Link –> Come to the Fish Boil! <– Link
Golden Gate Bridge, October 18, 2004
Welcome newcomers! Please introduce yourself
Come on in!
Coffee & Tea under the window, platters of treats on every table
Newspapers are in their regular spot next to the door
Please recommend
May the 4’s be with you
Have you voted for your BooBook Choice in the Tie Breaker Poll?
(Corrected version now up)
(Corrected version now up)
I would like us to consider Oh pure and radiant heart by, Lydia Millet
I’ve just started reading this strange and fascinating novel (so it
fits into the let’s read it together theme). It covers topics
that are a natural for our group. It’s fiction. And an
award winner. And one of the main characters is a librarian.
And the first chapter is terrific! And my friend at work
says it gets better and better right through to the end.
With it’s own movie, does Constant Gardner need more attention? It would seem more in keeping with our mission to support a well reviewed, but slightly more obscure book.
Read the review at the poll site. Could we do any better?
And I saw it last night. I was afraid that I had read too many reviews — usually when I’ve read that much about a film, I feel a little let down when it is over. And I was afraid that since I read In Cold Blood twice, and have seen 2 film versions of the book, that I could slide into an over-pickiness about the details of this film.
But, Capote wasn’t a let-down at all. In fact, in spite of everything I’ve read (and there are 108 reviews at RottenTomatoes.com I never knew what to expect next. The editing was so flawless, the direction so perfect, the acting seamless that it was as if I was watching a story I knew nothing about at all.
I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next.
I think that most people would like this movie. I’m not going into details of the plot — they’re all covered in those reviews I linked to above. But, it is a movie that celebrates intelligence and creative people. And I think most people reading this would like Caporte more than you expect.
Caporte should have been Capote.
is one of the most underrated actors around. He made State and Main worth watching and he can take even tiny roles like his Lester Bangs in Almost Famous and make them feel large and meaningful.
And the editor, Christopher Tellefsen, has an extensive resume of films.
Capote reminds me of his earlier work.
Not that I’m biased or anything (Chris is my brother-in-law!)
I agree w/ that Andi… He had a small role comparatively in Almost Famous, but he made is seem larger.
Thank you katiebird and CabinGirl for your efforts on behalf of BooBooks yesterday and today!
Darn it, I got up too late this morning and it was a tie again! 🙂 I’ve put up a tie breaker diary, kb, so you can take your poster down if you want to. I copied it over to my diary (nyah nyah)along with a write-up on the other book.
so I’m off to vote for “Oh Pure” and then I’ll go for my walk.
Best darn poll I’ve seen in a long time!
The poster will come down immediately. thanks!
God knows I tried to fix it. Freudian slips, much?
Kb, thanks for telling me I could delete it myself. What I did wrong the first time was that I tried to put a line of space between the books in the poll. The poll gremlins don’t like that.
I liked it before! But, it looks fine now. And I’ve linked to it twice.
I hope we get a good response.
You are campaigning very close to the polling site, Miss. We’re going to have to ask you to step back to the legal limit.
I want you on my campaign staff! Like I’d ever run for anything. I inhaled.
The cafe is really quiet (I think everyone is hungover from celebrating). No one will notice if you take off.
The road through Happy Hollow Camp, last weekend.
I wonder if anyone keeps fall colors records. The oaks still haven’t started to turn and I’d really like to know if this is the latest they’ve stayed green.
Andi, Good Morning!
I will, absolutely take a walk — I only wish it could be in one of your photographs.
First — Coffee. I thought I made it and just got up after posting the cafe to pour it. Sadly, I forgot to add the water. Proof, that I really, really need my coffee.
Have you voted today?
I’m still trolling for votes
She said she was closing the voting and declaring “Oh pure” the winner.
Also, you still have to figure out how to stuff the ballot box yet so we can vote more than once.
O — I missed it. I guess I’ll have to take down my poster….
(Disregard comment below.)
We can vote twice?
Andi?
I’m an idiot, ignore the above comment.
Did you happen to notice that both Nancy and I told you are too nice?
Now we just have to decide if that says more about the two of us than you.
Nancy should have read her own email.
I didn’t think to close that diary and so a few more votes trinkled in before the polls closed. This not being Ohio, dammit, I have to honor them. So I put up a tie-breaker diary.
OK, I just voted for Oh Pure and Radiant Heart. I’ve already read The Constant Gardener. I notice that my vote now has them tied, so c’mon folks, we need more votes. (You know what I’m hoping you’ll vote for.)
Oh, thanks!! I’ll leave the poster up a while, maybe it will raise interest.
Yeah, I’ve already read Gardener, too. Didn’t like it all that much, either, but if it wins I’ll grump my way to being a good sport about it. 🙂 There’s plenty to discuss in it.
I don’t think the person running an election is supposed to be a good sport. That’s a pretty old fashioned view, isn’t it?
Snort. I’m just an old-fashioned girl I guess.
Interesting convergence. I used to take a walk every morning – for years, first thing after I got up. Dogs loved it of course.
But the past couple of years, I haven’t been. It’s been bugging me. I not only could use the exercise, but it does so much good for my mental health to be outside in the morning, the morning sun, seeing how my neighborhood changes with the seasons, what’s blooming in my neighbors’ yards, the trees changing. And of course, there’s the dogs lack of walks to feel guilty about. But I just couldn’t motivate.
So just yesterday, I thought – what if I told myself, no coffee until after a walk. It worked this morning. Dogs are happy. And it was a lovely morning. No leaves turning yet here in Texas (yes, we get a little color in the Fall) but lots of lovely Fall flowers blooming.
I look out my (ninth-floor) window down at the trees along the street, and they are only now beginning to show color.
I think Fall is running late this year. Another effect of Global Warming, no doubt. Usually the leaves have been through their cycle and beginning to fall by now.
Is it just me or is anyone else a little freaked out at the Absinthe ad?
I don’t know if I read too many Georgette Heyer mysteries as a young girl, but I thought Absinthe made you crazy.
I’ve read the Absinthe links, where they say this isn’t true.
But, why Absinthe, why now?
I really want to know.
wiki explains it all for you.
It sounds like you have to be a lot smarter than me to figure out if it’s legal to drink or not.
You have to examine the spelling, contents and rituals?
Luckily, I’ve never actually laid eyes on it.
It does sound like the drink they served my daughter in central Europe probably wasn’t the real thing.
I believe a ball of opium was placed in a slotted spoon and the absinthe was poured over it, dissolving it into the liquid. That might be why they include a slotted spoon with the big dollar bottle — just for old time’s sake. The combination was the LSD of its time.
We’re heading out shortly up the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive to absorb the Autumn colors. Tomorrow, we’re touring Monticello. Maybe I’ll have some decent photos to post next week.
What a lovely drive you’ll have! Is that the road that leads into Cherokee, or am I in the wrong state entirely?
Interesting about the absinthe history. Like katiebird I’ve been wondering. . .wtf? Every time I see it I expect Tolousse Leutrec to post a diary.
Great picture of the GG Bridge! Here near SF Bay it is cool and clear this morning. We had heavy overnight rain and now it’s clear and cool.
Getting ready for a busy day…cleaning the house and patio, off to “adopt a highway” clean up today for an hour or two, then decorate for Samhain: Sunday through Monday.
Pre-diary whoring…a diary a day on what it means to be Pagan at this time of year.
Thanks, SallyCat. I wish I was there, so I thought I’d post one of the photographs I took last year.
Because I have another web site for you.
It’s the website for Kinuko Y. Craft who is probably best known for doing the covers of Patricia McKillips’ books but does much more.
That site is marvellous….and they sell stuff….I’m in big trouble!
I’ll be lost there for hours I’m sure…
Thanks for the link…bookmarked and ready to surf all afternoon!
You can always go get a couple of McKillip’s books from the library to help you resist the urge to buy. Here’s one of my favorites of her books.
Andi,
I’m reading PopCo and really enjoying it. Thanks for recommending it.
I don’t think it is for everyone but I figured people who like Stephenson’s broad sweeps would like this book. I highly recommend “Going Out” and I like her Lily Pascale mysteries as well (though not as much as Going Out and PopCo).
Actually, I’ve never heard of Stephenson. I was just going by your opinion.
Which seemed to work.
I mentioned in a thread on Neal Stephenson so I just assumed you’d read his books.
And now I really have to stop posting and go for a walk as the dogs have a hold of me and are dragging me to the door.
Nope, I was just evesdropping
She’s done some lovely stuff. Some of her newer work has the most lyrical prose of any writer in the genre. The opening of Song for the Basilisk is absolutely lovely. Among her older stuff, the Riddle Master of Hed trilogy is one of my favorites reads. I still go back to it every couple of years.
Kelly, could you post that link to your online short story again? I’d love to read it. Thanks.
I just started BostonJoe’s new book and I think it’s really terrific!
Here it is: Cosmic SF. Or if you don’t want to go to the hassle associated there, let me know and I’ll email you the pdf of the magazine direct.
Thanks, Kelly. I went ahead and requested the free subscription.
You are most welcome. I picked up a couple of your books (Generous Death and The Blue Corn Murders) on my most recent trip into St. Paul, though I haven’t gotten a chance to do more than glance at the covers.
I do have to make one admission after glancing at covers: Generous Death is a used copy. I mention this only because the mysterious blue dot is involved and I fear that it will haunt me like Poe’s telltale heart if I don’t come clean. The copy is in absolutely pristine condition except for two tiny stickers to indicate that it’s used, each a blue dot. The odd thing is that the store at which I picked it up doesn’t use a blue dot for that purpose.
oooo….
A shiver just moved down my spine….
Too funny!
I must warn you that Blue Corn is part of a series that’s a little cozy even for my taste these days. I did three of those as a labor of love for the estate of an author who had died after writing the first three books in her series.
If you like edgier stuff, my Truth series might be more to your liking. The first one is The Whole Truth. But whatever you read, thanks so much for your interest.
You’ll laugh at part of the ending of Generous Death. My “science” may have been a little shaky, lol!
Did I ever tell you that Virginia Rich was one of my favorite authors at the time of her death? It was the first time that it happened totally unexpectedly — for me at least. (Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer & P.G. Wodehouse were almost a hundred years old when they died).
I was so glad when you kept her series going.
I’m so glad! She was a really remarkable woman.
It really pisses me off when my favorite writers die. How dare they??
I don’t know whether you’re interested in the curriculum SF as well, but for the moment it’s likewise free. The file is big because the stories are illustrated. That was actually one of the parts of that project that was most fun, because I got to work closely with the illustrator and had virtual art veto, which I never expect to have again. For the curriculum shorts, should you be interested, the instructions are below.
In order to get there, go to http://interactionste.net/ then click on the link http://cipskids.sdsu.edu/ and fill in the username and password visible on the bottom of that first page (http://interactionste.net/) then one more click on the link labeled “Chronicles of the Wandering Star” and there you are.
My wife’s a big fan of cozies, so she should be delighted.
Her books are so atmospheric. They take me right out of this world.
We’ve finally got sun here today! It’s been rainy and dreary for the last week. I’m going to see about taking that garden shot today Andi (haven’t forgotten) while the sun is out. Here are a couple I took a while ago, but just posted the other day:
Pink rose, taken Oct 16, 2005.
I wrote on flickr: I’m fascinated by how the petals of a rose open. Makes me want to shrink down and climb inside. (View large.)
Bee! Taken Sept 17, 2005.
I wrote on flickr: This guy was working furiously … but as the flower was facing down, he was having some trouble getting settled. I think his ginormous pollen sacs were weighing him down. ;o) (View large.)
is so gorgeous that I am in despair at the inadequacy of words to praise it. And yes that was a bit overwrought but the picture deserves it.
Hellooooo everyone, I see this is a busy place today, I’m starving, what is on the menu today….books…oh well I guess I will have to cook myself.
How’s the weather around the country btw….is is on the cool side in socal but I think it will warm up later, yesterday I was dressed for cool and roasted on my shopping trip…so today I will dress for warm.
Have any members had snow yet..
hey! Not fair!
We’ve got movies (Capote) and booze (Absinthe) and flowers (roses).
We serve anything here, Diane! What would you like?
You are right, I was rash in my writings this morning…lol…
BTW when I was shopping yesterday I found ‘dried raspberries’ and boy are they delicious, especially to this raspberry fan.. I ate about half the bag last night and already I am digging in this morn…Also I bought a large jar of sundried tomatoes in olive oil (they are so beautiful) that I am going to make in a salad today and eat with some Rosemary and olive bread!
So I will watch a movie, drink absinthe and take pleasure in the beautiful pics.
Thanks Katie for adding the Map us link, you are the best, but then I have to add all the FBC hosts are the best..
A Puget Sound morning on the conventional New Year’s Day 2003. January often doesn’t look much different than the Celtic New Year that’s presently upon us.
I hope some of you got to hear Ed Schultz’ live broadcast from a union hall in Columbus OH yesterday. It was a rousing performance, and Paul Hackett was fired up for his segment too.
We’re continuing Puget4’s anti-cholesterol diet program. Today we’re making 1/2-alarm tofu chili (Puget4 has a central Ohio spice tolerance). These days we’re all tofu, fish, bran and veggies. And olive oil of course.
Another beautiful picture, thank you so much!
Your diet program sounds great.
Bed is made and I’m showered; about to finish dressing and get some more stuff done today — mostly carting things out to the recycling center. Need to be back early though, to change into my Sharks T-shirt for tonight’s game. 🙂 Playing Calgary — if anyone sees Catnip, tell her I’ll bet a (virtual) cheesecake that the Sharks win! 😉
Great game on TV last night, and before the game, a great surprise — a phone call from Dammit Janet! We talked hockey, politics, pee tests (her spouse had a pre-employment test yesterday, and as a bus driver my spouse is subject to random testing), and other fun stuff. She’s an absolute hoot! (Of course you folks who went to DC already know that…)
Okay, time to get stirring…have a great day, folks…
Good morning Cali!
I just learned that one of my brothers just started a job as a bus driver in Seattle. He’s pretty happy with it.
into a Seattle move about 10 years ago — I had just lost a long-time job and was feeling bummed. He wasn’t interested in hills and snow though, so we stayed here in the Silly Con Valley…and I thought he’d love the challenge of operating trolley coaches with sand boxes (to provide traction on icy roads)… 😉
It’s actually raining here this morning, so recycling center has been postponed till tomorrow when it’s hopefully less damp. (Executive decision by the spouse…)
I wish he’d shower soon…he at least promised breakfast out…
Where’s the Tylenol™? Fitzmas, the gift that keeps on giving…Ha!
Got no witches or jack-o-lanterns for All Hallows Eve, but this is always appropriate:
The Raven: Edgar Allan Poe
Peace
and I thought the hollows were looking a bit spooky in preparation for Halloween.
I can’t believe you are all over here nice and warm, kanoodling about good books, movies and nature walks when I am in need of rescue.
Diane has outed me as a Republican Troll!!!!
Full Story Here
Don’t you worry, Shirl, you can always ask for political asylum at European Tribune…
Thank you! Mel. . .
I am brushing up on my High School French now. . .maybe it should be my College English I should brush up on.
I appreciate the offer, checking out the flights on orbitz right now.
I knew it! You had troll written all over you. Someday you’re going to have to get those tattoos removed, Shirl.
Tonight on CSPAN2, History on Book TV, 9 p.m. Mountain time, Mike Tidwell (Bayou Farewell) and John Barry (Rising Tide) discuss how their books relate to post-Katrina issues.