flight paths discussion

Dripping
Blowing
Flowers
Growing

finally finished Figuringwhat a thrilling ride. Not for everybody i admit but even the table of contents is a poem.
Now I can get back to Ka and the crow world.
Also can let myself go with Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan which is perhaps too bleak and tense for this moment but way better than some of the reviews warned.

Gratitude for each day that we are free to read.

What is helping to get you through your days and nights?

I got sidetracked with Christmas and then a bit of a reading slump but am now finishing off a few books.

I loved The Transylvania Trilogy! The ending was so perfect. The story throughout was warm, friendly and real. Some of the political sections could be a bit dry but, all in all, the situation as it grew was very well portrayed. It gave me a solid idea of what was happening in Europe and how oblivious the Hungarian people were about what was coming their way. In essence, the political sections were just right; it's politics, in general, that gets my eyes glazed a bit.
I highly recommend this trilogy. Throughout, I kept thinking of this saga as "War & Peace - Light". It's a wonderful family saga.
They Were Counted
They Were Found Wanting
They Were Divided

On my jogs, I'm listening to The Salt Path. What a sad story! These people did everything right and the system let them down. They show such resilience & strength.

I'm currently reading Bleak House at a chapter a day in a group read setting. It's very dark, so far......as the name implies, I guess. We haven't even reached Bleak House yet, in the story.

I forgot about Queens of the Underworld: A Journey into the Lives of Female Crooks. It truly was lackluster.
All the women operated in London, making all the crime settings the same; the women all seemed to feel the same way (crime is thrilling/exciting) and were sent to prison. After awhile, I couldn't remember which Life details belonged to which woman. They all blended together for me.

Petra wrote: "I got sidetracked with Christmas and then a bit of a reading slump but am now finishing off a few books.

I loved The Transylvania Trilogy! The ending was so perfect. The story throughout was warm,..."

I'm so glad you found a work you loved--it's what I always hope for when reading. And yes Bleak House is, well, bleak but so beautiful and powerful. I believe Dickens remains, sadly, relevant today.

So I finished Swann's way and am now in the second volume, In the Budding Grove. I've had some trouble getting going but I'm starting to gain momentum.

Meanwhile, I've been sidetracked a little by the Vera Stanhope series. I read (and loved) The Darkest Evening and am now in The Glass Room. I love Vera--middle-aged, frumpy, grouchy. A hero I can identify with! I'm also watching the British tv series compulsively and loving it.

I love Vera, too! I haven't read the books but the TV show is wonderful.

Bleak House is marvellous (5 chapters in). It has so much emotion and the mystery of the story is already enticing and thrilling. I'm going to really enjoy this.
Dickens wrote about people and he had a fantastic insight into our psyche's. He seemed to understand every motive and feeling we have. Since people don't change over the ages, his stories ring as true today as they did in his day.
I enjoy his books a lot.

Proust is a wonderful author, too. You've read this work before, haven't you, Ellie?
I recall sections of tedium but such well written tedium that I always continued. There were other sections that were hilarious, interesting, entertaining, etc. It all came together in a wonderful package. I enjoyed it as a total work.

Ellie I guess you are immersing yourself for your trip in a few weeks. And you do speak une petite peu les Francais, I think I remember you mentioning.

Even I, no lover of Dickens as you know, recognized the awful genius of bleak house.

The transylvania trilogy is not availble in a printed copy.
Sucks eh. We are losing books. Yet: so many new releases.

Petra you might like my bleak book referenced in my first message. The war played out so different in Italy where the the book takes place. And its based on a true story, which does not always work out .

Oui, Magdelanye je parle le francais. Un peu. J'ai etudiat depuis douze annees. Or something like that!

Petra wrote: "Proust is a wonderful author, too. You've read this work before, haven't you, Ellie?
I recall sections of tedium but such well written tedium that I always continued. There were other sections tha..."

Yes I have read the entire work although it's been many years. I remember loving the first 3 books and the last one. The one where he keeps Albertine a prisoner was, as I recall, both unpleasant and uncomfortable. But even in translation, his prose is amazing. And I'm still hoping (if I live long enough!) to read at least the first volume in the original French.

tre bien mon cheres Ellie. You must be getting pretty excited!
Remember the cardinal rules for packing and take one of those flat bathtub plugs, unless your accommodations are 5 star.

More than reading, I am going crazy over the Murakami/ Ozawa. immersing myself in the music. That concerto #3 lives in me now. It's so great to be able to explore different versions with different tempos and feels. I must say the womwn are more appealing even than Goulds version which I started with. That Alice Sara Ott!

I have started on three new titles, Jillian Christmas ravishing book of poetry The Gospel of Breaking
Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should, Like, Care is by an author I am leery about but curious enough to follow up
and a book of short stories that I may not persue so won't mention until I am committed

I am now on Vera's author's Shetland series Thin Air

vera shetland has been mentioned so offer i am beginning to think i know her.

At the end of the day I loved KA. I encourage you to check it out Ice and actually others too might find the profound whimsy delightful.

Ellie the library bought a few copies of Cloud Cookoo Land so got my chance and have dived right in.
check out Jillian Christmas link above.

Petra youve been awfully quiet. May you be enjoying the sun and blooming things

It has been awhile since I posted, hasn't it?!

Magdelanye, I am trying to recall the title of the book I read that was set in Italy during the war. They had a very outlook on the war than we usually read in novels. Their situation seems to have been different than most countries. .......but I can't recall much more about it than that.

Ellie, I recall that volume of Proust, too. The work, as a whole, is beautiful, but it has some creepy moments & times in it, too. The narrator is an odd duck.

Ice, the first Vera book, The Crow Trap, is always checked out when I go to check on it at the library. I'd like to read the series in order and can't seem to get started. LOL.

I am still reading Bleak House, at a chapter a day and am enjoying it a lot.
As a background book, I selected a light mystery on my ereader, Snow Creek. It's creepy. Not in a gruesome way but in some of the actions of the characters. The actions are very strange. I have an idea of what happened in regards to the crime and why. Now it's just a matter of finding out whether I'm right.
On my jogs I'm listening to The Salt Path, a non-fiction journey along a strenuous walking/hiking trail by a couple who are truly homeless.

petra that sounds so much like the one i just read. beneath a scarlet sky. Italy was in a very awkward position and the story here is based on a man who lived it.

I have the salt path on my official GR tbr. If you are only listening on your jogs, no wonder its taking you so long. A couple of beautiful if freezing days and then back to white skys and drizzle.
This is sad to admit but I actually don't mind. The soft beauty of spring while the world is fracturing is breaking my heart.

Thank goodness for Cloud Cookoo Land

Any audio book takes me ages to get through. Depending on the narration, I can sometimes speed it up a little bit, but I don't want to miss any details, so it's a tricky balance.

Yes, I watch the news with horror these days. Every day I have hope that some positive (and peaceful) changes are coming.

Magdelanye, the title that was evading me is A Thread of Grace. Although my review says the story slowed down in the middle of the book, I recall it fondly. Hmmm.....

so Petra, I looked it up and it sounds like a must read for me. why though couldnt i find your review?

I am loving Cloud Cuckoo Land now that I am thoroughly into it. The sun has just come out but the ground is still too wet after last nights downpour to lay about reading.

Still grappling with Doing Our Own Thing. And the m
Mystery of Being goes into some extremely mysterious territory. I love the sentiment that love is not to be sought; it is what we are.

Magdelanye, here it is: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It's not a good review. I'd love to reread the book one day. I remember it more highly than the review makes it sound.

Have you read any of her other books? I have enjoyed all that I read. I like her stories.

fooey Petra, " sorry we can't seem to find that update "
I have her on top of my physical tbr asap. and i seem to remember reading a shorter work by her that i liked very much.

My favorite fiction on Italy I admit, because of my fascination with period of the Medici, for the way it brought the period to life, a little series starring a pastry cook.
The Stars Compel is the name of one but was it the first or second i can't check on the phone.

Petra, I liked your review. It gave me a sense of whether or not I want to read the book which is the primary reason I read reviews (learning more nuanced information is important but definitely comes second unless I've already read the book).

I'm in an Ann Cleeves obsession. I'm reading Telling Tales. I've also watched the tv adaptation (twice) and the differences between the two are very interesting. I understand the changes and think they make for a better tv viewing but I enjoy the book's more leisurely pace and character/relationship development.

Magdelanye, I want to go back to Cloud Cuckoo Land. I got overwhelmed by the different pov's, especially when we got to whatever that future one is about.

I'm also feeling overwhelmed by my TBR. I just borrowed the ebook version of Morte D'Urban which I really want to read. But I also got The Lincoln Highway back at Christmas (!) which is high on my list. And yesterday, The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois (which is high on my TBR) was on sale for $4.99 (the hard cover is very expensive and for some reason the library only has the eversion--it's much too long for me to read--along with my other books--in a short time so I'm very happy).

And, of course, I continue with Proust.

I finished both The Salt Path and Snow Creek.

The Salt Path was a warm and inspiring story of resilience. This couple were dealt a bad hand, through no fault of their own, and they found a way to become stronger and appreciate Life more. I wish them well and hope they found a new home to call their own.

Snow Creek was interesting. It contains so many elements and flawed people. It makes for a tangled web; and an intriguing one. My one issue with the book is that it is a bit drawn out. At one point the Detective says of another character that she takes a long time getting to the point. I think that is the author calling the kettle black. LOL. He also took a long time to get the story moving, at times.

Magdelanye, I enjoy Mary Doria Russell's books. I have two left to read before I've gone through them all. I have liked all the books I've read.

Ellie, thank you. I'm glad the review is helpful. As I've stated, her books are all good.
I would like to get my hands on The Crow Trap and start this series. I would like to find out the differences between the TV series and the books.
I've seen The Crow Trap on TV. It wasn't one of my favourite Vera episodes. It'll be interesting to see whether the book is better.

The TV series does not hold the depth of the book, and are 'based on' so there is some difference in character perception and visualisation. However the landscape is consistent with the filming locations, an area I like to visit every couple of years. For TV filming tends to be Summer, so perhaps the winter bleakness (austerity) does not always 'shine' through.

Petra I finally found your review and found it informative.
Ice, can a tv series ever have the depth of a book?
Started a new round of books since I last checked in.
On the fone, so the only one I'll mention now is the one on my lap, another Robert MacFarlane derfcalled Underland. Its a wonderful book and he talks about undersea laboratories and remote caves, the huge underground city of Derinkuyu in Anatolia.
And the next chapter 5: invisible cities, Paris.
Do you know or care, Ellie?

So...Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane what an amazing adventure.
As I read the Paris chapter I remembered being fascinated by the catacombs but thought they had been blocked up and had no idea they were a small part of the huge underground network.

Also reading The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt who makes a good case for intuition over reasoning, which he believes develops to justify our decisions.

For poetry I have been exploring Lorna Goodison in her book Supplying Salt and Light I am uncertain if this is the right edition and I will lose this comment if I check, but I tried a few times to change the edition-a kindle -and finally just left my update with a ridiculous statistic, like I've read 128% of 82 (kindle) pages. My book has 121 pages and I have only a couple of poems left. I had never heard of this woman before, but I was attracted by the gorgeous cover.
I also have a hold now on the Salt Path that Petra has interested me in.

And finally! I have been able to get a very special request in for the first volume of the Transalvania Trilogy that Petra and Ellie speak so highly of. I also grabbed on that library visit an audio book on the cold case of who killed Anne Frank. It's chilling for sure. I am getting a bit better with audio books (not falling asleep in the middle of the first paragraph) and have discovered they work well in the bath.

And so for fiction I have just started The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall Pretty droll so far. Still detaching from This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel which I just finished. A thoughtful exploration of gender identity from a variety of perspectives, I really fell for Claude/Poppy.

Magdelanye, I'm glad you were able to track down a copy of They Were Counted. I really hope you enjoy it.

The new Anne Frank book is controversial. It's being pulled from shelves in many countries because the facts and the conclusions are deemed to be wrong.
It might make for interesting reading and speculation.

I'm continuing with Bleak House and enjoying it a lot.
I also started a comedy-scifi, time travel book, Just One Damned Thing After Another. It's entertaining.

On my next jog, I'm going to start a new audio book, Empire of Wild.

It will likely be a while before i get my hands on it Petra as the librarian had to do quite a search for it in book form and its coming from special collections.

Listening to this Anne Frank cold case i can see why its controversial. Names are given and unpleasant facts. IMHO its very methodical and careful though to present the whole story. The narration is good. Do you remember where you read about it?

I'm glad your enjoying Bleak House. Have you read CD's first book? I reread it before reading Empire of the Wild and appreciated how her writing got even better.
Now for some sunny days so you can be out jogging again

The controversy is all over the internet. The book has been pulled throughout Europe and there's talk of pulling it here in North America.

I haven't read any books by CD. Empire of Wild will be my first.

I go jogging in any weather, as long as it is not actively raining. Showers are okay but not a heavy, steady rain.

Petra I finally looked it up (well I couldn't resist) although generally i like to wait until after I've finished reading and formed my own conclusions. It seems like a lot of people or maybe just enough people dont like the conclusions that this extremely hard working team reached. I am on disc 5 and finding it engrossing.

Petra, not that you must, but consider reading the first book first. Empire could be read on its own but i think it might be good to know

did manage to watch most of the first day of Canada reads.I settled at last to watch on the fone because the cbc option on the laptop was full of advertising and it kept going back to the beginning...of the advertisments
Of course they voted off the most challenging of the books. The defenders this year are not that combatitive, which is nice. They all seem sincere in their claim to love all of the books.

I haven't been following Canada Reads. How are the debates going, Magdelanye?

I am reading an entertaining and interesting story that includes time travel, Just One Damned Thing After Another. It's a fun read. It's humorous and has an interesting plot line. I like the main character, too, which helps a lot.

On my jogs, I started listening to Empire of Wild. I have only started so am not sure, yet, about the story but the writing, or reading of it, is compelling.
Magdelanye, what is the first book? Is it The Marrow Thieves?

It was fun to watch in a morbid sort of way, I tuned in for day one and day 3. I was mildly glad to see Wash Black get voted off on day 3, and I hope that 5 little indians won but I haven't yet checked.

The first book is as you guessed, the Marrow Thieves. Reading it first gives a richer context to Empire of Wild but there are enough hints that I guess it can be read as a stand alone.

Humorous, interesting plot line, and a likeable main character: thats my definition of a fun read too. I am convinced.
The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udalljust about hits this mark, tho the humour is on the dark side, the optimism and the character are ultimately endearing.

I have started a YA book as part of my exploration of the work of Naomi Shihab Nye. The Turtle of Oman may be for young children, but it still bears the luminous quality of NSN.

Also just beginning- and this will be a much slower and harder book on the overlapping topic of refugees and displacement--
I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey by Izzeldin Abuelaish Just reading the intro and first chapter pierced my heart.