flight paths discussion

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well. It's been so quiet here. How's everyone doing? What's new? What are we all reading?

I finished reading Margaret Atwood's In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination just after New Year's. It's an interesting look at MA's early love of sci-fi (a love that continues to today), some wonderful essays on specific sci-fi books (some I'd never even heard of) and 5 very short sci-fi stories to end it all off.
I'm now reading The 42nd Parallel and really enjoying it so far.

Monday starts a new session of both the carving group and tai-chi. I'm helping to tutor again, as well as taking a class of my own. There are 13 new beginner's signed up for the class that I tutor. That's a lot. This is going to be an interesting term.

Okay.... I checked the Member's List. You're all still here. Phew!

Looking forward to reading your updates soon.

Yo Petra! Happy Decade!
I knew there was something I was forgetting and I am guessing that it is you that rectified things. I am very grateful and a little embarrassed: this is my most important group. Actually it is the only group i always check. I have been giving myself a break fom the computer for the last few days after that intense period when I was finishing up with my reviews.
But I did it, entered and reviewed if not my entire backlog all the ones for 2019.
I was shocked though to discover i read 2001 books. What a great year too, many 5 stars and only a couple of duds.

Petra thats awesome that you are moving ahead with your ti chi. Good luck with all those beginners.

I plan to get on the computer this weekend so I'll save my updates till then so to include links.

that should read 201 books. Im glad no one was misled. mmm...and it seems I neglected to extend New Years Greetings to the lot of you: may this be a year of insight and healing for us all ♥️

LOL! I thought you meant books read in total since joining GR. That total can add up for all of us. My total is currently at 929.

Still......201 books in one year is amazing! I read 60 and think that number will drop a bit in 2020. I was still working in the first part of 2019, which meant more books read due to the audio books I listened to during my commutes.

Happy New Year!!

@Petra sounds like 2020 is starting off pretty busy for you. :)
@Magdelanye, 201 books!! I'm super impressed.

I just got home from picking up my son from a week and his grandparents. Apparently I'm not as fun and grandma and grandpa...haha! I'm glad he had a great time.
My husband and I finished painting our kitchen/dining room while he was away. It took 5 coats of paint to cover the yellow in there! So our goal for 2020 is no more renovations. We'll see if we keep it.

Right now I'm reading Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. Even though I know about a lot of the data in this book is still brings out my feminist rage. ;)

somehow i never did open up the computer this weekend, crazy weather and all i felt like doing was reading.
I dont know about anyone else but i am finding myself highly dispirited by the war news from America.

Megan Im reading a similar book, just substitute the word racism for women and whites instead of men.I also thought I knew the data but i am surprised actually how informative it is.
BTW, what colour did you paint the kitchen that it need 5! coats?
And you do know about the conspiracy between grandparents and grandchildren?
Petra when did Atwood write that sci fi oriented book? Never heard of it but sounds up my ally.But it sounds as if both your carving and the tai chi are on the same day? Well good luck tomorrow!

Megan, 5 coats! Ooof!! Did you prime the walls first? A good piece of advice we got (years ago) was to prime a medium to dark coloured wall before changing the paint colour. It keeps the old paint colour from bleeding through and makes for fewer coats of new paint.
Also, if using a red paint, use a primer tinted the same red. It will deepen the red colour and you'll use fewer coats we still had to use 3 coats to get a good, solid, deep red).

Magdelanye, my bad. Both activities start this week. Carving is on Monday; Tai-chi is Tuesday morning (tutoring) and evening (my class).

Magdelanye, In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination was written in 2011, after she published The Year of the Flood but before MaddAddam.

I can't tell you all how much I'm enjoying The 42nd Parallel. It's terrific.

I went for a run yesterday afternoon in a pause during the torrential rains. Today it rained again, then got really windy in the afternoon. I was glad to be tucked away indoors. I spent the afternoon cooking and carving. It felt so toasty and cozy with all that blustery-ness happening outdoors.

@Petra: your activities sound so very interesting (I loved the idea of wood carving--I love wood carvings!-- although I lack any hand-based skill or visual artistry. Still, I can appreciate it from others. And the tai chi also sounds great--where I live, the gym is really the only option; there are no yoga studios, etc. near by. I think it's great that you're also tutoring--you much be very proficient. And I've always wanted to read The 42nd Parallel. You have inspired me--maybe this will be the year.

@Magdelanye: so many books! I'm trying not to compare myself. Even now that I'm retired I don't have as much time to read as I'd like. Last year, I read just over 100. This year, I'm tackling some longer reads (I just started I reread of Proust, beginning with the Lydia Davis--a writer I love--translation of Swann's Way.

I'm reading Dina Nayeri's The Ungrateful Refugee, This seems like an appropriate time for it. I also finished The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma which I liked very much. And I finished the Lydia Davis essays, which I loved.

Now that the holidays are over, I'm back at the gym and away from so much junk food. I feel better already! (Not that I felt bad exactly but I have more energy.)

NOTE<>do not stray from comments page to check a reference.
The comments will be lost :>(
But it bears repeating. I am impressed with both your reading choices to kick off new decade. I have yet to get to Proust and Dos Passos. Not that I am reading lightweight books by any means but books like those are upper echelon as far as I'm concerned.

LOL> I was checking Dina Nayeri....thought I recognized the name and I was right. I loved Refugee and remember reading it two summers ago when I was in Uculelett, finding it in the library there, one of those random discoveries that way exceeded any expectations.

What am I reading!
Still with the The George Grant Reader. At a chapter a day, its slow going but I think Im getting the ideas.
My first fiction this year (straddling it actually) was 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak who I do adore and I believe I have encouraged you to read (Petra I think you did). Hard to follow that one, and I struggled a bit with Olga Tokarczuk House of Day, House of Nightover this one, the slightly menacing but quite entertaining for documentary fiction.
I had a rather agonizing time finding the next fiction so I put it off a bit and began a book of short stories by Bernhard Schlink ,Flights of Love: Stories The stories are quite long and the 2 Ive read so far were very interesting.
I have started Second Sight: An Intuitive Psychiatrist Tells Her Extraordinary Story and Shows You How To Tap Your Own Inner Wisdom by Judith Orloff. She was one of the presenters in the narcissist forum and her work relates to The Body Keeps the Score.
Last but having the most impact I am reading White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Theres a lot to learn here and it starts with an immediate reframing.
So its now 8amand just beginning to get light, the rain is easing up
I'm glad I was able to share these titles because they are all so worthwhile. As for fiction, I finally settled on the Chinese SF classic as the least likely to get conflated with the others and so have begun The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
Good luck with your classes Petra over the next few days. Clarification: I'm sure the classes will be great, I'm thinking of transpo!
Ellie, I think of you always in motion!
Megan, I'm still wondering about the colour of your kitchen.
Keep those feminist sensibilities honed! theres a need....
Cheers!

The walls in my kitchen were a dark yellow. It took 3 coats of primer to cover it! yikes. We put a cream colour on there, so it turned out really great. Now I"m itching to reface my kitchen cabinets. BUT, we need to pay off my bathroom reno first.

Sounds like everyone has started off the new year with a bang!

My son is back to school today and had a 12 hour sleep last night, so hopefully by the end of the week we'll be back on schedule. I'm very happy though that he had a wonderful time with his grandparents.

Magdelanye, it's interesting: I just started The Three-Body Problem (I don't list a book until I've read at least 50 pages and think I have a good chance of finishing it). Also I read White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism and found it so important--I think all white people should read it. (Unfortunately, did I say before?, some man saw me reading it on the subway and thought it was racist so he spit on me. I'm very paranoid reading The Ungrateful Refugee because it looks like it could be hostile to refugees--a woman asked me about it on the bus yesterday--at least she asked! So I'm not reading it in public any more; I'm going to read the Lydia Davis translation of Swann's Way (I promised myself that when I retired, I would do a reread of Remembrance Of Things Past).

It's also interesting that you're reading Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. I just read Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead and am now starting Flights. The first two stories are very interesting (it's another book I haven't yet posted).

Next on my list is Angela Davis's Women, Race, and Class. Then I'l go back to the two books I just mentioned. I tend to weave my reading amongst several books.

Megan--glad your kitchen came out so well. I'm very impressed by how you manage all these home improvement projects along with raising your son and living your life (as well as reading!). I love the holidays but I also feel relieved to get back to my usual routine. In my case, I'm getting to the gym more often again. It helps that since he has no classes in January my son is going as well--going with someone always makes it easier for me.

Ellie wrote: "Magdelanye, it's interesting: I just started The Three-Body Problem (I don't list a book until I've read at least 50 pages and think I have a good chance of finishing it). ."

We are on a similar wavelength definitely. So how are you finding 3body ? I believe it was your rec that led me to grab White Fragility when I saw it on display at the library. Typically for someone like me who considered herself slightly above the discussion (i just look white) I was surprised to find it so compelling.
A whole discussion could ensue on book codes on buses ( not sure if there is a term or related terms for this. Book vanity/elements of shame or the converse, flaunting. How about flaunting your shame) That is unbelievable that someone spat at you for your reading choice! What happened next?

Ellie I have yet to read ploughman/bones. I was so blown away byFlights although it seems I conflated it a bit with one I read shortly after, Trieste by Daša Drndić So I have only read 2 by OT, including the one I just finished House of Day, House of Night which was so languid in the reading that I'm surprised at how much I am grappling with the review.

And you do that too Ellie! Although I haven't set a limit I usually wait until I am committed to a book before entering it.

LOL Megan: of course your new walls will seem to require an update on the cupboards! It sounds like you have created a great foundation space for your family.

It was an early dark and stormy night last night (thinking of Petra on her way to her night class) and this morning shrouded in mist and cloud. Perfect for staying in and carrying on reading...what else can I do for the world?

Magdelanye wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Magdelanye, it's interesting: I just started The Three-Body Problem (I don't list a book until I've read at least 50 pages and think I have a good chance of finishing ..."

I always question what to read on public transportation. I prefer the Kindle since no one can tell what I'm reading so I enjoy privacy there but at the moment I'm reading several tree books (I'm trying on more limited income to save money by using the library). Those books include the highly recommended book of essays White Girls by Hilton Als, which I obviously won't read in public although as far as I can tell is not racist, or, now The Ungrateful Refugee. The third, Swann's Way is safe since I think (undoubtedly elitist but still probably true) few people will recognize it even fewer will care.
But my problem is that I do most of my reading on public transportation (I spend somewhere between 8-12 hours a week on trains and buses). I'm usually too tired at home to concentrate. So it's a problem when I can't read something in public. I don't think I want to flaunt anything so I try to be careful about what I bring out but it's still a problem for me. I didn't think about the title when I chose Refugee and when I realized it was problematic I carried it with the title hidden, etc.

After he spit on me, the man got off the train (of course, he waited until the train had stopped to do it).

I've taken today "off" (except for the gym) so I can do some reading. I've been feeling generally disconnected and alienated from the world and others so I'm hoping this will ease my discomfort and make me feel more myself again, whatever that means. At peace with myself and others I guess. I'm very upset about what's happening in my country and this is undoubtedly contributing to my general feeling of anger and sadness. I don't really want to deal with other people right now.

Sorry to have run on for so long. I hope that :reading as therapy" will be effective for me today.

@Ellie, OMG. That's awful. I'm so sorry that happened to you on.
My book that I'm reading (which has caused some eye rolls on public transit) Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men talks about how ridiculously unsafe it is for women on public transit but the majority of people who use public transit are women. Ugh.
I do the majority of my reading on the bus to and from work, so I also feel a bit weirded out by my book titles sometimes. OR if my book has a sex scene, please don't anyone be reading over my shoulder. ha!

I hope you bounce back soon Ellie.

@Magdelanye, we bought a new bed frame for our son last night as his broke last week, so we were up late testing our marriage with Ikea furniture. I have a couple more shelves/artwork to hang up then it's time to hibernate for the rest of winter.

Glad you are taking a day just for yourself Ellie. Actually, and forgive me if i sound prissy, you should be scheduling those days regularly. And flight paths is a forum for "running on". In fact you an even start a thread to discuss anything that isnt covered by any of our topics.
This goes for any actual member
At any rate I hope today is a relaxing one for you. With all the shit going on down there its hard to process.

Remember those hand made book covers we loved to make and decorate in elementary school? I have in fact made them to protect a library book, and they could be used for camouflage as well. On the other hand, if someone is upset by their own perception of your reading choces, it could be a chance to educate them. That spitter was obviously just a hater, and now Im wondering what ethnicity he was. I am almost finished white fragility and I am taking it to heart.
I used to do a lot of reading on the bus until this last year because there is no bus here. I do still take a book with me wherever i go. Its always the smallest/lightest.
How are you doing with 3 body Ellie?
I put it aside to attend to a book i cant renew at the library because someone else wants it. Trust Exercise was a book i ordered because of a friends review.
Its the first book ive read in a while that doesnt focus on displacement, racism or war and in a familiar setting. Im finding it a bit strange.
I did a bit of a double take Megan when i read your comment about testing your marriage on your sons new bedframe, but then i remembered from the deep past of marriage the Ikea cabinet that even my handyman ex husband could not figure out. Btw i think Data Bias is a book to flaunt. People that need the info most are often not aware of it

Writing this on my mobile, its actually gotten a bit easier with practice but still limited. Im looking forward to seeing some more carvings from Petra, and I am missing hearing from Ice and MaryAnne this year.
Heres to hibernation and rejuvenation!

haha! opps, I see my error. Yes, we tested our relationship by attempting to build an ikea bedframe before my son's bedtime. We were only 45 minutes late on bedtime, so I call that a success!

Ellie, I'm really sorry that happened to you. Something like that should never happen.
I agree with Magdelanye that a book cover would solve any future problems. Maybe sew up something in felt that will fit most books.

This is the place to run on about whatever topic you like. Never keep things bottled up.

It's a bit of a mind-wrap to remember that your time is now your own, Ellie, and you can spend time doing nothing.. We're so used to being busy with work, etc. that it takes a bit of time before we can relax and stay home. I'm glad you are doing this today. Perhaps today will start a trend?

Magdelanye, it's sweet that you want to see some more carvings. I have just started carving again after the holidays. I have a few projects planned out.
Carving group went really well on Monday. There are a couple of new people and most of the people from last session returned, too.
The Tuesday morning Tai-Chi class (where I tutor) has 13 beginners! There are so many beginners that many of the regulars could not get into the class as it got full.
The evening Tai-Chi class has 2 beginners signed up. There's also a new person who knows a different style of tai-chi. He'll have to adjust some of his moves but he basically knows them. The rest of us are regulars.
Both classes went really well on Tuesday.

Ellie, have you read the graphic novel of Swann's Way? It's very well done and the artwork is stupendous.
I kept my set of Proust books after reading it. I think I'd like to reread it one day. I liked the humor and the wonderful characters.

Not much reading getting done this week, yet. The first few days have been busy. The rest of the week is slower and I'm looking forward to it.

Megan, I laughed at your comment about the bed, too. LOL!

Home repairs, renovations or furniture assembly really do test a relationship. They shouldn't but I'm pretty sure we haven't even painted a room without an argument (I mean....."discussion"). LOL.

I'm a little frustrated--I wrote a long (probably too long) message only to have it lost.

I wanted to thank everyone for their support of my day "off". I agree: I felt so good that I want to do it more often. Today, I'm not doing anything in the morning (although the afternoon and evening will be busy). I hope to spend some time reading. Also I was able to check in here and maybe write a review of The Ungrateful Refugee, both of which I've been too tired to do.

Megan, I also laughed about your IKEA comment--there's nothing like a DIY project to test a relationship! Looks like yours passed the test. :)

Petra, I love the idea of a graphic version of Swann's Way! I'll have to look for it--it's absolutely a "must-read". I read the whole of Remembrance many years ago and I'm loving the Lydia Davis translation of Swann's Way (I love her work, as a fiction writer, an essayist and as a translator: her translations of Maurice Blanchot are beautiful). I'd forgotten how much I loved Proust, what sheer pleasure it is to read him. Maybe some day I'll read him in the original (dictionary in hand of course).

Magdelanye, you may be right about Trust Exercise, me, and timing. I very much liked parts of it, I was just dissatisfied with how it held together as a whole. I'm not at all sorry I read it and it has stayed with me more than most books do.

I've put 3 Body on hold for the moment, although I definitely will go back to it. Nothing wrong with it; it's just that I own it and some library books have come through that I'm very excited about. There are books of essays: Coventry: Essays by Rachel Cusk--I thought her trilogy was fantastic; The Book of My Lives by Aleksandar Hemon (I've read several interviews with him and found the way he thinks very interesting) and White Girls by Hilton Als which I've heard is supposed to be fabulous (although I hate when books are super-hyped).

I wish I could read all the books you all talk about! This morning, I was wishing I could read books simultaneously.

I've been too tired to respond here or even think of writing a review of The Ungrateful Refugee. I was blown away by it. It made me question what assumptions I operate with, not knowing what guides my responses to life and people. I was also interested in her idea of the "wedge"--the slice of life--that expresses a person's "truth" and thinking about what mine would be. And the idea that we are all refugees, having left the "home" of our childhood.

Thank you all for being here! And I too hope we hear from Mary Anne and Ice soon.

Petra the illustration didn't come through but this might interest you. Really lovely carving

Two pairs of Australian Aboriginal clapsticks
Didgeridoo and clapstick players performing at Nightcliff, Northern Territory

Clapsticks or clappers are a type of drumstick, percussion mallet or claves that belongs to the idiophone category. It serves to maintain rhythm in Aboriginal voice chants. Unlike drumsticks, which are generally used to strike a drum, clapsticks are intended for striking one stick on another.

As an ancestral instrument that may traditionally accompany the didgeridoo, it is sometimes referred to as the musicstick or just stick. In the language of the Yolngu Aborigines of Northeast Arnhem Land, near Darwin, Australia these clapsticks are called bimli or bilma.

Petra I also saw but couldn't copy beautiful carved wooden hair ornaments. They actually looked like mini clapsticks

Those are pretty, Magdelanye! Thank you.
I don't know enough about carving yet to know how to do these. I'll certainly keep them in mind for when I get more advanced with this hobby.
A friend was asking the other day, where I want this hobby to lead me. The answer is that I'm not sure. I'm just taking it one project at a time right now, looking for elements in each project that will help me carve better.

I started reading When The Saints yesterday and am really enjoying the humor and family story.

This morning I went for a run in the sunshine! It's been awhile since we've seen the sun. On my runs, I'm listening to Diane Galbandon's eighth Outlander novel, Written in My Own Heart's Blood. Has anyone else read this series? I have enjoyed every book so far.

Ellie wrote: "I'm a little frustrated--I wrote a long (probably too long) message only to have it lost.

Ellie, that is so frustrating! I think Gr can't handle messages that are too long, its usually the long messages that get snatched

I wanted to thank everyone for their support of my day "off". I agree: I felt so good that I want to do i..."
I'm glad that you enjoyed your day off and will be incorporating such prime time for yourself on a regular and replenishing basis.

Petra I have not yet taken on the DG epic and am interested in your reaction.

I am actually tired and hungry from OMG just checked and it it took me almost two hours to get a review done, no wonder I am tired and hungry! But I have a synchronicity to report so I'm going to try and find the appropriate thread

Magdelanye, I see the DG epic as a long, detailed family saga and I'm a sucker for a family saga. The time travel element adds to the intricacies of the family structure. I also like the family; all of them.

How's the weather out your way, Magdelanye? It snowed last night, melted over the day (snow was gone), and is now heavily snowing with high winds. We've already got an inch or more. I'm trying to talk hubby into staying home tomorrow. He was asked to go back to work last week and agreed to 8 weeks. We'll see what the morning looks like.

I finished reading When The Saints and thought it was a strong debut novel.

We'll be without power tomorrow morning for about 4 hours. We received notice that some work will be done on the grid and the neighbourhood power will be shut off. Why can't they do work like this in the warmer 3 seasons?!! LOL! We're lucky, we have a gas stove that will warm the one room and a gas cooktop that we can heat food on.

Petra, so sorry you're losing power. Especially in this weather! Such a drag. I'm glad you at least have the gas stove.

I'm excited: my week is busy in a happy way. Tonight my son and I are going to see Mephisto, based on the book of that name. It's his favorite book and the film is prohibitively expensive to buy. Wednesday I'm going to see a friend perform and on two other days I'm getting together with friends. It's great to be retired: my days will be blessedly free.

The weather here has been bizarre: two days in the mid-sixties and back down to the 30s/40s today. It's hard to really enjoy the warm days when you think it's because of global warming.

I'm also excited about what I'm reading: two terrific collections
of essays, White Girls by Hilton Als and The Book of My Lives by Aleksandar Hemon. White Girls is thought-provoking and Hemon's is moving (he was stranded in the U.S. when the Bosnian war broke out): not only is it moving but the writing is fantastically good.

Its snowing here too, not heavily but its accumulating. My neighbour is such a jerk: already (for the past hour) hes out there with his snow blower trying to clear the driveway. It certainly interrupts the peace and makes it hard to focus.

I'm glad you loved When the Saints Petra
Im afraid my timing was off for that one.

Ellie and Petra, Ive enjoyed our encounters on other threads and appreciate your comments! The books you are reading ( the DG series and the2 Ellie just mentioned) all are of interest.

I just finished my first Stefan Zweig. Now i see what all the fuss was about! Sublime! Now reading the quirky Silence Once Begun by (the quirky) Jesse Ball and beginning a book of selected poems by Dennis Lee

Magdelanye, thanks for reminding me of Zweig! I loved Beware of Pity.

We ended up with about 5 inches of snow. Today, I'm settled in nicely after shovelling the driveway this morning.

Yeah, your neighbour is a bit of a jerk. That's a lot of noise for light snow and when a bit of quiet shovelling will do the trick. I'm not a fan of snow or leaf blowers.

I read The Post Office Girl and now of course I will have to chase down everything hes written

Petra we must be responding at the same time cause your comment wasnt posted when i replied to Ellie.
I hope your hubby was able to make a good decision re going to work today. Five inches is a lot of snow for these parts!

Thanks, Magdelanye. The roads were cleared by the time he left here. Our street isn't plowed yet but he's got good tires and it's only three city blocks to the main road. He had no driving problems at all.

Oh boy, I see it's snowing out on the West Coast. Stay safe!!

We're in the midst of a deep freeze, it's basically -40 with the windchill. Our car wouldn't start yesterday and we had to call a towtruck to come and boost it. Next Monday it's supposed to be up to -7, until then it's indoor recess and my kid is going to go squirrley.

At least it's warm and cozy in my house, perfect for reading!

I had no idea you folks were having so much snow! And Magdelanye, that neighbor of your sounds selfish and rude. That’s one sound I don’t here in the city. Although there are plenty of others. My part of the Bronx is actually pretty quiet. By City standards of course.

Megan, I’m glad your house is warm at least. I feel cold just reading about it.

I'm imagining a glowing warm thread connecting us all in our cosy nests as we read today! Its winter, let it snow

hmmm...i wrote a comment on the
laptop so i could include links but it didnt post. just checking to see if this will work.
I just said how maybe i was too flippant about the snow...we have about 10 inches and snow steady all day.
What must it be like for everyone else?
I have been inspired to begin First Snow Last Light by Wayne Johnson, bumping it way up The book i had designated for next is not grabbing me and im floundering with the 3 body problem.
How are you doing with that one Ellie?
The Jesse Ball is rather brilliant
Now lets see if this posts

interesting the fone worked altho i cant make calls it posted that but my laptop wouldnt let me do anything

We hardly ever have snow any more. it's a little freaky to me--when I was growing up we'd have had several storms by now. I hope you folks are keeping warm and staying safe if you have to travel. I hope your phone and laptop are restored to service soon, Magdelanye.

Magdelanye, I'm not doing so well with 3 Body Problem. But I'm hoping to back to it. It got such great reviews, I'd like to stay with it. But right now I've got so many other books I'm reading.

I'm about 100 pages into A Fine BalanceI I've always been intimidated by its size but so far it's a fast and terrific read. I finished Aleksandar Hemon's The Book of My Lives. I liked it very much but was particularly moved by the last essay which is heartbreaking.

I took out The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World but haven't yet started it. I'm discouraged by how small the print is. That's one area I do feel my age in. I can no longer read small print, even with my reading glasses. But I do want to read it.

I have to look into the Jesse Ball. The title is intriguing.

It looks like my last entry did not post. :-(

I wish you all well with the snow, safety and warmth. Magdelanye, I hope your phone service is quickly restored and you can use your laptop. I'm very spoiled here. Of course the downside is that it's not very pretty in the Bronx (absolute understatement).

Magdelanye, I'm not doing very well with the 3 Body Problem. I will return to it, since I actually (unfortunately) bought it feeling falsely confident I would love it. I finished Hemon's The Book of My Lives--the last essay is heartbreaking but totally worth reading.

I took out The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World. I'm excited to read it but discouraged by the small print. Even with my glasses it's hard to read.

I'm about 100 pages into A Fine Balance and loving it. I've always been intimidated by its length but so far it's moving quickly. I love the characters as well as the setting (India in 1975, a time of great turmoil). Very satisfying on a number of levels.

I hope this message posts. Again, stay safe and warm.

Ellie, Yes exceedingly frustrating but LOL it was nice to hear from you twice. When I came back here my comment was still spinning so I just deleted it, having covered the info in my post from the fone. On the one hand, I think the situation is untenable and I curse the technology but on the other hand, how else would I know you?

I wont go on, unsure if this will post but I have to say I adore all of RM's books, maybe a fine balance the most. I remember sleeping with it

yay Im connected. Just to add a few things
Ellie said
I took out The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World. I'm excited to read it but discouraged by the small print. Even with my glasses it's hard to read. Yes its a real issue, and it does detract from the pleasure of reading. The paperback version, which I bought was impossible so I got it out of the library in hc which is a little better. Maybe they have it in large print. Although I have an odd negative reaction to the way they re formatted. Gosh, Im the last person to recommend an e reader but dont some of them have the capacity to magnify?

Read the reviews on site for 3body and Natalies review actually convinced me to have another go. I am going to devote the next hour to it and then pick up First Snow, Last Light which I am enjoying immensely.

The snow is still falling, denser and deeper now. Unexpected bonus: the library is closed so they will be waiving fines!

Hows everybody else making out?
Did Petra and others make it to Tai Chi?
Is Megan coping with school out?
Is it snowing in Cambridge or just icy?
MaryAnne I bet you never imagined Vancouver like this

Hey everyone!

It's business as usual in Edmonton, we're powering through a -47 windchill today. I would have loved us to all stay home today. Brr!!
My kid is going squirrley with indoor recess and is getting quite grouchy. It's supposed to be warmer on Monday.

I also want to read Hidden Life of Trees, maybe this year I'll get to it. But good to know about the small font.

I'm currently reading Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, which I'm really enjoying. I grew up in the bible belt, so I know lots of people had to endure this kind of upbringing.

I almost feel like reading a fluffy book just to get me through this cold snap.

Megan wrote: "Hey everyone!

It's business as usual in Edmonton, we're powering through a -47 windchill today. I would have loved us to all stay home today. Brr!!
My kid is going squirrley with indoor recess and..."

I suppose you are more used to it and more prepared!
Maybe you would like Wayne Johnston
he is very readable, not fluffy but not a downer
Petra we do not have a fluffy shelf in our library! And no, this isnt a suggestion. But what would be the equivalent?

Oh this is way colder than we’re used to. I’m ready to book a flight to Cabo at this point.
Everyone at work is worried their cars won’t start, I’m wearing my snow suit on the bus, the train tracks for the lrt snapped in the cold, we are just frozen. It’s supposed to be -11 on Monday which will basically feel like spring! 😂

It's a brisk day here in PoCo today.
Hubby stayed home from work and we both got outside to shovel the driveway and sidewalks. Over a foot of snow! Luckily, it was light and fluffy, therefore not heavy, but it took longer than I expected to get it off the drive.

Sounds like everyone is safe and warm. Thank goodness for that. Maryanne, how are you faring?

Megan, hopefully it will warm enough for your son to be able to spend some time outdoors. The poor guy. It's rough on kids to be so confined.

Magdelanye, I'm glad your computer connected. I always enjoy logging on and seeing a post from you.

I've had The Secret Life of Trees from the library but didn't get very far into it. It's fascinating. At the time, the queue was really long (the book was rather new), so I had to bring it back to the library. Since then, I've been wanting to read it but haven't taken it out again.

Magdelanye, the morning Tai-Chi class was almost full. Most people made it. But the evening class only had 4 of us show up. We got very individual and detailed instruction. It was really nice. The snow was just starting to fall at the end of the class, so the timing was good.

Ellie, I read A Fine Balance so many years ago that I barely remember the story but I remember that I loved it. It would be worth a reread one day. I'm so glad you are enjoying it.

Our scheduled power outage on Monday never happened. It had snowed Sunday night, so I guess the work was postponed. We haven't heard when or if the work will be rescheduled but I hope they give us notice when they have a new date. It would be awful to have the power go off for 4 hours unexpectedly and at random.

I've started reading Salt: A World History, which I'm finding very interesting so far.
Did you know that at one time the Romans paid their soldiers in salt, which is where the expressions "worth his salt" and "earning his salt" came from? And that the Latin word for salt ("sal") became the French word "solde", which means "pay"....and "solde" became "soldier"(who was paid in salt). I like weird, circular information like this.

Magdelanye, for a "fluffy" shelf, perhaps "just for fun" or "light and breezy"?

If anyone would like a book added to the shelf and wants me to do it, please message me. We'll figure out which shelves to add it to and then I'll do that.
If anyone wants to add a book themselves, please do so by adding it to a "shelf" and a rating shelf. (ie: "mystery" and "4-star")
I'm happy to do it, though.

Magdelanye, I took the Trees book out from the library but I may buy it for the Kindle so I can enlarge the print. I'm not sure how expensive it is and I'm trying to save money but the library book is just not cutting it.

Petra, I've wanted to read Salt--I'll be very interested in your response. It sounds so interesting.

Also, I think a "fluffy" shelf is a great idea. I don't seem to have any trouble finding "serious" literature but I'm not so good at finding lighter material (I don't know if I posted this but I thought Cold Comfort Farm was hilarious. I'd put it on my TBR because it was always on "must read" lists but for some reason couldn't make myself actually read it. Turned out to be a pleasure.).

A mystery shelf is also a great idea. I used to read a lot of mysteries although not so much any more, other than the Maigret series I've been loving.

Thanks for talking about the shelves. I'm embarrassed to admit I'd forgotten all about them. I'm not sure how to add a book but I'm going to try to figure that out. I guess I won't put A Fine Balance on it since it seems the two of you read it. Has anyone else been adding books?

The library got the copy of the graphic version of Swann's Way. What fun--and at least the opening really captures the feel of the book. I'm having a good time with it.

I always read several books at a time but I'm so absorbed by Balance that I'm hardly reading anything else. Although I want to finish White Girls. I'm reading his essay on Richard Pryor, a comedian whose social commentary was dead on while still being funny. It's as good as the other essays.

I've ordered a book by Jesse Ball from the library but I forgot to ask if there was one I should start with.

Mega, I hope it's going well with your son. Is he still home?

Ellie, I'd be happy to add any book you like. Just send me a message with the shelf particulars. Would you like me to add Cold Comfort Farm? Please send me the rating and shelves, if you think this is a good addition.

I've added a couple of books to the shelf since being reintroduced to them. I had forgotten about them, too, until Magdelanye reminded me of them.

I will post a review of Salt and let you know my thoughts when done, Ellie. There are some repetitive parts. They haven't bothered me yet. So far, I find the book interesting.

I'm glad you found a copy of the graphic novel of Swann's Way. I found it really well done.

I've added a Mystery shelf.

Magdelanye, I just saw that we have a "wedged between the heavies" shelf. Would this work for our "fluffy" shelf? We can rename the shelf if we want to.

Petra, thanks. I would like to add Cold Comfort Farm. I also have some mysteries but I'll have to look up the titles (they're from series, like the Maigret or Agatha Christie).

@Petra, nice to hear from you!

Cold Comfort Farm has peaked my interest!

So I definetly need a fluffy read after yesterday.
A car drove through my son's daycare!! LUCKILY no one was injured. How scary!! I stayed home with my son yesterday and my husband is staying home today, daycare will be reopened on Monday.
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/loca...

I'm almost done Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. There are some weird side stories wandering through this novel, but overall I'm enjoying it.

Jesus Megan! A CAR drove into the daycare! So good no one is hurt. haven't looked up the link yet but i had to respond immediately
And of course, since a pivotal character in the book i recommended to you has the same name as you, I have been meaning to let you know .
Have i mentioned that I have read OANTOF and had pretty much the same reaction as you. IMHO the book could have benefited from one more edit.

@Magdelanye, Right??!!! A lady put her car in drive instead of reverse and hit the gas. I'm sure she feels awful.

What book did you recommend? Was it Navigator of New York? I'm on mobile and it's so hard to find anything. Can you remind me? Thanks!

West Coast how are you all doing with the snow??