Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Thirteen

^Our Chicago Meet-Up. A fine time.

Back row, left to right: Amber (scaifea), Becca (seasonsoflove), Joe, Mark, Kathy (kac522), Laura (LauraBrook) Nancy (alphaorder) ** No, 75 thread

Front row, left to right: Julia (rosalita), Linda (lindapanzo), Judy (ffortsa), Jim (magicians_nephew)



^A Barred Owl. Well, last thread I put an image of a pileated woodpecker, as my topper and then I saw one, so let's see if it works for the owl. Grins...

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

February:

15) Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson 5 stars (audio)
16) Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan 3.6 stars AAC
17) The Assault by Harry Mulisch 4.4 stars
18) Nine Island by Jane Alison 4 stars ER
19) Silence by Shusaku Endo 4.5 stars
20) The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak 3.6 stars
21) Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace 5 stars (audio)
22) In the Walled City: Stories by Stewart O'Nan 4 stars AAC
23) One Man's Owl by Bernd Heinrich 4.3 stars
24) In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides 4.6 stars (audio)

March:

25) A Separation: A Novel by Katie Kitamura 3.8 stars (audio)
26) The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston 4.4 stars (audio)
27) The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron 4.5 stars AAC
28) Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney 4 stars (audio)
29) My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris 4.7 stars GN
30) Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah 4.5 stars (audio)
31) Birds Art Life: A Year of Observation by Kyo Maclear 4.3 stars
32) Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo 4.5 stars (audio)
33) The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen 4.2 stars
34) Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War by Adam Hochschild 4.2 stars (audio)
35) Mexico: Stories by Josh Barkan 4 stars
36) Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders 4.7 stars (audio)
37) The Wright Brothers by David McCullough 4.5 stars (audio)
38) Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman 4 stars (audio)

April:

39) Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit 3.6 stars
40) The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui 5 stars GN
41) The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks 3.7 stars (audio)
42) If I'd Known You Were Coming: Stories by Kate Milliken 4.3 stars
43) The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel 4.4 stars (audio)
44) Ill Will: A Novel by Dan Chaon 3.6 stars ER
45) Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 4.2 stars (audio)
46) I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong 4 stars (audio)
47) Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles 4.3 stars
48) Exit West: A Novel by Mohsin Hamid 4.5 stars (audio)
49) The Cubs Way by Tom Verducci 4.3 stars (audio)
50) Lola: A Novel by Melissa Scrivner Love 4 stars
51) Dr. Mutter's Marvels by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz 4.5 stars (audio)
52) Autumn by Ali Smith 4.4 stars
53) White Tears by Hari Kunzru 4.2 stars (audio)

May:

54) The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla 4 stars

Welcome to the AAC IV! It should be another fun year. Some interesting and diverse authors.

January- Octavia Butler Completed Kindred
February- Stewart O' Nan Completed Songs For the Missing, In the Walled City: Stories
March- William Styron Completed The Confessions of Nat Turner
April- Poetry Month Completed Incendiary Art, There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé, Scriptorium,
No Matter the Wreckage

May- Zora Neale Hurston
June- Sherman Alexie
July- James McBride
August- Patricia Highsmith
September- Short Story Month
October- Ann Patchett
November- Russell Banks
December- Ernest Hemingway

The General Discussion Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/244600#

^Yes, folks, I saw my very first pileated woodpecker and it was a beauty. I was able to watch him, for about ten minutes, as he pounded away. It was relatively close too. You could see him with the naked eye. B.A.G. I went back to the Morton Arboretum. It such a great place. Didn't see a lot of other birds, but I heard plenty and I did see another hairy woodpecker, a few more eastern bluebirds and some wood ducks, which are beautifully marked.



^Wood Ducks

^I have wanted to read Dr. Mutter's Marvels since it came out and I know several of my LT pals really liked it too, but, like many other books, it kept getting pushed to the back of the bus. Kim (Berly) recently read it and that was the golden nudge I needed, finally placing it into my audio rotation. I will start it tomorrow.

I am still really enjoying Lola but I did not finish it, as I expected, due to other preoccupations, but I did read a big chunk today.

Am I first?
Ooh, I think I am! Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread, Mark! It's just ducky!!

>1 msf59: Love the owl!! I love owls.

Happy new thread, Mark!

>6 katiekrug: You are definitely first, Katie! Yah! And thanks!

>7 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! And hooray for ducks.

>8 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. I also love owls and have yet to see one in the wild. There has been a barred owl spotted in the same wooded section, where I saw the pileated woodpecker. I will be going back.

I can see that your thread topper is going to bring back happy memories for as long as you have this thread — which should be a week or so, right? :-D

That is a beautiful barred owl and I hope the LT birder mojo continues working for you and you get to see one soon!

Now that is the greatest thread topper ever, Mark!!

Are you watching the Cubs game? I think it was 9 to 1 by the time I got home.

Happy new thread, Mark. Great topper.

>10 rosalita: Well, it looks like we will have a glorious week, Julia. LOL. And yah, for the birding mojo! Come on owls!

>11 lindapanzo: I knew you would love the topper, Linda. I adore that photo. That is a happy bunch. And go Cubbies! They are leading 11-1. Wowza!

>12 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. I had a feeling that topper would be a popular one.

>12 BLBera: to 1 now. This is the kind of game I like to see, but rarely ever happens, it seems.

Happy New Thread, Mark!

Ha! Loved coming here and seeing the Chicago Meetup topper. Fun to see the all the bird photos, too.

I'm so glad you're really enjoying Lola. I was sure that one would work for you. I've thought about reading Dr. Mutter's Marvels a zillion times myself, so maybe you'll be the golden nudge for me. :-)

>14 lindapanzo: 12-3, Linda. Cubs are having a lot of fun. 15 hits! How about that Heyward?

>15 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! That Meet Up photo always makes me smile. I was able to read a nice chunk of Lola today but I do not think I'll be able to finish it tomorrow. Lola has less than 2 days left...

>5 msf59: Yes!! I was the Golden Nudge! I hope you really enjoy Dr Mütter's Marvels as much as I did. Happy new thread. And stellar topper. : )

>17 Berly: There is my Golden Nudge! Yah, for Kimmers! Looking forward to diving into the book in the morning.

Happy new thread, Mark! Love the photo toppers!

Happy new thread!

Good morning, Mark. Congrats on your shiny new thread. I love the topper.

Happy new thread, Mark.

Happy new thread, Mark, I hope it works out with the Barred Owl :-)
This morning, when I walked with Ari, I saw the first swallows of the season.

Morning, Mark! Happy new thread! Love the toppers, but that first one has some strange birds in it...

>19 Storeetllr: >20 banjo123: >21 Ameise1: >22 DianaNL: Thanks, Mary, Rhonda, Barb, Diana!

>23 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. And hooray for seeing your first swallow. We have been seeing a lot of tree swallows on our walks.

>24 scaifea: Strange birds, indeed but at least they are happy and odd. Morning Amber and thanks.

Happy new thread, buddy.

Struggling to keep up since my return to good old Blighty.

>26 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Hope you get back into the swing of things.

Happy new thread, Mark :0)

Good morning, Mark, and Happy Tuesday! Happy new thread, too.

To answer a comment from your last thread: The birds are distracting because my sunroom looks out onto the feeder hanging from the front porch eaves. There's a hummingbird feeder too. I read facing 90 degrees away, but catch movement out of the corner of my eye sometimes and just have to look. I could go up to my equivalent of your Man Cave, my Retreat, but the coffee pot's down here, at least for the mornings.

Happy new thread, Mark. Great topper and good luck with the owl.

Happy new thread! Perfect topper!!

That owl photo is amazing!

I thought Dr. Mütter's Marvels was utterly fascinating. Hope the audio format is good.

>28 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. Good to see you. I have missed your visits.

>29 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. I got a big chuckle out of your bird distraction comments. I do the very same thing. That is why I have to head to the Man Cave for reading. LOL.

>30 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I am hoping this is the year for the owl sighting.

>31 SuziQoregon: Thanks, Juli. Good to see you. I am really enjoying Dr. Mutter and it is perfect on audio.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Mark! Hope your Tuesday treats you well.

Happy Tuesday, Mark!

What a gorgeous day. We took a mighty long urban walk, and now I'm catching up on emails and LT on our back deck. I'm in the mood for escapist reading, and I'm enjoying a Heyer (Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle), and a Travis McGee (The Quick Red Fox). My GN is a Catwoman that likely wouldn't appeal to you at all.

Hope you're having a good one, buddy.

Howdy Mark!

To supplement the barred owl photo up top, I give you this shot of a pair of great horned owls. In a barn.

>34 drneutron: >35 MickyFine: Thanks Jim & Micky! All is going well.

>36 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Glad you got in a long urban walk. Perfect day for it and yah, for escapist reading. Always nice, now and then.

>37 luvamystery65: Howdy, Ro! Miss you, my friend.

>38 weird_O: Hi, Bill. Thanks for the GHO's! What a great photo.

What a spectacular day today!! I went outside for awhile and didn't want to come back in.

I finally finished my terrific ER book, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan. Probably my favorite work of fiction so far this year. Absolutely loved it.

Now I'm moving back to the mystery that confounds me. Then, maybe on to the Jimmy Carter poetry book. Or not. Maybe I'll do better with the AAC in May.

Not surprisingly, I too love the topper! It was such a terrific day.

Went out to see if I could find the Le Conte's Sparrow again (no go), but didn't get any other birding time in on this beautiful day.

>40 lindapanzo: It was a beauty, Linda. And I wore my shorts for the first time. Yah! I know I will have to switch back to long pants on Thursday but it still feels good.

The Ladies Choir doesn't appear to be my cuppa but I am glad you thought so highly of it.

Go Cubbies!

>41 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy! It was a beautiful day in the Midwest. Thanks for sharing the Le Conte Sparrow photos. Very nice find. I would like to see one, one of these days.

BTW- I managed to find an audio copy of The Death and Life of the Great Lakes. I plan on getting to it next month.

>42 msf59:

I see you are taking my reading suggestions. I hope you enjoy them. :)

>43 alphaorder: Hey, you have good book taste, what can I say?

Hi, Mark. I never realized that birds would come up as high as my apartment (15th floor), but as I was saying goodbye to a Verizon repair guy yesterday, I heard this amazing birdsong from my bedroom. A bird was singing away on the minimal ledge under my window! I wasn't fast enough to take a picture (just of the head a neck, the only parts visible) before the bird took off. Being home in the middle of the day may hold some surprises.

Happy Wednesday, Mark. It's raining here.

Happy Wednesday!! Yay for shorts and owls.

Morning, Mark!

>45 ffortsa: Great bird story, Judy. Too bad you couldn't identify it but at least you heard it's lovely song.

>46 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Rain is moving in here, later in the afternoon. It will be nice and warm though.

>47 Berly: I second the shout-out for shorts & owls, Kimmers. Yah!

>48 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>49 msf59: It is snowing and everything turned white.

Happy Wednesday, Mark!

Hi Mark and happy Wednesday!

Have you seen a hummingbird yet? I just saw one take a quick drink and zoom off.

>50 Ameise1: Snow? Nooooooooo!!

>51 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia.

>52 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. No hummingbirds here. I have not heard of any sightings yet either. I still have to put up my hummingbird feeder. Hoping next week.

Hi Mark!

>40 lindapanzo: I also received an ER copy of Chilbury Ladies Choir and thought it was very good!

>53 msf59: To paraphrase, "If you hang it, they will come."

Hiya, Mark!

Did I not stop by yet today? It's been a bit of a scramble.

I started Nutshell, and I may finally have found a MacEwan I can finish. Bizarre but good so far.

Hope the rain held up until you got done - it still hasn't started here.

Wow, this thread is moving fast. Happy newish one Mark. Love the bird sightings- which reminds me I still have Birds, Art Life to read. You liked that, right?

>54 Copperskye: Big waves to Joanne!

>55 karenmarie: LOL! I like the way you think, Karen.

>56 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! No rain yet, but it was another nice spring day, but it looks like this will be the last for awhile. Bummer, dude...

I think Nutshell is a perfect fit for you. It is a lot of fun and McEwan's writing is really good.

>57 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Good to see you and yes I really liked Birds, Art Life. You should make time for it.

Hi Mark, it looked like rain most of the day but it hasn't started yet, I don't think.

Sad duck news. It looks like the Momma Duck abandoned her nest in our backyard.

However, the babies in the bird nest in the front awnings were born and chirping up a storm. Not robins this year. Finches perhaps?

>59 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! We not only avoided the rain but it was a very nice day out there today. It looks like the rain will be moving in later and then the temps begin to drop big time. Ugh!

Bummer about mama duck. Hooray for chirping newborns. I am not sure where finches build their nests.

Go Cubs! Let's go for the sweep.

"It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times. Again. That's the thing about things. They fall apart, always have, always will, it's in their nature."

^And this kicks off Autumn: A Novel, which has been getting plenty of LT love, (this is my main barometer) so I requested it from the library. I have only read The Accidental and I have wanted to read more Smith. This is off to a terrific start...expect some serious warbling. Here are a couple early gems:

"Is there never any escaping the junkshop of self?"

"This isn't fiction, the man says. This is the Post Office."

I loved Autum, Mark. I hope you do, too.

>62 BLBera: Hi, Beth. It might of taken me a couple pages, to get in the flow but once Elisabeth was introduced it really soared. I am so glad this will be part of a quartet.

>61 msf59: I loved Autumn, so I am really hoping you do too, Mark!

>64 alcottacre: I am definitely on the right track, Stasia, so no worries there.

So happy to hear you are reading Autumn! LOVED it. I can't wait for the next book in the quartet.

>66 alphaorder: That is good to know, Nancy. I all ready want to go back and read more of her work. Have you read anything else by Smith?

I have Autumn on my kindle and hope to get to it soon. Hope to hear good things from you Mark!

>68 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura. Good to see you. I have a feeling Autumn is going to be a very special book. Glad you have an ebook copy. Have you read Smith before?

>4 msf59: are they made of wood? Or are they ducks of the woods....I actually don't know ;)

>61 msf59: Ali Smith makes her way into your heart by cracking a Postal Service joke!? Of course!! I still haven't read her, can you believe it!!??

Happy are thread- love the owls- love the meet up!!!

>70 LovingLit: Hi, Megan! The ducks are definitely real and have beautiful coloring. Yes, I got a kick out of the post office quip and this is only my second Ali Smith, so I have a lot of work to do too.

Glad you like the toppers. Yah, for Meet Ups & Owls.

Morning, Mark! I'm glad you're enjoying the Smith book - I may have to add that one to the list...

>72 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Autumn is so good. Expect more quotes and warbling, later on.

^Out for a family jaunt. There is a creek that runs through a section of my businesses and I usually take one of my breaks over here and keep an eye out for bird life. I usually see something too, but these goslings were a highlight.

This creek is on the yucky side, IMHO, but I hope it is clean enough for the wildlife.

Very nice picture, Mark!

Happy Thursday to you.

Sweet Thursday, Mark!

So far I'm liking Strong Female Protagonist. I'll keep you posted. And I'm enjoying Incendiary Art.

>75 karenmarie: Happy Thursday, Karen. We have damp, windy, chilly weather here. Sighs...

>76 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. I want another day like yesterday. Ugh. I loved Strong Female and I am sure you will too and the same for Incendiary Art. What a great, hard-hitting collection.

Happy new thread, Mark! I look forward to your thoughts about Autumn.

>78 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl. Good to see you back. Autumn has been excellent so far.

Hi Mark. What happened to spring? I want it back.

Had to pull out a warmer jacket this morning. It felt like fall.

Just got a message that one of the other Cubs books came in for me at the library so I'll need to check that one out. David Kaplan's The Plan: Epstein, Maddon, and the Audacious Blueprint for a Cubs Dynasty.

>74 msf59: Nice to see the goslings, Mark. Strange I haven't seen any among the many geese at my local pond.

>80 lindapanzo: I am with you, Linda. It was chilly out there. I was missing a layer. I could have used my hoodie. At least it didn't rain. Let me know how the Cubs book is.

>81 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. That was the first set of goslings I have seen this spring, but I am sure many more will be following. It is that time of year.

^After finishing the audio of the excellent Dr Mutter's Marvels, I switched to fiction, with White Tears. This is a new novel and it has been on my radar. I have not seen any LT activity on it, but based on what I have listened to so far, this is shaping up to be a good one. I was unfamiliar with this author but I see he wrote Gods Without Men, which came out in 2011, to some praise. Stay tuned...

^The Zora Neale Hurston thread is up. Stop on by and let us know what you are going to read:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/255937#

>69 msf59: Mark, I loved Ali Smith's How to be Both so put that on your TBR if you haven't read it yet.

Our backyard goslings made their appearance today, they are so sweet!

Sweet Thursday, Mark! Yesterday I saw a Trumpeter swan ( common around here ) eating moss and lichen off from a log floating on the water. It sure was having a feast. Ugh.

I see a lot of Canada Geese too, but I've yet to see the goslings this year. Great picture!

What the heck is going on with the Great Orange Gasbag? He is going to keep NAFTA and orders a review of all National Monuments created since 1994?

Seeing the posters of the great outdoors of Washington State over on Ellen's thread, and the comment about the condition of the creek with the geese in it, made me think of the news last night and today about the National Monuments. The news from Washington, just gets worse.

>87 benitastrnad: - There was a very interesting edition of one of cbc's political radio programmes today, broadcasting from Washington, DC, and examining trump's first 100 days. The host spoke to a number of Washington insiders on the state of trump's mental health, decision-making processes (so-called), etc. Also, the prospects of impeachment.

One can only hope....

>85 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. How to be Both is on the list and now I NEED to find a copy. Yah, for goslings!

>86 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. I am sure I have seen a Trumpeter swan, in the past, but it has been awhile. I am not sure how common they are around here.

>87 benitastrnad: "The news from Washington, just gets worse." Amen, Benita. It is non-stop and his supporters still seem to be proud of his accomplishments. Let's see how this tax reform goes.

>88 jessibud2: "Also, the prospects of impeachment. " Ooh, music to my ears.

>89 msf59: - Here ya go: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/popup/audio/listen.html?autoPlay=true&clipIds=&m...

:-)

One question for you, Mark. What the heck are the Bears doing in the draft?

"All across the country, there was misery and rejoicing."

"I'm tired of the news. I'm tired of the way it makes things spectacular that aren't, and deals so simplistically with what's truly appalling. I'm tired of the vitriol. I'm tired of anger. I'm tired of the meanness. I'm tired of selfishness. I'm tired of how we're doing nothing to stop it. I'm tired of how we're encourageing it. I'm tired of the violence that's on it's way, that's coming, that hasn't happened yet. I'm tired of liars. I'm tired of sanctified liars. I'm tired of how those liars have let this happen. I'm tired of having to wonder whether they did it out of stupidity or did it on purpose. I'm tired of lying governments. I'm tired of people not caring whether they're being lied to anymore. I'm tired of being made to feel this fearful.”

-Autumn: A Novel

^I know this isn't about our current state of affairs, with You Know Who in charge, but boy, this really nails it. Smith is such a strong writer.

>90 jessibud2: That is a great interview, Shelley. Thanks and I sure hope his second projection is right. Fingers crossed.

>91 lindapanzo: This would have been a good time to make a great move, Linda! Maybe the Bears are incapable of it.

>92 msf59: - Wow, another BB. I think I need to read that one!
>93 msf59: - As the saying goes, from his mouth to God's ears.... or something like that

Hi, Mark! Fabulous thread topper!

As per an earlier conversation on one of your past threads (there are so many of them!), I've decided to take a crack at hosting the May Murder & Mayhem theme this year.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/255974#

I don't think anyone else has jumped in to do it. (If I'm wrong, someone correct me!)

That's so interesting. I see Trumpeter Swans most days. I realized yesterday that I also wrens, not just sparrows! When I walk Poppy, we often see a bunch of little bird and I finally identified them as perhaps house wrens, but definitely wrens. There is house nearby that has suet out, so I suppose that is what attracts the wrens.

Happy Friday, Mark. Sending some snowy greetings over the pond.

Mark--It's Friday!!

>95 tymfos: And I am in for Murder and Mayhem!!

Morning, Mark! I'm definitely adding Autumn to the list, then.

And it snowed here yesterday. What the actual what?!

>94 jessibud2: I can't warble loud enough about Autumn, Shelley. Can't wait to get back to it.

>95 tymfos: Thanks, Terri and I think it is great that you are continuing the M & M tradition. Much appreciated. I have my hands full with the AAC, so I have not been taking on any other thread duties. I will stop over.

>96 vancouverdeb: I will have to research trumpeter swans. Wrens are small, so they are hard to spot. I hope to see one on an organized bird walk, where many eyes are involved.

>97 Ameise1: Happy Friday, Barb. Boo to snow. We are just going to be cool and damp.

>98 Berly: Big Friday Waves to Kimmers!

>99 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Boo to snow. WTH? It looks like we will just have some rain.

>92 msf59: I posted that quote (or one extremely similar to it) on my Facebook page when I read Autumn. It just seems so fitting, doesn't it?

Happy Friday, Mark!

Good morning, Mark and happy Friday! Looks like you've got rain, rain, and more rain coming, according to the National Weather Service. Batten down the hatches!

president tweet, aka FascistCheetoFart, bloviating orange gasbag, Lord Dampnut (acronym of his name), The Apricot Menace, continues his sickening run, unfortunately. Impeachment, Amendment 25 Section IV... we can only hope. Amendment 25 Section IV would give us Mike Pence, God help us, but almost normal compared with you-know-who. Here's Keith Olbermann talking about 25/IV last November. I do love his intelligent rants: Keith Olbermann on Amendment 25 Section IV

>102 alcottacre: Happy Friday, Stasia. I love that quote. I am finding myself bookmarking many passages in Autumn.

>103 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Yes, we have rain coming in, but right now it is cool, but very nice, with some sunshine. Tomorrow will probably be a different story.

I like FascistCheetoFart and I like Mr. Olbermann. I will check out the link later. Thanks.

Hiyah! Happy weekend! Gonna try to get Lost City of the Monkey God posted this weekend...

>100 msf59: To be honest, I'm not quite sure if what I saw was a wren or a sparrow. I'm no big expert , Mark, that's for certain! But I looked on a bird identifier online for South West BC and I'm fairly certain that they were wrens. Pretty little birds, with cheerful chirp - song. All of those mixed brown and white small birds are challenging for me to identify. The Trumpeter Swan I can be certain of though.

Just wondering if you have seen any of the TV version of American Gods. I read some reviews today and they were pretty good.

>105 drneutron: Hi, Jim. Looking forward to your final thoughts on Monkey God. I am sure it will be glowing.

>106 vancouverdeb: Ah, birds, they can be challenging, Tonto. I think the difference between wrens and sparrows are the size and shape. Wrens are smaller and more stream-lined.

>107 benitastrnad: Does American Gods start this weekend, Benita? I think that is what I heard. I would like to see it.

I also want to watch Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, which has also been getting terrific reviews.

#108
The review I read today said that two episodes had already aired, but maybe I got it wrong. The review did warn that the TV production has changed some of the story lines and made some characters more prominent than they are in the book. I do hope they do great things with Mr. Ibex, (the undertakers in Cairo, IL) and with Bast. I thought that chapter of the book was very witty and funny.

#108
The Handmaid's Tale - well it is Atwood, but I am not sure what else to say. It isn't my favorite of her books. But you are right - the reviews of the show have been very good.

It looks like American Gods will premiere Sunday night. Honestly, I thought it had all ready started.

The Handmaid's Tale has started. 3 episodes are available on Hulu.

Happy Saturday, Mark.

>92 msf59: I'm tired of liars. I'm tired of sanctified liars. I'm tired of how those liars have let this happen. I'm tired of having to wonder whether they did it out of stupidity or did it on purpose. I'm tired of lying governments. I'm tired of people not caring whether they're being lied to anymore.
Aargh, she stole my thoughts!!!! But she used them for good. So that is OK :)

>111 msf59: aw nuts I really want to see The Handmaid's Tale. Patience will see me right, I am sure.

Lovely ducks and baby ducks further up. Nothing beats a train of little duckie wuckies ;)

>112 Ameise1: Happy Saturday, Barb. Have a great weekend.

>113 LovingLit: Isn't that a great and fitting quote, Megan. I highly praise Autumn: A Novel. Have you read Smith before?

We hope to start watching The Handmaid's Tale series very soon.

Glad you like the duckie wuckies, but they are actually geese goslings, but who am I to quibble...

We've watched the first 3 episodes of The Handmaid's Tale and are awaiting the next few episodes which will drop on Wednesday. It's very well done. Also intense and sobering.

Morning, Laura! That is great news. We hope to start the series this weekend.

"intense and sobering", is what we expected, right?

Hmm- I think by the bird call / song that the flock of birds that I see quite often in the same place are wrens. Perhaps Pacific Wrens, but I am not entirely certain. Happy Weekend, Mark! Last night Dave and I were out walking the dog and I heard quite a bird call. Dave told me it was a " screech owl" Then he laughed and told me it was a bird deterrent around a public building we were walking by. It was interesting at any rate. It emitted quite a few " bird noises". It's away from any residential area, so noise problem.

Happy Saturday, Mark!

>117 vancouverdeb: Happy Saturday, Deb. Thanks for the birdy report. I had not heard of Pacific wrens or screech owl "bird" deterrent noises. I will have to look into both.

>118 scaifea: Morning, Amber.

For those Birdwatchers also into gardening,
according to the usually staid RODALE online "Organic Life,"

the first Saturday in May is World Naked Gardening Day!

If you don't want to attract mosquitoes,
or freeze (Wisconsin),
or embarrass your kids,
("Just close your eyes, dear, it's only your Grandma,
The Topless Widow of Herkimer Street),

we can wait until June 13th,
which is Weed Your Garden Day.

>120 m.belljackson: Hooray for World Naked Gardening Day! I won't be participating for various reasons but I admire and encourage those that will and please do not forget the sunscreen and bug spray.

Happy Saturday, Marianne! Hope you are having a nice weekend, despite the cruddy weather.

^We have been getting a housefinch couple at our feeder. I like seeing these pairings. We also get a pair of cardinals, doves, mallards and cowbirds. There are also a flurry of male and female goldfinches & house sparrows but I can't tell who belongs to who.

Hi there Mr Mark. What a miserable day. Had a nice lunch with my sister and her family and I'm now watching the Cubs/Red Sox.

Maybe do a little reading after the game.

I think I will skip World Naked Gardening day as well.

>120 m.belljackson: - That book sounds like fun. Probably the closest I will ever get to Naked Gardening Day, ;-)

>125 jessibud2:

The title story, "The Widow of Herkimer Street," was lovely - inspired and inspiring.

The balance of the eight stories offered lesser connection with characters.

>4 msf59: There was a lovely pileated in our neighbor's yard this morning, on the ground, attacking a stump with fervor. At one point large pieces of bark were flying around. We watched this from our kitchen window, hampered by screening and the neighbor's chainlink fencing. No photos possible. After a while Woody gave his marvelous yodel, and flew off, only to land on the window sill of another neighbor's garage, apparently pecking away at his own image in the glass. What a hoot.

World Naked Gardening Day...ummm, I think I'm busy indoors that day.....

Just look at this bird. I couldn't believe it was real, thought it was photoshopped, unbelievable color. Thought you'd like it. Too bad you won't see it in the U.S. outside of a zoo.



Google revealed it is a Pompadour Cotinga, found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Dash it! It rained today, or else I was totally committed to Naked Gardening Day. *sighs*

Happy Sunday Mark!

>123 lindapanzo: Happy Sunday, Linda! Yesterday was miserable, but I am glad it didn't start until noon. We went out for dinner with friends last night and it poured the entire time. My plan today is to hang out at home, with the books and watch the Cubs tonight.

>124 banjo123: I think that might be the consensus, around here at least. Waves to Rhonda!

>125 jessibud2: >126 m.belljackson: The Topless Widow of Herkimer Street sounds interesting.

>127 laytonwoman3rd: Hooray for a pileated woodpecker sighting! Thanks for sharing, Linda. Up close and personal too. I think it is very rare to see one here, in an urban setting.

>128 mdoris: I will probably be out on a bird walk...fully clothes of course. Grins...

>129 weird_O: Yep, that Pompadour Cotinga is a beauty. I had never heard of it. Thanks, for that lovely splash of color, Bill.

>130 vancouverdeb: I think she said it was the first Saturday in May, Deb, so that would be next week, right? See? There is time.

>131 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! We had lots and lots of rain yesterday but I still see birds at the feeder.

^Nancy warbled about The Someday Birds at the Meet-Up and since I am a pushover for our feathered friends, I thought I would start this today, to celebrate May and the migration season which is really kicking into gear.

This is a lovely little book trailer for the book: http://sallyjpla.com/

>134 msf59: - This one sounds wonderful. Has it been made into a movie, as well? The trailer makes me think it has

>135 jessibud2: Morning Shelley. I do not think it was turned into a movie...yet, although that wonderful trailer could easily expand into it. The book is relatively new.

Someday Birds has not been made into a movie - yet. It has become fairly common for books to now have trailers like movies, which I find interesting. This trailer was put together by a group in Wisconsin that Sally knows. Well-done, I think. I can totally see this book in a movie. But read the book first. It is really good.

Enjoy, Mark! Great book for a rainy Sunday. Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

50) Lola: A Novel by Melissa Scrivner Love 4 stars

Lola Vasquez is in her mid-20s, barely five foot tall. Her boyfriend is the leader of an up and coming LA gang named the Crenshaw Six but Lola is the “real” brains and muscle behind the operation. She had a horrific childhood, dealing with a junkie mother and severe poverty but instead of letting this sordid past destroy her, she crafted herself, into a smart, cunning young woman, who can be as ruthless as any male counterpart.
When the gang finds itself in between warring cartels, the story really kicks into gear and Lola rises to the challenge, with badass resolve.
This is a solid crime novel, filled with action, suspense and unexpected twists. It is also well-written and I want to mention that it also deals with child rape, so if this is a trigger for you, beware.

“Yes. Ghetto gossip spreads faster than lice at a daycare, hopping from head to head, brain to brain, growing, changing, and morphing into the best narrative to trade over coffee or tequila or cocaine at the kitchen table.”



** If anyone would like this book, I would gladly pass it on to you. Let me know.

>136 msf59: - That's interesting. I don't think I've ever seen a visual trailer for a book, quite like this. It sure looks like a movie trailer!

It's a rainy one here today so I am expecting to finish up March: Book Three, and make some more headway in another of my current reads, Strength in What Remains, a really heartwrenching but gripping bio/survival story of a Burundian man who came to the States in the early 1990s.

Have a good one, Mark

>137 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. That is very well made book trailer. Very expressive. Are you signed up for her newsletter? If so, is it birdy?

And yes, a perfect day to hunker down with the books.

>139 jessibud2: You have some terrific reading going, Shelley. I loved Strength in What Remains and Mountains Beyond Mountains is excellent too.

Morning, Mark!

Morning, Mark!

We're having a good time in Pittsburgh. Hope your weekend is going well.

I'm another one who loved Strength in What Remains and Mountains Beyond Mountains.

I've got Someday Birds line up, after hearing Nancy's enthusiasm. Looking forward to your reaction.

Nutshell was an A-OK diversion, and I finally made it through a MacEwan. Now I've picked back up on The Warmth of Other Suns, which I had set aside a good while ago.

>141 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>142 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Glad you are having a good time in Pittsburgh. Damp and chilly here. Good day to stay in the with the books. Glad you finished and enjoyed your first McEwan. I had a good time with that one too.

Hooray for the Tracy Kidder books! I want to read more of him. I am happy you are returning to The Warmth of Other Suns. It is such a good, epic read.

Did you watch the book trailer for The Someday Birds. If not, you would love it. Just sayin'...

51) Dr. Mutter's Marvels by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz 4.5 stars

Dr. Thomas Dent Mutter was born in 1811 and died forty-eight years later. A foreshortened life, to be sure, but the imprint and impact he left on medical history still resounds today. In Mutter's day, there was no anesthesia or sterilization of hands or medical equipment. There was also very little compassion for the patient. Procedures were done in a coldly, efficient manner and lastly, people with severe disfigurements “monsters”, as they were referred to then, were to live out there lives in shame and isolation. Mutter changed all of these things, shaping the medical community in compassionate directions and leading it into the modern era of medicine.
I knew nothing of Mutter, before reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed this excellent biography on a fascinating American physician. The writing is smart and swift. A perfect example of narrative nonfiction.



^The Mutter Museum in Philadelphia

>144 msf59:.
Very important work. I went to the museum 20 years ago. It was fascinating, but a bit creepy.

>145 alphaorder: I have never been to Philadelphia but if or when I do, I will have to check out his museum. I don't mind creepy. Grins...

The Someday Birds is off to a very good start. Ludmila has entered the picture...

>146 msf59:

Glad to hear you are enjoying Someday Birds. It's quite a ride!

I am settling in for some time with Connie May Fowler's memoir A Million Fragile Bones.

After our earlier conversation about American Gods and Handmaids Tale, I checked in this mornings newspaper.

You are correct - American Gods starts tonight. Handmaid's Tale will have its third episode. I looked at my review source for American Gods, and since it is TOR publishers on their Science Fiction/Fantasy weekly newsletter, I am guessing that the reviewer had access to early screenings for review purposes.

I don't know about you, but I am loving all of the attention that novels are getting through these quality adaptations. I hope that people read some of these novels as well as watch the stories. One of these days I am going to have time to do some binge watching and actually "see" these series, since many of them have been books that I enjoyed.

And speaking of great adaptations - are you watching Call the Midwife this season? There have been some great segments and the introduction of some new characters as well as the departure of some of the old ones. I just love this series and it makes me unhappy when I miss one of them.

I was surprised to learn that Homefires is based on a book Jambusters by Julie Summers. I read that the series is not going to be renewed and I am sorry about that because I liked the series. Not as much as Call the Midwife, but I still liked it.

>147 alphaorder: Not familiar with Fowler, Nancy. Who is she?

>148 benitastrnad: Happy Sunday, Benita. Yes, I am very pleased to see these book adaptations and like you, I hope people scope out the books too.

We are watching CTM. 2 episodes in. Very good. Plan on watching another today, along with the first Handmaid's Tale episode.

>149 msf59:

Connie May Fowler is Southern novelist and memoirist that I read in the late '90s. I fondly remember her work, although some of it isn't easy reading. We hosted a couple of nice events with her. I hadn't read her in a long time but recently learned that she had a new memoir out about the BP Gulf Oil Spill affected her life. She lives in Florida and nature is a big part of her life.

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday with the books, Mark. I am off to the Vancouver Library to do some browsing and, for once, it is a beautiful sunny day!

>150 alphaorder: Thanks for enlightening me on Ms. Fowler and let me know how this memoir is.

>151 Familyhistorian: Happy Sunday, Meg. Having a great day with the books, plus we just got caught up on Call the Midwife. Another terrific season. Have you watched this?

Great review of both Lola and Dr Mutter's Marvels! I figured you'd like 'em. :)

>153 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. I am really ending the month on a high note.

^We just watched the first episode of The Handmaid's Tale and I thought it was excellent. It is unfolding slowly, which fits perfectly for this harrowing tale. The acting is solid and it is beautifully filmed. Let's hope this continues for the entire series.

I know Laura has watched it. Anyone else?

"Meanwhile, seeing the birds makes me feel quiet and orderly. The birds are beautiful. The basic facts about them don't change. Bird behavior is pretty consistent. You can write it down, know it understand it. No matter how hard you try, you can't do that with people."

"Dad was so excited. If I can tell him that I've checked a great horned owl (GHO) off our list of Someday Birds, he would like that. It would make him feel happy. And feeling happy makes you heal quicker."

-The Someday Birds

>156 msf59:
Love this. Thanks for sharing.

>144 msf59: I am going to have to get hold of a copy of that one. Sounds right up my alley.

I have put The Someday Birds in the BlackHole :)

>157 alphaorder: I read over a hundred pages of it today. They are just leaving Wyoming in the camper. Smiles...

>158 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. I am sure you will love Dr. Mutter and The Someday Birds is written for middle-grade readers so it is a nice easy narrative.

Great Call the Midwife again tonight. Overall, all excellent episodes this season, except for last Sunday.

>160 lindapanzo: Happy Sunday, Linda. I was thinking of you- We just caught up with CTM, although we did not watch tonight's episode. The head nun has departed, although they handled that very well. What a great, remarkably consistent show.

Watching the Cubs. Bryant just hit another one over the Monster.

Yikes! THe Handmaid's Tale was a grim book and no way could I watch the series! Glad you are enjoying it, Mark! I'm not caught up on CTM, but I'll have to remedy that. I have been watching Anne of Green Gables, which was produced by the same person who produced Breaking Bad and like they advertised, not your grandmother's Anne of Green Gables. That said, my husband is not interested in watching it with me. :)

>162 vancouverdeb: Yes, no question, The Handmaid's Tale is a very bleak world, especially if you are a woman. You will love catching up with CTM. It never disappoints. How are you enjoying the Anne of Green Gables series? Is it something I would like?

Morning, Mark!
Glad you're enjoying The Handmaid's Tale. I likely won't watch the show, but I did love the book (I do better with reading bleak than I do watching it).

Morning, Amber! The series of Handmaids pulls no punches. They paint a very bleak, wicked place. It might be good idea to stay away.

Not a chance I'm going to catch up, but just stopping by to say hi. I loved The Handmaid's Tale when I studied it at school (one of the only books I actually enjoyed as a coursework book) so I'm going to try and watch the series at some point. I imagine it's the kind of thing I'd like to binge on though, so I might wait until it's all available.

^Becca warbled about The Road to Jonestown at the Meet Up and since I was able to quickly locate it on audio, I thought I would start it today. I saw an excellent doc on Jones many years ago, (or was it a film bio?) but, whatever, I always wanted to dig deeper. I have not read this author before but he sounds like an author to follow.

Good morning and happy Monday, Mark!

>138 msf59: Yikes. Being from LA and living near Crenshaw while in college, I think I'll pass on the gang stuff.

>148 benitastrnad: Well, drat! My husband and I love Home Fires.

Happy Monday, Mark!

Happy Monday, Mark. I'm feeling pleased as punch. My fifth Trivia Crack question got approved, the one about molasses. I have a soft spot for molasses floods.

I noticed, while reading reviews that David Grann's new book Killers of the Flower Moon is getting rave reviews. Since you liked Lost City of Z I bet the new one isn't that far down on your TBR pile.

Another LT group I am in has been reading through the Tony Hillerman mysteries. Saturday, in my local paper there was a front page story about the FBI busting up an eagle stealing ring in Rapid City, SD. The head of the ring was a native american who was "hunting" the eagles legally and selling pieces and parts to collectors. He could hunt legally because he was using the parts for religious reasons. However, once he sold them it became illegal. (FBI got several of the collectors as well as the hunters.) The last Hillerman book I read for the group was First Eagle and that book was written in the late 1990's, but I couldn't help but think how prescient Hillerman was and how a mystery that is 20 years old should be very tired and out-of-date, and isn't.

>169 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia!

>170 lindapanzo: Hooray for getting a molasses question accepted. That should put a pep in your step.

>171 benitastrnad: Yep, the Grann book is high on my TR list. Sounds great.

One day I will get back to the Hillerman series.

Oriole sighted. Noshing with a couple cardinals on the bird feeder. Don't see orioles often. They are sooo vivid. Gorgeous. Sorry, no photos.

Going to start Spain in Our Hearts in a few days. First I have to finish Ms. Prose (such an apt name for a writer). And Dark Matter. Is that one you read, Mark? I think it was published in 2015.

It's pouring rain here today, Mark, but I just glanced out the window and saw a brown-headed cowbird perched on the branch above the feeder!! I snapped a few pics just so I could zoom in and yep, no doubt about it. Haven't seen one around here in ages! Not nearly as pretty as Mr. Cardinal trying to fit onto the feeder perch (he's a bit big but persistent), but still, nice to see

Hope you are having a good day

I've added Someday Birds to my rec'd list. There seems to be a flock of good bird books happening here!

I've never seen a book trailer, so that was really interesting. What would I do without you guys!

Have a great week!

Hi Mark, I recorded the first two episodes of The Handmaid's Tale. There was a little concern that this series wouldn't be shown in Canada, but luckily Bravo Canada picked it up. We will be running a little behind the Hulu schedule, but I am so glad that it will be available for us. I just read the book last month so the timing is perfect for me!

Two years ago when I was taking a refresher course in the library school one of the assignments was to create a book trailer. Book trailers and podcasts are pretty much required now for librarians.

>92 msf59: Whoa - that quote from Autumn Nails it perfectly.

Sounds like your hummingbirds are seasonal. We have the Anna's Hummingbirds year round. Makes for some work to keep the feeders from freezing sometimes. I remember at one point this past winter I told The Hubster to forget about the front sidewalk and shovel me a path to the hummingbird feeder so I could thaw it out.

We're starting to see our goldfinches - time to by more thistle seed.

I'm so glad you liked Dr. Mutter's Marvels. I thought it was fascinating.

Looking forward to hearing what you think of The Road to Jonestown. It sounds interesting.

Happy Monday, Mark. Stay dry.

Happy 1st of May, Mark. I've had that Bee Gees song rolling around in my head all day. I really liked Angel Catbird, so thank you so much for sharing. I've put myself on the wait list at the library for the subsequent volumes. If you hadn't brought my attention to it, I wouldn't have known Atwood did GNs.

>152 msf59: I tried CTM once and couldn't get into it, sacrilege I know. I have strange taste, never watched Downton Abbey either.

Has someone already claimed Lola from you?

Call the Midwife was intense last night. It's always intense. After watching last night's episode, I immediately went and brushed and flossed(!) my teeth!

Someday Birds is going right on the wish list.

I hope you have a good week ahead!

>173 weird_O: There's your oriole, Bill. Great looking bird. I have never seen one, so I am hoping to stumble across one, one of these days. Looking forward to your thoughts on Spain in Our Hearts. It's a good one. Dark Matter came out last year and it was very good.

>174 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Love the bird sighting. We get a pair of cowbirds, that stop by on occasion. I like the way they look.

>175 streamsong: Hi, Janet! Hooray for The Someday birds & other bird books. There has definitely been a flurry of them. I still have The Warbler Road waiting nearby. Grins...

Happy May Day, my friend. Has it really been a YEAR since our LT Cambridge meet up?

CTM just keeps getting better no better. Last night - WOW!

>176 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! I am so glad that you will be able to watch The Handmaid's Tale. If the rest of it is as good as the first one, we are in for a treat.

>177 benitastrnad: So, you made a book trailer, Benita? How did it come out? What book did you pick? I know it wasn't The Handmaid's Tale?

>178 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli! Great to see you. I can't warble loud enough about Autumn. Have you read Smith before? Yes, our winters are too harsh for hummingbirds to stick around. I just bought my hummingbird feeder and plan on setting it up tomorrow. Goldfinch have been busy at our finch feeder for a couple of weeks now and the males have most of their bright yellow summer plumage back.

The Road to Jonestown is off to a fantastic start. He has definitely done his homework.

>179 BLBera: Hi, Beth. I put my raingear on for a very short time today. Very spotty light showers here, so not bad.

>180 cameling: Hi, Caro! Great to see you. Glad you enjoyed the Atwood GN. Any plans on watching The Handmaid's Tale? It is off to a terrific start.

>181 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. I wonder what it was, that you didn't like about CTM? It has been a nearly perfect show from the beginning. Hey, if it isn't your cuppa, what can you say?

>182 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Lola is yours. I am surprised no one else jumped on it. It's a good book and Joe & Jim felt the same way.

I did not see last night's CTM. We were a couple behind and just got caught up with those. The show that never disappoints.

>184 michigantrumpet: Happy May Day, Marianne! Yes, it has been a year. Glad FB reminded me of it, but I have been getting email notices about Booktopia, which is this coming weekend, so I knew it was about that time. What a lovely time. We might be attending next year, so stay tuned. Love to see you guys again.

Hi, Mark! Happy May! I've enjoyed the bird photos you're sharing and am looking forward to seeing more.

We went on a New Jersey Audubon Society "owl prowl" several years ago that was pretty rewarding in terms of the number of owls, of different species, we got to see — at least some of which we would have walked right by without a guide to point them out. Well worth going out in mid-February and driving all over to get to see them.

Congrats on seeing the pileated woodpecker. I saw my first pileated a couple years ago — it flew right into a nearby tree while I was out taking a flower walk at the Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve a little north of us. We've also been fortunate enough to see some red-headed woodpeckers, but not for a while; it might be time to go looking for them again this summer.

>173 weird_O:, >183 msf59: - That lovely picture reminds me of when I first saw an oriole, several years ago. I was visiting a friend who lives on a lake. One sweet oriole hit the large glass window and was stunned but sadly, it's leg and wing were broke. It was early morning and the 2 of us tried to save it. It drank from an orange half we placed in a box we placed the bird in, out of the sun, but the energy just drained away from it. I held it in my hands but it didn't make it. We were both pretty broken up about it. I buried it under her porch where, hopefully, it wouldn't get dug up by some other critter (at least, that we could see). It was so beautiful. :-(

>144 msf59: Yay! You liked Mutter's Marvels!! I am hopelessly behind on LT, so I just skimmed pictures. : ) Didn't even know they made a series of The Handmaid's Tale. Wont' that be a wild one! Hope you have great week.

>188 jessibud2: That is a sad little oriole tale. Bummer. I think they say that over a billion birds die a year, from glass collisions, combine that with the millions that die from cat attacks, we are talking some serious bird deaths each year. Yikes.

>189 Berly: Hi, Kimmers. Dr. Mutter was excellent. I love that LT pal nudges.

Maybe the Cubs can ask for a mulligan. Can't believe they're playing in a downpour.

>125 jessibud2:

The Topless Widow is again being offered on Member Giveaway.

>191 lindapanzo: This is ugly, Linda. Glad I'll be going to bed soon...

>193 msf59: I'll probably shut it off and read pretty soon.

>192 m.belljackson: - Is that the same as Early Reader giveaways? Hardly anything worthwhile (hardly anything at all, in fact) is ever available for Canada. I rarely request anything anymore for that reason, though, that said, just today I did make a request, but it's for a children's book, by the author Kyo Maclear, who wrote Birds, Art, Life. We will see if I win

I hope the Cubs don't have to wait as long again for the World Series as my grandchildren may be impatient.

On the British sporting front our Heavyweight Anthony Joshua stopped Klitschko in the 11th of a super fight on Saturday night.

Hiya, Mark.

I'm moving Dr. Mutter's Marvels up the WL. Very helpful review! Thumbing.

You'll have to let Becca know that you're reading The Road to Jonestown. She'll be tickled.

We head back tomorrow. Our best visit ever, we've decided, and we've loved all of them. Spent time with Jesse at Google today, and had board game night with his friends tonight - lots of laughs. Oh, and had a good Ethiopian beer called St. George, a lager.

>171 benitastrnad: I was interested in the story told about eagle feathers and eagle parts. We were once on a canoe trip many years ago, on northern coastal B.C waters. It was a dense foggy morning and the eagles weren't flying because of the fog and were in the tree tops. We heard multiple shots and realized as we approached a boat in the fog, that the local natives were shooting the eagles out of the trees and had a pile of dead eagles in their boat (which they tried to cover) as we came by; we had the guns pointed at us, and we cleared off. We will never forget it. Not fiction at all!

Someday Birds is on my wishlist. Not at my library . I had to tell my latest bird story. Today I saw two mallard ducks ( M and F) walking along the top our 6 foot fence. That was quite a surprise. I wonder if they have nest somewhere nearby? Mallard ducks are a common sight , but not on top of a fence.

Morning, Mark! More damp and chill predicted for here. Yay?

>187 harrygbutler: Hi, Harry! Your first visit and I completely over look you. LOL. I must have been getting tired last night. Great to see you. Along, with many books, you will hear and see a lot about birds too. I am enjoying my early "birding" life.

I WANT to go on a "owl prowl", like that. That sounds fantastic. I did go on an owl night jaunt early last winter. Did not see one. And hooray for a pileated. It was definitely a birding highlight for me.

>194 lindapanzo: 10-2? Ugh! What a nasty loss.

>196 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. The Cubs are not off to the kind of start, they were at last year, but all that amazing talent is still in place. At least those expectations are not as high either, since they finally won the W.S. I do not follow boxing much, but that is impressive.

>197 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! You will be returning to another cruddy Chicago day. Ugh. Glad you had such a good time with Jesse in PA. You will have a terrific time with Dr. Mutter's Marvels. It is a helluva story. Have a safe trip back.

>198 mdoris: Hi, Mary. Sad eagle feather story.

>199 vancouverdeb: You should have a good time with The Someday Birds, Deb. It is a fast, fun read.

>200 scaifea: Morning, Amber. Yep, woke up to more rain and wind. Ugh. At least I am off today, but no bird walking for this kid.

Good to hear you are off today. Seems like a perfect day to stay in with a book. If you can't be out with birds, you might as well read about them!

By the way, I enjoyed the Audubon GN. I have only read a handful of GNs, though, so I am probably not the best judge.

I had another terrific month of reading, in April. My NF has been ubiquitous and stellar, although I did kick off the month with Wanderlust, which fell a bit short of expectations, although I will still give Solnit another chance. The rest of my NF, was nearly perfect, with The Stranger in the Woods, I Contain Multitudes, The Cubs Way, (hooray for the Cubbies!) and Dr. Mutter's Marvels.
The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir, is easily one of the best GNs I have read this year. I finally got to The Secret Chord, which did not disappoint. My only short fiction was If I'd Known You Were Coming: Stories but I was quite impressed. I finally read Americanah and it was worth the long wait. Enemy Women, continues my love affair with Ms. Jiles, Exit West, (I did not review, Bad Mark) but found excellent. I had a good time with Lola and Autumn was lovely. One of my biggest surprises was White Tears, which I hope to do a mini-review of later today.

The only thing I may try to change in my reading habits, is try to fit in more older titles. My Must Read Now Shelf is loaded with newer books, (my audio shelves are like this too), while the other TBR shelves remain untouched, neglected and forlorn. Sad face.

>203 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. What was the name of the Audubon GN? I will request it. I am still having a good time with The Someday Birds. They are on their way to Chicago. Funny, we took a very similar trip, like this, in reverse- South Dakota, Montana and Yellowstone. Did not stop at Wall Drug though, which my Sue still ribs me about.

Loving the updates on your Someday Birds reading. Never been to Wall Drug either, but that is not surprising because I have never been to South Dakota.

The GN is Audubon: On the Wings of the World.

Great reading in the month of April!. I too suffer from reading too many new books and neglecting the older ones on the shelf. I attribute that to 20 years of being a bookseller. Can't shake being excited about what is being published.

>204 msf59: I can relate to not reading older titles too, Mark. It is always the new and shiny that grabs our attention, isn't it?

>206 alphaorder: Charlie and Co did not stop at Devil's Tower in Wyoming, which is very cool but they did stop at the Little Bighorn, which we did too. Thanks for the GN title, I HAVE requested it.

>206 alphaorder: >207 alcottacre: I end up getting ARCs, that I feel obligated to read, (rightly so) and many of the audios I find are newer titles, so it is an uphill battle. At least, the AAC keeps things "older". I will have to rotate in more neglected titles, into the Must Read Now Shelf.

^Secret Path is a very unique GN, illustrated by one of my very favorite artists, Jeff Lemire. It is actually a ten song album, written by Gordon Downie and drawn by Lemire. It is also stark and absolutely heart-breaking. It is based on a true story about a young Indian boy, in Canada, that escapes a Indian Residential School and tries to find his way back home...400 miles away. Keep the hankies handy. Here is one of the songs:

Don't Let This Touch You

"Don't let this touch you
Don't let this touch you

Words are birds
Words are snow
Words whisper
Words don't make the rain go

Wilderness
Can't be done
Unfinished
Can't be done

Don't let it touch you
Don't let this touch you

Words are blanks
Words are ghost
Words are God
Words don't make the rain go

I'm confused
By freedom
What do you do?
With freedom?

I heard them in the dark
Heard the things they do
I heard the heavy whispers
Whispering: 'Don't let this touch you'

How, how
How, how

Don't let this touch you
Don't
Don't let it touch you
Don't

His glowing face
By the stove
His orange face
Daddy, make the rain go"

>209 msf59: - The Secret Path was actually animated and aired on CBC tv last year. I haven't read the book (though I have seen it at the store) but the tv version was riveting and heart-breaking. All the songs were performed by Downie. It got a lot of buzz last year, not least because it was one of Downie's final projects (he was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer; his band's - The Tragically Hip - final farewell tour across Canada last year was a true national EVENT).

>210 jessibud2: DUH!! I did not realize Downie was the lead singer of the Tragically Hip! I LOVE that band and I did hear that he had cancer. How sad. I will be looking at these lyrics much differently.

I wonder if I can find that animated film?

Good morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday.

I did wish you happy Monday but you must have missed it..... (>168 karenmarie:)

I think I should have a Must Read Now shelf too - good idea. I'm afraid of how many books might be on it, though.

Morning, Mark!

Yeah, I watched a long excerpt from the animated The Secret Path, and it was quite moving.

I'm appreciating (enjoying doesn't seem like the right word for these tough poems) Incendiary Art, the Patricia Smith you recommended. Woo, she's nailing it.

We leave for the airport in a few minutes. The weather's turned crummy here, too (hellacious rain storm yesterday), so at least it'll be an easy segue to Chicago's crummy version. What happened to those warm days we were having?

>195 jessibud2:

Hope you win that book - great title!

Is the postage to Canada the reason why more books aren't offered?

Yes, same as Early Reader Giveaways...I sent a note to the author to
ask if Topless Widow could also be offered to Canada.

>214 m.belljackson: - No, apparently postage rates have nothing to do with it. Last year, a group of us contacted the LT powers that be, to ask about this. There are LTers fro the UK and also, Australia, among other places, who, like us, found that books ABOUT our home countries, written BY our native authors and published IN our countries, seemed to be available, on the ER giveaways, to Americans but not to those of us living in these countries. No rhyme or reason for it was ever made apparent. There was, in fact, an entire thread where we were asked to contribute, just to see how many of us were experiencing this. There were a lot! Some of us contributed lists of Canadian publishers. It was suggested to us to contact the publishers directly but I will admit that I never followed that up. In truth, I doubt it would make a difference. There doesn't seem to be much logic in how they make their choices of offerings. And, also in truth, I don't actually *need* more books, so I justified it that way, less to be tempted by, to add to my physical shelves. I have won a couple of books since joining LT (I can probably count them on one hand), but in fact, have jotted down lots of titles and authors to keep an eye open for, from those lists of *not available for your country*... ;-p

>214 m.belljackson:

I'll forward any reply from Jacob Appel.

>215 jessibud2: I could be wrong about this, but I'm pretty sure it isn't LT who decides what to offer to who. It's the publishers themselves, so they would certainly be the ones to contact to ask for more options. I'm sure a great deal of it has to do with which publishers have rights in which countries and other annoyingly complicated things.

>217 rosalita: - You could be very right on this point but still, I just don't understand how a book published in Canada, by a Canadian author about a Canadian subject would not be available to Canadians. Whatever...

>217 rosalita: Yeah, lorrenen, the person who runs ER has given details of the process several times. She contacts publishers asking for books or the publisher volunteers books as part of the marketing campaign. The publisher is who decides to offer. Publication rights are of concern, I'm sure, but also a judgment call whether LT is worth the cost and effort with regard to the overall marketing of a book. The only way to change this is to lobby publishers to offer through LT.

>218 jessibud2: Publishers choice. THey may have decided that they want to create a stir in the US market, but that LT isn't effective in Canada.

>219 drneutron:

GOODREADS appears to offer many more titles - any reason for that?

>221 drneutron: I suppose because it has a bigger user base, plus it's owned by Amazon. It's also probably more familiar to the publishers.

>212 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Sorry, I missed you in the shuffle up there. I remember reading the post but when I went back to reply, I skipped you. All forgiven?

I only have one Must Read Now Shelf. About 15 or 20 books. It also moves like molasses. I dislike moving something off the shelf, unread. The guilt is overwhelming. Grins...

>213 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. I will have to see if I can find that animated excerpt from Secret Path. You will love the GN. And hooray for Incendiary Art. It is a heck of a collection. Safe travels, my friend.

>214 m.belljackson: >215 jessibud2: >219 drneutron: I am enjoying the ER discussion, just nothing to add.

I think the current ER crop is pretty weak. This will be 2 months in a row, without a request, which is fine, I guess, since I still have a couple ER books to read and review.

>221 drneutron:

Are GOODREADS reviews published automatically on the Amazon site?

>223 m.belljackson: I don't think so, Marianne but I know they have the right to do so, if they choose.

>209 msf59: Lemire and heartbreaking often go hand in hand don't they. This sounds lovely. Doesn't look like my library has it but I did find the film on You Tube with a panel discussion after it. Definitely going to watch this tonight.

Gord Downie's The Secret Path

Hi, Mark! I hope you're enjoying your day of books and feeder-watching.

I've also added Dr. Mutter's Marvels to my wish list. It sounds like a perfect candidate for audible.

Speaking of ERs, I have a handful that need my attention SOON. The Lauras is one that I really want to get to.

Happy Tuesday, Mark!

ETA: I went ahead and purchased Dr. Mutter on audible. I am still working my way through the loooong Alexander Hamilton but already looking forward to listening to something else for a change!

>225 SuziQoregon: - Thanks for that link. One of the panelists, Jesse Wente, is a regular contributor to the local morning radio show I listen to, and he is incredibly well-spoken, insightful and wise. I will listen to this in its entirety later this evening. Thanks

>225 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli! I know you are also a big fan of Lemire, so you should really like Secret Path. Thanks for the video link. I am going to try it out.

>226 harrygbutler: Hey, Harry. Yep, cuddled up with the books. The feeders have been quiet the past hour or so. I need to get out there and cut the grass, before the rain returns. The day is going well.

>227 EBT1002: You will not regret purchasing the audio of Dr. Mutter. It is perfect in that format, Ellen. Let me know when you are going to start The Lauras. i also have that on deck.

>209 msf59: There's also a Heritage Minute (a Canadian television institution) about Chanie Wenjack.

>230 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky. Have you seen the Secret Path film yet? I hope to watch it tonight. It is only an hour.

>230 MickyFine: I haven't. Residential school stuff requires a lot of mental psyching up for me.

>222 msf59: Nothing to forgive! I just wanted you to know that I had come a'visiting!

I hope that you've gotten a lot of good reading in today.

>233 karenmarie: Whew! Glad we are still pals, Karen. Yes, the reading went well. I almost finished The Someday Birds and knocked a chunk of my current GN out.

^Finally put up our very first hummingbird feeder, just outside our rear living room window. Now, to wait for a our very first hummingbird visitor. I think this will complete my bird feeder collection, although an oriole feeder is beginning to interest me...

53) White Tears by Hari Kunzru 4.2 stars

“On your record deck, you played the sound of the middle passage, the blackest sound. You wanted the suffering you didn't have, the authority you thought it would bring. It scared you, but you thought of the swagger it would put in your walk...”

The story begins in NYC, with two young white guys, Seth and Carter. One poor, one rich and they share a deep passion for vintage blues music. Seth, the poor guy, clandestinely records a black guy in Washington Square, singing a blues tune and they end up posting this song on the internet, as a long lost blues classic. This spirals both of them into a nightmarish rabbit hole, that leaves death and misery to the pair and their family.
I did not have any idea where this story was headed but it turned out to be a complex, statement on racial abuse in America and the way music has been purloined from it's originators and commandeered by pretentious geeks, that think they understand the craft better than the creators.
I had not read Hari Kunzru before. He is a British novelist, of mixed English and Kashmiri Pandit ancestry, which only enhanced my opinion, on how well he handled the subject matter. Obviously, it may not resonate with every reader but the depth of the writing here is truly impressive.

Zoe and I tool a lunch break in search of two pipping plovers she had seen this am. Didn't see them, but we did stop at the bookstore on our way back to work. I picked up the new Strout and the new Russo.

>237 alphaorder: Yah,for pipping plovers. I have never seen one. I did not get out for any birding today, due to cruddy weather but I did spend a lot of time with the books.
Yah, for the new Strout & Russo. I have requested the Strout from the library.

>238 brenzi: Was that an actual Bonnie sighting? Doing a serious double-take...

If it was, it just made my day.

>236 msf59: Loved your review of White Tears.

Haha yes I occasionally pop up Mark. I just wanted you to see that article from the Guardian since it was written by Hari Kunzru, your most recent author. I read it Sunday and it was excellent.

>240 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. It is a really interesting book.

>241 brenzi: So good to see you, Bonnie. You have been missed. Thanks for the Kunzru article. I will check it out. Have you read any of his books?

Congratulations on your new hummingbird feeder, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you!

Morning, Karen! Hope to get a visitor at the hummingbird feeder soon. My regular visitors sure have been active.

Morning, Mark!

>235 msf59: Good luck with the hummingbird feeder, Mark! Have a good Wednesday.

>245 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>246 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry. Hummingbirds have been spotted in our area, so it is a matter of time. Did you set yours up yet?

>247 msf59: Not yet. I'll be hanging it with our climbing roses on our porch, so I'm waiting until at least the first few of the roses start to open. We have buds now, so within a week or so, I expect. I hadn't thought of trying an oriole feeder, but now that you've mentioned one, I might look into it.

>236 msf59: I am going to have to find that one. Thanks for the review!

Morning, Mark!

I hope hummingbirds show up for you. I didn't even know we had them around here - I've seen them in California and Massachusetts, but not here. That will be very cool if they find Hotel Freeburg.

Cool but sunny - at least there's no snow on the ground. But someone needs to get word to the weather gods that it's May, for goodness' sake.

I'm just shaking my head as I'm reading The Warmth of Other Suns - disgraceful and horrifying from one POV, and heroic, IMO, from the other. If I stood in those shoes, I'd be so angry and frustrated. And a Baltimore baseball player just got called the n-word out in Boston during the game. A bunch of fans got tossed, and he got a big ovation from the Boston fans the next game, but come on, really?

Maddon was quoted in the Tribune today as saying he heard it a lot when he was coaching in Little Rock, Arkansas, and that a staff member said, that's just the boys having some fun. Right. Arggh.

>248 harrygbutler: I like you idea about letting the roses bloom first. Not sure how common Orioles are, in my general area. I will have to ask other local birders.

>249 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia. White Tears is a powerful book and is one, that has stuck with me. I would love to see oadditional LT opinion on it.

>250 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. A bit better out here today. I wish the sun would stick around all day but it is all ready beginning to cloud up.

Hummingbirds are common here but you rarely see them, unless you put up a feeder.

I am so glad you are taking so much away from The Warmth of Other Suns. It is a triumphant work and I am glad you decided to get back to it.

Your comments about baseball and current racism, just proves that we have not moved far enough ahead. What kind of a friggin' creep would shout that at a baseball game? Sighs...

I'm very jealous of the hummingbirds. Not exactly a bird I shall be on the lookout for! I'll have to make do with sparrows.

Not meaning to gloat (but here goes.....) at our hummingbird feeder we will have 6 feeding at a time with the big bullies trying to fight the others to get a slurp all to himself. My P is filling it up once a day. We found a tiny nest hanging in a pine tree. It is the size of a tiny tea cup. It is too high up for a snoop and anyway I should mind my own business! It is still cold here so they must have high calorie needs. Have fun with your new feeder!

Just got the new Elizabeth Strout book from the library.

>254 mdoris:

Hummingbirds here (southern Wisconsin) were attracted by an old blue rug that the Groundhogs
had hauled to the front of their den in the old silo bed. We had been using it to sit on a big rock.

We discovered this when we saw a tiny blue nest high in an old Maple.

I don't know what texture or lengths would be appealing, but maybe red and blue thick thread
and yarn would draw them and make nests easier to spot.

Love the hummingbird conversation. We've got two baby blackbirds in the garden - they've fledged, but are still chasing their mum and dad around for food. Great to see!

>215 jessibud2:

Message from Jacob Appel:

Thanks for reaching out. While the publisher won't let me amend the giveaway, I do have a
handful of complimentary copies I can distribute on my own...

If Canadian readers are interested in a copy (on a first come, first served basis), they can
email me at jacobmappel@gmail.com (note the middle initial) with a Canadian postal address
and I'll be glad to send them complimentary books as long as supplies last.

(Please don't have them post requests on library thing directly, as I'm not sure this is an acceptable use of the site.)

Hope that sounds reasonable,

Jacob

((!!!))

>253 lunacat: Hi, Jenny! Good to see you. I have NOT seen a ruby-throated hummingbird at my feeders yet but I did see a few on a bird walk last year. They are small and quick, so you have to watch close.

>254 mdoris: Hooray, for 6 hummingbirds and getting your hands on the new Strout. I am jealous of both, Mary. What type of hummingbirds do you get in your area?

>256 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Good to see you. Glad you are enjoying the hummingbird chatter. Hopefully I'll be reporting a sighting, at my own feeder. Fingers or wings crossed...

>257 m.belljackson: Well, that sounds like a fine deal to me, Marianne. Sounds like you did your research.

>257 m.belljackson: - Wow! Thank you for that, Marianne! I had to scroll back a bit to remember which title you were referring to but I think it was The Topless Widow of Herkimer Street by Jacob M. Appel, right? I will send him a message. Thanks so much for taking that extra step. I've been lazy, I admit, but sometimes, one can be so pleasantly surprised! :-)

eta: Done! I sent the message!

Mark, the City of Vancouver is looking for an official bird. Maybe you can cast a vote here . http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/official-city-bird.aspx Your choices are Anna's Hummingbird, Spotted Towhee, Norther Flicker or the Varied Thrush. I decided on the Spotted Towhee, due to it's song. Listening to the calls made me realize that though I mainly see shore birds, birds of prey, ducks etc, the background chirping must be a variety of hidden song birds.

>261 jessibud2: Looks like a Happy Camper!

>262 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. Well, I saw a Northern flicker today, for just a hot second. Nice looking woodpecker. The others sound good too. I may have to mull that one over. Thanks.



^This is a spotted towhee. It may get my vote. What a beauty.

^Joe passed his copy of Tender: Stories onto me, at the Meet-Up. It didn't quite work for him but he thought it might float my dark & quirky boat. I am only 2 stories in but I am definitely in sailing mode. This new collection, by Sofia Samatar just came out last month. My goal is to read at least one story collection a month and 2 if possible.

nice one...!

>258 msf59: Mark the local hummingbirds are Rufous and Annas. The Anna remain here all year and the Rufous migrate to Mexico (lucky ducks although a crazy long flight) and the males and females fly separately. Here is a link to some interesting info.
such as there being 338 species and it is a new world bird some considered at risk.
http://rpbo.org/hummingbirds.php

I'll tell you about the Strout when I read it but first I am reading Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder.

>265 LeonardoAngue: Howdy, Leonardo! Not sure, what you are referring to but thanks anyway.

>266 mdoris: Thanks for the hummingbird info, Mary. Not sure either of those come through here. Thanks for the link. I will check it out.

The Browder book sounds interesting.

>144 msf59: wow- interesting! Dr Mutter sounds like a character.

>204 msf59: good for you with your awesome April reading. I was lax once again, but have been uni reading. One tricky theoretical article took me two hours of solid slow reading to get the the end, and then there was the digesting of it....sheesh. It was 3 weeks ago I read that and I am still digesting it!!!

Re: the Handmaid's Tale you guys are watching ...I saw the film not that long ago and it was true to the book as I remember it and it made me really want to see that mini series. At some stage :)

Morning, Mark!

>268 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. I highly recommend Dr. Mutter. Fascinating physician. Excellent narrative. I do not think I ever saw The Handmaid's Tale film but I heard it was a bit weak. The cable series is making up for that.

>269 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Happy international bird day, Mark!! They were just talking about this day in the radio.

I started the rival Cubs book by David Kaplan last night. Pretty good so far.

Hi, Mark! I hope your weather is improving. It's another sunny day here, although on the cool side. No new visitors to our feeders, but I rearranged them and am hoping to get better views of the goldfinches now.

Hi Mark and happy Thursday! Sorry about your yucky weather and hope it improves soon.

Sweet Thursday, buddy!

Nice Cubs win last night.

I'm on the 5th volume of the Lucifer GN series by Mike Carey. It continues to be reminiscent of the Sandman series, in a good way; it's a spin-off from that series. This is the concluding volume, and Jesse said it's great.

>271 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Hooray for International Bird Day. I did not know this. Cool. Glad you are enjoying the Cubs book. Nice win last night.

>272 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry. We could use a little and a little warmth. Sighs...Our goldfinch have been active lately and the males look a vibrant yellow.

>273 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Chilly and overcast here, but I should stay dry. No warm up until next week. Sighs...

>274 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. It was a nice Cubs win, but we have to stop giving up so many runs early. We end playing catch up the whole game.

Glad you are having a good time with the Lucifer series.

I also didn't know about International Bird Day but what I came here to post fits nicely: I looked out the window earlier to see a white-crowned sparrow on my lawn, below the feeder. I was very excited but when I turned to my book to confirm the ID, I see I had noted seeing 2 together back in 2009. Anyhow, here is what the book says about its voice: "Song is a frequently repeated variation of I gotta go wee-wee now

Pity I only saw it and didn't hear it! ;-) LOL

>275 msf59: I was just talking to the man across the aisle from me, the most knowledgeable sports fan I know. He suggested that the David Kaplan book should be excellent because he's a Chicago sports insider. He said he's heard good things about the Verducci book (I think you read that one?) but that Verducci isn't an insider here.

All I know is that all the baseball books I put on reserve at the library are all pouring in, all at once. I need to get cracking.

>277 jessibud2: Wow, that is funny, Shelley. I do not think I have seen a white-crowned sparrow yet but I definitely will listen for that unique birdsong. Smiles...

>278 lindapanzo: Well, I will watching for your thoughts on the Kaplan book, Linda. Sounds very promising .

I am watching the Cubs now in extra innings. If only Zobrist didn't get picked off at 2nd, the game would have been over. Sighs...

>279 msf59: - It looks like a large sparrow except it has black and white striping on top of its head. Makes for easy ID:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/id

>281 msf59: That is a good looking sparrow and a bit easier to identify, with the many variations of sparrows out there. I will keep a steady eye on my feeders. Do they go to the ground or stay up at the feeder. Our chipping and song sparrows hang on the ground.

>281 msf59: - See, I wouldn't know a song sparrow from any other. The chippies are easy to ID for the same reason as the white-crowned: very distinctive heads. I saw this one on the ground but the book I have says it scratches on the ground to expose bugs and seeds, eats berries and seeds and may take seeds from feeders.

>282 jessibud2: This is why I love seeing certain birds stop by the feeders. I can get used to what they look like and this is what happened with the song, white throated and chipping sparrows. There are at least 4 or 5 other kinds of sparrows, that are really tough to tell apart. I guess it just takes experience.

Over the past few months, my outrage level is way, way down. It's not good for my health. It ratcheted way, way up today though.

Watching hockey and reading, to relax.

Hi Mark! White Tears sounds really good.

A quick hello, Mark! Sorry I have been neglecting the threads. Saw your hummingbird feeder on FB. I haven't had any visitors yet. Thinking I might have to add some red dye to the liquid...

>284 lindapanzo: Well, my friend, we are stuck with over three and half years of this, so we better condition ourselves. Sighs...

>285 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. White Tears needs more attention. It is really a terrific, multi-layered book. I want to read his other work too.

>286 Berly: Hi, Kimmers. Nothing at my hummingbird feeder yet either, but it has been unseasonably cool here. They say you should not use these red dyes, which can be harmful to the birds. Do you have red on your feeder? If so, that should suffice.

Morning, Mark! Happy Friday!

Good morning, Mark!

Glad you've got tomorrow off. Happy Friday!

I finished Eggshells and thoroughly enjoyed it. More Warmth of Other Suns and the next Travis McGee today. Although I've got to go downtown for something work-related, darn it.

Hi, Mark! I think your cool, rainy weather has reached us here in eastern Pennsylvania — the birds at the feeders are a soggy bunch this morning.

Good morning, Mark! I hope you have a great day.

I'm sorry you're still having cool rainy weather. I woke up to cloudy skies. We got a lot of rain last night, might get a few more showers and then partly sunny skies.

>280 jessibud2: Shelley - I have 3 bird books, but I use that website if I'm sitting here and see a bird I don't recognize at the front porch feeder. If I can't find it then, I go to the plates in the Audubon guide I have next.

>288 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>289 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Some sunshine at the moment but the chilly wind is putting a damper on it.

Glad you liked Eggshells. I may have to pick that one up.

>290 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry. Sorry to hear you are getting our weather. We will be cool today but no rain.

Poor soggy birds. Hope you are feeding them well.

>291 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. No rain here today but we are still caught in a cool weather pattern, until early next week. Sighs...

Latest mention-worthy birding bit: A flock of bluejays had a feeding frenzy in our back yard a few days ago. There were as many as 8 at one point...I've never seen them gather like that. Apparently there was something incredibly tasty on the ground back there, as they were all pecking in the dirt. I have no idea what drew them--not bugs or worms, I don't think, because occasionally one would flit up to a branch of the lilac bush and bang away at something in its beak.

Morning, Mark!

Reading the new Elizabeth Strout, Anything is Possible. I believe you are a fan of hers. Well-done so far.

Happy Friday, Mark.

>294 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. Thanks for the bird sighting. Wow, on the 8 bluejays. That seems like a lot. I do not think I have ever seen more than a pair at a time. I wonder what the draw was?

>295 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. Yes, I am a big fan of Strout. I have requested this one from the library. Glad you are enjoying it. I have heard nothing but glowing reports.

>296 Ameise1: Happy Friday, Barb.

>92 msf59: Wow