(Old) A Good Read in the MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 14c/57f with a predicted high of 19c/67f, and cloudy. Weather app says “It’s mild and fucking overcast outside. Maybe you should stay inside and pay your fucking bills.” Weather app is quite right, it’s grey and gloomy outside, and I have just paid the cat sitting service for a booking in November.

Following on from the end of yesterday’s MMP, I read some of the books that were on the oft-publicised US list of banned books. I couldn’t see what was so wrong with some of them to get them banned, but it’s fun to read them and feel that little bit rebellious.

So, what’s your favourite read? I love a good bit of historical fiction, by which I mean something that’s got a real basis in history and has had some decent research. My favourite book, which I’ve read several times, is “Here be Dragons” by Sharon Penman. It’s described as “An absorbing historical novel of power and betrayal, loyalty and political intrigue in thirteenth-century England, Wales and France, centring on King John of England, younger brother to the brilliant Richard Lionheart, Joanna, his illegitimate but recognised daughter and Llewellyn Ab Iowerth, Prince of Gwynedd, a bitter opponent of English ways, laws and encroachment into Wales who becomes Joanna’s husband.”

I’m off to make a cup of tea…hijack away!

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First!

I don’t have a favorite book or genre. If necessary for some reason, I’d probably would pick Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness if pressed, because the story and characters are compelling, the language is beautiful, and the structure of the narrative works very well.

I regularly read fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, semi-cozy mystery, poetry, history, religion, linguistics, art, bio/memoir, popular science, cooking, travel, birding, and other books. I don’t read westerns, romances, or little kid books in general, but will read particular books in those genres if something is recommended. I sometimes pick up a dictionary or a translating dictionary and read several pages for fun.

3

I read All the time. At least 3 books from the library a week.
All non fiction.
The book that changed my life was Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey.
Anything by Wendy Shalit, Uncle Johns Bathroom Readers, David Feldman, Amy Alkon, Miss Manners.
Magazines, such as Rolling Stone and People.

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Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN 'Tis 72 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 94 and N.O.S. I know it rained a bunch last night as ‘twas rainin’ when I went sleepy bye. The big item on today’s agenda is men’s night over to the church house. We shall go over early to setup as is our wont. Outside of that, high RDOS inactivities shall reign.

I read off and on. Sometimes I binge read, as in several books in several days. Then again, I might go several weeks without readin’. I like historical fiction, old skool SF, and religious books mostly.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.

Happy Moanday Y’all!

5

My reading tastes are all over the place, some skew toward science fiction/fantasy and true crime.

I’m currently laughing at Buddy. We got him a Tile tracking tag to wear on his harness. Twice now, I’ve hit the Find function on the phone app and here he came in over the patio fence. He reacts like he thinks the audio that plays when someone hits Find on his tag means “get your furry rump home NOW”.

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During the latest banned book week a friend of mine posted a picture of 8-9 book spines with the question, „How many have you read ?“

I haven’t read any more of them, but I did buy 4-5 at the used bookstore and they are in a pile somewhere.

Currently I probably spend too much time on-line. The last book I read was a Larry Niven book and I‘ve started a Peter F. Hamilton book, which will keep me occupied for a while.

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In senior English class at my Roman Catholic high school (circa 1970) Sister Mary Corona decided that for the first quarter we would read a contemporary novel. She chose “The Godfather” by Mario Puzo. I think she assumed that it was a religious based story. The books were ordered and every student had their paperback copy. The fist day of class she started at the first seat on the right in the front row and had the girl sitting there stand and start reading aloud. As we all know, the book opens at the wedding of Connie Corleone.

I had read the book when it came out so I knew what was about to happen.

As we all know, about page fifteen Sonny Corleone slips back into the house with Lucy Mancini and is having passionate sex with her up against a door when Tom Hagen comes looking for him to summon him to the discussions in the Don’s office.

The horrified look on SM Corona’s face confirmed what obvious from the beginning: that SM Corona had not read the book before assigning it, purchasing all of the copies, and handing out one to each and every senior. She also had no plan B.

The reading aloud abruptly stopped. It was amusing to see SM Corona’s reactions to the book as the class soldiered on for the rest of the quarter. We did read the book for that quarter and there was classroom discussion, along with quizzes and tests.

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And Buddy is 3-for-3 on responding to his Tile by hurrying back inside (giggle). That was something we weren’t anticipating.

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When I was a teen, my mom recommended Elswyth Thane’s series, starting with Dawn’s Early Light. I really enjoyed them and I think I may look for them again. (Just bought the whole Williamsburg series on ThriftBooks.) I was introduced to the Hobbit books in 10th grade and have read them all many, many times. I loved Robert Nathan’s books, and S. J. Perleman.

More recently, I read some of Charles Dickens’ works that I wasn’t compelled to read way back when. I also like Poe, and I absolutely love Jane Austen. I think I’ll take a look at the banned book list after I finish To Kill a Mockingbird. So, yeah, I’ve had my fill of trashy historical romances.

I do recall my grandmother would go to the Lutheran thrift store near her and buy a bunch of paperbacks for a dime each (this was in the 60s and 70s.) When she finished them, she’d pass them to me with such reviews as “This has a lot of good parts” - meaning some steamy stuff. Cracked me up - she didn’t give them to my mom because she’d be aghast, so I got them!

So, neurologist appointment this morning. I was going to have FCD go with me, but he really needs to be home to talk with the hospice nurse. And I can’t think of any reason he needs to be with me. Plus when I’m done, I can stop at WalMart on my way home for some things I’ve not bothered getting since it’s out of the way of my usual errands.

When I get home, I need to call the credit union to find out how to access the MasterCard account since the link was removed from the website. Or maybe it was moved, but I can’t find it. I also need to talk to Hyundai and find out how I set up payments for the new car, but I think I’ll get something in the mail. We shall see. A day of high finance ahead!

For now, tho, some reading before I shower.

Happy Moanday!!

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I’ve read a number of books twice, including the McMurtry series about Lonesome Dove, a number of King’s books, Shogun, LOTR, etc. The only ones I’ve read more than once have been The Milagro Beanfield War and The White Nile. The first is laugh out loud funny and the second is one of the best exploration books ever written.

This week will likely be tense as we await the call to pick up our cat’s ashes.

The covid cases have abated, so business as usual at Walking Dead Manor and we can resume exercise sessions. Our new window blinds are finally going to be installed on Thursday.

My daughter cancelled on us, which is something that happens fairly often. She was supposed to pick up this cat food and litter, but now it will sit here for another several weeks unless I find an alternative. That girl is the queen of procrastination.

Have a good week, all.

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Morning all. Another warm day (so what else is new) with the usual Moanday 5-S’s (shop-sammich-swim-sauna-soccer) to look forward to. Haven’t heard back (heh) from the hearing aid folks in several weeks, will have to give them a call and find out what’s what. Been holding back some cash for them, would like to know for my budget purposes.

As for reading, I can recall reading A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter in school and they made such an impression on me that I’ve never been tempted to pick them up again. Most of my library is Science Fiction and History, with some humor and a full collection of Nero Wolfe mysteries. As I noted in the previous MMP, I’ve been taking a lot of old SF story collections to the gym to read during cycling or sitting in the sauna/whirlpool. Dicey, funny you should mention him, I’m currently reading some Larry Niven stories now (The Flight of the Horse). And of course the Sunday NY TImes, which usually takes me until Thursday to wade completely through.

Hippie, think I heard that story before, but it is still hilarious!

Boo fae, if you want to try something more speculative, Eric Flint started a series known as the ‘Ring of Fire’, about a West Virginia town (hmm, maybe JtC would be interested too) that went back in history to 1632 in Germany, and the interactions with real characters living at that time (Cardinal Richelieu, Gustavus Adolphus) in the middle of the Thirty Years War is pretty well done, IMHO. And you can read it on-line for free: 1632 by Eric Flint - Baen Books

Nettie, nice to have some control over Buddy; wonder how long the effect will last.

FCM, sounds like a busy day, hope everything gets resolved.

I really enjoyed the movie version, may have to see if I can find the book again. And hope the ashes bring closure as well as sadness.

And onward into the week. Excelsior!!

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I’ll second this recommendation. Fair warning, though, after the first few, the series turns into kudzu, with plot branches all over the place in multiple books covering the same time frame, just in different places.

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You mentioned that one before, I did get the first one on my Kindle and read it. The second book is sitting there waiting for me to finish the many other things I’ve got on the go at the moment!

I’ll try to remember that I probably need a diagram to keep up with it!

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And just now got a call from them, hearing aid is in and I’ve got a Wednesday appointment. Funny how that works…

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Sitting in the waiting room. Hope it’s a quick appointment. Then to Walmart for a few things and to the library to drop off a book donation. Then home, i guess.

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Never science fiction or fantasy. Never. I’ve never read Tolkien or C.S. Lewis. No romance or chick lit. I love old skool cozy mysteries like Christie. Literary fiction like The Goldfinch (probably my favorite book ever). I’m kinda burned out on WWII fiction although I will dive into a 1960s/70s Nazi thriller like The Holcroft Covenant. I rarely buy books. Like coppertone I’m a regular library user. I checked out Amor Towles recent Table for Two and look forward to starting that tonight.

Doing some fuds shopping today and picking up an order at the tack store. My ankle is still aching so I will spend the rest of the day reading.

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Yep, I’m a cozy mystery girl, too. Specifically, culinary mysteries (hence, my username).

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Wifey, RN is going to the doctor to have her lesions looked at (there’s another one, on her wrist). She’s in her scrubs so that she can visit her patients afterward. This morning it’s my job to feed and water the cats, and clean the litter boxes.

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I have a t shirt that states “live your life so that if it was turned into a book Florida would ban it.”

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SSLAW #1 wasn’t working, so everything had to go through #2. Which started breaking down towards the end. The it was over to the 300 Slide to help clean up, since nobody there knew what they were doing. :face_with_raised_eyebrow: And in other news, apparently they sent most of Twilight shift home Friday, and the Tuesday-Saturday Preload people aren’t allowed to work on Mondays any more. Also, I lost water pressure during my shower today, so I took a trickle shower. At least it’s back now, so I re showered so I don’t feel unclean.

Probably The Hitchhiker’s Guide To the Galaxy, or anything by Raymond Chandler.

It’s an electronic middle name!

“It has words, we must ban it.” - Florida