Member: rmckeown

Like your profile site. Another Updike fan - and Jim Harrison too? I am from Harrison's hometown, but he is several years older and moved away when he was 12 or 13. I first met him 30-some years ago. Love his new book, but my favorite is FARMER. Another bestselling author who was born in Reed City is Doug Stanton, whom I do know, as well as his folks. His new book HORSE SOLDIERS will be out in a week or so from Scribners. And, like you, I was once an English teacher. Thank God, that's over - long ago. - TimBazzett

posted by TimBazzett at 5:14 pm (EST) on Apr 29, 2009

I don't think so. It's fairly violent.

posted by cmtusa at 12:43 am (EST) on Feb 27, 2009

P.S. I see your Updike collection is huge. I feel so lost this week. I never questioned that Updike was always going to be there for me -- to light my way, to enlighten my path, to delight & expand my vision. I can't begin to "deal" with an Updike-less world. We were so very fortunate to have him.

posted by caroleyeaman at 9:13 am (EST) on Jan 30, 2009

I have one day left to break my record & list 10 books in one month ! In order to do this I've looked at finishing some of my half-read books. One I feel guilty about leaving mid-way is Margaret Drabble's RED QUEEN. I searched a few reviews (really negative - Drabble is great - who are these readers??) then I found YOU. How delightful - your story, your photo your lovely pets, your library. "Meeting" you is a GREAT way to start my day! I too am a librarian - retired - husband, alas, reads few books. One more note: up here in Ottawa, Canada (snowed in & with a 2-month long bus strike to help things along) it is so very good to revise my TX aversion & learn that Waco is not just the mad-religious-nut-centre of the US. Now for a bit of breakfast & a plunge into the last 100 pages of the Red Queen.
Thanks for being out there. All the best.
Carole

posted by caroleyeaman at 9:07 am (EST) on Jan 30, 2009

Congratulations, you two on finding each other and successfully merging libraries! Makes me think I shouldn't give up looking for a man who loves to read as much as I do. Actually that's not quite right, I haven't really been looking (happily enough divorced for 10 years), but am a bit tempted by knowing there's a guy out there who loves [Ellen Foster]! I'm not ashamed to say it's one of my favorite books--and I, by myself, have 3 copies, so there! :-) Going to go check out your libraries...

posted by bonniebooks at 2:20 pm (EST) on Dec 30, 2008

I have just read your review of "March" by Geraldine Brooks. You expressed exactly what I was feeling as I read the book. Thank you for putting into words that which I am not gifted enough to write myself.
Kathleen

posted by KathiJ at 12:08 am (EST) on Nov 9, 2008

Hi,
We just read your review of "The Terrorist" and thought it was a great review. But you may not know that very early on, you seem to have hit the italics key, and a large portion of your review is in italics. But also, LOVED the sentence about the bit of bright ribbon!
Jill and Jim

posted by nbmars at 9:38 pm (EST) on Oct 21, 2008

Thanks for returning the favour and adding me to your interesting libraries.

I stumbled across your profile - and its wonderful photo - whilst deciding where to begin with Patrick White. You've really sold me with your review of The Aunt's Story, but I think I will just head to the bookstore with my mind open and see what grabs me on the day. I've already eliminated Voss though, because one too many people has told me how difficult it is. As you may have already discovered, White is the Australian author that everyone respects and loves to have on the bookshelf, yet never actually reads. I want to see what all the fuss is all about. :)

posted by whirled at 7:17 pm (EST) on Sep 8, 2008

yes... I have heard that quote and sadly it seems to be words that I live by.

I am currently hiding books under pillows in my living room. My husband doesn't read, has never read an entire book.
He never actually complains about my books, but there is that creeping guilt that shows up when once again I have more books than
I do shelves. I am to receive some that belonged to my aunt, her son will bring them next weekend. :D

Thanks for the interesting library add.. I am adding you back!

take care

kath

posted by mckait at 7:02 pm (EST) on Aug 3, 2008

wow! what a beautiful picture of two beautiful people, a beautiful pup and of course your lovely books.
You talked me into buying Ellen Foster with your post, Jim! drat!
I am supposed to be enforcing a book buying moratorium on myself!

kath

posted by mckait at 5:35 pm (EST) on Aug 3, 2008

Jim
There is no White museum in Canberra. Only the National Archive, and I don't know how much of his stuff is catalogued and on view. I can find out for you.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 10:28 pm (EST) on Jul 27, 2008

Hi Jim, The 510 Reading Series is the brain child of author Michael Kimball (the one in Baltimore--author of Dear Everybody, How Much of Us There Was, The Way the Family Got Away--not the thriller writer in Maine). (I'm not him ... just an enthusiastic supporter and go-to kitty, as it were.) His mission is to bring together writers and their readers, writers who have been at this for a while and have books out to promote as well as writers who are just getting going, reading works-in-progress or short stories from literary magazines. The crowds have been fantastic with this kind of mix--it's a literary sampler of sorts. And with the readings themselves confined to 15 minutes, everyone is at their best! Afterwards, a whole mass of enthusiasts gets to go out for a drink with the authors at the place down the street. We'd love you to do it, too, a literary franchise! Let me know what your plans are. And if you're ever in B'more, you are warmly welcome.

posted by elduque at 6:09 pm (EST) on Jul 17, 2008

Thanks for sharing! If you're in the Baltimore area, William Henry Lewis and Jessica Anya Blau will be reading in the 510 series in September (different dates: info here:

510readings.blogspot.com)

posted by elduque at 11:10 pm (EST) on Jul 16, 2008

Hi Jim,

Yes, I did see the review you wrote, and was quite moved by your enthusiastic response to "Tomato Girl." Thank you so much for your generous words of praise.

I won't be traveling to Denver, but I'm sure we can work out a way for me to inscribe the book for you. Drop me a line (JaynePupek@aol.com) when your book arrives and we'll figure it out.

My poetry book, "Forms of Intercession," is available at Amazon.com. Thanks for asking about it. Poetry isn't as popular as fiction, but is my first love. Few people know this tidbit, but "Tomato Girl" began as a poem.

All my best,

Jayne

posted by JaynePupek at 6:41 pm (EST) on Jul 12, 2008

Hi - I have added Fly Away Peter after reading your thought-provoking and thoughtful review. What a match made in bibliophile heaven you two are - I have visions of your spending many evenings with just the sound of turning pages and shared appreciation of a particularly moving passage in a book. My husband, although wonderful, is a sports addict - both playing and as a spectator. He was inducted into the West Point Sports Hall of Fame last year - alas, there is no Readers' Hall of Fame. I would like to peruse your extensive library from time to time for more suggestions. I finished What We All Long For and look forward to your review after seeing that you also received an ER copy.
Pat

posted by pdebolt at 10:34 am (EST) on Jul 12, 2008

You did a beautiful review of "Fly Away Peter." I am especially glad to see it since other was so far off the mark!

posted by Esta1923 at 1:23 am (EST) on Jun 23, 2008

We share 63 books, including Malouf's "Fly Away Peter." It has 2 reviews, mine, and one quite opposite. Since this is a book I am haunted by I wonder what you thought. . . Esta1923

posted by Esta1923 at 1:42 pm (EST) on Jun 9, 2008

Jim/Ramona, I just cataloged my arc of Margot Livesey's forthcoming novel and I see that you also have a copy. Should you read it before me, and that's entirely possible, I'd love to hear what you think. I like her work, so when I was visiting the bookstore where I used to worked they kindly passed the ARC on to me (it came to the store in my name anyway which made me feel good:-). It is one of the things I miss about not longer being in the book biz. Best, Lois

posted by avaland at 5:39 pm (EST) on Jan 22, 2008

I picked up Max Tivoli on the strength of your review. Today I read your review of Young Werther. I'd always assumed that book wouldn't appeal after late-adolescence or early adulthood and I've avoided it. Now it sounds like a must read! That grad project must have been a gas. I'm surprised you can't find it on one of those academic databases that are too expensive for anyone but an institution to afford. I also liked C's review of Farenheit 451. Kudos and best wishes to you both in 2008.

posted by slickdpdx at 9:08 pm (EST) on Jan 9, 2008

Jim: Really nice review of The Fall. I wasn't over impressed when I read it. but I was young. I will definitely go back and read it again. The Plague on the other hand I have reread every seven years or so. It is illuminating and enjoyable every time.

posted by slickdpdx at 10:44 pm (EST) on Dec 12, 2007

Hi,
Thanks for adding me to your friends list. I live in North Carolina, and am a teacher of the Visually impaired. As a lifelong reader I love teaching reading (braille) and always hope that my students will be inspired to read beyond the requirements for school.

I had noticed that we share several books that not many readers have found yet, like the Long Walk and Ebenezer Le Page-what a delight he is!

posted by jill123 at 9:31 am (EST) on Dec 8, 2007

Thanks for your friendship! I look forward to checking out your books and hope you enjoy mine.

posted by lisaunger at 11:24 am (EST) on Nov 7, 2007

Hi Jim and Ramona,
Thanks for accepting my invitation! We live in Bridgewater, NJ which is in Somerset County, kind of in the north central part of the state. I grew up here, and my husband is from central PA. We met at Penn State as undergraduates and have been together ever since.
You have a nice looking cat and dog there.
Adele

posted by abarree at 10:15 pm (EST) on Oct 30, 2007

Hi Jim & Ramona,

Thank you! He is called Nelson. We have another cat, too, called Gus, who is mainly white with black splodges (Nelson's brother).

Yes, I am in England. Banstead is in the northern part of the county of Surrey - very close to London.

Looking forward to getting to know you,
Allie

posted by AllieW at 3:52 pm (EST) on Oct 6, 2007

Hey, Jim -

You're spot on about this "thing" being addicting. I suppose there are plenty worse vices, but dang, this thing has been guilty today of gobbling up a good portion of my afternoon... but I am delighted it exists.

It's a real kick to see your collection of covers in a collage, huh? I'm new to this whole "tag cloud" concept, so let's just say I'm relishing in all the features of the site and the novel ways it is schooling me.

I'm a former bookseller who's just started cataloguing my collection, but I'm sure to fall short of the depth and richness of your library.

Look forward to continued book talk,
Dan

posted by dcafaro at 4:38 pm (EST) on Oct 4, 2007

Your poetry and literary criticism books were the deciding factors in my adding you to interesting libraries. Then I read that you're an English professor and your wife is a librarian. It's perfect, not to mention adorable :) Literature has always been my favorite subject in school, and remains among my top classes in college. Being an avid reader, I am especially fond of bookstores and libraries. You and your wife are, indeed, a match made in heaven!

I recently finished Passage by Connie Willis and I'm currently engrossed in my Biological Psychology textbook. Good stuff!

Read any good books lately?

posted by TinazReading at 7:35 pm (EST) on Sep 15, 2007

Hey -- I'm finally on this thing!!

My libary is pitiful in comparison to yours (even though I'm not finished yet), so I won't be visiting your catalog too often. Your libary makes me weep bitter tears of envy. So thanks for that.

Hope all is well with you two :)

posted by bibliolatrist at 4:09 pm (EST) on May 7, 2007

love Jacobsen! a friend gave me a copy for my birthday and it turned into one of my favorite books. luckily have a friend who owns a used bookstore, and he scrounged a couple other books of his out of the ether. Have read Mogens and a collection of his other smaller stories. truly amazing literature.

love the Dawkins also, but find myself not liking his all-or-nothing approach. his passion for science is amazing, but even as an atheist myself he comes off as exceptionally harsh. i think i'll just have to go back to reading his books on evolution. what did you think of it?

posted by crosseyedswede at 2:00 pm (EST) on Nov 21, 2006