Comfort Reads discussion
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Chit Chat
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Daily Chat
Kathy wrote: What book are you discussing in your book group? "
We're discussing
. I loved it, and I hope that everyone else did too.
We're discussing
. I loved it, and I hope that everyone else did too.
We have our Farmer's Market from 3-6pm Wednesday and 8-noon on Saturday. The big market is in Des Moines, but we don't go that often. It is more of an outing.
Most of the unusual tomatoes are heirloom varieties. They taste great (well, most of them do). My daughter has been eating them for breakfast, just like an apple.
Most of the unusual tomatoes are heirloom varieties. They taste great (well, most of them do). My daughter has been eating them for breakfast, just like an apple.
Oh, I heartily second Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks! But, I should go look at my read shelf in alphabetical order. ;-)
I don't have a lot of "Y" books. I have read:
Your Movie Sucks; a great book to sample for a good chuckle.
Your Movie Sucks; a great book to sample for a good chuckle.
Lisa wrote: "Oh, I heartily second Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks! But, I should go look at my read shelf in alphabetical order. ;-)"I would third that (the book has been on my to-read shelf for years, and I know you like books on the plague, Kathy).
Year of WondersAND!!!:
The Year of Fog (one of my favorite books now!)
The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: A Memoir, a History
Yellow Star
also The Young Unicorns, if you've read the books that come first
Christine -- melon salad sounds good!
Ames is almost back to normal. We didn't get any rain since last Wednesday. Yay! WalMart & Target are flooded. We've been getting free drinking water, too. :)
Ames is almost back to normal. We didn't get any rain since last Wednesday. Yay! WalMart & Target are flooded. We've been getting free drinking water, too. :)
Kathy, I see that you've already read both Year of Wonders and The Year of Fog.I didn't check to see if you've already read The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: A Memoir, a History or Yellow Star. They're both worth reading. Yellow Star is for kids but it read very well for an adult reader, I think.
Thanks for all the great "Y" suggestions. The only one I haven't read is The Young Unicorns, Lisa, which looks great. Oh, wait, Jeannette and Gundula, I havent' read Your Movie Sucks or Young Goodman Brown either (although I keep thinking I must have read the Hawthorne one at some time or other). Lisa and Christine, Year of Wonders is one of my favorite books. I also loved the other ones you suggested, Lisa.
Kathy, The Young Unicorns is great but at least read Meet the Austins and other "prequels" first. I love them all. But TYU is one of my favorites. MTA is my very, very favorite.
Lisa wrote: "Kathy, The Young Unicorns is great but at least read Meet the Austins and other "prequels" first. I love them all. But TYU is one of my favorites. MTA is my very, very favorite."These are the same Austins that are in Wrinkle in Time, right?
Kathy wrote: "These are the same Austins that are in Wrinkle in Time, right? "No, the A Wrinkle in Time family is the Murray family, and Calvin O'Keefe.
Madeleine L'Engle has 2 series. There's the one that starts with A Wrinkle in Time (1962) and the one that starts with Meet the Austins (1960). In some books the 2 families intersect. The Young Unicorns is an Austin family book.
Kathy, From Wikipedia:Kairos
First-generation (Murry) (Time Quartet)
A Wrinkle in Time (1962) (Newbery Award Winner) ISBN 0-374-38613-7
A Wind in the Door (1973) ISBN 0-374-38443-6
A Swiftly Tilting Planet (1978) ISBN 0-374-37362-0
Many Waters (1986) ISBN 0-374-34796-4
Second-generation (O'Keefe)
The Arm of the Starfish (1965) ISBN 0-374-30396-7
Dragons in the Waters (1976) ISBN 0-374-31868-9
A House Like a Lotus (1984) ISBN 0-374-33385-8
An Acceptable Time (1989) ISBN 0-374-30027-5
[edit:]Chronos
Meet the Austins (1960) ISBN 0-374-34929-0
The Moon by Night (1963) ISBN 0-374-35049-3
The Young Unicorns (1968) ISBN 0-374-38778-8
A Ring of Endless Light (1980) ISBN 0-374-36299-8 (Newbery Honor Book)
The Anti-Muffins (1980) ISBN 0-8298-0415-3
The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas (1984, ISBN 0-87788-843-4)
Troubling a Star (1994) ISBN 0-374-37783-9
A Full House: An Austin Family Christmas (1999, ISBN 0-87788-020-4)
The two Christmas books are shorter works, heavily illustrated but not quite picture books in the sense of having pictures on every page. The events in each of these stories take place prior to the events of Meet the Austins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madelein...
ETA: Oh, also scroll up on the page from the link immediately above, in order to get more details.
Some material from that wikipedia page:Bibliographic overview
L'Engle's best-known works are divided between the "Chronos" and "Kairos" frameworks.[19:] The former is the framework in which the stories of the Austin family take place, and is presented in a primarily realistic setting, though occasionally with elements that might be regarded as science fiction. The latter is the framework in which the stories of the Murry and O'Keefe families take place, and is presented sometimes in a realistic setting and sometimes in a more fantastic or magical milieu. Generally speaking, the more realistic Kairos material is found in the O'Keefe stories, which deal with the second generation characters. However, the Murry-O'Keefe and Austin families should not be regarded as living in separate worlds, because several characters cross over between them, and historical events are also shared.
Important L'Engle characters
Main article: Major characters in the works of Madeleine L'Engle
Most of L'Engle's novels from A Wrinkle in Time onward are centered on a cast of recurring characters, who sometimes reappear decades older than when they were first introduced. The "Kairos" books are about the Murry and O'Keefe families, with Meg Murry and Calvin O'Keefe marrying and producing the next generation's protagonist, Polly O'Keefe. L'Engle wrote about both generations concurrently, with Polly (originally called Poly) first appearing in 1965, well before the second book about her parents as teenagers (A Wind in the Door, 1973). The "Chronos" books center on Vicky Austin and her siblings. Although Vicky's appearances all occur during her childhood and teenage years, her sister Suzy also appears as an adult in A Severed Wasp, with a husband and teenage children. In addition, two of L'Engle's early protagonists, Katherine Forrester and Camilla Dickinson, reappear as elderly women in later novels. Rounding out the cast are several characters "who cross and connect", Canon Tallis, Adam Eddington and Zachary Gray, who each appear in both the Kairos and Chronos books.[19:]
[edit:]
Too much information? ;-)I love the books! In case you couldn't tell.
Lisa, I could not tell that you love books. It's a good thing that you added that sidenote. :)
Lisa wrote: "Too much information? ;-)I love the books! In case you couldn't tell."
There is never too much information, especially about books (of course, I am the wrong person to ask, as I usually give lots of information myself).
Lee, I have to mention that your food blog is awesome. I enjoy looking at it so much!
Oops, if I'd only looked on the shelf behind me, I could have avoided this gaff. I loved A Wrinkle in Time and read it with both of my kids. I kept meaning to read the rest of that series, but I'm sorry to say I haven't. That would be a good reading goal to set. Lisa, I'm assuming you loved all of the Murray and O'Keefe ones, too? Thanks for all of the great information about the two series. Wow!
Kathy, My very favorites are A Wrinkle in Time and Meet the Austins. But, I also really liked The Arm of the Starfish and The Young Unicorns. I also enjoyed A Ring of Endless Light, The Anti-Muffins, which I think was added to Meet the Austins in later editions, and (for younger children) The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas. I'm not a huge fan of all of them. AWIT & MTA are definitely my comfort read books, although I did go through a stage where TAOTS met that criteria too.
I love Lee's food blog too, except that it makes me hungry and I'm still not quite there re actually cooking. But, it's a wonderful blog! A real contribution, in my opinion.
Book group last night went really well. Everyone loved the book and had a lot to say (Still Alice). On top of everything I had, another woman brought an excellent dessert. She's sending me the recipe and I'll have to post it. I had too much wine though and now I have a headache...that's what I get.
I'm off to the school with Emma for textbook pick up, schedule, locker, yada yada yada. Happy Birthday to Gundula! Have a good start, everyone (or have a good middle to everyone in another time zone)!
I'm off to the school with Emma for textbook pick up, schedule, locker, yada yada yada. Happy Birthday to Gundula! Have a good start, everyone (or have a good middle to everyone in another time zone)!
Christine wrote: "Book group last night went really well. Everyone loved the book and had a lot to say (Still Alice). On top of everything I had, another woman brought an excellent dessert. She's sending me the r..."Thanks Christine. It doesn't really feel like my birthday, I so much to do today, but that's life. I hope it won't get too hot today. I hope everyone has a good day as well.
Good morning everyone! We are off to get Lea's driver's license this morning. She passed with high marks yesterday -- and the DMV was closed!! I am so happy not to have to drive back and forth to the high school for a while.
Good luck, Emma! Happy Birthday, Gundula!
Have a lovely day everyone! It rained here last night and the temps are in the seventies! :)
Good luck, Emma! Happy Birthday, Gundula!
Have a lovely day everyone! It rained here last night and the temps are in the seventies! :)
Hi everybody! I hope that you are all enjoying your "late summer". Wasn't it just July 4th?! Where does the time go?Happy Birthday Gundula!
Kathy if you're still looking for a Y book how about The Yellow House: A Novel? I haven't read it yet but it's on my list and I see that it's on your list as well.
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Kathy, I've only read A Wrinkle in Time and I'd like to read the rest of the series one day as well. I never would have picked it up without Lisa raving about the book. I'm glad she's so enthusiastic!
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I tried making a buttermilk pie (vegan) yesterday and it wasn't as fantastic as I was led to believe. I got the recipe from another blogger who said it was the best dessert in the world. Huh, not in my books! Anyways, I'm all sugared out.
Lee wrote: "Christine, what was the excellent dessert at book club that you mooched the recipe for?
I tried making a buttermilk pie (vegan) yesterday and it wasn't as fantastic as I was led to believe. ..."
I have a dessert planned for this week, Lee! :)
I tried making a buttermilk pie (vegan) yesterday and it wasn't as fantastic as I was led to believe. ..."
I have a dessert planned for this week, Lee! :)
It's from that evil Vegan Cupcakes blog! :D
Jeannette wrote: "It's from that evil Vegan Cupcakes blog! :D"What vegan cupcakes blog?!
Have you read Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule?
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I am so sorry, but I am going to vent a tiny bit. I hate the public schools. I have no idea what I was thinking. My daughter paid $140 in fees to be on cross country, and then they handed out uniforms based on senoirs first, then juniors, etc. She ended up with a uniform that is a triple extra small, and she can't get it on. Yet somehow she is required to wear this TO school on meet days. The athletics office is telling me that we are out of luck, that they have what they have...too bad for us. The coach isn't answering my emails. Oh, and her locker doesn't work. She has to do all this weird banging on it to get it to take the combination...but again, we just have to deal with it.
The junior high also screwed up Benjamin's schedule. I can't even get started on that or I'll say bad words. Very bad words.
The junior high also screwed up Benjamin's schedule. I can't even get started on that or I'll say bad words. Very bad words.
Lisa, you got it! But, they have a blog, too!
Vegan Cupcakes
You are also correct, Lee! I am so happy that you introduced me to vegan cooking! :)
Vegan Cupcakes
You are also correct, Lee! I am so happy that you introduced me to vegan cooking! :)
For everyone else: I just added the kid to my auto insurance. Now I will never drive again! Do you think I will forget how? :P
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Christine, that sounds so ridiculous, no wonder you are steaming! How is she supposed to wear clothes to school that she can't even get into??? How does any of that make sense at all?
It doesn't make sense. I'm in a horrible mood. I need to calm down. It doesn't help (my mood) that she was scheduled to go to school for her pictures today at 8:00, and she was told that they had to follow the schedule or they would have to wait until retake day. So she missed Cross country practice this morning, which I cleared with the head coach days ago, but the assistant coach didn't get the message from the head coach so she was nasty as heck to Emma when she went to get her uniform. She told her that if she kept up this "behavior" that she would be kicked off the team. Emma was so upset. I hate it when people make my kid upset.
Christine wrote: "I am so sorry, but I am going to vent a tiny bit. I hate the public schools. I have no idea what I was thinking. My daughter paid $140 in fees to be on cross country, and then they handed out uni..."
That is (as my daughter would say) super sucky, Christine! What is wrong with these people? What does the $140 pay for anyway? Well, you know what I think about the public schools.
Okay, vent, breathe, and breathe some more!
That is (as my daughter would say) super sucky, Christine! What is wrong with these people? What does the $140 pay for anyway? Well, you know what I think about the public schools.
Okay, vent, breathe, and breathe some more!
Christine wrote: "I need a cupcake."
You need a dozen!!
You need a dozen!!
Christine wrote: "It doesn't make sense. I'm in a horrible mood. I need to calm down. It doesn't help (my mood) that she was scheduled to go to school for her pictures today at 8:00, and she was told that they had ..."
What is wrong with this person? What attitude does your daughter have exactly?
What is wrong with this person? What attitude does your daughter have exactly?
None. She is the most soft spoken girl in the world. She had an excused absence, for goodness sake. I just wrote this coach an email. I hate being "that mother", and now that's what I am.
Christine wrote: "None. She is the most soft spoken girl in the world. She had an excused absence, for goodness sake. I just wrote this coach an email. I hate being "that mother", and now that's what I am."
I know that this is in no way Emma's doing! Why do people treat kids this way? It just doesn't make any sense. Threats of being kicked off the team because the staff isn't communicating.
But, hey, you have to be "that mother" sometimes! You have to stand up for your kids and yourself against these types of bullies -- that's what they are! You are a good mom! That's how your kids will see it!
I know that this is in no way Emma's doing! Why do people treat kids this way? It just doesn't make any sense. Threats of being kicked off the team because the staff isn't communicating.
But, hey, you have to be "that mother" sometimes! You have to stand up for your kids and yourself against these types of bullies -- that's what they are! You are a good mom! That's how your kids will see it!
Happy, happy birthday, dear Gundula! Do something fun in all the other stuff you have to do today.Christine, I do so feel for you. I have had to be "that mother" and it's not at all fun, but, unfortunately, we have some people that think teens (or any kids) are targets of opportunity to show how ugly they can be. I feel sorry for the kids that don't have a mom to stand up for them. Thank goodness Emma has you. $140 and all the abuse you can bear, huh? In my dealing with kids, I try to keep in mind how I would want someone to treat my own. Apparently, too many people don't keep this in mind. I just hate that the schools employ people that seem bent on destroying the self-esteems of young people. It's like break their spirits or you haven't done your job. Argggggh!
Jeannette, congrats to your daughter on obtaining your driving license. Such a milestone in both of your lives!
Christine wrote: "I am so sorry, but I am going to vent a tiny bit. I hate the public schools. I have no idea what I was thinking. My daughter paid $140 in fees to be on cross country, and then they handed out uni..."That's horrible Christine. If that kind of an attitude is common in the public school system, no wonder many people decide to homeschool their children (or, pay an arm and a leg for private schools). If the assistant coach keeps being a "you know what" you should lodge an official complaint against her; coaches can be really horrible, same with gym teachers. If this keeps on, I would honestly consider taking Emma out of school and continuing to homeschool her; there is no reason to accept abuse.
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Comfort Reads
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Get better quick, slumpy! What did you decide to serve your book buddies?
...."
I saw Ames on the news yesterday...yikes!!
I am going to serve a melon fruit salad, cheese and crackers, and I decided to get a small birthday cake because one of the girls has a birthday on Tuesday.