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I forgot to mention that JLB's books are the type that will keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning. Once I start one of his books I find it very hard to put it down until finished. I wish we could get more people reading him.

I don't like to harp on this but I "strongly" recommend that the Robicheaux books be read in sequence to get the most out of them. Things happen in Robicheaux's life that will give you a better understanding of his torment and unrelenting (and need I say sometimes unorthodox) pursuit of solving tough situations. It is also helpful to understand the relationship between Robicheaux and Clete Purcell. On the other hand, all the books are a good read by themselves. Just that you don't have quite as good an understanding of the underlying stories involved. Pontalba, if you don't get to the book before the movie comes out, remember, there are always DVD's.

What are your thoughts on going straight to Lolita??? I am about finished with Speak, Memory.

I am on dial-up (can't wait until I get broadband - soon) and can't listen to the interview. I did read his interview though in regards to Hurricane Katrina. He speaks from the heart and says what is on his mind. My kind of guy. He is the kind that I would be proud to have as a friend. And maybe that is why I enjoy his writing so much, that along with his outstanding writing talent. I strongly recommend that his books be read in sequence or you will miss so much and the endings of prior books would be ruined if you jump ahead.

Pontalba, I am glad that you have started to read JLB. You are in for some enjoyment as his books get better and better starting from the first Robicheaux in "that" series. After I read my first book of his I couldn't stop and proceeded to read in quick order all the books that he has written. Thanks to our library. His writing makes you feel like you are there with him as things take place. Louiseog, I enjoy JLB so much that I would almost "beg you" to give a try to several of his first books and i am pretty sure you would be hooked. Be warned though, his writing sometimes is hard and brutal but it hits the button and makes you understand exactly what is happening. My 2 favorite writers are John Steinbeck and James Lee Burke, two completely different writers. Sorry for my slow response to this topic but we are so busy and right in the middle of getting things done for our move.

Time to start reading a James Lee Burke. One thing that is quaranteed, you will not be bored.

I guess that almost everyone has their favorite. I enjoyed both Firestarter and IT, although the Dark Tower series is still my favorite, I think.

I am going to place an order for a case of the following wines. A description of the one wine is at the bottom of the post. ................................................................................................Sale Price 2130 NAIA - Rueda Vina Sila (white).....................2 bottles .......$9.99 ea......Spain 5188 Marques de Riscal Verdejo Rueda (white).....2 bottles.....$5.99 ea......Spain 6081 Aveledo Vinho Verde (white)........................3 bottles.........$5.99 ea......Portugal 1947 Tres Ojos Garnacha Old Vine Calatayud (red)...3 bottles......$5.99 ea......Spain 5505 Vega Sindoa Tempranillo / Merlot (red)..........2 bottles........$6.99 ea.....Spain 6960 Agricola de Borja Borsoa Tinto (red)..............2 bottles........$5.99 ea,....Spain 5576 San Felipe Malbec (red)..............................2 bottles.........$6.79 ea.....Argentina 7412 San Felipe Merlot (red)...............................2 bottles..........$6.79 ea.....Argentina 2004 Tres Ojos Garnacha Old Vines Calatayud Rated: 87 Deep red. Lush raspberry and candied cherry aromas, with hints of roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Ripe and lush, with good weight and depth to its raspberry and strawberry flavors. No obvious tannins get in the way of the rich, sappy red fruit. An excellent value.

Actually, I thought it was very touching when the girl, Colette, kissed him on impulse when they were at the beach and on impulse he said "You little monkey", not knowing how to respond. It showed great affection the way he defended Colette on numerous occassions when they were vacationing as children at Biarritz.

We will be moving about 200 miles from where we now live. The movers will load the truck with our stuff on Nov 14 and unload it to the new house on Nov. 16. We have much work to do getting ready, packing, wrapping, selling things, throwing things away, inspections, buying things, etc. Not to mention worrying about something going wrong, like the buyer of our house backing out of the contract at the last minute (she has not sold her house yet).

We drank 2 bottles of the Sogrape Alentejo Vinha Do Monte over the weekend and it was great. Everyone really liked the wine. My thanks to sofia and dogmatix for the recommendation. After our move, which is coming up fast, I intend to buy a case of the wine.

I bought a bottle of the Canadian Ice Wine a number of years ago at the Border Crossing shop. As Free says, it is expensive. I did not care for it though and I don't remember the name of the wine.

I still haven't been able to locate any Ercavio. I guess I will have to wait until I get to N.C.

He / She who hesitates................... The flapjacks and "real" maple syrup are good choices. We go up into the mountains every year in late winter/early spring to where they have the camps and are tapping the maple trees. We buy the maple syrup from a store where they boil it down outside in a huge vat. It is soo good. time for my dinner............gotta go.

I have also had a lot of Australian wines, both red and white, including the Rosemount Merlot. Australian wines are very good. I am stuck on the wines from Spain and Portugal for the moment. I am about to place an order for 2 mixed cases of Spanish reds and whites. When I have decided on my selection I will post them. Calvert Woodley are having their fall wine sale, good bargains on most wines. I bought 2 bottles of the Casal Garcia today and tomorrow I am stopping at a Total wine store on my way to Pennsylvania (we are visiting my wife's sister and husband for the wekend) tomorrow and intend to buy 3 bottles of the Sogrape Alentejo Vinha Do Monte.

There are a number of red wines from argentina that are very nice. Try these wines: Andeluna Malbec - $9.99 to $11.99 a bottle Andeluna Malbec reserve - $14.99 to $16.99 a bottle And for an inexpensive wine that is a great buy for the money. These are one of the top 10 best selling wines at a popular wine store in Washington, DC: San Felipe Malbec - $6.79 to $8.99 a bottle San Felipe Merlot - $6.79 to $8.99 a bottle

Actually it is a two part question: 1. What is your favorite breakfast. 2. What do you usually have for breakfast.

You little monkey.

For those that have not read the Dark Tower Series I recomennd buying the Box Set of the first 4 books. It has new material in them and has been expanded. I have the Box Set and really enjoyed the books.........From Amazon: Book Description Now Available in a box set-the first four Dark Tower Books -- with new material from the author! The Gunslinger The Drawing of the Three The Waste Lands Wizard and Glass In this brilliant series, Stephen King introduced readers to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger. Roland's quest for the Dark Tower took readers on a wildly epic ride-through parallel worlds and across time. A classic tale of colossal scope-crossing over terrain from The Stand, The Eyes of the Dragon, Insomnia, The Talisman, Black House, Hearts in Atlantis, Salem's Lot, and other familiar King haunts-the adventure took hold with the turn of each page... In a major publishing event, the quest for the Dark Tower continues in Wolves of the Calla (Volume V), Song of Susannah (Volume VI), and The Dark Tower (Volume VII), coming from Scribner, beginning in November 2003. Now readers can go back to where it all began with this box set of the first four Dark Tower titles, each featuring a new packaging and new introduction. Plus Book I, The Gunslinger, has been completely revised and expanded throughout.

Sometimes I have a difficult time trying to find some of the wines recommended by members on the forum. It would really be a big help if wine recommendations included both the "Country of origin" and entire "name of wine" plus whether it is a red or white. Example: Vega Sindoa - Tempranillo / Merlot - Red - Spain I am still trying to find the Ercavio -would appreciate more info on it. Same with the Vinho Do Monte - red or white - Country - Producer Help, I would really like to try those 2 wines, if I can find them

I would surely miss the great Salmon from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska if I were in your shoes. I just love the Wild King Salmon and the other varities from your Ex-area.

The Dark Tower was very good. I am currently waiting for King's new book. I would like to read The Stand but every copy at the library looks like it has gone through the mill....yucky.

I will post a few observations of Nabokov, at the risk of pontalba never speaking to me again, from a few writings in his book: From his writing of mademoissele: "One is always at home in one's past, which partly explains those pathetic ladies' posthumous love for a remote and, to be perfectly frank, rather appalling country, which they never had really known and in which none of them had been very content". This strikes me as being somewhat a little snobbish on his part. On the following mornign, however, when she unlocked the wardrobe to take something out, my Swallowtail, with a mighty rustle, flew into her face, then made for the open window, and presently was but a golden fleck dippimg and dodging and soaring eastward......" I could not stop from feeling a sense of freedom for the butterfly.....fly, butterfly, fly away Reading of nabokov's being under ether while undergoing an appendectomy reminded me of how far we have come in medicine. I am now almost finished with chapter 6 and am enjoying the book.