What are you reading this week of April 24, 2016?

[hermetic]

Finished Deception on His Mind by Elizabeth George.

At 600+ pages, I found this book overly long. Granted, there were quite a few suspects and we had to go deep inside everyone's head. I guess Elizabeth wanted to give them all equal time so the reader wouldn't know until the very end whodunit. If you wish to seek out this author, be advised: there are two with the same name and they couldn't be more different. The other is a Christian writer while this book is all about murder, smuggling, Muslims, human-trafficking, porn, prejudice, police brutality, and sex. Lots of sex, straight and gay. Most of the characters are unlikable and the situations unpleasant. But I've been trapped inside for days by storms and a sore foot so I read the whole thing. Can't wait to start something new but that won't be til Tuesday.

So, hope you're having a better time than I and I want to hear all about it.

[shenmue]

1. "The Missing and the Dead," Stuart MacBride

[japple]

2. Thank you for the thread, hermetic. Sorry to read that you've been laid up

and hope your foot is much improved. At least you had something good to read (and with lots of sex!!!) to keep you occupied.

I am still reading James McBride's book about James Brown, Kill 'Em and Leave, Searching for James Brown and the American Soul, which has been a real eye-opener for me. Being from James Brown's home state and with in-laws in Augusta, I thought I had heard everything about the life of James Brown. Not so. There is so much more to love/hate about James Brown. The author is a jazz musician and understands his subject, esp. the conflicts with his band and his family, a life of being on the road, the low down dirty business of the music industry. McBride's disdain for the movie made about JB's life, Get On Up is apparent and I now understand why. It's the white people's version of James Brown's life and is filled with untruths and stereotypes.

[Enthusiast]

5. Japple! Now I have that song in my head.

[pscot]

3. That sounds like no fun at all

But there's nowhere to go but up, right?

I have finally learned to check out ebooks, proving that even the oldest dogs can learn a new trick. As a result, i have 3 Janet Evanovich novels; Left of Boomby Douglas Laux, the true story of a young CIA op in Iraq, and John Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie.

[Enthusiast]

6. Hi, pscot! I liked that Travels with Charlie.

It made me want to buy an old pickup truck and rescue dog.

Those Janet Evanovich novels are fun. We have read almost all of her Stephanie Plum series. They makes us laugh.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Other-Pickups-F1-Deluxe-5-Star-/262399471813?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3d183a30c5:g:z7kAAOSwYmZXGVFB&item=262399471813

[hermetic]

8. I really should learn

how to do the ebook thing someday.

Yes, thank you, I am on my way back up now.

[Enthusiast]

4. Hello everyone! Thank you for the thread hermetic!

Sorry about your sore foot, hermetic. Strangely enough I also have a sore foot. Weird coincidence. I would claim it's gout but it hurts in a funny non-gout place. I can't remember any injury. Did you cast a spell on me, hermetic? I know you're a good witch, if you are a witch. I like sex books.



I finished Death At La Fenice by Donna Leon. It had another unexpected ending. At least an ending I could never have imagined. I can't fathom how she could come up with such a masterfully inspired first book.

After Death At La Fenice I read The Chessmen by Peter May. This is the third book of the Lewis Island trilogy. I loved this book. What an entertaining series!

Now I'm reading The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage. Just started really.

Last week Mrs. Enthusiast read Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman. She enjoyed it very much. Now she is reading Day of Atonement by Faye Kellerman. She says she is a real Kellerman fan, either one.

Sometime in the past month Mrs. Enthusiast also read The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage but I cannot find it in my records or in the weekly thread. I don't get it. Sometimes Mrs. Enthusiast goes through so many books that I could have missed one.

[japple]

7. Get on Up is a great way to start the day! It will be interesting

to hear your reaction to The Power of the Dog. I thought it was brilliant and it stayed with me for a long time after I read it.

Hope your foot heals quickly, too. Arnica gel works great for me.

[hermetic]

10. Thanks, japple

I love Arnica and have some in a roll-on. I used it on the ball of my foot at first because I thought I had a stone bruise.

I have started taking turmeric supplements, for joint health, and believe they are making a difference. I cook with it a lot, too.

I just ordered The Power of the Dog based on recs here and the reviews I found. When people say things like, "Brilliant," and "Work of genius," I'm hooked. And for only $4.

[Enthusiast]

12. Thank you, japple!

[hermetic]

9. Hey, Enthus

Oh, for sure a good one. But I quit practicing long ago.

My problem IS gout. Which I wouldn't wish on anyone as the pain was gut-clenching at the onset. Well...there are some politicians I wouldn't mind sharing it with.

It hit my two middle toes then my entire foot swelled up like a balloon. It can affect any joint, evidently. I am not overweight, don't eat red meat and only have a few beers or wine every day. When my blood test came back positive for gout, I was flabbergasted. WTH? So, no more drinky poos for me. I am feeling much better now.

Re: The Power of the Dog, you did mention that one because I put it on my Trello list on Mar 12, so it was some time prior to that date.

I am so bummed that my library has no Peter May books that I decided to Google around a bit and I found this website, Thriftbooks.com, and just went on a shopping spree. I ordered 2 Mays, a Rankin and The Power of the Dog, all for $16 and free shipping. So, next time I can't get to the library, I am covered.

[Enthusiast]

11. That is a bad case of gout, hermetic!

I'm glad are feeling better. I am sad that you can't have any more drinky poos.

We had our regular Saturday Evening Jameson with no noticeable side effects (this time).

But I also get gout when I have too many drinks. Even Mrs. Enthusiast got gout a couple of times in her big toe joint. She pulled on support hose and that helped some.

I will check out Thriftbooks.com.

[scarletwoman]

13. GOUT!!!! AARRGGHHH! OMG, it is the WORST!!!!

A few years back, totally out of the blue, I had a gout attack in my right foot. It swelled up so badly I couldn't wear a shoe. I couldn't sleep because even just the tiniest weight of a blanket caused immense pain. It lasted for about 6 weeks, it was absolutely horrific! I swear, childbirth was nothing compared to the pain I was going through with my gouty foot!

So far, I have fought back pretty successfully against a recurrance. My main secret weapon is cherry juice. My local grocery store carries quart bottles of cherry concentrate, made from tart Montgomery cherries. You mix about 2 tablespoons in water and drink that every day. I've been drinking the stuff every day since that gout attack and I've never had another episode like that. A few times I've gotten a bit of gouty swelling in one of my big toes, but it's gone away in a day or two, and has happened very rarely - and not all for many months now.

My other weapon is the herb Gravel Root, I buy 4 ounce bottles of liquid extract online and do about 4 droppers-full every day. It's very good for the kidneys, and it acts to prevent the formation of the uric acid crystals that lead to a gout attack.

Other than that, I eat red meat sparingly, and especially avoid cured meats (although I allow myself a little bacon about once a month). Turkey is a trigger, too, so I cut way back on that, but I still eat some once in a while. Shellfish are also problematic, but I love shrimp too much to give it up completely. I stopped doing fish oil for an Omega3 supplement, because it turned out to be a trigger, and switched to Flaxseed Oil instead.

I have not given up alcohol, however. Because if I can't have a nip now and then, I'll go crazy, dammit! Anyway, so far so good.

[SheilaT]

14. My mother once had an attack of gout in her big toe.

I've always sort of wondered as to the validity of that report, as it occurred many years ago, almost to the point of in a galaxy far, far away. But who am I to question this? She was already a nurse when it happened, and presumably understood exactly what was going on. The good news is that this was a one time only event, since gout can be pretty unpleasant and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

[hermetic]

15. Hi scarlet

Thanks for the tips. (I pm'd you).

Your 1st paragraph there was exactly the way it happened to me, too. I did find some pure cherry juice at my store (expensive!) and bought a bottle a few days ago. I am feeling much better now.

I had a few beers yesterday while helping a neighbor tear some shelving out of his garage. Didn't seem to hurt me any, which is good because I just will not go without a few beers now and then. Life is bad enough without that sort of aggravation.

So, here's to us and may our footsies never swell again!

[scarletwoman]

16. Hi hermetic!

Glad you found the cherry juice - yeah, it IS expensive, I probably should have mentioned that, sorry! But I think it's totally worth it, and the quart size bottles I get (for around $27) last about a month, using a couple tablespoons or so a day. I consider it a life saver. Fun fact: I like to mix it in brandy and soda, it makes for a delicious cocktail! (Yes, I am truly depraved...)

So, have a beer and have no fear! If I had to completely give up alcohol I would go nuts. (Nutser than I already am.)

I'll raise a glass to your perfect toast - may our footsies never swell again!

P.S. I'll answer your PM shortly - I just got home from being gone all weekend, and my suitcase is still in my car. I'll reply once I've hauled it in and unpacked.