad out here at all. Now to get rid of some of this snow...

48jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 11:24 am

>44 Morphidae: Thanks, Morphy. Sometimes that's okay (enjoying the rhythm and the phrases, but having trouble understanding the poem's content), if it provokes you to think more about it and dig into it. I'm not sure I've got enough provoking in there - you know, enticement. Some poets, like John Ashbery, don't care about that part, and there's a lot of power to their writing. But I'd like to draw people in, to share that experience. It's a balancing. And sometimes the poem reaches a point where it won't be changed. And some poems are determined to be the way they are, even if I don't totally understand them myself.

I suspect that dilemma is pretty common in the creative process.

>45 souloftherose: Thank you, Heather!

Oh good, thanks for the "5 best books of the year" links. That was Anne. I'll check them out, too.

49jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 12:57 pm

>46 brodiew2: Mornin' Brodie! All is well.

I haven't seen Rogue One. Have you? We sure plan to - maybe over the holidays.

>47 msf59: Morning Mark!

Happy Wednesday! I am indeed savoring these final days - or, to put it another way, I'm savoring the idea of not having to get up early and take the train downtown, and not having to use my noggin and wiles (the few I have) to solve problems. :-)

It's not bad out there, is it. I'm going to get out and run an errand at lunchtime. I'm hoping any significant snow holds off until we're done driving on Friday.

50brodiew2
Déc 21, 2016, 1:15 pm

>49 jnwelch: Yes. I did. It was fantastic! It was a beautiful mixture of new FX and 1977 look and feel. I loved the characters and action. This is the Star Wars I remember.

51jnwelch
Déc 21, 2016, 1:23 pm

>50 brodiew2: Great to hear, Brodie. Can't wait!

They've been showing the original three on cable here, and I'm reminded how good and ground-breaking they were.

52mirrordrum
Modifié : Déc 21, 2016, 1:47 pm



non-wall wall art. huh! thanks to Microsoft's ad in the Ta-Nehisi Coates article in the Times. they conveniently provided it (er, the article not the image) in audio. very nice. and they didn't block screencapping. must say, they certainly know their audience.

>40 jnwelch: "We're not going to significantly change until enough of us say, "that's not us", and even then, we're going to have some twisted louses and ignoramuses running around." to me the idea is to say, "i am that" and recognize that i, too, am, if not totally twisted, then occasionally a bit bent and endlessly ignorant about, intolerant toward and dismissive of people who aren't like i am in certain respects. i've learned hugely since moving out of my Bay Area comfort zone 40 years ago into east Tennessee and ultimately getting married to a mountain woman.

can't remember when you're gonna light out for the holidays. when are you?

53jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 21, 2016, 3:30 pm

>52 mirrordrum: Ooh, I like that non-wall art, Ellie. I'll read the article with interest. What an impact Ta-Nehisi has had.

I like the idea of "I am that" and "I am this", in addition to "that's not us" (e.g. hatred and discrimination ain't us), although as far as I know, we're supposed to kick out the "I am" part. No soul, no self, etc. So, then what we have left is "this" and "that". That sounds about right. :-)

What I was trying to get at was, no matter how many of us learn to be kind and compassionate and inclusive, we're going to have folks who don't and won't. You're right, I need to be open-minded about them, too. Everyone's a Buddha, right?

54jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 21, 2016, 3:53 pm



By Fiona Staples

55ffortsa
Déc 21, 2016, 6:17 pm

>40 jnwelch: "I'm a great believer in, you've got to get the ugly stuff out into the light so we can see it clearly and make choices."

Yes. Me too. If anything positive comes out of this horrible election, it may be the recognition of the underlying attitudes, opinions and pain of people across the country. We can't fix what we can't see.

Retiring to the life of consulting sounds good, and it's always good to feel you're well-regarded by the people with whom you work. Enjoy all that flexibility.

56mirrordrum
Déc 22, 2016, 2:43 am

Sweet Thursday, retiring Joe.

>55 ffortsa: "If anything positive comes out of this horrible election, it may be the recognition of the underlying attitudes, opinions and pain of people across the country." i agree, Judy, and am focusing on that as best i can. i'm not sure the situation is completely "fixable" in the way that we've come to expect, though.

compassion, open-mindedness and notions of "spectrum" should include everyone but it's pretty difficult for our animal brains to do that. it may be impossible. discrimination (the cerebral act not the political one) is hard-wired and essential to survival and that makes it diffy. we stereotype for a reason and we pre-judge b/c it has served the species well. we fear the "other" for the same reason and we have hard-wiring to make that a pre-cognitive event.

we're pack animals and pack animals innately, cognitively distinguish between "we" and "they" and we do it before we know we've done it and because that's how we've stayed alive for millennia. therefore, tolerance, inclusivity and broad-mindedness take constant effort and vigilance. we obviously can do it, but we have to want to and to find positives in doing so. that requires education of some sort.

i have hope that somehow, the people of the world younger than i will be able to bring about something positive beyond my imagining but i'm afraid, like drunks, we'll have to hit a very hard bottom first and we may just be in the midst of doing that. oddly, that very fact itself gives me hope and engages my curiosity. i wonder what's coming next. "what rough beast, its hour come round at last," and so forth.

shutting up now. :-)

here, have a cinnamon apple crisp muffin.


57charl08
Déc 22, 2016, 6:21 am

Ooh muffins and Calvin. I just want to print that one and frame it. I don't know how Watterson managed so many perfect cartoons, but I'm very glad he did.

>54 jnwelch: Is fun too - I have vol 5 of Ms Marvel coming from the library - hopefully early in the new year.

58Carmenere
Déc 22, 2016, 7:39 am

Hi Joe and er a... happy new thread?! Yes, yes, it's still new if I've been a preoccupied wussy wuss and have not visited before today :0)

59jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 22, 2016, 11:44 am

>55 ffortsa: Hi, Judy.

If anything positive comes out of this horrible election, it may be the recognition of the underlying attitudes, opinions and pain of people across the country. We can't fix what we can't see. Well put.

Like you, I'm hoping that's the silver lining. I would never have guessed we had this many folks who thought they weren't being sufficiently listened to, and therefore were willing to take a chance on such an unqualified candidate. So we need to listen better to them. (I don't think their candidate actually has any interest in that). Videos of police abuse and murder also come to mind - while recognizing the overwhelming number of police out there who do their jobs right.

Thanks re retirement. I sure am looking forward to all that flexibility. I've been coming to work downtown here for more than 32 years (after working elsewhere before that). I'm going to enjoy not getting up early and doing that.

>56 mirrordrum: Hiya, Ellie. It is Sweet Thursday! And the last day of the work week for me.

I'm a shy and retiring guy all right.

I know, lots to think about. Doing things the right way ain't easy, for the reasons you mention. I do wonder whether having nothing left to "defend" opens up the world and makes the hard work easy. We sure spend a lot of time patrolling the castle parapets.

I place a lot of hope in the young 'uns following us, too. They've seen a lot, and the ones I know are impressive.

i'm afraid, like drunks, we'll have to hit a very hard bottom first and we may just be in the midst of doing that. Nicely said. That may be it. Our collective destructive behavior is hard to fathom, but hopefully it's an inspiration to find a way to do what's needed to get off that hard bottom and to where we want to be.

Thank you for the cinnamon apple crisp muffin. You know me well - those look delish.



60jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 22, 2016, 2:55 pm

>57 charl08: Muffins and Calvin - it just doesn't get any better than that, does it, Charlotte? Sweet Thursday, my friend.

As you probably could tell, >54 jnwelch: is from the wonderful Saga series. I LOVE the Ms. Marvel series, did I mention that? You'll have a good time with #5.

BTW, I just saw the second Paper Girls came out in the U.S. That may be a gift card treat for meself these holidays.

>58 Carmenere: Ha! Thanks, Lynda. If it's new to you, then it's Happy New Thread as far as I'm concerned. Nothing wussalous about having RL intervene, or even unreal life.

61jnwelch
Déc 22, 2016, 9:54 am



I've always loved this Inga Moore illustration from Wind in the Willows. Winter street scene.

62Caroline_McElwee
Déc 22, 2016, 10:08 am

Aaah, Wind in the Willows , that should come off the shelf for a reread this Winter me thinks. Great illustration Joe.

63jnwelch
Déc 22, 2016, 10:54 am

>62 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. Isn't that a great illustration? So many illustrators have done Wind in the Willows, but she's my favorite. She also did an excellent The Secret Garden. I agree, this is a great time of year for a re-read of TWITW.

64msf59
Déc 22, 2016, 11:06 am

Morning Joe! Extra Sweet Thursday, my friend. Savor every moment. Love all the sunshine too.

Do you leave four MI tomorrow?

65jnwelch
Déc 22, 2016, 11:09 am

>64 msf59: Thanks, Mark! 'Tis. I'm busy a-savorin'.

Yes, we drive over to Ann Arbor tomorrow. Looks like we won't be dealing with a lot of snow on the way, I'm glad to say.

66FAMeulstee
Déc 22, 2016, 11:46 am

Enjoy your day & safe travels tomorrow!

67Caroline_McElwee
Déc 22, 2016, 12:30 pm

>63 jnwelch: mine is illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk, but I'm looking at the Inga Moore illustrations and thinking I might just have to have a companion copy to the one I have. I'm in town tomorrow....

Happy travelling. Will you be visiting Sherlock and his Watson?

68jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 22, 2016, 1:24 pm

>66 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

>67 Caroline_McElwee: I felt the same way, Caroline. I went out and got myself an Inga Moore one. They're such great illustrations, aren't they?

Ha! Sherlock and his Watson (Becca) will be sitting in our far back seat, reading while we drive to Ann Arbor, MI. He likes to rest and muse about the many cases he's helping solve.

69jessibud2
Déc 22, 2016, 1:12 pm

Safe travels, Joe! And happy last day...! ;-)

70Crazymamie
Déc 22, 2016, 1:20 pm

Afternoon, Joe! Sweet Thursday to you!

>61 jnwelch: Love that one, Joe! All of the illustrations from that story, really.

71mirrordrum
Déc 22, 2016, 1:26 pm

>61 jnwelch: wondrous. i may snitch it for my FB page.

"far back seat?" how far back is it?

cheery Hanumas, merry Chrismakkah, and happy trails to you, Mme. MBH, Becca and the furry fellow.

72ffortsa
Déc 22, 2016, 1:59 pm

>60 jnwelch: I think you meant >54 jnwelch:, Joe, although I wouldn't mind having that experience - over and over!

73EBT1002
Déc 22, 2016, 2:01 pm

>54 jnwelch: I love that. It captures a sweet moment the luckiest among us gets to experience over and over and over again.

>61 jnwelch: Lovely. You know, I've never actually read The Wind in the Willows.

74Caroline_McElwee
Modifié : Déc 22, 2016, 2:14 pm

>73 EBT1002: slapping wrist.

I don't generally do talking animals on the whole, but this book is a special one.

75jnwelch
Déc 22, 2016, 2:46 pm

>69 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! Hope you have a great holiday.

>70 Crazymamie: Sweet Thursday, Mamie!

Isn't that illustration in >61 jnwelch: great? I love them all, too.

76jnwelch
Déc 22, 2016, 2:53 pm

>71 mirrordrum: Please snitch-snatch away, Ellie. I love the feel of that illustration. Couldn't you just walk into it?

The far back seat - I made it sound like a bus, didn't I? We have a minivan, so there are three rows of seats - "premium" seating in the front, for which we charge extra, economy seating in the middle, which can be had for a reasonable price, and "esteemed Sherlock and Becca" seating in the back, for which we pay them for the honor.

Cheery Hanumas and Merry Chrismakkah to you and JB, Ellie! We are indeed celebrating both at the same time this year, so we're bringing the minorah to put by the Christmas tree. The Buddhists are bringing "nothing", as usual. Hope you have a most grand holiday in your beautiful and healing part of the country.

77jnwelch
Déc 22, 2016, 3:03 pm

>72 ffortsa: Ah, thanks, Judy. Yes, >54 jnwelch:, not >55 ffortsa:. If you end up in the Saga series, please let us know. :-) I'd love having that experience, too.

>73 EBT1002: So true, Ellen. Being a book nerd sure has its rewards. At some point I have to figure out my top 5 of the year. I know Evicted remains my #1 (what a book!), but there have been so many good ones again this year, that'll take some sorting out. I'll probably do top 5 fiction, top 5 nonfiction, and top 5 graphic novels. Something like that.

*does double take* What did you just say about Wind in the Willows?

>74 Caroline_McElwee: Oof, can it be true, Caroline? Our poor Ellen. She needs to be visited by the Reader of Holiday Books to Surprising Boat Missers, preferably with an Inga Moore illustrated Wind in the Willows in hand.

Agreed. I find myself with talking animals all the time (perhaps I should trim that back a bit?), but this is a very special one.

78EBT1002
Déc 22, 2016, 5:26 pm

>77 jnwelch: There's a "Reader of Holiday Books to Surprising Boat Missers"?!?!?!? Who knew?

*resisting impulse to go straight to amazon site*

79NarratorLady
Déc 22, 2016, 6:13 pm

>76 jnwelch: Joe, I love the seating designations in your mini van. We used to call Becca and Sherlock's spot "the back-back". We're on the road tomorrow too and for the first time in years we are not the Christmas hosts. I happily have passed the baton to my daughter who is as excited as I was about having Christmas 35 years ago! I wish you a lovely time with your family and a marvelous semi-retirement to come.

80ffortsa
Déc 22, 2016, 11:08 pm

>73 EBT1002: I never read WitW either. Just absorbed the passing references. (Maybe I've just forgotten it, but it doesn't seem likely.)

81mirrordrum
Déc 23, 2016, 3:22 am

>80 ffortsa: >73 EBT1002: >61 jnwelch: me too neither. except i have some vague childhood memory of it in my environs. i can't believe my mother would've let it pass. tried it recently and couldn't get into it. ah well.

thinking about this, however, i consider Judy and Ellen pretty damn good company so i don't think i'll fret too much.

i just added Evicted to my audible basket. very good narrator and the bit i listened to was magnetic. just snapped right into my basket and clamped there like a resolute, loquacious limpet.

82msf59
Déc 23, 2016, 7:02 am

Morning Joe! Happy Friday! Have a safe travel day, my friend.

Due to your warbling, I started the audio of Hidden Figures. I really like it and I am so glad to see this written by an African American author.

83jnwelch
Déc 23, 2016, 7:37 am

Hi, Ellen and Anne. I'll circle back.

We're packing up for the drive. Happy Friday, everyone!

84scaifea
Déc 23, 2016, 9:17 am

Safe travels today, Joe!

85EBT1002
Déc 23, 2016, 4:02 pm

>81 mirrordrum: I listened to Evicted, Ellie, and the narrator was excellent. I think you'll enjoy.

86EBT1002
Déc 23, 2016, 4:03 pm

Joe, you're on the road but, just in case I don't get back here in the next couple of days, I'm leaving my 2016 holiday wishes for you.

87jessibud2
Déc 23, 2016, 8:14 pm

I know you are on the road (or already there!) but I wanted to wish you and your family all the very best wishes for a happy Christmas

88PaulCranswick
Déc 23, 2016, 10:06 pm



Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

89SandDune
Déc 24, 2016, 4:35 am

Joe, wishing you a Happy Christmas and a very happy 2017!

90ChelleBearss
Déc 24, 2016, 9:06 am


Merry Christmas!!

91Storeetllr
Déc 24, 2016, 4:54 pm

92Crazymamie
Modifié : Déc 24, 2016, 4:58 pm



Merry Christmas, Joe!

93DeltaQueen50
Déc 24, 2016, 7:46 pm

Happy holidays to you and your family, Joe!

94laytonwoman3rd
Déc 24, 2016, 10:42 pm



Merry Christmas from the Koons household to yours!

95ronincats
Déc 24, 2016, 11:14 pm

This is the Christmas tree at the end of the Pacific Beach Pier here in San Diego, a Christmas tradition.

To all my friends here at Library Thing, I want you to know how much I value you and how much I wish you a very happy holiday, whatever one you celebrate, and the very best of New Years!

96Ameise1
Déc 25, 2016, 6:47 am

Happy Holidays to you and yours, Joe.


97msf59
Déc 25, 2016, 8:14 am

Merry Christmas, Joe! I hope you are having a fantastic holiday with Dear Ole' Dad and the rest of the Welch clan!

98jnwelch
Déc 25, 2016, 9:15 am

Thanks, Mark!

I hope you and yours have a great Christmas!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

99Familyhistorian
Déc 25, 2016, 3:21 pm

Hope you are having a wonderful family Christmas, Joe!

100LovingLit
Déc 26, 2016, 4:24 am

Happiness to you and the family, Joe. I trust you are having a great time :)

101Carmenere
Déc 26, 2016, 8:48 am

Happy Boxing Day, Joe!

102jnwelch
Déc 26, 2016, 10:29 am

Thanks, Lynda!

Sorry about the prop being awol so much. We're having a great time with the gathered family. Off to B&N with gift cards in hand soon.

I loved A Gentleman in Moscow. What a charmer. Darktown was really good, too. Now I'm reading the second Fiona Griffith mystery, with the unusual detective in Wales. Hmm. Touchstone won't work. It's by Harry Bingham.

103brodiew2
Déc 26, 2016, 11:46 am

Good morning, Joe! Merry day after Christmas! I hope you had a fantastic day!

My reading has slowed to a trickle here at the end. Both of my print reads will lead into 2017. I'm about done with The Constantine Codex and will start Darktown this week.

104roundballnz
Déc 26, 2016, 4:06 pm

All the best for the season Joe .... looks like you got the win you wanted with gift cards .... ( assume you have boxing day like sales on 26th as well ??)

105charl08
Déc 26, 2016, 4:18 pm

Gift vouchers (cards) sound like just the thing. Hope the bargains are aplenty...

106Berly
Déc 26, 2016, 7:31 pm

Merry Day-After Christmas, Joe!!!! : )

107jnwelch
Déc 27, 2016, 11:18 am

Thanks, Kim!

Son #1 and Adri arrived last night, and had a good time with Grandpa. Jesse got me a two volume edition of the first decade of Usagi Yojimbo, tales of a samurai rabbit we both enjoyed when he was young.

At B & N I got Rules of Civility, the first one by the guy who wrote A Gentleman in Moscow, the first Peter Diamond mystery by Peter Lovesey, and M Station by Patti Smith.

I'm nearing the end of the second Fiona Griffiths mystery, and it's been another corker.

Hope everyone's been having a great holiday break!

We drive back tomorrow, and I should be back in the cafe on Thursday.

108brodiew2
Déc 27, 2016, 11:32 am

Good morning, Joe! I missed you yesterday! I hope all is well.

I have added Plainsong and A Gentleman in Moscow to my list for 2017.

Darktown is a go tomorrow morning.

109jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 7:29 am

Good morning, Brodie!

Nice book picks. With any luck, you'll have a good time with those.

We're packing up for the drive home. Hope everybody has a good one today!

110Familyhistorian
Déc 28, 2016, 9:26 am

I hope your travels go smoothly, Joe.

111Caroline_McElwee
Modifié : Déc 28, 2016, 9:36 am

Hi Joe, sounds like some lovely reading in your Xmas sack. Off to look up A Gentleman in Moscow, I really enjoyed Rules of Civility, had missed he'd written another!

Loved M Train as I did Just Kids.

112msf59
Déc 28, 2016, 11:14 am

Have a safe drive back, Joe! At least the weather is nice.

113brodiew2
Déc 28, 2016, 11:39 am

Good morning, Joe! Safe travels.

114jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 2:21 pm

We're back home! The roads were fine. The rain-all-the-way to Pittsburgh trip has been balanced out.

Let's catch up a bit.

>78 EBT1002: Ellen, I hope the ROHBTSBM visited, and you're closer to reading The Wind in the Willows. It's not Moby-Dick, but I think the celestial librarian will be raising her eyebrow if you don't have that one read before you move on to the next dimension.

>79 NarratorLady: Thank you, Anne. We just let Becca and Sherlock out of the "back-back" at her place. He was saying "murr" a good bit as soon as we got off the highway, his way of saying, "I know we're close to home now".

Good for you for passing the Christmas hosting baton to your daughter. How'd it go? I hope you were able to relax and just enjoy.

4 days to semi-retirement! We're getting close. It was quite a fine Christmas, and we're glad to be back home. More present-opening to come with our son and his wife here, as they come to visit for a couple of days.

115jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 2:33 pm

>80 ffortsa: Oh my, Judy. You may want to Skype with Ellen, and get a read of The Wind in the Willows. I don't think it's possible to go through a reading life and miss that one. There's a reason about 8.5 zillion or so illustrators have illustrated it. You've read The Secret Garden, right?

>81 mirrordrum: What's going on around here, Ellie? How did so many of our esteemed readers grow up without reading Wind in the Willows? I think you should fret about it a whole bunch and read it, that's what I think. Dagnabbit. Although it may feel a bit junior now, I don't know.

Oh, Evicted is such an Ellie book. It'll knock your socks off. clamped there like a resolute, loquacious limpet. You bring the best lines!

>82 msf59: Hiya, Mark! Oh, I'm so glad you're reading Hidden Figures! I must've done my worst job of warbling ever for that one. If an LTer warbles in the woods, and no one hears, does it do any good? I don't think so.

116jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 2:40 pm

>84 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! The traveling was surprisingly weather- and traffic-event free this time. Grateful we are, as Yoda would say.

>85 EBT1002: Oh good, Ellen. I hope everyone reads/listens to Evicted. I'm glad the narrator is excellent.

>86 EBT1002: Thanks for leaving the lovely holiday wishes, Ellen. Peace sounds awfully good right now, doesn't it.

My apologies to you and everyone else for not stopping by your threads with holiday wishes. When the Welch clan gathers, the gabbling is non-stop, although intelligible for the most part.

117jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 2:44 pm

>87 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley! It's been great to have you in the cafe, and we appreciate the happy Christmas wishes. It was - and somehow continues to be, as the present-opening continues, probably tomorrow afternoon when I'm done with work.

>88 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. Well said, and a lovely image. I think we're all wishing for some peace, and I like being open to, and aspiring to, all you say in the new year.

118jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 2:48 pm

>89 SandDune: Thank you, Rhian. I hope you and yours have had a wonderful holiday, and have a happy new year.

>90 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! Merry Christmas!

>91 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary! We had a most excellent Christmas, with good books showing up, and more, I imagine, showing up soon, as we continue Christmas and Hanukkah with our son and DIL in town. I hope yours was filled with joy and books, too. :-)

119jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 2:52 pm

>92 Crazymamie: Totoro! Totoro!

Ha! Thanks, Mamie. Happy Holidays! Becca gave me ten little figures from My Neighbor Totoro, including the cat bus and Totoro with an umbrella - my favorite scene.

>93 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy! Happy Holidays to you and the Judy family.

>94 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Merry Christmas, Linda! I'm liking the Coon/Koons. Both mighty good-looking, right?

120jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 2:59 pm

>95 ronincats: Whoa, that's mighty impressive Roni, thanks. But where's the snow? :-) That's a beautiful way to celebrate the holiday. I can just imagine being there in your balmy weather.

Thank you for the good wishes, too, for all your LT friends. Vice versa, my friend. Yes, peace and good will - let's do it!

>96 Ameise1: Ha, great photo, Barbara. Happy Holidays!

>97 msf59: Merry Christmas, Mark! We did have a great time with ol' Dad and the rest of the clan. We even got him to play the harmonica twice, and had a good time talking about his musical mother and what she passed down to him.

Hope your gathering was merry and joyful.

121jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 3:04 pm

>99 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! I wish the same for you. I hope it was a happy and joyful Christmas, and that you're continuing to enjoy the holiday season.

>100 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan. We did have and expect to continue having a great time, with a little work interspersed tomorrow. We celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, and have various gatherings, so it's an ongoing affair.

Hope you've been having a great one y'self.

>101 Carmenere: Ha! Thanks, Lynda. It was a good Boxing Day, with a successful trip to B & N, and a treasure trove of leftovers from Christmas dinner.

Hope you're having a good holiday season.

122jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 3:15 pm

>103 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie! We had a great time, and I think our Dad was very happy to have the clan gathered. Three dogs, too, which made him extra-happy. He and our mom had pugs up until they hit their 80s, and he loves it when dogs visit him.

Hope you and yours have been having a most excellent holiday, too.

>104 roundballnz: Thanks, Alex. Same to you, buddy. Yes, we have Boxing Day here, too, and I successfully journeyed to Barnes and Noble with our daughter.

Did you read the second one by Becky Chambers yet, A Closed and Common Orbit? I liked it as much as the first one.

>105 charl08: I can't say I found bargains with the B & N gift cards/vouchers, Charlotte, but I did find ones I'm very happy with - Rules of Civility, the first Lovesey Peter Diamond mystery, and Patti Smith's M Train.

I suspect more books will be showing up as the family celebration shifts to Chicago.

123charl08
Déc 28, 2016, 3:16 pm

Sounds like a great haul Joe. I've just come back from the bookshop with The Last Mughal in my mitts, so no complaints here.

124jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 3:19 pm

>110 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Our travels did go surprisingly smoothly. How often do we get to say that? I'm grateful.

>111 Caroline_McElwee: Oh my, Caroline. I think you'll love A Gentleman in Moscow. I'm going the other way 'round, as you can tell. I loved AGIM, and that made me want to get Rules of Civility. Good to have your endorsement of M Train. It'll be the first book of hers I've read.

>112 msf59: Thanks, Mark. Yes, the weather was nice for the drive back, and the traveling surprisingly smooth.

>113 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie. Thanks.

125jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 3:22 pm



By C215

126NarratorLady
Modifié : Déc 28, 2016, 3:49 pm

Well done Joe! You caught up in an hour with all your fan mail.

I've ordered A Gentleman in Moscow from the library; I've read Rules of Civility but all I remember is enjoying it. Can't remember a thing about the plot! I think I've got too many stories in my head and not enough memory available in my brain to store them.

127ffortsa
Modifié : Déc 28, 2016, 4:53 pm

>115 jnwelch: No, Joe, I never read The Secret Garden either. I did read The Poor Little Rich Girl and The Princess and the Goblins and The Princess and Curdy, though. (The only link I could find for The Princess and the Goblins is an abridged edition - I think I read the unabridged one.)

Maybe I'll add The Wind in the Willows and The Secret Garden to my January reads.

128Familyhistorian
Déc 28, 2016, 4:54 pm

Welcome back, Joe. Only four days to go - are you crossing them off on the calendar? I am writing down the weeks.

129jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 5:08 pm

>126 NarratorLady: Thanks, Anne! Oh, you're going to love A Gentleman in Moscow. You know, it's funny, one of my sisters had read Rules of Civility for her book club, and all she could remember was she liked it. Maybe it's the book?

For me, I'm not going to forget A Gentleman in Moscow any time soon. That was one vivid reading experience.

>127 ffortsa: I read A Secret Garden for the first time as a grown-up, and really liked it, Judy. Ditto with her A Little Princess. I haven't read Poor Little Rich Girl, but I liked those George Macdonalds you read a lot when I was a lad.

130jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 5:10 pm

>128 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Hee, hee. Yup, 4 days to go. Madame MBH has been using post-it notes on the fridge to keep track. We started at 187 days to go, and now we're almost there!

131msf59
Déc 28, 2016, 6:15 pm

Welcome back to the Cafe, Joe! We have missed our favorite proprietor! Glad you had a safe drive back. I am also happy you found joy in A Gentleman in Moscow. He did such a terrific job. It made my top 5 fiction reads. Glad you picked up Rules of Civility. I have it saved on audio.

132jnwelch
Déc 28, 2016, 6:42 pm

Hiya, Mark! Thanks, buddy.

Yeah, I think A Gentleman in Moscow is going to make my top 5, too. What a work of art he created. Thanks for the warbling. I'm looking forward to reading his first one now.

133rosalita
Déc 28, 2016, 7:39 pm

Howdy, Joe! I popped over because I saw on another thread that you were reading the Fiona Griffiths series. I see up there ^ that you've read the first two and liked them — I'm so glad! I thought they seemed right up your alley. I'm going to try to get the second one read in January, so I'm glad to hear the quality stayed high.

Happy New Year!

134Familyhistorian
Déc 28, 2016, 10:58 pm

>130 jnwelch: Hmm, maybe I should start counting in days as well. Did only count the days you were going to work, taking off vacation days and stats? You sound positively giddy!

135LovingLit
Déc 29, 2016, 3:52 am

Enjoy M Train, Joe! I am just loving it. I am as into it as she was into Japanese literature in 1983. you'll get that reference soon ;)

136roundballnz
Déc 29, 2016, 4:00 am

Funny thing I always associate The Wind in the Willows with Xmas there was always a Ballet re-enactment on TV when I was young .... so doesn't seem xmas with out it (or Die hard & Dr who)

137Caroline_McElwee
Déc 29, 2016, 7:27 am

>124 jnwelch: the book is ordered Joe. It may be my first novel of 2017.

138maggie1944
Déc 29, 2016, 7:36 am

A Sweet Thursday is at hand. I see you are looking forward to some "semi-retirement"... what the heck is that? I think one must jump into the sweet swimming pool of total retirement to get the full benefit of no longer thinking about work responsibilities, at all! Hopefully, that will be in your future, too. I think I'm nearing an anniversary of 16 years of leisure! Wonderful. I definitely have adjusted happily to not having to drive off away from my home every week day.

I will be trying to read the last 2 volumes of the John Lewis civil rights movement trilogy today and tomorrow. I'm liking the illustrations and the writing both. Good job and I hope it does well in schools. I'm also working on The Unwinding which I am liking a good deal, also. Interesting way to look at the phenomena of Trump voters. And finally, the real life book group decided to read Ancillary Justice for our January meeting so I need to work on it, too. How do you find time to juggle multiple reads and finish so many, so fast?

Happy New Year! Here's a virtual toast, using morning coffee, to a very fine reading year ahead!

139Crazymamie
Déc 29, 2016, 8:02 am

Morning, Joe! Welcome home!! Good to see you back in the cafe - you were missed, my friend.

140jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 9:09 am

>133 rosalita: Happy New Year, Julia!

Thanks again for the effective nudge on the Fiona Griffiths mysteries. A Love Story, with Murders, was another really good one. The next one has the intriguing title of The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths.

>134 Familyhistorian: Ha! I am a bit giddy, Meg. Just made my last commute downtown for a long time. Yes, we counted all the days. So it'll become official after midnight on Saturday. But this is my last work day. Yippee!

141jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 9:13 am

>135 LovingLit: Oh good, Megan. That's inspiring for M Train. And intriguing. Japanese literature? Sounds right up my alley.

>136 roundballnz: Ha! Die Hard is a Christmas movie, I know, Alex. Madame MBH loves that one, and all the other Die Hard movies. I wish we had that tradition with The Wind in the Willows. We did see a quite good small theater musical adaptation of it here. And Dr. Who - there you have me. I watched a fair amount in the David Tennant years, but less with Matt Smith and even less with the current one. Is there a Christmas tradition with Dr. Who?

142jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 9:27 am

>137 Caroline_McElwee: Yes! Can't wait to hear what you think of A Gentleman in Moscow, Caroline. Great book to read over the holidays and in winter weather, too.

>138 maggie1944: Sweet Thursday, Karen! I am indeed looking forward to semi-retirement. Preponderance-retirement? Lion's share retirement? Mostly retired?

I can promise you, I'm jumping into the pool of no worries. Others get to do the worrying now; I'll just be there for sage advice if needed. I've spent 32 years here, and it feels right to keep a connection.

I'm looking forward to not rushing around, and enjoying that leisure you've been experiencing for 16 years. Having everything paid up and the kids taking care of themselves just fine is a great feeling.

I'll look forward to hearing what you think of The Unwinding. I couldn't read a book about politics right now; I'm still filled with shock over the election results. Kudos to you for being able to do it. I loved Ancillary Justice - cut yourself a lot of slack at the beginning in getting yourself situated with what's going on. It's a very unusual premise that took me a while to sink into. The rest of the series is really good, too.

I've juggled multiple books all my life. I just enjoy doing it that way, having choices based on my whim of the moment. I'm pretty fast, but nothing like Charlotte or Morphy or some others. Seasonsoflove (Becca) has read over 200 this year, while teaching those lovable little gremlins!

143jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 9:33 am

>139 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! It's good to be back, and thanks for missing me. :-) I hope you've been having a grand holiday. When the clan gathers, I wear the tartan and join in the highland dancing, and the cafe gets a bit neglected. Thank goodness our patrons here know how to carry on without the prop. when necessary.

Sweet Thursday, my friend!

144jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 9:33 am

145Crazymamie
Déc 29, 2016, 9:34 am

LIKE!

146jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 9:47 am

147Caroline_McElwee
Modifié : Déc 29, 2016, 10:09 am

>144 jnwelch: love it. And the owl on the top of the bookcase. I have quite a few owlish possessions, including a Christmas gift of glass owl vase this year. Though my fave is probably the one I bought in Rome a few years ago who is named Lorenzo, after the most cultured Medici.

148brodiew2
Déc 29, 2016, 10:40 am

Good morning, Joe! I hope all is well with you.

>147 Caroline_McElwee: Nice owl, Caroline!

Another day of Darktown. This book is fantastic so far. Well written and atmospheric.

149weird_O
Déc 29, 2016, 10:42 am

I've never read The Secret Garden, but my wife has two family heirloom editions. Both are coming apart from repeated readings. One was her grandmother's, the other my mother's.

150jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 10:48 am

>147 Caroline_McElwee: Nice owl, indeed, Caroline. Is that Lorenzo we're looking at? You know our friend Mark is hoping to see a live one in the wild. I thought the one at the top in >144 jnwelch: was a nice touch.

>148 brodiew2: Good morning, Brodie! Isn't Darktown excellent? I'm so glad you're enjoying it. It keeps up that high quality the whole way through. I was saying to Charlotte, I'd welcome Mullen doing another one with these characters.

>149 weird_O: The Secret Garden is one of those that gets cherished generation after generation, isn't it, Bill. I enjoyed reading it again at my advanced age; you might give it a try some time. It's pitched to a younger age group, of course, but that can be a pleasure when done well.

151Caroline_McElwee
Modifié : Déc 29, 2016, 10:57 am

>150 jnwelch: yes Joe, >140 jnwelch: is Lorenzo. His English is pretty good.

Hope Mark gets to see a real one soon.

152jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 11:04 am

>151 Caroline_McElwee: Ha! I'd love to hear what he has to say - my Italian needs work, so I'm glad Lorenzo speaks pretty good English. :-)

153msf59
Déc 29, 2016, 11:05 am

Morning Joe! Sweet Thursday! I hope to join an owl walk, sometime next month. Screech Owls, I believe. Will that be the fateful day? Stay tuned, bookies and birders.

154jnwelch
Déc 29, 2016, 12:04 pm

>153 msf59: Sweet Thursday, Mark! Ha! I'll keep my fingers crossed, and place a bet on you seeing an owl next month. My bookie hasn't released the odds yet, but I'm picking yes regardless. :-)

155laytonwoman3rd
Déc 29, 2016, 2:17 pm

>148 brodiew2: I had Darktown in my hand at the bookstore yesterday, but I couldn't remember hearing anything about it, and I was buying several (ahem) other books, so I left it there. Guess I'll have to go back!

156NarratorLady
Déc 29, 2016, 2:58 pm

Just finished The Private World of Georgette Heyer which I thoroughly enjoyed. Since Heyer's books have helped me escape from the election and its aftermath (and I suspect will continue to do so off and on throughout 2017) I was eager to learn more about her. This biography did not disappoint. It's one of two and I don't know why I chose this one but it was an entertaining read.

157jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 29, 2016, 3:09 pm

>155 laytonwoman3rd: Yes, get Darktown, Linda! A fave of many LTers, including Brodie and me.

>156 NarratorLady: Oh, good to know, Anne, thanks. As you know, I've become a big Heyer fan. I haven't read many author bios, but I've done it multiple times for Austen, and at some point I'd like to learn more about Heyer. I'll add The Private World of Georgette Heyer to the WL.

158EBT1002
Déc 29, 2016, 4:21 pm

>144 jnwelch: I love that. Hi Joe!

159Ameise1
Déc 29, 2016, 4:39 pm

Hi Joe.

>144 jnwelch: LOL

160genlsk
Déc 30, 2016, 5:32 am

Cet utilisateur a été supprimé en tant que polluposteur.

161FAMeulstee
Déc 30, 2016, 6:48 am

>144 jnwelch: Like!
Although now I have an e-reader, I need less space for books when we are away. I only have 7 physical books with me now (and 5 on the e-reader)...

162msf59
Déc 30, 2016, 7:00 am

Morning Joe! Happy Friday! Although, they are all happy for you right now, right? Envious smirk...

My GN reading has really slowed down the past couple of months, (poetry is making up for it, though) but I am enjoying Tetris: The Games People Play. This is a lot of fun about the creation of the hit video game Tetris. Jesse might like this one too.

I am also enjoying the ride-along with Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure. You might like this one too. Harry Rules!

163jnwelch
Déc 30, 2016, 9:40 am

>158 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! Isn't >144 jnwelch: a hoot?

>159 Ameise1: Hi, Barbara. :-)

>160 genlsk: Boo!

164jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 30, 2016, 9:57 am

>161 FAMeulstee: What a difference e-readers have made, haven't they, Anita. Our daughter used to always have a heavy backpack filled with books whenever we traveled (she's a mega-reader), and now she takes a few hard copy books and her Kindle. Madame MBH and I do likewise, with a few less books. E-readers make it easier to always have a book on hand (including on your phone!), and to travel with plenty of books. Plus I've often used mine to read door-stoppers that would be a hassle to carry around in hard copy.

>162 msf59: Morning Mark! This is a Happy Friday indeed. :-)

It's going to be Mondays, I suspect, when I most strongly feel my blessings. Your schedule varies a lot, but for me, that was always a time of saying good-bye to another excellent weekend, and hello to . . . work. Actually, for a lot of my work life, I always worked Saturday morning, too, and in the fall/winter, prepared on Sunday to teach a Monday afternoon class. Plus raising them kids. It's a good feeling to be where we are now!

We had a great time at that Liquor and Latkes event last night, and got to bed at midnight. But then we could sleep in today - yes!

P.S. I'll tell Jesse about that Tetris book - I suspect he'll be all over that one. I got what looks to be an excellent GN for Christmas - Jane, the Fox and Me. I'll keep you posted on that. I'll take a look at Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure - love the title. I gave our Winston Churchill-loving DIL Hero of the Empire, and she was so excited!

165Oberon
Déc 30, 2016, 10:16 am

>164 jnwelch: I am going to be the curmudgeon about e-readers. My parents are both Kindle converts and I hate it. They will frequently talk about books they enjoy and have read only on the Kindle and I have no capacity to borrow the books! I hate it.

166jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 30, 2016, 10:42 am

>165 Oberon: You're not alone, Erik. I think a lot of longtime book lovers would agree with you. I used to manage bookstores when I was a young 'un, and I have a lot of sympathy for that POV.

I do find that inability to share/borrow frustrating, although I can share with other designated Kindle readers - Madame MBH and I share all our Kindle books. She's reading my Another Brooklyn right now. The other thing I'd say is that Kindle books are cheaper, so I'll try ones on the Kindle and, if I really like them, I'll try to later get them in hard copy, often from a used bookstore. I'll definitely be getting a hard copy of Another Brooklyn. Plus we read a ton of hard copy books to this day.

P.S. And some excellent books/pieces are only published in e-form, like our DIL's Kindle Single, Dead Boys.

167jnwelch
Modifié : Déc 30, 2016, 11:09 am

Nice way to start the morning.

168brodiew2
Déc 30, 2016, 12:12 pm

Good morning, Joe! I hope all is well with you.

>155 laytonwoman3rd: >157 jnwelch: I am enjoying Darktown greatly, laytonwoman3rd! It is an excellent noir thriller with brilliant writing and a emotively intimate view of race relations at the time.

>167 jnwelch: Love the lower level library, Joy. Alliteration too! ;-P

169Ameise1
Déc 30, 2016, 12:17 pm

>167 jnwelch: What a lovely spot to have breakfast. Hi Joe, wishing you a lovely day.

170Caroline_McElwee
Déc 30, 2016, 12:41 pm

>165 Oberon: >166 jnwelch: I do enjoy Kindle as part of my reading experience, but it is a small part. I do hate that you can't loan books broadly, as I do that a lot with my books. That you don't see the cover once you start means I can forget complicated titles, or the name of a new to me writer. Also you can't flip back easily, in a book I can often remember what side of the page something I want to revisit was on, but unless you bookmarked it on your e-reader, less simple. I do however like that I have several hundred books in my pocket when I go on holiday, or need to travel light.

171jnwelch
Déc 30, 2016, 1:53 pm

>168 brodiew2: Good morning/afternoon, Brodie! (We went out for brunch with our son and his bride).

I'm so glad you're enjoying Darktown. an excellent noir thriller with brilliant writing and a emotively intimate view of race relations at the time. Wow - well put!

And that's an impressive pocketful of alliteration so early in the day. Lots of lasting love for the lower level library, I say in response.

>169 Ameise1: Isn't it, Barbara? I'd love to begin the day there. Wishing you a lovely day, too. I hope you get a chance to relax.

172jnwelch
Déc 30, 2016, 1:59 pm

>170 Caroline_McElwee: Yeah, excellent points about the Kindle, Caroline. I don't like being unable to loan books broadly, and I miss seeing the cover once I start. And you're so right about not being able to easily flip back to the beginning. I wouldn't have wanted to read a book like A Brief History of Seven Killings on an e-reader, without being able to easily flip back to the "who's who" at the beginning. Too many characters to keep straight, especially at the beginning.

I do like my Kindle for the reasons you give. I also am sure they'll have even higher quality ones with vivid color some time in the future. I know there's Advanced Color e-Paper now - it may be there's a Kindle with it already.

173rosalita
Déc 30, 2016, 2:00 pm

Interesting discussion of the pros and cons of e-readers here. I agree that the lack of lendability is the most serious drawback but for me, at least, that is outweighed by the convenience of something that is lightweight, easy to hold, and has the ability to adjust the type size. There was a time in my life when those factors wouldn't have weighed as heavily as they do now, and they are very subjective factors that won't be the same for everyone. The other big advantage is the ease of accessing library books, in particular putting books on hold and then having them come available for checkout at all hours of the day and night, to be accompished while at home in my pjs. :)

I do still enjoy reading paper books — and more distressingly for my purse and my bookshelves, still very much enjoy browsing in bookstores (especially used bookstores) and finding treasures. And like you, Joe, I'm prone to purchasing in corporeal form ebooks that I have enjoyed and want to share widely.

174mirrordrum
Déc 30, 2016, 2:30 pm

wishing you much joy of books and, selfishly, of your own written words in the new year. thanks for the poetry, warbling, friendship, and for all you've brought to your patrons here at Joe's.

175FAMeulstee
Modifié : Déc 30, 2016, 4:30 pm

>172 jnwelch: Yes that is a downside on an e-reader, not easy to go back or forth easely.
I read The tale of Genji on my e-reader and the footnotes were at the end of the book, eventually I kept the notes on my laptop with the Adobe-reader to be able to read them along.

176Berly
Déc 30, 2016, 4:37 pm

I tend to either read really tombs on my Kindle (so much easier on the wrist!) or books that I know I will never re-read or keep on my shelves. Fluffy stuff. And I agree with Caroline up in >170 Caroline_McElwee:.

177EBT1002
Déc 30, 2016, 4:39 pm

Well, I thought I was the last book addict on earth without an e-reader. I see that I'm in good company with Erik. Still, I expect that 2017 will be the year I get a Kindle. P wants one and I think we could share books like you and MBH do. And I like the idea of having "several hundred books in my pocket when I go on holiday, or need to travel light."

Happy Friday, Joe!

178mirrordrum
Déc 30, 2016, 8:45 pm

hiya Joe.

>177 EBT1002: now there's a noir book title for ya: The last book addict. or possibly, The last book addict on earth. too horrible a thought to consider.

179roundballnz
Déc 31, 2016, 2:25 am

Interesting discussion around e-readers - more recently found myself drifting back to being 90% + physical books

>141 jnwelch: BBC have always briought out a special Dr Who aired on Xmas day ...

180PaulCranswick
Déc 31, 2016, 6:55 am



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

181jnwelch
Déc 31, 2016, 12:31 pm

>173 rosalita: Lots of good points, Julia. Enlarging the type is a big one - I don't use it, but I love that it's available for thems that do. And accessing library books in your pjs - yes! I don't do it, and I should. Our daughter uses that a lot, I'm pretty sure.

I thought of another negative, for me, with the Kindle. With hard copies, I can mark a passage I like with a post-it. Highlighting on the Kindle doesn't work very well, IMO.

>174 mirrordrum: Thanks, Ellie! And I appreciate your "selfish" wish for more Joe poems in the new year - will do. :-) More time for writing new ones and polishing old ones is something I'm very much looking forward to.

It's been a pleasure this past year - your visits are always a highlight!

182jnwelch
Déc 31, 2016, 2:42 pm

>175 FAMeulstee: Right, Anita. Not easy to go back and forth on an e-reader.

I read Tale of Genji in hard copy, so I didn't have that problem with the footnotes, but I can imagine that would make it more difficult. You came up with a smart solution.

>176 Berly: Yeah, like you, I read whoppers on the Kindle, Kim. And you're right, another category is won't keeps, or may not keeps - usually trying a not-sure sci-fi or mystery for me. I want to get hard copy Georgette Heyers some day, as I've read most of hers on the Kindle, and it turns out I like them a lot.

183jnwelch
Déc 31, 2016, 2:50 pm

>177 EBT1002: Ha! Yeah, I think you're far from the last on not having an e-reader, Ellen.

You're certainly seeing the pros and cons here! I do think you and P will find it a plus, particularly with those several hundred books in your pocket, and traveling light.

>178 mirrordrum: Hiya, Ellie. The Last Book Addict on Earth. Horrifying, but we'd all make sure to get our hands on it - too tempting, with a title like that. :-)

>179 roundballnz: Interesting that you've drifted back to 90% physical books, Alex. I imagine the Kindle is useful to have when you hike?

I'm probably near 60% physical. I always have one going that's physical, and one that's on Kindle - but then I also always have going a physical poetry book and a physical GN.

The one genre I can't read on an e-reader is poetry. It changes it too much for me.

An annual Dr. Who Christmas special makes sense. I may look for that on On Demand here.

184jnwelch
Déc 31, 2016, 2:52 pm

>180 PaulCranswick: Nice one, Paul, thanks. Excellent timing for posting it here, too, as I say good-bye to my 33 year work place, and a new chapter opens.

185weird_O
Déc 31, 2016, 2:59 pm

Hell-Lo Joe. Goodbye, Joe; see you on the other side. Guess I gotta set up a post dropbox over there.

186jnwelch
Déc 31, 2016, 3:00 pm

It was nice to sleep in this morning.

187jnwelch
Déc 31, 2016, 3:04 pm

>185 weird_O: Ha-Lo, Bill. Man, I like that Weirdo logo. Where did you find that?

I'll set up a '17 cafe soon, so you can find us there. Yes, please set up a post drop box for the coming year - it's been great to have you in the 75ers. As Mark said, you were a natural (weirdly) for this group from the get-go.

188Ameise1
Déc 31, 2016, 4:11 pm

I wish you from my heart health, happiness, satisfaction and much exciting read in 2017. May all your wishes come true.


from my hometown Zürich, Switzerland

189jnwelch
Déc 31, 2016, 5:12 pm

>188 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara. Happy New Year!

190Caroline_McElwee
Déc 31, 2016, 6:36 pm

HAPPY NEW YEAR Joe. May 2017 bring you and Debbi many sweet joys.

Enjoy too your semi-retirement, how 'semi' is it? Xx

191brodiew2
Déc 31, 2016, 7:26 pm

Happy New Year, Joe! Have a wonderful evening. See you next year!

192brodiew2
Déc 31, 2016, 7:26 pm

Happy New Year, Joe! Have a wonderful evening. See you next year!

193Dianekeenoy
Déc 31, 2016, 10:40 pm

Happy New Year, Joe! And, enjoy your retirement, it's the best thing ever in the whole world!

194ffortsa
Déc 31, 2016, 11:17 pm

Happy you-know-what, Joe. See you on the other side.

195roundballnz
Modifié : Jan 1, 2017, 3:15 am

>183 jnwelch: found myself taking paperback & then audio books via iPhone when I hike ... lying downing listening after day on my feet kinda works

Enjoy the semi-retirement missed that on the threads ......

196Familyhistorian
Jan 1, 2017, 3:48 am

Happy New Year, Joe. Interesting discussion about e-readers. I have one, a Kobo. I have never finished a book on it. I think it is because I spend most of my time looking at a screen so when I want to read I prefer paper. (At least that's my theory and I'm going with it.)

197msf59
Jan 1, 2017, 8:37 am

Happy New Year, Mr. Joe! Is this your big day for starting your new thread? We sure hope so. We would not like to be locked out of the Cafe, while we are all in a celebratory mood.

Have a great day with the family, my friend!

198PaulCranswick
Jan 1, 2017, 8:50 am

Dear Joe, I just wanted to wish you a happy sort of retirement, buddy. I will struggle to leave my work behind me when my own time comes but, like you, I would like to have some time to dedicate to my writing before my hand is too shaky to hold a pen or tap a keyboard.

You are a great fella and a mainstay of our little community here. Looking forward to the Cafe opening for business over the other side.

199jnwelch
Jan 1, 2017, 1:10 pm

Woo, Happy New Year, everyone. Let's do what we can to make 2017 a great one. :-)

>190 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I'm looking forward to enjoying 2017 with Debbi. Happy New Year!

I guess my semi-retirement = vast majority retired. I don't plan to work, but I'll appear on the scene sometimes and advise if asked.

Our tradition is to give letters to each other on the last day of Hanukkah, and our son wrote a nice one that included a comment that I've given him a good model of "how to be a provider and still be awesome." :-) I love that guy!

200jnwelch
Modifié : Jan 1, 2017, 1:37 pm

>191 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie. Happy New Year!

We did have a good evening. Our tradition is to go to our friends' house for a party for the first half of the evening, then come home and make ourselves a dinner and watch an old-timey movie. Last night we watched Hitchcock's 39 Steps. Honestly, we found the movie a bit disappointing. Both the book and the play adaptation were better. But it was fun. And we celebrated my retirement at the party, and at home, after it turned midnight.

Hope you had a good celebration, and that 2017 treats you well.

>192 brodiew2: A rarely sighted double post, Brodie! Well done. That's become hard to do.

201jnwelch
Jan 1, 2017, 1:41 pm

>193 Dianekeenoy: Thanks, Diane. Happy New Year!

enjoy your retirement, it's the best thing ever in the whole world! Oh, I love that, Diane. You're inspiring. I'm already enjoying the heck out of it. Come Tuesday, when I don't go into work at an early hour, I'm going to know it's really happening. :-)

>194 ffortsa: Happy New Year, Judy. I'm liking it here on the other side. How about you?

202jnwelch
Jan 1, 2017, 1:46 pm

>195 roundballnz: Thanks, Alex. I'm already enjoying the mostly retirement, the 99% retirement - I've got to figure out the best descriptor for this.

I use my iPhone that way, too, although I don't hike as much as I like. Usually I use it when we're out and Madame MBH powders her nose, or something like that.

>196 Familyhistorian: Happy New Year, Meg.

That's the first time I've heard that one. You have an e-reader, and haven't been able to finish a book on it. Hmm. Sure sounds like you're meant to read paper books. As I said to Erik, I think you've got company for that one. I like the mixture, but many people want to read paper only.

203jnwelch
Jan 1, 2017, 1:56 pm

>197 msf59: Happy New Year, Mark!

Good reminder. After I finish answering these posts, I'll start the new year's cafe.

Hope you had a good celebration - enjoy the day, buddy.

That somehow reminded me - after learning it from Charlotte, last night I successfully said "Happy Hogmanay" to our Scottish friend. Hogmanay = the last day of the year.

>198 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I'm at heart a sloth or an otter, so leaving work behind is A-OK with me. Maybe you can sort of retire with more work in the mix, when the time comes. Our son's godfather "retired" a year ago, which as far as we can tell, means he's only working three jobs (minority employment, construction dispute arbitrator and one other I can't remember), rather than the half dozen he was working before.

Thank you for the kind comments. I feel blessed to have found LT. My reading quality has increased dramatically, with all the recommendations of books I wouldn't have found on my own, and I've met so many great people this way, including yourownself. Book readers are the best, aren't they?

204jnwelch
Jan 1, 2017, 2:03 pm

OK, the new cafe is open here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/245159