Sunday Morning Book Thread - 12-22-2024 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]

Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading. Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material. As always, pants are required, unless you are wearing these pants...

So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, sugar those plums, and dive into a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?

LINUS EXPLAINS THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

ORIGINS OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL

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(HT: mindful webworker)

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PSEUDO-CHRISTMASES IN FICTION

Christmas has been a huge cultural touchstone of Western civilization for hundreds of years. Nowadays, it seems like it's both a religious and secular holiday, so most people in the Western world can find something to celebrate, even if they are not explicitly Christian. It's not surprising that Christmas would serve as inspiration for fictional holidays in fictional worlds because of how important it is to us in the real world.

BOOKS BY MORONS

Moron Author Celia Hayes has another book ready to go! As of this Sunday Morning Book Thread, it looks like only the Kindle version is available, but the print version should be ready soon.

West Towards the Sunset by Celia Hayes
It's the year 1846, and Sally Kettering is just twelve years old. Her parents have decided to sell their farm in rural Ohio and go west...west to California. Sally and her six-year old brother Jon must leave everything they knew—friends, kinfolk and the little town where they had lived all their lives so far. Pa and Ma Kettering packed what they could take into a single covered wagon, and they set out to follow a trail through the wilderness west, along with a party of other families and adventurers.
Unknown dangers lay around every bend of the trail...wild animals, wilder Indians...Indians who might be hostile or friendly, and no way to know for certain...treacherous river crossings, trackless deserts, and jagged, dangerous mountain passes.
And still, the Kettering family and their friends boldly set out...following the trail that led west toward the sunset!

MORON RECOMMENDATIONS

I'm home sick with a cold I caught from a grandkid: worth it. Anyway, I went to NYC for a couple of days to visit a daughter, and at the same time was rereading Tyler Anbinder's City of Dreams. This is a very good history of NYC, specifically the immigrant history. It covers the city from its inception, including the waves of Dutch, English, German, Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigration. Anbinder also covers the later waves of Hispanics, Chinese, Indians, West Indians, and Puerto Ricans, but begins to get a bit preachy and woke at that point. Still, it's well worth reading.
While in NYC, we visited the Tenement Museum, which I recommend. It was difficult not to be a know-it-all, not only because that is my natural bent, but because I knew so much about the tenement experience, having just read the book. Our guide was a lovely young Chinese woman with a PhD in history, and she really knew her stuff. The combo of the book and the real-life museum was exceptionally interesting.
Posted by: Archimedes at December 15, 2024 09:16 AM (xCA6C)

Comment: Although New York City has its problems, I don't think anyone can deny that it has shaped American culture in numerous ways since its founding. It's been a hub of immigration for well over a century, for better or worse. How many Moron families can trace their origins back to Ellis Island?

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Recommendation for Lanier's book Hiero's Journey.
I've been going through Gary Gygax's list of rec reading in his Appendix N to the DM's Guide. Obv, he had great taste. Hiero's Journey is on the list. I'd never heard of it and it was cool. Clearly the inspiration for TSR's Gamma World rpg.
As to the disaffected Catholic, I guess I would ask him to ponder what exactly the Bible should mean to a Catholic. That's an important question and interesting. He might be doing Catholicism wrong idk.
As to books? I think RA Lafferty's Past Master and William Thomas Walsh's Histories would be good. That's some powerful Catholicism in action historical and fictional. And, very profound and high level intellectually.
Posted by: Thesokorus at December 15, 2024 11:56 AM (z6Ybz)

Comment: I looked in the Appendices for my first edition AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide to see the full recommended reading list by Gary Gygax. I found it amusing that he referred to Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien as the "Ring Trilogy." Although Tolkien certainly influenced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, I would argue that other authors like Michael Moorcock, Fritz Leiber, and Robert E. Howard has a bit more influence in the final product.

More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (1000+ Moron-recommended books!)

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WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS PAST WEEK:

After reviewing some of OregonMuse's old Book Threads, I thought I'd try something a bit different. Instead of just listing WHAT I'm reading, I'll include commentary as well. Unless otherwise specified, you can interpret this as an implied recommendation, though as always your mileage may vary.

Seize the Night by Dean Koontz

Finished this book and it got progressively weirder and weirder as the story went on. Definitely see shades of Odd Thomas as well as story elements that have been recycled into other stories since this one was originally published.

Philip José Farmer's The Dungeon Volume 2 - The Dark Abyss by Bruce Coville

Philip José Farmer's The Dungeon Volume 3 - The Valley of Thunder by Charles de Lint

Philip José Farmer's The Dungeon Volume 4 - The Lake of Fire by Robin W. Bailey

Philip José Farmer's The Dungeon Volume 5 - The Hidden City by Charles de Lint

Philip José Farmer's The Dungeon Volume 6 - The Dark Abyss by Richard A. Lupoff

I reread the first book in this series--The Black Tower by Richard A. Lupoff--back in 2023. I decided that since I began 2024 by reading an epic fantasy series, I might as well end the year by reading an epic science fiction series, though I think it's much more fantasy oriented than science fiction in many ways.

In 1868, Clive Folliot, the younger son of Baron Tewkesbury of Victorian England is tasked with seeking his elder twin brother, who has disappeared while exploring Africa. As Clive follows Neville's trail, he finds himself abducted into a strange world known only as the Dungeon, where he and his otherworldy companions will struggle against impossible odds through time and space to find their way out.

It's a very weird series, as each author was given quite a bit of free rein to take the story in any direction they liked, though they did have some loose guidelines. Characters, for example, should not vary wildly between books, though there are some interesting variations as each author interprets characters in their own way. Inpsired by Philip José Farmer's own creative style of writing, the authors imbue the story with the spirit of PJF, drawing upon a wide range of literature and pop culture. It gets *very* existential towards the end as Lupoff wraps up the storylines, eventually revealing all of the mysteries that have plagued both the characters and the readers for six books. Is the series great? No, but I was entertained enough on my reread to consider it a nice way to end 2024, leading up to the next book...

The Stormlight Archive Book 5 - Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

I don't even know how to describe this book. It's 1300+ pages, and serves to close the first part of The Stormlight Archive, so most of the storylines will need to be wrapped up in the end. Fortunately, Sanderson *excels* at providing readers with a satisfying conclusion, and he'll leave enough loose threads that will be taken up in the next part of the series, which is expected to take place thousands of years in the future of the world of Roshar. It took Sanderson around 15-16 years to finish just this first part of the series. I expect him to take another 15 years or so to finish the next five books, assuming he doesn't get distracted by other projects.

PREVIOUS SUNDAY MORNING BOOK THREAD - 12-15-2024 (NOTE: Do NOT comment on old threads!)

Tips, suggestions, recommendations, etc., can all be directed to perfessor -dot- squirrel -at- gmail -dot- com.

Disclaimer: No Morons were physically harmed in the making of this Sunday Morning Book Thread. "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Tolle Lege

Posted by: Skip at December 22, 2024 08:59 AM (fwDg9)

2 We interrupt this Sunday Morning Book Thread with an important Sunday Morning Book Thread update.

I'm around 200 pages into Wind and Truth with only 1100+ pages to go.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Sunday Morning Book Thread tomfoolery.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 22, 2024 09:01 AM (BpYfr)

3 My wife is reading Martin Gilbert's Churchill, a Life in which I only got 1/2 before it was taken so
Any suggestions?

Posted by: Skip at December 22, 2024 09:01 AM (fwDg9)

4 Top 5?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 09:02 AM (omVj0)

5 Books, man.

Posted by: blaster at December 22, 2024 09:05 AM (QfvaV)

6 I don't think it spoils anything to say that "The Weed Agency" is thriving like kudzu after three decades of story time (1980-2012, when the book was published). Infuriates us who want government spending slashed. But, to paraphrase Pogo, "The enemy is us." Even middle America likes the smell of pork.

Jim Geraghty uses footnotes to give real-life examples of events in the book, such as Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott telling ax-wielding senators: "I've got an election coming up. After that we can have good government." However, other plot turns that lack footnotes make me think that he also drew from other events, making the book a roman a clef. It's a good tale, but I won't reread it. So away it goes.

******

My family is here, so I don't think I'll participate much today. But I will wish all of the Horde an enjoyable Christmas! (Why have we reserved making merry for only this holiday?)

Posted by: Weak Geek at December 22, 2024 09:06 AM (p/isN)

7 My wife is reading Martin Gilbert's Churchill, a Life in which I only got 1/2 before it was taken so
Any suggestions?
Posted by: Skip at December 22, 2024 09:01 AM (fwDg9)
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Churchill's The Second World War. Give spoilers to your wife.

"His career isn't over!"

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:06 AM (ZOv7s)

8 Tolle the Lege....reading ISANA.... excellent!!!

Posted by: qmark at December 22, 2024 09:08 AM (+t9Oi)

9 Morning, Book Folken!

This week I finished a re-read of Agatha Christie's 1957 Miss Marple outing, What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw! (No, it's not about Lucy Ricardo before she got married.) I read it many years ago and was astonished by the revelation of the murderer -- Agatha had me liking the person quite a bit before the finale.

What turned me off this time around was not that I recalled the murderer's identity. That was neat, to see how the author concealed it and yet planted clues. It was that, after the revelation, Miss M. does not indicate *how* she knew the right person. I don't need a multi-page explanation as in early Ellery Queen, now, but I need something to show me the detective did not merely *guess.* It's supposed to be a rational process, or at least there needs to be something that brings the detective's attention to the culprit. Agatha wound this story up so fast that I felt a little cheated -- something that doesn't happen when I read her earlier tales.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 09:09 AM (omVj0)

10 Reading the Durants' "The Age of Napoleon." Still chopping off heads after the Revolution. Patience!

I'm overdue on 3 prior book reports.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 22, 2024 09:09 AM (jIIXc)

11 I was reading say nothing which they based the hulu series about the price sisters who areva window into the ira in the 70s and 80s the series makes them heroines for their part in thr first bombing of london in 73 but the book makes them victims of gerry adams as much as thr British

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 22, 2024 09:09 AM (dJR17)

12 My wife is reading Martin Gilbert's Churchill, a Life in which I only got 1/2 before it was taken so
Any suggestions?
Posted by: Skip

She has to sleep sometime....

Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 22, 2024 09:09 AM (XZ9JA)

13 Who turns out to be quite a bastard

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 22, 2024 09:09 AM (dJR17)

14 I've made little progress on Gilbert due to holiday distractions and various other minor crises. Lots of open space ahead of me, though.

Regarding Christmas, I have confirmed through multiple people that "Merry Christmas" is now the default greeting. I'm hearing it everywhere, and if someone says "happy holidays," and I reply with "merry Christmas" they enthusiastically say this to me, even at work.

The culture has shifted.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:10 AM (ZOv7s)

15 Thanks for the link, Perfessor! I must finish up another book series (the Luna City Chronicles) but I have every intention of following up West Towards the Sunset with another three books, following the lives of the Kettering children in the far Wild West - each book focusing on the adventures of a Kettering sibling as a tween or teen. I want the characters to be relatable to the same audience who loved the Harry Potter series - young and adult readers both!

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at December 22, 2024 09:10 AM (Ew3fm)

16 And I too need to leave in a bit to hit the grocery stores. Yes, plural; there are some things Aldi has that WM doesn't, and vice versa. But I'll hang on for a while; this is my favorite thread on AoSHQ.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 09:11 AM (omVj0)

17 There was a miami vice episode where a young liam neeson played a character like adams a suave statesman type who comes to miami to take out the Concord

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 22, 2024 09:11 AM (dJR17)

18 The Bible opened to the gospel of Luke brings to mind Taylor Caldwell's wonderful novel , "Dear and Glorious Physician". May have to go back and reread. It's been a while.

Posted by: Tuna at December 22, 2024 09:13 AM (oaGWv)

19 Durants' Age of Napoleon was my first venture into that series, picked up a couple volumes before and after but regret not grabbing the entire series for peanuts when I could have.
Talk about 1000 page tomes

Posted by: Skip at December 22, 2024 09:13 AM (fwDg9)

20 Who turns out to be quite a bastard
Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 22, 2024 09:09 AM (dJR17)
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Other than the fact that they were always amoral scum, can someone explain why Sinn Fein has gone from champions of a United Ireland to a bunch of Catholic-hating Marxists? They're more Protestant than the Ulstermen at this point.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:13 AM (ZOv7s)

21 I don't think it spoils anything to say that "The Weed Agency" is thriving like kudzu after three decades of story time (1980-2012, when the book was published).

I think I have that on Kindle from way back when I was semi-actively supporting NRO writers (pre-TDS). I remember starting it and dropping it, which is not unusual for me and does not reflect on the quality of the book. My all-time favorite SF, Neuromancer took me three tries. Maybe I'll load it up to the phone before the holiday road trip and give it another shot.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 09:13 AM (/y8xj)

22 Finished Wind and Truth by Sanderson.

I like how he did the prologue from Gavilar's perspective.

The book is well written and the story engaging, but the traditional Sanderson 'reveal that changes *everything*' just didn't hit me the same way. A lot of questions were answered, but I didn't say "wow" like I have with previous books.
Sanderson has always done a great job of wrapping up each novel and not leaving a cliffhanger. Oddly enough, this one felt more cliffhangerish due to the situation at least one of the people was left in. Which is a problem if the next arc picks up much later in time.
My main problem with the book, and why I'm considering never buying another Sanderson will be in my next comment.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 22, 2024 09:13 AM (lFFaq)

23 Morning, Perfessor.

Howdy, Horde.

Just saw the notice in a previous thread that Barry Malzberg passed away on Dec. 19. If I were a drinking man, I'd pour a big one in his memory.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 09:14 AM (q3u5l)

24 Booken morgen horden!

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 22, 2024 09:14 AM (0JWOm)

25 There was a miami vice episode where a young liam neeson played a character like adams a suave statesman type who comes to miami to take out the Concord
Posted by: Miguel cervantes at December 22, 2024 09:11 AM (dJR17)
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Episode 1, season 3 if I recall correctly. That was the hinge point between the show being hip and fun going dark and stupid.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:14 AM (ZOv7s)

26 Just saw the notice in a previous thread that Barry Malzberg passed away on Dec. 19. If I were a drinking man, I'd pour a big one in his memory.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 09:14 AM (q3u5l)
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I guess you could give your IV an extra squeeze.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:15 AM (ZOv7s)

27 I finished Snow in the Kingdom: My Storm Years on Everest by Ed webster. Honestly, this is my favorite on yet. He starts by telling of the climbing deathof his girlfriend, Lauren, who died in his arms after a fall. He was invited to join a small expedition in 1985 to climb Everest via a new route. And they did it without oxygen. The photos are stunning. That's good because he lost the ends of his fingers to frostbite taking pictures.

Even people that know nothing of climbing can recognize Ed is an expert. On the trip to the summit, one climber has to turn back and choses to go down alone. Ed gets close but starts to hallucinate. He heads back down, leaving the other two to summit. Ed's failure leaves him with enough energy to save all their lives and get back to camp. And the one that went down alone is able to help them recover. It's a great adventure, well told and interesting. I will likely get another book by him because he just writes so well.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 22, 2024 09:16 AM (NQtI0)

28 Book nerds!

Posted by: Ogre at December 22, 2024 09:16 AM (aDGUY)

29 I don't need a multi-page explanation as in early Ellery Queen, now, but I need something to show me the detective did not merely *guess.* It's supposed to be a rational process, or at least there needs to be something that brings the detective's attention to the culprit.

If we're honest about it, a lot of Sherlock Holmes's famous "deductions" were lucky guesses. You read his explanations and go "Yeah, that could happen but you're not giving me any reason to think it did."

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 09:17 AM (/y8xj)

30 I think I have that on Kindle from way back when I was semi-actively supporting NRO writers (pre-TDS). I remember starting it and dropping it, which is not unusual for me and does not reflect on the quality of the book. My all-time favorite SF, Neuromancer took me three tries. Maybe I'll load it up to the phone before the holiday road trip and give it another shot.
Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 09:13 AM (/y8xj)
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Even when I visited the site daily and a friend gave me second-hand copies of the magazine, I never bought any of the books because I didn't consider any of the writers there to be that good.

Short-form opinion pieces are not the same as books, and I was never that impressed, so when everyone was raving about Liberal Fascism I took a hard pass, and I'm quite happy about that, since it's now obvious that Goldberg not only didn't write it, he also didn't read it.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:18 AM (ZOv7s)

31 S.J.Morden's "No Way" continues where "One Way" left off, with builder/convict Frank Kittridge stranded on Mars by the greedy corporation tasked with constructing the first Mars base. They told the world it was built by one human overseer and a group of robots, but in fact it was made by convicts promised a trip home and a commutation for a job well done. All lies. They were an expendable resource. But Frank survived, and now the NASA team has arrived to take over the habitat. Frank has to pretend to be the overseer and make sure the astronauts are safe, because there is another, illegal base planted by the corporation and left without sufficient resources, and their desperate denizens are making murderous raids against the new crew.

I really enjoyed this duology, which is a hybrid of near future hard SF, crime thriller, and survival story.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Agent of Chaos at December 22, 2024 09:18 AM (kpS4V)

32 Good Sunday morning, horde!

I read some good stuff this week. Fare included "When We Were Lost," by Kevin Wignall. In this, a group of high school students set off on an eco-tour to Costa Rica. Tom, an anti-social kind of guy, had no interest in going but was forced onto the roster by his guardian, who had plans of her own.

The plane crashed, and this is where the story is good. All of the things those kids were before the crash, are meaningless now. Their social hierarchies are completely rearranged as the kids find out what they're made of when SHTF. Some of the quiet kids who no one ever paid any attention to, or bothered to like, have skills that the rest of them need, and they are all forced to re-examine each others' worth.

I don't think this is written for the YA market, but if you're looking for a good book for teens, I'd recommend it. It's a great adventure, survival story, and drama.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at December 22, 2024 09:18 AM (OX9vb)

33 A.H. --

Not hooked up to an IV yet, or I'd consider it. Next week maybe...

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 09:18 AM (q3u5l)

34 I don't need a multi-page explanation as in early Ellery Queen, now, but I need something to show me the detective did not merely *guess.* It's supposed to be a rational process, or at least there needs to be something that brings the detective's attention to the culprit.

If we're honest about it, a lot of Sherlock Holmes's famous "deductions" were lucky guesses. You read his explanations and go "Yeah, that could happen but you're not giving me any reason to think it did."
Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024

***
True. As Chandler said, "Holmes was mostly a few lines of unforgettable dialogue and an attitude." Which is why in the last analysis I prefer EQ or John Dickson Carr, or Christie's earlier stories.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 09:20 AM (omVj0)

35 Not hooked up to an IV yet, or I'd consider it. Next week maybe...
Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 09:18 AM (q3u5l)
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Libations don't have to be alcoholic. I didn't really start drinking until I was in my mid-20s, so "pouring one out" often meant iced tea.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:21 AM (ZOv7s)

36 ...since it's now obvious that Goldberg not only didn't write it, he also didn't read it.

Yeah but he totally originated that line about "gas station sushi" and he's gonna try to coast on it the rest of his life. Actually, I don't know that the first part of that sentence is true but the second part definitely is.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 09:22 AM (/y8xj)

37 Brilliant choice for top photo, Perfesser!
Snd since the Bible is actually a library unto itself, still fits the theme.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 22, 2024 09:23 AM (Wx316)

38 Also reread Beck Weathers Left for Dead. Still don't like the guy. He's the one left for dead twice during the 1996 disaster. The focus really is on how climbing hurt his family and how he recovered after that climb.

I have Galen Rowell's In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods to read, but am reading Wade Davis' Into the Silence about Mallory and Irving. The WWI parts are horrific. I've learned that I need to go back through these books and make notes. This started out as just some unorganized reading. It's hard to quickly find details on these climbs without digging back through the book. I have no idea why I am finding this interesting.

Posted by: I have Notsothoreau at December 22, 2024 09:24 AM (NQtI0)

39
I've made little progress on Gilbert due to holiday distractions and various other minor crises.

________

Try some Sullivan instead.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 22, 2024 09:24 AM (S/1Nz)

40 ln his book Parting The Desert, Zachary Karabell tells the story of an engineering feat that changed the world. At a little over 100 miles long, a piece of Egyptian desert was transformed into the most heavily trafficked waterway in the world. Ferdinand de Lessops began digging the Suez Canal in 1854, a sea level canal that enabled ships to cut thousands of miles from the trip between the East and the West. It is still a dominant sea route to this day.

De Lessops made a deal with Said Pasha and began his dig while the Crimean War was raging. Egypt longed to restore the greatness it had known in the time of the Pharaohs, and this route through their country would revolutionize commerce, becoming the primary trade route for shipping. Fifteen years of labor would follow, and England and France would bicker over the canal and over Egypt itself for years to come. It wasn't until 1956 that Egypt would fight to actually posess this great waterway, and signal the first blow against western hegemony in the region.

While de Lessops would come to ruin trying to replicate his feat in Panama, his Suez Canal is a lasting tribute to his vision, and is still a vital route for trade today.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 22, 2024 09:25 AM (XZ9JA)

41 Thanks for the reminder to dig up "The Father Christmas Letters", Perf.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Agent of Chaos at December 22, 2024 09:25 AM (kpS4V)

42 Yeah but he totally originated that line about "gas station sushi" and he's gonna try to coast on it the rest of his life. Actually, I don't know that the first part of that sentence is true but the second part definitely is.
Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 09:22 AM (/y8xj)
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His mother was big into publishing and a professional ghost writer. Goldberg did write a few articles kicking around the concept of Liberal Fascism, but none of it was original, yet he acted like he had discovered a new planet or something.

There are considerable differences in writing genres, and people who excel in one format (opinion journalism) may suck rocks at long-form fiction or non-fiction (and vice-versa). It has therefore long been surmised that he came up with the topic, and mom put it together for him, but he was never all that into the topic.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:28 AM (ZOv7s)

43 "Vodka Politics" by Mark Lawrence Schrad isn't just a study of Russia's relationship with alcohol but a great trip through Russia's history. Big thumbs up.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Agent of Chaos at December 22, 2024 09:28 AM (kpS4V)

44 The most telling point is Goldberg's subsequent lack of interest in the topic. It is by now pretty much axiomatic that if someone on the thread brings up a topic near and dear to a Moron author, and that author is present, they will pounce on the topic like a starving lion.

The fastest response time recorded on this site is someone saying something tangentially related to the Spanish Civil War and me commenting on it.

Goldberg doesn't care because it was a vanity project to boost his credentials, which is his real passion. He holds the Assman Chair, you know. Doesn't have a masters or phd, but he does have a chair.

But he won't defend his work, even when it became super-relevant.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:30 AM (ZOv7s)

45 So that's where my cursor went!

I do have a question. I am buying some of these books for Kindle. It's easier to read as the devices are lighter and I can pick up on the tablet too. But I'm getting into books that I have to buy used. Some are out of print. Twice, I've found first editions signed by the author. If there's not a big difference in price, I buy those. I don't really expect these to be collectors items but it just feels nice to have a signed copy. Should I just buy the cheapest?

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 22, 2024 09:32 AM (NQtI0)

46 For those who wanted a final fifth book ("Dominance") in John Van Stry's "Dan's Inferno" series have four days left to donate to the Kickstarter. It's at 64% of the way to being funded after two months of being up. If it fails to fund, he won't be writing the book and he's firm on that.

Remember the pledge drive at the end of Weird Al Yankovic's movie "UHF" where Stanley Spadowski urges people to donate?

"Okay, I know a lot of you people probably like to wait till the last minute. Well this is it! This is the last minute!"

Here's the URL:
https://tinyurl.com/ynjwj57r

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 22, 2024 09:32 AM (O7YUW)

47 There are two main issues. One, Sanderson now owns his own publishing house and is not forced to do "representation", yet he has an Azish woman who informs Adolin she has 'papers to live as a man' and the pronouns used for her instantly change. When she shows up later she is referred to by her job, and then as " he".
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!

Worse, from my point of view, he put Renarin and Rlain in a homosexual relationship when there was the foundation to show a deep, loyal, and affectionate platonic friendship. It made me realize *no one* writes deep platonic friendships anymore. It's no wonder young people don't believe they exist. It wouldn't have changed much in how the story was written and could have made a difference in the life choices of some readers.
Finding he failed CS Lewis' friendship test was disenheartening for someone I consider to be one of, possibly the, greatest fiction writers of the modern era.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 22, 2024 09:32 AM (lFFaq)

48
Because I had to leave Mass because the pain was so bad, I came in to the emergency center in my church clothes: coat, tie, tie tack, confraternity pin. They asked, "Were you at church?" I replied, "Doesn't everyone come to ER dressed like this?"

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 22, 2024 09:34 AM (S/1Nz)

49 Good morning fellow Book Threadists. I hope everyone had a great week of reading.

Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024 09:35 AM (yTvNw)

50 I don't really expect these to be collectors items but it just feels nice to have a signed copy. Should I just buy the cheapest?

Just IMO, but if it's fiction and a true first, I would spring a little extra for the signed copy. "It just feels nice" is reason enough as long as we're not talking rent money. For non-fiction, where all I care about is the content, I probably wouldn't unless it's somebody prominent in the field.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 09:35 AM (/y8xj)

51 I've read Durant's 'Caesar and Christ'. Very interesting writing style by the author in explaining what had happened in ancient Rome.

Posted by: dantesed at December 22, 2024 09:36 AM (Oy/m2)

52 It made me realize *no one* writes deep platonic friendships anymore. It's no wonder young people don't believe they exist. It wouldn't have changed much in how the story was written and could have made a difference in the life choices of some readers.
Finding he failed CS Lewis' friendship test was disenheartening for someone I consider to be one of, possibly the, greatest fiction writers of the modern era.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 22, 2024 09:32 AM (lFFaq)
---
I think this isn't ideological so much as writing what they know. I think a lot of people have become shut-ins and isolated, living only a social media and physical proximity to another human they like instantly fires up their sex drive. Probably related to pron addiction, in which everything becomes sexualized.

In the absence of an emotional bond, there is only a physical, mechanical relationship, which eventually fades into awkwardness.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:36 AM (ZOv7s)

53 Thank you Perfessor and good morning to the Horde.

Posted by: TRex at December 22, 2024 09:37 AM (9tvFd)

54 Because I had to leave Mass because the pain was so bad, I came in to the emergency center in my church clothes: coat, tie, tie tack, confraternity pin. They asked, "Were you at church?" I replied, "Doesn't everyone come to ER dressed like this?"
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 22, 2024 09:34 AM (S/1Nz)
---
You shall be included in my prayers when I go later this morning. Hope you feel better.

I used to wear a suit, but that was before we switched to the college parish. I'm more 'business casual' mode now, but we'll all get spruced up for the Vigil Mass on Tuesday.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:39 AM (ZOv7s)

55 These are non-fiction, climbing books. Since there were interesting climbs done by Brits and Aussies, I'm having to order some from those countries. I think there was a $20 difference in the Michael Groom book, between signed and unsigned. I'd never considered it because I don't run across many books signed by the author. I've got one signed by Chuck Colson somewhere.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 22, 2024 09:40 AM (NQtI0)

56 Happy Christmas Eve-eve-eve morning to everyone. Our first set of out-of-town guests came in yesterday and we are already overeating.

This week I finished up a re-read of Lexicon by Max Barry. I am very impresses with Barry and will read anything he writes.

Lexicon I think is his best work, and might be of particular interest to SMBT aficionados. The plot device is that there are a group of 'poets' in society that have developed words that allow them to control people, once they have segmented you. And that segmentation is possible by you voluntarily answering a few questions, like the ones you might see in a Facebook quizlet. Brings in the Babel events and a few other interesting elements. Good characters, lots of action, interesting weaving of sub-plots, and twists. Highly recommended.

Posted by: Candidus at December 22, 2024 09:41 AM (FW1NF)

57 Tolle the Lege....reading ISANA.... excellent!!!

Posted by: qmark at December 22, 2024 09:08 AM (+t9Oi)

Yep.

Fun read, isn't it?

Posted by: naturalfake at December 22, 2024 09:42 AM (iJfKG)

58 There are two main issues. One, Sanderson now owns his own publishing house and is not forced to do "representation", yet he has an Azish woman who informs Adolin she has 'papers to live as a man' and the pronouns used for her instantly change. When she shows up later she is referred to by her job, and then as " he".
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!

Worse, from my point of view, he put Renarin and Rlain in a homosexual relationship when there was the foundation to show a deep, loyal, and affectionate platonic friendship. It made me realize *no one* writes deep platonic friendships anymore. It's no wonder young people don't believe they exist. It wouldn't have changed much in how the story was written and could have made a difference in the life choices of some readers.
Finding he failed CS Lewis' friendship test was disenheartening for someone I consider to be one of, possibly the, greatest fiction writers of the modern era.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 22, 2024 09:32 AM (lFFaq)
---
I agree that the wokeness inserted into Wind and Truth (and to a lesser extent in Rhythm of War) detracts from the story. It was completely unnecessary. Nothing would be lost by taking it out.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 22, 2024 09:42 AM (zP09t)

59 It does feel nice to have a signed copy, and I have/had quite a few over the years. As Oddbob said, "feels nice" is reason enough.

I'm starting to think about what I'll need to do with some of them, though. A few would be collector's items and if my daughter doesn't want them, I'll have to find them homes or interested buyers rather than have them wind up in a landfill. 75 now, and I don't look for anything signed any more unless it's by a lifelong favorite.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 09:43 AM (q3u5l)

60 Sanderson is ridiculously prolific.
I flinched at reading Stormlight just from the length of it.

I have A Christmas Carol read by Tim Curry on audiobook.

I have a Judge Dredd year one omnibus. Dredd sounds like Lego Batman, so I laughed when he talked to his computer.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at December 22, 2024 09:45 AM (lhenN)

61 My guilty pleasure this week is a Forgotten Realms fantasy, "Azure Bonds", in which a sword-for-hire wakes up in a dubious public house with a series of strange, twisting blue sigils tattooed on her slashing arm. She has no idea how she got there or when the designs were put on her. The tattoo reacts to any magical probing, and her sword arm seems to have a mind of its own around some people.

It's a very "team of oddballs go on a D&D-style quest" type of adventure, and it takes me back.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Agent of Chaos at December 22, 2024 09:45 AM (kpS4V)

62 I agree that the wokeness inserted into Wind and Truth (and to a lesser extent in Rhythm of War) detracts from the story. It was completely unnecessary. Nothing would be lost by taking it out.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 22, 2024 09:42 AM (zP09t)
---
That is another aspect - its just inserted, but has no impact on the story and is only there to check a box.

The fact is that these kinds of relationships do matter, and once one moves from friendship to sex partners, new elements emerge, like suspicion and jealousy. These are almost always left out, because of course ghey relationships are the pinnacle of the human experience.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:46 AM (ZOv7s)

63
You shall be included in my prayers when I go later this morning. Hope you feel better.

________

Thanks. I've been EKGd, X-rayed, pilled and shot. Waiting on results. It's been getting progressively worse for the last five days.

I thought it was a pinched nerve, but a deep-muscle massage didn't help. I've tried every stretching exercise but they haven't helped.

I went to church this morning but my shoulder started to hurt so badly that I couldn't say the responses during the Rosary. I'm losing sensation in my arm and hand. At that point I threw in the towel, left even before Mass started and drove to the ER.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 22, 2024 09:47 AM (S/1Nz)

64 The fact is that these kinds of relationships do matter, and once one moves from friendship to sex partners, new elements emerge, like suspicion and jealousy. These are almost always left out, because of course ghey relationships are the pinnacle of the human experience.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:46 AM (ZOv7s)
---
This is actually brought up between two characters in a normal heterosexual relationship. Jasnah (woman) struggles to deal with changes in her relationship with Wit (man) once they begin sleeping together.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 22, 2024 09:48 AM (zP09t)

65 My guilty pleasure this week is a Forgotten Realms fantasy, "Azure Bonds", in which a sword-for-hire wakes up in a dubious public house with a series of strange, twisting blue sigils tattooed on her slashing arm. She has no idea how she got there or when the designs were put on her. The tattoo reacts to any magical probing, and her sword arm seems to have a mind of its own around some people.

It's a very "team of oddballs go on a D&D-style quest" type of adventure, and it takes me back.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Agent of Chaos at December 22, 2024 09:45 AM (kpS4V)
----
I enjoyed that novel. It's a fun read, if you like Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. It's one of the better ones.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 22, 2024 09:54 AM (zP09t)

66 Finished rereadingBullard of the Space Patrol. Highly entertaining and a great comfort read.

I can see riffing on this story arc to tell of a rise of a US naval officer in the 2023- 2053 timeline.

My twist will be how he uses the evaluation system to overpraise the DEI sailors, and get them transferred shore side. His merit based division excels. And he starts his rise in the service.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 22, 2024 09:55 AM (u82oZ)

67 Lately, most of my reading has been focussing on the approaching holiday: Advent, Christmas, and the millenia of traditions that have formed the season. It's enjoyable reading the leads to reflection and fond memories.

- A Golden Christmas by William Gilmore Simms. The holiday in Charleston, SC circa 1850. Revealing, plenty of pleasant humor, and Simms' writing is always superb. This has become an annual read.
-Winter Fire A devotional for Advent through 12th Night from Chesterton's essays on the season and how it applies to the present.
-The George MacDonald Christmas Collection edited by David Jack. Excerpts from several of MacDonald's novels with his usual insights into the time and the people.
- An Expression of Character: the Letters of George MacDonald

Of course, these things lead to rabbit holes to numerous to mention here. And these seasonal readings have whetted my desire to read more of Chesterton and MacDonald but that is a years long process.

Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024 09:57 AM (yTvNw)

68 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 09:46 AM (ZOv7s)

It is also an issue for me because Renarin is already "autistic coded" and there is *such* a push to make sure autistic people don't reproduce. Also, autistic people are more likely to align their life choices to those they see in fiction with no understanding of the negative side of that. This means *real* people may well be encouraged to make seriously harmful decisions because Sanderson didn't bother to put in the extra effort of writing an actual friendship.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 22, 2024 09:58 AM (lFFaq)

69 I also finished Bone Wars: The Excavation and Celebrity of Andrew Carnegie's Dinosaur.

The late 1880's was a time of great discovery in paleontology. Rough men were finding and digging dinosaur bones out of the earth, competing over claims, and fighting to have the first and best specimens.

Andrew Carnegie got into the mix with his millions, and hired a succession of men to find and dig the fossils, and manage his museums.

The discovery of these and other fossils, on multiple continents, led to greater understanding of plate tectonics and geological events. I hadn't realized that the Pangea theory wasn't really accepted until the 1960s.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at December 22, 2024 09:58 AM (OX9vb)

70 Again rereading JF Stephen's Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, which contains this wonderful mashup of Thomas Carlyle and Shakespeare:

Thus, like a God-created, fire-breathing-spirit host, we emerge from the inane, haste stormfully across the astonished earth, then plunge again into the inane. Earth’s mountains are levelled, and her seas filled up in our passage. Can the earth, which is but dead and a vision, resist spirits which have reality and are alive? On the hardest adamant some footprint of us is stamped in. The last rear of the host will read traces of the earliest van. But whence? Oh, Heaven? whither? Sense knows not, faith knows not, only that it is through mystery to mystery, from God and to God.

We are such stuff
As dreams are made of, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 22, 2024 09:59 AM (Dm8we)

71 We're trying out a new AI AoSHQ Book Thread pants checker today.

We hope to add the leopard-skin print onesie detection capability in the near future.

Posted by: Bob from NSA at December 22, 2024 10:04 AM (a3Q+t)

72
While Her Majesty was getting her nails done this last week, I sat in B&N reading Challenger by Adam Higgenbotham. Dear heavens, what a mess. Sure, NASA was cut back in the 70s, but instead of being smaller and more professional, they went slack and sloppy, just like today.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 22, 2024 10:05 AM (S/1Nz)

73 Oh! Mr D is up and ready to go. Last minute Christmas and grocery shopping. Later, horde!

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at December 22, 2024 10:05 AM (OX9vb)

74 This is actually brought up between two characters in a normal heterosexual relationship. Jasnah (woman) struggles to deal with changes in her relationship with Wit (man) once they begin sleeping together.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 22, 2024 09:48 AM (zP09t)
---
There are tons of examples of this in popular entertainment. Romantic tension builds and builds, but the moment the affair is consummated, the air goes out of the plot. "Remington Steele," "Moonlighting," etc.

It's weird that there is a uniform cultural need to pretend that with same-sex people there isn't a similar dynamic.

I actually think some of this is finally leaking out. "Agatha All Along" was a tour de force of dysfunctional same-sex relationships. Not sure if it was intended.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 10:08 AM (ZOv7s)

75
*polite cough*
I've been making this season relevant for over 2000 years.

Posted by: Easter at December 22, 2024 10:08 AM (dg+HA)

76 3
'My wife is reading Martin Gilbert's Churchill, a Life in which I only got 1/2 before it was taken so
Any suggestions?'

Is she bigger than you? If yes, you'll just have to wait.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 22, 2024 10:10 AM (3wi/L)

77 I took out a book from the NEW FICTION table at the library, titled "Worst Case Scenario," by T.J. Newman.

It starts in an airliner, all seats filled, about 300 on board, the pilot dies in an instant from a heart attack, slumps onto the yoke, and the plane dives. All the gratuitous bad things happen. The airplane falls apart when descending, fuse in two, one wing rips off, engines come loose, the debris field is a half mile diameter.

But the big parts hit a nuclear power plant about 35 miles NW of Minneapolis.

So now it becomes a sort of Chernobyl story, a potential extinction-level thing, an eternal nuclear fire, blah blah blah.

But there's a lady hero. She knows all about nukes. There are sixteen hours left and if things can't be stopped by then it's all over for everybody.

Chapter after chapter rolls on in which people with names but no character do things and talk to each other.

By about chapter 5 I wondered "how can this b.s. go on," so I just flipped fast through the pages and saw the repetitive step by step we're all gonna die but wait here's a knob we can turn . . .

And at the end, with a sigh of relief, she saves the day.

Posted by: Mr Gaga at December 22, 2024 10:12 AM (KiBMU)

78 The discovery of these and other fossils, on multiple continents, led to greater understanding of plate tectonics and geological events. I hadn't realized that the Pangea theory wasn't really accepted until the 1960s.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at December 22, 2024 09:58 AM (OX9vb)
---
Oh yeah? My 1970s dinosaur books blame their extinction on gradual climate change. The earth is always changing, you see...

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 10:12 AM (ZOv7s)

79 A short note on writing and how fast culture can change. In early 2021, I wrote the plot outline for a satirical novel about a slacker Airman who decides to impersonate a sexual minority to get preferential treatment and what starts as an offhand joke ends with him forced into the tranny lifestyle.

Very much in the vein of Evelyn Waugh, with absurdity after absurdity. I read it to a few people, they laughed, but family stuff and life etc., no work happened.

And now it's completely out of date. I mean it could be a "hey, remember when we were all nuts?" story, but the cultural moment is passing.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 10:15 AM (ZOv7s)

80 Dr Claw - No

Posted by: Skip at December 22, 2024 10:16 AM (fwDg9)

81 This week I read a collection of nonfiction articles by Avram Davidson: Crimes and Chaos. It's from a small press, and you can tell -- the cover is there to keep the pages together and that's about it.

The articles are good, a mix of true-crime pieces, disasters, and some neglected history. The crimes and disasters are all fairly well-known: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, General Slocum steamship fire, Jack the Ripper, Al Capone. There is a fun one about the Prohibition-era beer flood in Yonkers.

I don't know where these articles originally ran, but they're a lot more straightforward and terse than Davidson's "Adventures in Unhistory" and other investigations. Still, I've yet to find anything by Davidson that wasn't at least good, and this definitely qualifies.

Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 10:17 AM (78a2H)

82 20
'why Sinn Fein has gone from champions of a United Ireland to a bunch of Catholic-hating Marxists'

Because they were always
leftists more than Irishmen and leftist Irishmen way more than Catholic.
Now, they're delivering leftism to every aspect of Irish life.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 22, 2024 10:19 AM (3wi/L)

83 Hey, I like books as much as the next guy, but

Posted by: Don Black at December 22, 2024 10:19 AM (/7KEl)

84 *polite cough*
I've been making this season relevant for over 2000 years.
Posted by: Easter at December 22, 2024 10:08 AM (dg+HA)

What the...?

Easter, I thought you were cool. You used to be cool, man.

But, you've just turned into a tiresome nag. Did you gain 300lbs and dye your hair blue, get a couple of nose rings?

It's not like nobody knows your significance, buuuut it's not your time yet. So...you know, go dye some eggs.

Time for joy and celebration!

Posted by: naturalfake at December 22, 2024 10:21 AM (iJfKG)

85 By about chapter 5 I wondered "how can this b.s. go on," so I just flipped fast through the pages and saw the repetitive step by step we're all gonna die but wait here's a knob we can turn . . .

And at the end, with a sigh of relief, she saves the day.

I think I see a "made for TV" movie deal in someone's future. Maybe even a mini-series.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 10:21 AM (/y8xj)

86 81- Check out Leo Katz, Bad Acts and Guilty Minds.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 22, 2024 10:21 AM (Dm8we)

87 Thanks to CBD's art thread, I learned about the paintings of Carl Larsson, which are always a pleasure to view. I often thumb through a book of his works. That led to an interest in the man and his family. I found an affordable hardcover of "Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style". Part biography, part art technique, and why and how this husband and wife team developed a style that defined a Scandi style that holds over a hundred years later. All this while raising their eight children. Karin was a superb artist in her own right as well as an excellent designer of furniture, clothes, and home decor. Their combined look was a major influence on Ikea.

I enjoy reading about these family collaborations and the creativity they produce. Other husband and wife teams that I've enjoyed reading about include Lee and Joan Wulff (fly fishing) and Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman (bird watching). The topics may not be world changing but they make for pleasant reading about positive activities. The interplay of their marriages seems to make their enthusiasm for the subjects greater and more enjoyable to read.

Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024 10:23 AM (yTvNw)

88 I'm visiting family this weekend, an early Christmas because today's the only day the whole family can gather, so I don't know how much I'll actually be able to read or contribute to the thread. So, a pre-emptive Merry Christmas everyone!

Posted by: Castle Guy at December 22, 2024 10:24 AM (0UoT+)

89 Should I just buy the cheapest?
Posted by: Notsothoreau

IMO buy the one that is in better shape and likely to last longer (hardbound instead of mass market pb)

Equivalent books, why not the autographed copy if it's not hideously expensive.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 22, 2024 10:26 AM (GDrd7)

90 Good morning morons and thank you perfesser

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 10:26 AM (RIvkX)

91 After reading four books in the First Contact series I have quit. While they have some interesting story ideas, in three books, the bad guy is a conservative. EVs are great, global warming is real, progressive thinking is proper, and conservatives are bad.
Screw it. There are plenty more books on the shelves.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 22, 2024 10:28 AM (W/lyH)

92 Good morning morons

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 10:26 AM (RIvkX)
-

Morning. Pfffft!!!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 22, 2024 10:29 AM (jIIXc)

93 Good morning all.
I read another Spenser mystery this week, Hugger Mugger. Spenser is hired by the owner of an elite stable after several of his horses are shot, injuring 2 and killing one. The stable has a two year old racing prodigy that they are worried is next so hires Spencer to find out who is doing it. He has a security group guarding the horse but obviously not doing the job. It is a good mystery with an ending that feels a little like an Agatha Christie.
I have a question about Parker.
Cont

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 10:29 AM (t/2Uw)

94 Because I had to leave Mass because the pain was so bad, I came in to the emergency center in my church clothes: coat, tie, tie tack, confraternity pin. They asked, "Were you at church?" I replied, "Doesn't everyone come to ER dressed like this?"
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

Hadrian, I will add you to my prayer to the Archangel Raphael, Heavenly doctor, today.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 22, 2024 10:30 AM (GDrd7)

95 After having read several of Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa murder mystery series many years ago, I stopped reading them primarily because his depiction of slavery did not seem accurate to me. But a year or so ago, I read his The Triumph of Caesar and quite liked it. So I read The Judgment of Caesar, A Mist of Prophecy, and, this week, Rubicon enjoying them all. I think, the opposite of what often occurs, Saylor got better as he went along particularly in regard to his Agatha Christie like revelation of the killer. In Rubicon, for example, it is a total surprise when the most likely /least likely murderer is, in fact, the murderer. Now I'll read Last Seen in Massilia and, I believe, I'll have read them all.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 10:30 AM (L/fGl)

96 Just recently, I read about a tribe of murderous, carnivorous squirrels that hunt and devour voles for sustenance.

I thought pimping was bad enough, now we have a killer, meat-eating COB for our book thread host.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at December 22, 2024 10:30 AM (/MR36)

97 By about chapter 5 I wondered "how can this b.s. go on," so I just flipped fast through the pages and saw the repetitive step by step we're all gonna die but wait here's a knob we can turn . . .

And at the end, with a sigh of relief, she saves the day.

Posted by: Mr Gaga at December 22, 2024 10:12 AM (KiBMU)

Slack-ass author left out the shipment of Ebola virus in the plane's cargo hold. Bad author, no donut.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 22, 2024 10:31 AM (8zz6B)

98 Just recently, I read about a tribe of murderous, carnivorous squirrels that hunt and devour voles for sustenance.

I thought pimping was bad enough, now we have a killer, meat-eating COB for our book thread host.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at December 22, 2024 10:30 AM (/MR36)

I can't believe I ate the vole thing!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 22, 2024 10:33 AM (8zz6B)

99 Slack-ass author left out the shipment of Ebola virus in the plane's cargo hold. Bad author, no donut.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 22, 2024 10:31 AM (8zz6B)
----

Also snakes and murder hornets.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Agent of Chaos at December 22, 2024 10:34 AM (kpS4V)

100 Parker often has Spenser using his longtime lover Susan Silverman, a licensed psychologist, as a sounding board for his theories of the crime. It clues the reader in on how his detective work is progressing. She often has psychological insights that help Spenser solve the mystery. It adds an additional level to the writing telling the reader why a character acts in a certain way. It made me wonder is Parker had a muse that he bounced this stuff off of and if the Susan character was actually a real someone.
Does anyone know?

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 10:34 AM (t/2Uw)

101 The other book I finished this week is a nonfiction tome called _Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground_, by Stu Horvath. It's a history of roleplaying games, told chronologically through entries on particular games. I think Horvath is a collector because there are some obscure ones.

If anyone's familiar with the term "Whig History" this book is a good example. The modern Fifth Edition DEI Weird Hair model of gaming is the goal toward which all previous RPGs were striving. Those which (in his opinion) led toward the current fashion are ground-breaking and important; those which didn't are not.

It's okay as a reference to games of past decades, but I think someone else could write a much better book surveying the history of RPGs.

Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 10:35 AM (78a2H)

102 Worst Case Scenario sounds like a book I can look forward to not reading.

To follow up on AOP's comment re the Ebola shipment -- did the author also neglect including the machinations of an evil corporation? Isn't there always supposed to be an evil corporation?

It's like I don't even know pop fiction any more...

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 10:36 AM (q3u5l)

103 Richard Hillary's, The Last Enemy, about a spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain. The book was the inspiration for the UK television series called A Perfect Hero.

Posted by: long night ending, dawn in January at December 22, 2024 10:36 AM (2NXcZ)

104 Alas, the only thing I'm "reading" right now is books of word searches on hymns ( I suppose this comment belongs on the hobby thread.) which I do to relax myself and learn words to hymns which I didn't know. After Christmas I should be able to read some more,

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 22, 2024 10:36 AM (Oxvlc)

105 Who turns out to be quite a bastard
Posted by: Miguel cervantes

Well, don't keep us in suspenders!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 10:37 AM (L/fGl)

106 "...did the author also neglect including the machinations of an evil corporation? Isn't there always supposed to be an evil corporation?"

Hey, I'm sitting right here.

Posted by: Bill Gates at December 22, 2024 10:38 AM (dg+HA)

107 Sharon, I could be remembering wrong but I think Parker's wife Joan had a background in psychology; he probably would have made some use of that.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 10:38 AM (q3u5l)

108 I received notice this week that Humble Bundle is offering collection of comics from Europe. Some Metal Hurlant stuff, The Incal and Metabarons by Jodorosky and Mobius, assorted other short works....From the previews, most of the art looks good, but I've got a sinking suspicion that the actual stories in the comics are going to be bleak, deconstructivist, post-modern, angry-and-bitter-at-the-establishment rebelling-against-everything claptrap. To say that I am apprehensive is an understatement...

Posted by: Castle Guy at December 22, 2024 10:39 AM (0UoT+)

109 Who turns out to be quite a bastard
Posted by: Miguel cervantes

Well, don't keep us in suspenders!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 10:37 AM (L/fGl)
-

That gave you an adrenalin rush? It seems like you're... panting.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 22, 2024 10:39 AM (jIIXc)

110 Hadrian, prayers up! I have shoulder issues myself, so feel your pain (just not as badly and scary). Praying for the gifts of the Holy Spirit for your caretakers.

Posted by: sal at December 22, 2024 10:41 AM (f+FmA)

111 Who turns out to be quite a bastard
Posted by: Miguel cervantes

johnny maga@_johnnymaga
HOLY SMOKES.
Biden reportedly left the families of the fallen Abbey Gate heroes waiting for 3 HOURS while he “napped” on Air Force One ahead of the dignified transfer.
I can’t imagine a more disrespectful way to treat families of the ones whose lives you took.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 10:43 AM (L/fGl)

112 One further bookish event in my near future: I've persuaded my father to let me start clearing out some of his clutter. He cannot throw anything he considers valuable away, but he will give it to me if I ask for it.

This will likely be an ongoing thing, and Round 1 will happen soon. My first sweep will be priority books I have a tie to, or items I want to dig into. Lest anyone doubt the scope of this task, his house has more 'used books' than may bookstores.

Don't get me started on the vinyl. He is in good health, so hopefully this will have little urgency.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 22, 2024 10:44 AM (ZOv7s)

113 Sharon, I could be remembering wrong but I think Parker's wife Joan had a background in psychology; he probably would have made some use of that.
Posted by: Just Some Guy
I might have to go looking. It is really interesting because in the early books, I just found her character annoying. She just seemed a way for Spenser to have sex once in a while and prove his macho bonafides. 😉 But Parker has evolved his characters and the stories are more interesting. I can see why others decided to keep Spenser solving mysteries after Parker. I'm still reading actual Parker books but several of the authors who continue the legacy are really popular. It will be interesting to see if I like them as much.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 10:47 AM (t/2Uw)

114 Who's got beer nuts?

I just need to change my pajama bottoms over to camo and we'll be prepared for the blind in Whitetail Central!

Posted by: Dr. Bone at December 22, 2024 10:48 AM (/MR36)

115 Has anyone read Jordan Peterson's Wrestling with God?

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at December 22, 2024 10:50 AM (wBaIH)

116 I am now picturing Jordan Peterson in a WWF champtionship belt talking trash about his upcoming bout with God, all in his Kermit the Frog Canadian accent.

Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 10:52 AM (78a2H)

117 All Hail Eris a sword-for-hire wakes up in a dubious public house
Because I read that pre-caffeine it registered as "dubious publishing house" and now I have a story idea to add to the pile, of a barbarian waking up and wreaking havoc at a publishers and all the stupidity there. Not that it would be a revenge story, oh no. But the blue-hairs screaming "I'm being oppressed! This is not my truth!" whilst being chased around the office by someone with a sword makes me smile.

So when it becomes famous I will be sure to blame you

Posted by: Sabrina Chase at December 22, 2024 10:52 AM (kIqtF)

118 Biden reportedly left the families of the fallen Abbey Gate heroes waiting for 3 HOURS while he “napped” on Air Force One ahead of the dignified transfer.

Napping, passed out, comatose, whatever. Let's not quibble over details.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 10:53 AM (/y8xj)

119 Parker often has Spenser using his longtime lover Susan Silverman, a licensed psychologist, as a sounding board for his theories of the crime. It clues the reader in on how his detective work is progressing. She often has psychological insights that help Spenser solve the mystery. It adds an additional level to the writing telling the reader why a character acts in a certain way. It made me wonder is Parker had a muse that he bounced this stuff off of and if the Susan character was actually a real someone.
Does anyone know?
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 10:34 AM

His wife Joan is credited:

https://tinyurl.com/yc3cwyfh

Fun fact: Pearl the dog was named/modeled after their dog Pearl.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at December 22, 2024 10:53 AM (a3Q+t)

120 I don't usually listen to music while reading. It either distracts me from the book as I start humming along, often loudly, or I stop hearing the music as I concentrate on the words. An exception is Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" sound track CD. It feels appropriate for the holidays and winter in general. Although the trio uses percussive instruments, piano, string bass and drums, the delicate flow of the notes and his style always makes me think of a gentle snowfall where each flake can be noticed but there is an accumulated effect. It seems to enhance my enjoyment of some of the Christmas-related books I mentioned above.

Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024 10:54 AM (yTvNw)

121 Started Watership Down this week. and i'm already happy with my choice. I read one book by Adams before, Shardik, and I remember liking that a lot but it was over 40 years ago so all the details are gone from my mind. I also reread A Christmas Carol because 'tis the season and all that. Even though I hate Charles Dickens thanks to a forced march through Great Expectations in Junior High, I love A Christmas Carol.

Posted by: who knew at December 22, 2024 10:55 AM (+ViXu)

122 But the blue-hairs screaming "I'm being oppressed! This is not my truth!" whilst being chased around the office by someone with a sword makes me smile.

So when it becomes famous I will be sure to blame you
Posted by: Sabrina Chase at December 22, 2024 10:52 AM

Would you consider having The Paolo chase them about?

Posted by: Duncanthrax at December 22, 2024 10:55 AM (a3Q+t)

123 Eylon Levy
@EylonALevy
·
Follow
Ireland's ambassador in Israel has the audacity to claim her country's hostile policies toward Israel are "guided by international law", when it is asking the ICJ to redefine international law just so Israel can be found guilty.
--
Opinion | Ireland Is Not 'anti-Israel.' Criticism of Israel's Actions in Gaza Is Not Antisemitism Cartoonish depictions of Irish policy, which is guided by international law and the horrific images of suffering in Gaza, do nothing to advance mutual understanding between Ireland and Israel. Despite our disagreements, and the closure of Israel's Dublin embassy, Ireland is committed to keeping diplomatic channels open.
==

No Irish.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 10:56 AM (RIvkX)

124 I am now picturing Jordan Peterson in a WWF champtionship belt talking trash about his upcoming bout with God, all in his Kermit the Frog Canadian accent.
Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 10:52 AM (78a2H)

I can't recall ever having heard Jordan Peterson speak. I think it's some sort of "no shit, Sherlock" attitude on my part.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 22, 2024 10:56 AM (8zz6B)

125 I know we like author connections (Auto-correct suggested "authority figures", hmmmm)

I discovered that two of my favorite mid-century Catholic authors were devoted correspondents. This rather surprised me, as Lucile Hasley was a light popular essayist on ordinary life and Caryll Houselander was an artist and mystic, as well as an author.
But Houselander enjoyed Hasley's work and urged her friends at Sheed and Ward to publics several collections of her pieces. She wrote the preface to the first.
Hasley used Houselander for some spiritual advice, especially as a former Protestant she couldn't "get" Mary. Houselander's 'The Reed of God" was very helpful to her in this difficulty. (1)

Posted by: sal at December 22, 2024 10:57 AM (f+FmA)

126 *Well, don't keep us in suspenders!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 10:37 AM (L/fGl)
-

That gave you an adrenalin rush? It seems like you're... panting.*

Let's put a sock in it.

Posted by: Oh, no. Clothing punz at December 22, 2024 10:58 AM (dg+HA)

127 I am now picturing Jordan Peterson in a WWF champtionship belt talking trash about his upcoming bout with God, all in his Kermit the Frog Canadian accent.
Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 10:52 AM

In the context within which you are using it, the WWF became the WWE on May 6th, 1998, in settlement of a suit from the other WWF, The World Wildlife Foundation.

Posted by: Wesley Crusher at December 22, 2024 10:59 AM (a3Q+t)

128 Morning. Pfffft!!!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 22, 2024 10:29 AM (jIIXc)
====
I haven't slept to 7:15 since I had Covid in 2022!

Moar coffee.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:00 AM (RIvkX)

129 *Well, don't keep us in suspenders!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 10:37 AM (L/fGl)
-

That gave you an adrenalin rush? It seems like you're... panting.*

Let's put a sock in it.
Posted by: Oh, no. Clothing punz at December 22, 2024 10:58 AM

Stop! You guys are kilting me with these puns.

Posted by: Wesley Crusher at December 22, 2024 11:00 AM (a3Q+t)

130 Hadrian, a prayer for speedy and complete recovery

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:01 AM (RIvkX)

131 My Christmas reading is always Chapter V of The Wind in the Willows.

Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 11:01 AM (78a2H)

132 >>>In the context within which you are using it, the WWF became the WWE on May 6th, 1998, in settlement of a suit from the other WWF, The World Wildlife Foundation.

Posted by: Wesley Crusher

>Shut the fuck up, Wesley! Your mother told me she dropped you on the head when I was sleighing her for the holidays!

Posted by: Dr. Bone at December 22, 2024 11:02 AM (/MR36)

133 Stop! You guys are kilting me with these puns.
Posted by: Wesley Crusher at December 22, 2024 11:00 AM (a3Q+t)
===
He's right, for once.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:02 AM (RIvkX)

134 My Christmas reading is always Chapter V of The Wind in the Willows.
Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 11:01 AM (78a2H)

Any particular reason why?

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 22, 2024 11:02 AM (lFFaq)

135 In the context within which you are using it, the WWF became the WWE on May 6th, 1998, in settlement of a suit from the other WWF, The World Wildlife Foundation.
Posted by: Wesley Crusher at December 22, 2024 10:59 AM (a3Q+t)

Well, in the context in which any sane person uses it, WWF is the wrestling body, and the other one is described as "Commie Faggot Queers That Profess To Love Animals".

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 22, 2024 11:03 AM (8zz6B)

136 "Stop! You guys are kilting me with these puns."

Don't get your knickers in a twist.

Posted by: Wadded pantyz at December 22, 2024 11:04 AM (dg+HA)

137 Hadrian,your problems sound distressingly like mine. The final emergency room trip before surgery was the most pain I've ever experienced. Unfortunately, I waited too long and the nerves are permanently damaged. Mostly it's just an annoyance, a couple of fingers are slightly numb so I drop things a lot more and the ache flares up every once in a while. I pray you have a better outcome.

Posted by: who knew at December 22, 2024 11:05 AM (+ViXu)

138 Getting late in thread so thought might drop a interesting podcast on Spotify, Christmas Before Dickens from the Napoleonic wars podcast, it goes into traditions Before and after Dickens time how started and changed to what we see.
tinyurl.com/4efysazw

Posted by: Skip at December 22, 2024 11:05 AM (fwDg9)

139 Polliwog: It's got field mice singing Christmas carols. What more do you want?

Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 11:05 AM (78a2H)

140 Well, in the context in which any sane person uses it, WWF is the wrestling body, and the other one is described as "Commie Faggot Queers That Profess To Love Animals".

A subtle distinction in any case.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 11:06 AM (/y8xj)

141 In the Letter of Caryll Houselander, Maisie Ward includes several letters between the two b/c the story needs both sides of the correspondence.
Hasley writes that she, in her late 30's, has been diagnosed with a painful and fatal condition. (I'm guessing she had ulcerative colitis, which was a bad diagnosis in 1947.)
She and her friends and public were praying for a miracle, which she received and attributed to a relic (graveyard dust) of Bl. Martin de Porres.
In gratitude, she stopped smoking cold turkey.
Houselander recounts that she'd stopped smoking before the war, and it was hell, but useful for civil defense, where you couldn't smoke.
A lovely exchange between friends, who never met IRL.

Posted by: sal at December 22, 2024 11:06 AM (f+FmA)

142 No reading this week somehow due to (fun) family stuff, Holiday stuff, and work being done on the house (not fun!). Thank you, Perfessor, for the book thread and a Blessed Christmas to all!

Posted by: KatieFloyd at December 22, 2024 11:08 AM (uK/k+)

143 Field mice?
Call me.

Posted by: Little Bunny Foo Foo at December 22, 2024 11:08 AM (dg+HA)

144 A subtle distinction in any case.
Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 11:06 AM (/y8xj)

Heh!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 22, 2024 11:08 AM (8zz6B)

145 Hadrian,your problems sound distressingly like mine. The final emergency room trip before surgery was the most pain I've ever experienced. Unfortunately, I waited too long and the nerves are permanently damaged. Mostly it's just an annoyance, a couple of fingers are slightly numb so I drop things a lot more and the ache flares up every once in a while. I pray you have a better outcome.
Posted by: who knew
________

That unfortunately still might have been as good as you could have done. Shoulder surgery has a high failure rate.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 22, 2024 11:09 AM (Dm8we)

146 Criticism of Israel's Actions in Gaza Is Not Antisemitism

-
Charlie the poodle and I were ordered out of the house yesterday by Mrs. Wrecks so she could entertain one of her friends. We just drove around (f*ck you Erf!) stopping occasionally for snacks. We came across a half dozen End the IDF Genocide In Gaza protesters on a street corner by the University, the first I've ever seen in the wild. I, of course, was wearing my cap with the crossed American and Israeli flags pin as I have worn every day since shortly after 10/7.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:10 AM (L/fGl)

147 *A subtle distinction in any case.*

Alternatively: A distinction without a difference.

Posted by: Which can be a fun phrase at December 22, 2024 11:10 AM (dg+HA)

148 Finishing "Finish Forty and Home", an obscure bare-bones account of an enlisted airman in the Army Air Corps flying B-24s in the Pacific. Written by his son.

The matter-of-fact style and sparing use of any "devices" or story-telling techniques actually adds to the impact of the losses suffered. His father seems to have lost 3 or 4 best buddies, in sequence, over the span of his service. Crew in other planes, part of his crew lent to other planes for specific missions, guys he got to know through squadron life.

Great mundane details along the way - how important it was to get a car to use when at a remote base in Hawaii so they could drive to Honolulu for entertainment, bartering with Navy units for food or building materials when based in Guam, etc.

Biggest enemy in the Pacific was distance. Navigation errors or fuel mismanagement killed whole crews. And unlike other theaters, usually planes/crews just disappeared. Nobody knew what happened to them. A "little" book that's packed with interesting stuff and that without drama brings the dread and fatalism and hope of waiting to get to 40 missions* to life.

* 40 strike missions completed = ticket back to the US

Posted by: rhomboid at December 22, 2024 11:11 AM (1m82a)

149 Trimegistus- how could I have forgotten that?
(Adds Chap. 5, WiW to Chapters 1,2, and 22 of Little Women and Chapters 6 and 7 of "Roller Skates".)

Posted by: sal at December 22, 2024 11:11 AM (f+FmA)

150 Thanks Duncanthrax! Saved me a lot of time. Pearl ends up taking the most annoying part of the books for me. First it was describing every street and store Spenser passed on route to wherever he was headed. Then it was describing every single thing he ate while at a meal Susan. I admit I never got tired of whatever outfit Hawk had on. Now Pearl's every move is described at length but does not figure prominently so I can ignore.
At some point, maybe 5 books in, the mystery story took over. Now I'm hooked.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 11:12 AM (t/2Uw)

151 Back from a chilly constitutional with the lovely and warmly dressed Mrs naturalfake.

Lessee what's upstairs.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 22, 2024 11:15 AM (iJfKG)

152 She often has psychological insights that help Spenser solve the mystery. It adds an additional level to the writing telling the reader why a character acts in a certain way. It made me wonder is Parker had a muse that he bounced this stuff off of and if the Susan character was actually a real someone.
Does anyone know?
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024

***
Hello, Sharon,

Yes, I think it was his wife Joan. He dedicated a lot of his books to her.

In my view, Susan and Hawk are complementary sides of Spenser's personality, embodied and made human. This way we can actually see Parker articulate some of Spenser's conflicts about the work that he does. (Similar to how Spock and Dr. McCoy reflect the essential parts of Capt. Kirk.) We see something of the same in Parker's series about gunmen/lawmen Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. Cole is the central figure; Hitch reflects one part of him, and Cole's longtime lady friend Allie reflects another.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:15 AM (omVj0)

153 45 ... "I do have a question. I am buying some of these books for Kindle. It's easier to read as the devices are lighter and I can pick up on the tablet too. But I'm getting into books that I have to buy used. Some are out of print. Twice, I've found first editions signed by the author. If there's not a big difference in price, I buy those. I don't really expect these to be collectors items but it just feels nice to have a signed copy. Should I just buy the cheapest?"

Good morning, notsothoreau,

Sort of a matter of 'ifs'. If you have shelf space for a physical book. If the paper version is close in price. If a good paper version is available. If this is a book you would want to keep and not just read once. Then get a paper copy. The authors signature is a nice plus if the cost is similar tot he unsigned version.

These days if a book is worth my time, it is usually worth having the physical copy. A big exception is the Delphi collections of classic authors on Kindle. Under 3 bucks for the complete writings and related materials for an author I admire. If I especially like certain books of that author, I will get a paper version of that work. Duplicate copies don't worry me.

Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024 11:15 AM (yTvNw)

154 the blue-hairs screaming "I'm being oppressed! This is not my truth!"

-
I fully support Rosa DeLauro becoming the face of the Democrat Party.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:16 AM (L/fGl)

155 * 40 strike missions completed = ticket back to the US
Posted by: rhomboid at December 22, 2024

***
I think the servicemen referred to them as "points," didn't they?

You don't often see that referenced in fiction, though. At least not the stuff I've read. You get the impression that, unlike Vietnam guys (who were in for, what, thirteen months, unless they signed up again), the WWII servicemen were in it for the duration of the war.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:18 AM (omVj0)

156 I fully support Rosa DeLauro becoming the face of the Democrat Party.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

Is she the one with the huge foam rubber cowboy hat?

Posted by: They're all crooks at December 22, 2024 11:19 AM (dg+HA)

157 I bought 12 rules for life, but was disappointed. The clarity and insight from Peterson videos, which maybe I have seen most of, wasn't translating well in book form.

He was the antidote to a society that was hitting the bottom. He can either attempt to make waves again, or he can settle in to his amazing legacy, but he won't be capturing lightning a second time.

If puns were lethal to Wesley Crusher, I'd be ... uh basically like the Horde is every morning.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at December 22, 2024 11:20 AM (lhenN)

158 Hadrian,
Find a pain doc that can use ultrasound imaging of nerves in the arm. Good one can tell if the nerve in the channel at key Coke points in wrist, elbow, or shoulder is involved . It is also possible that the pain is originating in the spine as in c6, c7 vertebrae, sometimes neuropathy in arm is how it is expressed.

Posted by: whig's phone at December 22, 2024 11:21 AM (ctrM5)

159 Wolfus,I also loved the Western series. You know, I think he only wrote the first one but the author who picked up the rest did a fantastic job. He wrote the screen play for the movie and couldn't let the characters go.
The article that Duncanthrax links above is fabulous. I could see where so many themes for his books came from.
Parker's wife calls him Ace in the article. Hmmm

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 11:21 AM (t/2Uw)

160 Started Watership Down this week. and i'm already happy with my choice. I read one book by Adams before, Shardik, and I remember liking that a lot but it was over 40 years ago so all the details are gone from my mind. I also reread A Christmas Carol because 'tis the season and all that. Even though I hate Charles Dickens thanks to a forced march through Great Expectations in Junior High, I love A Christmas Carol.
Posted by: who knew at December 22, 2024

***
Who Knew, I envy you making the acquaintance of Hazel and his intrepid band of rabbits for the first time. WD is one of the great fantasy adventures in literature. I call it a "thriller for rabbits."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:22 AM (omVj0)

161 Richard Hillary's, The Last Enemy, about a spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain. The book was the inspiration for the UK television series called A Perfect Hero.
Posted by: long night ending, dawn

The curse of the Book Thread was kind to me today. This Kindle book was only $0.99.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:22 AM (L/fGl)

162 John Spencer
.
I volunteer to discuss with the Pope what war is, what Israel has (protected civilians) and has not (bombed children) done, how his message gives Hamas hope to keep fighting - protracting the war and suffering that Hamas wants, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas's just war theory.

The National
@TheNationalNews
"This is cruelty. This is not war"

Pope Francis has condemned Israel's bombing of children in Gaza, a day after the territory's rescue agency said an Israeli air strike killed seven children from one family.
====

Lighten up, Francis.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:24 AM (RIvkX)

163 159 Wolfus,I also loved the Western series. You know, I think he only wrote the first one but the author who picked up the rest did a fantastic job. He wrote the screen play for the movie and couldn't let the characters go.
The article that Duncanthrax links above is fabulous. I could see where so many themes for his books came from.
Parker's wife calls him Ace in the article. Hmmm
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024

***
I thought Parker wrote two or three in the "Appaloosa" story series, and then the other authors picked up. At the library or bookstore you see "Robert B. Parker's" (with the apostrophe and "s") over the title, with the continuation author's name below. Same with the Spensers.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:24 AM (omVj0)

164 The Youtube Serendipity Generator and Recommendation Algorithm has served up something suited to the intersection of books, memes, and Morons. Although to be honest, he doesn't really satisfy the "Why" in the title.

https://youtu.be/4o-Vqu6Z5fY

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 11:24 AM (/y8xj)

165
'I can't recall ever having heard Jordan Peterson speak.'

And you call yourself Canadian.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 22, 2024 11:25 AM (3wi/L)

166 137 Hadrian,your problems sound distressingly like mine. The final emergency room trip before surgery was the most pain I've ever experienced. Unfortunately, I waited too long and the nerves are permanently damaged. Mostly it's just an annoyance, a couple of fingers are slightly numb so I drop things a lot more and the ache flares up every once in a while. I pray you have a better outcome.
Posted by: who knew at December 22, 2024 11:05 AM (+ViXu)

I have a numb strip of skin on my forearm and my pinky and ring finger don't work right. I completely lost my rotator cuff and the capsue over 20 years. Arm held on by a sling was how I went to surgery.
Doctor tells me when I wake up "I did what I could." I was worried.
Apart from the numbness I'm okay. Doctor is amazed how well it recovered. Worst part was "therapy". 4' 6" gal that tried to kill me 5 days a week getting things back to moveable.
She saved my arm.

Posted by: Reforger at December 22, 2024 11:26 AM (xcIvR)

167 Hadrian, I am thinking that sounds like a thrombosis somewhere in your arm.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:26 AM (RIvkX)

168 Parker was quite the fitness buff himself, and he used that in Spenser's character -- think he said in an interview once that he made Spenser a little more accomplished than he was himself.
And if memory serves, the first edition of the Sports Illustrated paperback guide to weightlifting was written by Parker.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 11:27 AM (q3u5l)

169 I fully support Rosa DeLauro becoming the face of the Democrat Party.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

Is she the one with the huge foam rubber cowboy hat?
Posted by: They're all crooks

-
https://is.gd/SA838j

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:27 AM (L/fGl)

170 Is she the one with the huge foam rubber cowboy hat?

No. But do yourself a favor and don't google. You're welcome.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 22, 2024 11:27 AM (/y8xj)

171 Watership Down. I liked that one.

Posted by: Eromero at December 22, 2024 11:27 AM (DXbAa)

172 https://tinyurl.com/yc3cwyfh

Fun fact: Pearl the dog was named/modeled after their dog Pearl.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at December 22, 2024

***
Fascinating stuff, Duncanthrax. Thanks. Do you know if anyone has written a critical biography of Parker?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:28 AM (omVj0)

173 Wolfus, I'm not sure, I think the procedure varied from service to service and particular "line of work". Pilots/aircrew in all theaters, I think, had milestones after which they could/usually did rotate back home, often to train others, not to leave the service.

I don't know if other high-risk lines of work, like sub service, had such systems. "Points" was I think the system developed to figure out who would muster out after Germany surrendered, as it was correctly expected that the Pacific war would last beyond that. But not sure. Yet another basic thing I don't know about WWII.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 22, 2024 11:28 AM (1m82a)

174 156
'I fully support Rosa DeLauro becoming the face of the Democrat Party.

Is she the one with the huge foam rubber cowboy hat?

She's the one with purple hair and Keith Richards' face.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 22, 2024 11:29 AM (3wi/L)

175 Hadrian, I am thinking that sounds like a thrombosis somewhere in your arm.
Posted by: San Franpsycho

Glenn Miller was the greatest thrombosis player of all time!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:29 AM (L/fGl)

176 Lighten up, Francis.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:24 AM (RIvkX)

I think he is a closet Liberation Theologist, and his history in South America gave him plenty of exposure to it.

Those folks never met a violent "anti-colonial" effort they didn't love.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 22, 2024 11:30 AM (d9fT1)

177 I fully support Rosa DeLauro becoming the face of the Democrat Party.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

Is she the one with the huge foam rubber cowboy hat?
Posted by: They're all crooks at December 22, 2024 11:19 AM (dg+HA)
--
She's the one who looks like Perry Farrell from Jane's Addiction.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I'll hang up and listen... at December 22, 2024 11:31 AM (Ad8y9)

178 Hadrian, what whig's phone said. Mine was a bad disc and I ended up getting three vertabrae fused (so I'm no longer feet tall) but all the pain was in my shoulder and arm.

Posted by: who knew at December 22, 2024 11:31 AM (+ViXu)

179 Worst part was "therapy". 4' 6" gal that tried to kill me 5 days a week getting things back to moveable.
She saved my arm.
Posted by: Reforger

Physical therapists are merciless. I had one of those after my hip replacement.

Posted by: Tuna at December 22, 2024 11:31 AM (oaGWv)

180 160 ... "I envy you making the acquaintance of Hazel and his intrepid band of rabbits for the first time. WD is one of the great fantasy adventures in literature. I call it a "thriller for rabbits.""

Wolfus,

Your enthusiasm for WD means I have to get out my copy and finally read the damn thing. If it is as good as you say, there will be another trip to the used book store for Adams' other books. Glad I have a good sized shipment of tobacco coming. Books and pipes are a natural combo as you know.

Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024 11:31 AM (yTvNw)

181 You're right Wolfus, he wrote 4. Then Robert Knott picked up. He was the one who wrote the screenplay for Appaloosa.
I really really liked those books and the movie casting was prefect so I could see the characters when reading the book.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 11:31 AM (t/2Uw)

182 We are such stuff
As dreams are made of, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 22, 2024 09:59 AM (Dm8we)

Oh boy! Sleep! That's where I'm a Viking!

Posted by: Ralph Wiggum at December 22, 2024 11:32 AM (PiwSw)

183 Fun fact: Pearl the dog was named/modeled after their dog Pearl.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at December 22, 2024 10:53 AM (a3Q+t)

Parker wasn't stupid. He wrote what he knew for the most part. Every time he wandered away from that he would make mistakes. For instance, his knowledge of guns and shooting wouldn't fill a thimble, and it showed.

And...the dude did it for the money, which makes me smile. Good for him to admit it!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 22, 2024 11:34 AM (d9fT1)

184 Iirc, there was an episode of "Band of Brothers" titled "Points".

Posted by: sal at December 22, 2024 11:35 AM (f+FmA)

185 At least the Israeli foreign ministry finally spoke out against the arrogant idiocy from the Vatican. Far too mild a statement of course, but better than standard diplomush.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 22, 2024 11:35 AM (1m82a)

186 Wolfus, I'm not sure, I think the procedure varied from service to service and particular "line of work". Pilots/aircrew in all theaters, I think, had milestones after which they could/usually did rotate back home, often to train others, not to leave the service.

I don't know if other high-risk lines of work, like sub service, had such systems. "Points" was I think the system developed to figure out who would muster out after Germany surrendered, as it was correctly expected that the Pacific war would last beyond that. But not sure. Yet another basic thing I don't know about WWII.
Posted by: rhomboid at December 22, 2024

***
I wish I'd hung on to some of my mother's old Yank, the Army Weekly magazines. I don't know how she got them; she didn't serve in the armed forces, and the magazine was never sold for public purchase. Maybe he brother was in some branch of the service, and sent them to her.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:35 AM (omVj0)

187 Hadrian, I am thinking that sounds like a thrombosis somewhere in your arm.
Posted by: San Franpsycho

I mentioned on the Movie Thread that I enjoyed Ted Danson's series Man On the Inside about an undercover agent in a retirement home. One of the things I liked was that almost all the main characters were 29 and they were presented as real people with real lives.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:36 AM (L/fGl)

188
Home again. The verdict was calcium tendinitis in the shoulder. It will go away on its own. Anti-inflammatories and time.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 22, 2024 11:36 AM (dxSpM)

189
WWII servicemen were in it for the duration of the war.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

That's what you get with a genuine bona fide declared war.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 22, 2024 11:36 AM (63Dwl)

190 Wolfus,

Your enthusiasm for WD means I have to get out my copy and finally read the damn thing. If it is as good as you say, there will be another trip to the used book store for Adams' other books. Glad I have a good sized shipment of tobacco coming. Books and pipes are a natural combo as you know.
Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024

***
JTB, I warn you only that Watership starts a little slowly. Call it a "measured" approach. After an early point, however, it accelerates and doesn't slow down.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:37 AM (omVj0)

191 Hadrian, I am thinking that sounds like a thrombosis somewhere in your arm.
Posted by: San Franpsycho
____________

What happened to Dak Thrombosis? Haven't seen him in a while.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at December 22, 2024 11:39 AM (Dm8we)

192 Since I don't read books about current or recent politics, politicians, current culture or celebrities, I'm sure many people would consider my reading to be escapist. (Not that I give a damn about their opinions.)

To paraphrase Patrick Henry: "If this be escapism, make the most of it."

Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024 11:39 AM (yTvNw)

193 As Susan Silverman got more prominent, I stopped reading the Spenser books.
Just didn't take to that character.

Posted by: From about That Time at December 22, 2024 11:39 AM (4780s)

194 My father was 82nd Airborne during WWII -- I don't recall any mention in his conversations about a point system of any kind for paratroopers or infantry.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 11:40 AM (q3u5l)

195 I don't dare move. Little Dagny the aloof cat has wedged herself between my side and the arm of the sofa. She must be cold.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:40 AM (omVj0)

196 190 ... "I warn you only that Watership starts a little slowly. Call it a "measured" approach. After an early point, however, it accelerates and doesn't slow down."

Thanks for the heads up about Watership Down. Fortunately, these days 'measured' doesn't bother me.

Posted by: JTB at December 22, 2024 11:42 AM (yTvNw)

197 Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah to all the Morons who celebrate. Best part of the holidays is receiving books and having time to read them—or at least start them!

Posted by: March Hare at December 22, 2024 11:42 AM (jfX+U)

198 CBD, I was thinking about your comment about guns reading this last book. The gun involved in the crime is identified as a 22Lr but no attempt is made to ascertain how one shot could have hit the target with a rifle or handgun hat size from wherever it could have been taken or even if the gun was still on the premises somewhere.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 11:42 AM (t/2Uw)

199 can’t imagine a more disrespectful way to treat families of the ones whose lives you took.
======
There is no limit to Biden's lack of common decency. Known for fifty years.

Posted by: From about That Time at December 22, 2024 11:43 AM (4780s)

200 The University of Austin was founded last year as a true, traditional, classic liberal arts university.

A few of the titles from their freshman reading list:
• Homer’s Odyssey
• How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley
• Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
• Plato’s Republic
• Creativity by Mihaley Csikszentmihalyi
• The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis
• Aeschylus’s Oresteia
• The Book of Genesis
• Hesiod’s Theogony

Posted by: Candidus at December 22, 2024 11:44 AM (FW1NF)

201 You're right Wolfus, he wrote 4. Then Robert Knott picked up. He was the one who wrote the screenplay for Appaloosa.
I really really liked those books and the movie casting was prefect so I could see the characters when reading the book.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024

***
Thursday night, Grit had Appaloosa on their prime-time movie. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen were perfect for the roles, and you can hear the tone of Parker's trademark dialog as they speak. The adaptations (and later original TV-movies) of Parker's Jesse Stone, the small-town police chief, with Tom Selleck in the role, were also very well done.

Parker had a third crime series, set in the same universe as Spenser and Jesse Stone, with a female private eye named Sunny Randall. I wonder if anyone has ever done a film or TV-movie with Sunny?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:44 AM (omVj0)

202 From what I understand, Sanderson is taking several years (5ish?) from writing Stormlight to work on other Cosmere projects, including, I believe, a 3rd Mistborn series. I've only read/listened thru Oathbringer myself. Will read Edgedancer, and probably Dawnshard, the "novellas" that come before and after Oathbringer, early next year, and eventually get to Rhythm of War. A little miffed that I can't add the audible version of RoW for 9 or 10 bucks with the Kindle version like I could with books 2 and 3 though. May have to sign up for the trial audible account to get the audiobooks for RoW/WaT, or may just read them on Kindle, idk yet

Currently am reading The Mercy of Gods, the start of the new series by the authors of The Expanse. Interested to see where it goes, though I wouldn't say it's hooked me as much as the expanse (though to be fair, I didn't start reading the expanse until after probably the 3rd season of the show)

Also listening to A World of Secrets, book 2 of The Firewall trilogy by James Maxwell from Kindle Unlimited. Adds a science-fictiony twist to the first book. It's just ok, but good enough for something free to listen to on the way to work.

Posted by: tintex at December 22, 2024 11:45 AM (sBl13)

203 I mentioned on the Movie Thread that I enjoyed Ted Danson's series Man On the Inside about an undercover agent in a retirement home. One of the things I liked was that almost all the main characters were 29 and they were presented as real people with real lives.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:36 AM (L/fGl)
====

Everyone here is buzzing about it, people claiming to know who the characters are, but we don't have netflix so I haven't seen it.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:45 AM (RIvkX)

204 Seeing the silver lining.

Scott Adams@ScottAdamsSays
Biden's legacy will have some blemishes, but I will always be grateful to him for destroying the Democratic Party and their winged monkeys in the fake news business.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:46 AM (L/fGl)

205 "Physical therapists are merciless. I had one of those after my hip replacement."

After my husband's knee replacement we called his PT "Amber Lee Ermey." But she was excellent and a huge part of his recovery.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at December 22, 2024 11:46 AM (FEVMW)

206 I did already get a Hannukah present. My DIL's sister gave me a book with all ten Zelazny stories. As I have only read the first 5I was pleased. But the book is gigantic paperback. Don't know how I will deal with it. It should come with removable sections.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 11:47 AM (t/2Uw)

207 can’t imagine a more disrespectful way to treat families of the ones whose lives you took.
======
There is no limit to Biden's lack of common decency. Known for fifty years.
Posted by: From about That Time at December 22, 2024 11:43 AM (4780s)
***

Mrs D is reading about some.of what DOGE will find. Apparently tax payers cover the insurance costs for celebrity mansions. Not sure of the source for that as she didn't say. But...what a book the first year of DOGE
discoveries would make!

Posted by: Diogenes at December 22, 2024 11:48 AM (W/lyH)

208 Haven't heard anything about adaptations of the Sunny Randall books.

Hadn't seen the adaptations of Parker's westerns, but did catch the Jesse Stones -- thought Selleck was perfectly cast there.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 11:48 AM (q3u5l)

209 At least the Israeli foreign ministry finally spoke out against the arrogant idiocy from the Vatican. Far too mild a statement of course, but better than standard diplomush.
Posted by: rhomboid at December 22, 2024 11:35 AM (1m82a)
===

Wait, whut?

Posted by: Baby in a Kefffiyeh at December 22, 2024 11:48 AM (RIvkX)

210
"Physical therapists are merciless. I had one of those after my hip replacement."

_________

Went in for a deep-muscle massage on Friday. She hit the plantar fascia on my foot and I thought I'd go right through the ceiling.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 22, 2024 11:50 AM (dxSpM)

211 If you do not hate your physical therapist fire them, because they are not doing a good job.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:50 AM (RIvkX)

212 JSG, definitely look up Appaloosa. Had no trouble finding the movie. If you like the Jesse Stone movies you will like it because as Wolfus said, the dialog is perfect. Actually a lot of it right from the book and the characters are terrific and perfectly cast.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 11:51 AM (t/2Uw)

213 Off to deal with the chaos of so-called reality.

Thanks for the thread, Perfessor. And a Merry Christmas to you and all the rest of the Horde. Enjoy the holidays. Overeat. Do some intensive loafing. Annoy your favorite pets and relatives. All that nifty holiday stuff.

Have a good one, gang.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024 11:52 AM (q3u5l)

214 Haven't heard anything about adaptations of the Sunny Randall books.

Hadn't seen the adaptations of Parker's westerns, but did catch the Jesse Stones -- thought Selleck was perfectly cast there.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at December 22, 2024

***
He was. Despite Jesse being described in the novels as in his early thirties, Selleck plays him as an older man (as he should) -- and it works. I never mind that being done if the actor is truly right for the role.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:52 AM (omVj0)

215 The University of Austin was founded last year as a true, traditional, classic liberal arts university.

A few of the titles from their freshman reading list:
• Homer’s Odyssey
• How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley
• Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
• Plato’s Republic
• Creativity by Mihaley Csikszentmihalyi
• The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis
• Aeschylus’s Oresteia
• The Book of Genesis
• Hesiod’s Theogony
Posted by: Candidus at December 22, 2024 11:44 AM (FW1NF)

Dang.
I have a few to go.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 22, 2024 11:52 AM (W/lyH)

216 212 JSG, definitely look up Appaloosa. Had no trouble finding the movie. If you like the Jesse Stone movies you will like it because as Wolfus said, the dialog is perfect. Actually a lot of it right from the book and the characters are terrific and perfectly cast.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024

***
Yes -- the film is not that old. Besides Harris and Mortensen as the male leads, you get Jeremy Irons as their antagonist and Renee Zellweger as Virgil's paramour Allie.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:53 AM (omVj0)

217 211 If you do not hate your physical therapist fire them, because they are not doing a good job.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:50 AM (RIvkX)

Only time in my life I thanked someone for making me cry.

Posted by: Reforger at December 22, 2024 11:54 AM (xcIvR)

218 Green gold. Texas bullion.

Crooks caught stealing 34,000 avocados in Texas

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at December 22, 2024 11:56 AM (L/fGl)

219 Off to do some chores, I guess. Thanks to the Perfessor and all you book people for a great Sunday morning!

I've noticed this is one of the few threads on AoSHQ where people actually thank and credit the co-blogger. I know it happens -- we told TRex last night what a great job he's been doing with the Hobby Thread. But still it seems rare. And very cool.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:56 AM (omVj0)

220 If it doesn't hurt, it's not working.
-your P.T. Who is also kind of a sadist

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 22, 2024 11:56 AM (RIvkX)

221 I disagree on PT, it doesn't always hurt to make you better. They always helped me and can't thank them enough.

Posted by: Skip at December 22, 2024 12:01 PM (fwDg9)

222 Polliwog: It's got field mice singing Christmas carols. What more do you want?
Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 11:05 AM (78a2H)

Sounds delightful. I think I have a copy on my Kindle. Will need to get one if I don't.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 22, 2024 12:01 PM (phT8I)

223 We haz a NOOD

Posted by: Skip at December 22, 2024 12:01 PM (fwDg9)

224 Parker had a third crime series, set in the same universe as Spenser and Jesse Stone, with a female private eye named Sunny Randall. I wonder if anyone has ever done a film or TV-movie with Sunny?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 22, 2024 11:44 AM

According to Wikipedia, "Parker created female detective Sunny Randall at the request of actress Helen Hunt, who wanted him to write a part for her to play. He wrote the first book, and the film version was planned for 2000[5] but never materialized.[8] However, his publisher liked the character and asked him to continue with the series."

Posted by: Duncanthrax at December 22, 2024 12:02 PM (a3Q+t)

225 Further to my comments above about the book Lexicon, I very highly recommend the Tablet (long) article Rapid Onset Political Enlightenment.

https://shorturl.at/tEyyv

Baracky had the keys; Elon took them away.

Posted by: Candidus at December 22, 2024 12:02 PM (FW1NF)

226 Have a great week all and enjoy the Holiday respite.
Hugs
Sharon(willow's apprentice)

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at December 22, 2024 12:03 PM (t/2Uw)

227 Sharon, read the Self any epic a couple of months ago. Had read first and second maybe when they came out.
Three weeks to finish, enjoyed tremendously.

Posted by: From about That Time at December 22, 2024 12:08 PM (4780s)

228 Self any = Zelazny.

Posted by: From about That Time at December 22, 2024 12:21 PM (4780s)

229 I was a beta reader for “West Towards the Sunset” (Thanks for the privilege, Ms Hayes!) I enjoyed it a lot. Ms. Hayes captures the voice of Sally Kettering quite well, and Sally’s observations about their journey are realistic for a 12-y.o.

This is a great book to augment history for 4th & 5th Graders learning about the pioneers and westward expansion, especially as this novel is set in the pre-Gold Rush era and the Kettering and the members of their wagon train are farmers, not prospectors.

Posted by: March Hare at December 22, 2024 12:23 PM (jfX+U)

230 One thing I like about Christie’s Poirot novels is there’s a certain emotional depth and complexity. Though vain, Poirot often empathizes w/ the suspects, even the one he suspects to be the murderer.

Posted by: Norrin Radd, sojourner of the spaceways at December 22, 2024 12:26 PM (ZN/Zb)

231 Candidus: Thanks for posting that link. Great article!

Posted by: Trimegistus at December 22, 2024 12:31 PM (78a2H)

232 Poirot often empathizes w/ the suspects, even the one he suspects to be the murderer.
Posted by: Norrin Radd,

I only enjoyed her Poirot novels. They seemed to be more intense.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 22, 2024 01:06 PM (bXOPZ)

233 Thanks forthe advice on the books! I have a Paperwhite, so it's pleasant to use it for reading. Some of these older books are out of print and not on Kindle. It's odd that I couldn't get Michael Groom's book. Pretty much everyone alive after the 1996 Everest tragedy wrote a book. His is the only one I know of out of print. And he's Australian, so the only reasonable priced copies are from there. I'll see how long it takes to show up.

With arthritis in my hands, book weight is an issue.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 22, 2024 01:21 PM (NQtI0)

234 "Perfessor" Squirrel, you've done a lovely job taking over the book thread and leading the Horde through a wide variety of books with such varied and (mostly) interesting topics.

I still don't understand or, perhaps, it's better to say appreciate science fiction, but that's solely on me.

Thanks

Posted by: L - Rooster one day, Feather duster another at December 22, 2024 02:17 PM (NFX2v)

235 Barry Malzberg died on Thursday. He was probably my favorite science fiction writer. I think I bought everything he put out.

"Science fiction" is probably very inaccurate, he used the trappings of science fiction to explore anxiety, helplessness, guilt, all those sorts of things. And his prose is probably the angriest I've ever read.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 22, 2024 02:36 PM (CHHv1)

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