Fiction: Old / New / Best Sellers ~ 12/01 Export

Hi, and welcome to our newest general/ genre discussion, Fiction. Here is the place to discuss that brand new book you just got, that you are not reading at night, which is not a classic, which is not a keeper, not a romance, not action, mystery or adventure, not science fiction, not fantasy, (is anything left??) Yes!

Fiction!

What are you reading that's new? Are you rereading an old favorite?

Has anybody read Austerlizt yet? How about Elizabeth Spencer's brand new book out this Holiday Season? It has her old stories like "Light in the Piazza," and 6 new ones. Have you read it and how do the new ones compare to the old ones?

When you read, do you identify with the characters? I got up thinking this morning that I have a lot in common with a fictional character, not of a book this time, but of a television show (I figure that came from a written script, right?) Script being fiction if you stretch it a lot?

Anyway, I was idly wondering if I'm the only one and so I thought this would be a fun way to kick off a discussion about fiction, the world of imagination, where the character which only existed in the mind of another comes to life. (And in the case of the one I most identify with, Barney Fife, stays as part of your personna.)

How about you? Is there any character in any kind of fiction that is like you? Or what new book are you reading? Or??

Let's hear from you,

ginny

I think that's a quote from Kingsley Amis, but I can't remember. I don't think there are many writers of fiction who don't use their own lives as a template - Philip Roth is a good example. Some of the most memorable books were written from painful experiences of the author - like "Brideshead Revisited" & "Rebecca". Some of the most imaginative fiction like the Harry Potter books, have been compared to books written decades ago. Writers can unwittingly plaigarise.

The last 'classic' (as opposed to 'modern' novel) I read was "Portrait of a Lady" to re-visit Ralph Touchett who had been an ideal hero for years. I had forgotten how sinister Henry James could be - Madam Merle is as creepy as the ghosts in "Turn of the Screw".

The best modern novel I read was "The Idea of Perfection" by Kate Grenville. It won the Orange Prize. I've met people who were not as captivated as I was, but it was so comfortably different - so comfortably itself in the outback of suburban Australia - it was as fascinating as meeting a kangaroo in the garden.

The great modern novels are easy to remember - big hitters like Margaret Atwood, Kurt Vonnegut & Saul Bellow write books that subliminally alter our minds so we change, but some slight books reverberate for decades - hard to explain why. Joan Barfoot's "Gaining Ground" was one of these. I changed course like a sleepwalker soon after reading it - I needed the author's permission maybe?

I read for stories mainly - it's some European heritage: - "Once upon a time, deep in the heart of the forest, there lived an old woodcutter. . . ". My eyes cross & I settle happily for as long as it takes.

Viogert, you have the best and most intriguing suggestions.

I have never heard of "The Idea of Perfection" by Kate Grenville, what is it about? That title alone sounds like a super book to discuss, thank you for brining all those ideas here.

I didn't know that Evelyn (how is that properly pronounced, anyway, since you're from England, you can set us straight on a lot of things. I'm plumping for EVE as in Adam and Eve?) Waugh (well heck, how is Waugh pronounced? hahahaha) based Brideshead Revisited on personal experience, loved that book and the PBS series. Jeremy Irons. Laurence Olivier, I think. Great series.

I've not been to Castle Howard, but it's on my very long list. Have you read The Forsyte Saga (I may have misspelled that) and if so, what did you think of it?

We just read The Human Stain by Philip Roth in one of our bookclubs and it was a split decision, some of us loved it and some thought it was bleaaah.

Richard Yates is a good writer, much ignored lately. His Revolutionary Road, about angst in the suburbs and a disintegrating marriage is very fine. His short stories which have just been collected and released, are super. I like him, even though his books are on depressing subjects, better than Updike, whose Rabbit series puts me in need of a sanitorium for depression.

It's funny how writers treat the angst of marriage, it might be fun to compare them, and do a unit on Disintegrating Relationships, for instance, Steinbeck's Winter of our Discontent and Yates and (sigh) Updike followed by Trollope (Joanna) and her The Rector's Wife. I can't seem to get thru any of her later books, for some reason.

That's kind of an intriguing idea, anyway.

ginny

viogert:

What an interesting post! Can you tell me a little more about how "Rebecca" was based on a painful experience of Daphne du Maurier?

Also, I didn't think Henry James wrote any spookier books than "Turn of the Screw." Was Madame Merle the title of that particular book? Please forgive my ignorance, but your post was so intriguing!

I also read for the stories, and in my particular choice, the spookier the better!

Lorrie

Great discussion idea here, Ginny!

Yes it's Eve, & it's 'Warr' - why does everything have to be so difficult?

It was a real pleasure to find other people who are not enamoured of Roth or Updike - (or Martin Amis?). There are quite a number of writers who 'write like angels' but seem to have nothing to say, but when they do, it is redolent with misogyny

I hadn't heard of Richard Yates - he sounds a useful writer - I will look him up & give him a try. I was raised in provincial suburbia so read anything I can find on the subject & compare notes.

A shame about Joanna Trollope's books - she is very, very popular in Middle England as you'd imagine. She is such a nice woman though, I always suppose her American equivalent is Anne Tyler, but with a wider canvas & broader view of family life. I have collected Anne Tyler's books for a long time now.

"The Idea of Perfection" is set in suburban outback of Australia. One character has arrived to inspect a bridge that might be demolished, & the other was summoned from Sydney to view the needlework of the townswomen. She is is empowered to bestow grants on a museum of handiwork if it is up to standard. Both characters are middle-aged, neither is stylish or handsome. They meet - they look at the bridge together - both are shy & intelligent but like Roger McGough's poem "Aimed low in life/And missed". I was rivetted by the book because of it's difference from my own life. The atmosphere of torpor, ennui & aimlessness was expressed through keeping up appearances & neighbourliness that seeped through the cheerful prose. The strangest part of the book is it's jacket. It is a photograph of the bridge with the dog's-leg caused by a flash-flood one year - the shifted timbers on the roadway & the ricketty-looking structure - it was all described in meticulous detail. The author was completely unaware of an actual bridge people were attempting to preserve in another part of Australia for exactly the same reasons as in her book - they took this picture of it to show her. And not a moment too soon - the real bridge has been demolished & a concrete bridge erected in it's place.

Recently I found an author I'd never read...The plots were so outlandish: Search for a treasure in the desert, Mad Dog Stone was a carefree drifter...A woman who is deaf finds love in a different century and regains her hearing. Yukon territory with a woman claiming her share, struck by lightning she is transported back in time, Selena come to him, the only person he's ever met who is immune to his psychic powers. Each book I picked up I knew I did not want to read it. By the thrid page I'm lost in the plot and reading fast a furious. Kristin Hannah, author of much skill and a superb storyteller.

I've now read them all. Enjoyed most.

Sage

Well, this is a good new discussion group. In fiction I am currently reading _Girl in Hyacinth Blue_, _A Suitable Boy_, _The Last Time They Met_, _The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay_.

One of my favorite fiction books that I read recently was recommended by Ginny ages ago: _Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God_.

Can't wait to get some more recommendations from this discussion.

Kathy

Viogert, I'm so curious to know how you changed directions (or which direction you chose) after reading Joan Barfoot's Gaining Ground. I did a 180 degree career change after reading Maggie Scarf's Unfinished Business, an over-wrought, overstuffed, poorly edited academic text centered around a very interesting study of women's unfinished psychological business.

I had dreamed of going to graduate school, but thought of it as unrealistic, impractical, a logistical nightmare and a hundred other roadblocks of thought. Before finishing Scarf's book, I had listed my house with a realtor and had a rough draft of a notice of resignation for my position in the business world. This was July, 1984. In September, I was attending a 6 week GRE training workshop, nervously and neurotically arriving at their building at 7AM each morning to use the audio tapes to teach myself MATH. At night, I memorized words and definitions from a thick "language" booklet. (One of the happiest 6 weeks of my life. I'd give anything to feel just a PINCH of that high motivation right now.) In January, I was in school.

Betty

Lorrie - Madam Merle was that sinister friend of Isobel Archer's husband in "Portrait of a Lady" - you remember her? (Big shudder)

Daphne du Maurier fell deeply in love with her soldier husband sailing in Cornwall. He took her back to Egypt where he was stationed - she was without friends, pregnant & nauseous. It was then she discovered her husband had only recently been engaged to a dazzling woman called Jan Ricardo. The biog written by Margaret Forster skates over this - maybe because of the children. They seemed to admire their father's position at the Court of St James more than their mother's literary output, so few of his faults are listed.

Purple Sage: I looked up Kristin Hannah who had lots of gold stars so I have her all her books listed here.

Kathy Hill: that's a good list of books you are reading - fast & slow reads?. I wondered about Vikrem Seth so I'd welcome any encouragement for it. I like Anita Shreve very much & enjoyed "The Last Time They Met". I am negotiating with a bookseller to send me a copy of Joe Coomber's "Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God" - the description of it is irresistable

Betty Gregory: I read Maggie Scarf's book too - you are right - it was a patchy sort of book, but often the least influential-looking books have the biggest impact - like advertising agencies know only too well. I wonder if the reason is that we are ready? Or that the book reveals something about ourselves we were unaware of before? In "Gaining Ground" I felt a strange & overpowering envy for the woman in the book, because she was living by herself miles from anywhere. I was made aware that I liked being alone very much. At that time I was living happily with my almost-grown-up family & their father - body-servant to all - working full time & doing the usual shopping, cooking & cleaning the rest of the time. I realised why I commuted to London & back in the luggage van - the only solitude I could find for myself. I have spent the last seven years totally alone & very nice too. It must have been really energising suddenly finding a goal after the Scarf book. Knowing what you want & settiing out to get it is a nice situation for a woman I think

I just read the selections and am getting all of them from my library--I don't buy books any more--too expensive nad not more shelves. Thanks to all of ye!!! Joan in North carolina

What a great discussion! I've found lots of new authors. My favorite fiction authors are: Neville Shute, for great stories (some about Australia), and Wallace Stegner, who can pick me up and transport me to whatever he created. Since he lived around here, he wrote about some familiar California scenes, but his characters have so many dimensions, and he reveals those dimensions so enticingly, that one is never completely "full" of any of them.

Anita Shreve can sure write. I've read them all and the only one that I think she failed on was, Pilot's Wife. I think there might have been another ending, but publisher probably changed the ending a little. IMHO.

My favorite Alice Hoffman is still, "Practical Magic." The garden in the book is wonderful and since I love to garden...I really enjoyed that part of the story. LOL

Bad Girl Creek by Jo-Ann Mapson is a winner. I like books by women about women. Strong women. Bear Mountain by Deborah Smith. Great book. I also read her, When Venus Fell. I enjoyed that one also.

So much to read and so little time. Sigh!

Sage

Sage - did you read _The Blue Diary_ by Hoffman? I recently read that one and it was a good one, too. Even gave it to my neighbor to read before I had to return it. I would like to read more of her books.

Kathy

Kathy yes, I read all of Alice Hoffman's books. Once I find an author I like, I tend to read all they have written.

Sage

I too have read all of Alice Hoffman, Anne Tyler, and fond of Ellen Gilchrist. Great reading all.........

Sue Miller would fit in with those books. I read the last one she wrote & I loved it - "Since You've Been Gone"? (was it?) A friend read it at the same time & we obviously didn't read the same book. She disliked the protagonist because she was 'cold' - & I thought she would make a really nice friend because she was still making silly mistakes in middle age like the rest of us. "Family Pictures" - an earlier book about a family with an autistic boy was brilliant I thought.

Ah yes....Sue Miller...I have read all of hers except her latest....something to look forward to.

A Suitable Boy, though long, gives one a real feel for India and the life there. I had a child in my class whose parents were from India the year I read that. They were pleased to hear I was taking the time to read it.

Stegner writes well of the West. I read his Angle of Repose a few years ago and some parts are still in my memory. Wonderful job.

Linda

Linda: Each one of Stegner's books has left its imprint on me that way.

CLYDE EDGERTON writes about southern families either in conflict or in the midst of crises. His first book, "Raney", is about a young, just married couple discovering who it is that they really married. "Walk Across Egypt" is about an old woman taking up with a young, budding, criminal--she had been reading in the Bible about taking care of those in prison. "In Memory of Junior" is about an old couple, both dying--each in separate rooms of their house--with the family hovering, waiting to see who dies first, as there will be property going to one side or the other, depending. "The Floatplane Notebooks" is about a man who believes he can build a plane using material found around his farm, with his extended family either helping or hindering his efforts. "Killer Diller" is the further adventures of our budding criminal, now trying to reform at a halfway house, thinking that he just might be a future television evangelist. "Redeye" is set out West--I didn't care for it. "Where Trouble Sleeps" is about a two bit con man stopping in a small, southern town long enough to make a lady, who is holed up in the pastor's study at a local church, think he's Jesus.

Now, these plots do not seem to scream for attention. And, if I didn't know better I would say ho hum myself. But Mr Edgerton is a master story teller, and the humor he brings to these stories is not forced but the natural outcome of the people themselves.

I read much more non-fiction. A lot of the fiction I do read I discover by accident, word of mouth, and reviews. The first Clyde Edgerton I read was "Walking Across Egypt", and I took it home to play the hymn (on my piano) by the same name, written by Mr. Edgerton, that appears on the last pages of the book. Well, after I played and sang the hymn, I read the first page and never stopped til the end. What a delightful discovery. Try him out. HOWZAT

Howzat...I just finished Where Trouble Sleeps and I'm reading the Floatplane Notebooks. My favorite was Raney. I wanted everyone to read Raney. I pass my books on to my housemate and she couldn't see why I liked Raney so much. She started it and put it aside. Sigh!

I do hope everyone can find a copy of Moon Women by Pamela Duncan. It's a book to give comfort. We all need that now, or at least I do.

Also, I enjoyed, the Bee Season. What fun. I'm making a list of books and authors. Yeah!

Sage

I'm going to raise a sensitive issue. Linda says: Stegner writes well of the West. Is there a genre of western writers? Why doesn't Stegner merely write well? Most of his books are about people who live in the West, but he is writing about people and the events in their lives. The Western landscape figures largely in Angle of Repose, but when he writes about Wisconsin or Connecticutt is he still tainted by his Westerness? Not a criticism, but I am trying to understand why West is mentioned. We out here feel as if you Easterners do not consider us to be fully intelligent. Sort of like the colonists felt about Mother England, I guess.

John Barth's The Sot-Weed Factor is my current fiction. It is a parody of historical novels and Fielding's Tom Jones. Kinda fun, but I'm being very slow at it. At this point our hero hasn't even gotten to the Azores, so I have a long way to go yet.

Great new discussion! Purple Sage, I like to read about women written by women writers also, have been doing this for about twenty-five years. Discovered what a pleasure that is from Womens Studies classes in the 70's. I read Maggie Scarf's book and wish it had a bigger impact on me!!!

Love Anne Tyler. I too, like Sue Miller and I just found her latest book at the library. It is "The World Below." There is such an interesting list of books suggested, I want to read them all. I am so frustrated that I cannot read like I used to do because reading triggers my migraines. I do the best I can and do get some books on tape from the library but it is just not the same as the beloved printed word.

Dear Mrs Watson, the Western genre usually means "westerns", where the Black hat ties little Nell to the tracks and the White hat rescues her. A Western Writer (or painter, or photographer) usually writes about "The West" and the lives of the people who live(d) there, just as Southern Writers write about the South and the lives of southern folk. There are also writers of the Midwest, The Plains, The Southwest, The Northern West Coast, The LA Area, and The East Coast.

Readers will usually read writers who write about areas with which the reader is familiar. If most of the people who post here are from the East, well . . . .

And, look at me. What I have just said assumes that all of us reading this are from the United States. But that's not so. People from all over the World can, and do, log onto Seniornet.

I was born and raised in Texas, but I lived 14 years in the West. It was in the West that I learned that women don't have to be helpless appendages of men, that they can be strong, equal partners in every sort of situation--if they choose. Western women are different and they are wonderful examples to follow. HOWZAT

I didn't know Sue Miller had written a new book! Paige found it in the library. I zipped back to our Amazon but it's not published here until MARCH! Not the end of the world -- Amazon.com had a used copy for $12 so I ordered that it will be here before then even dispatched surface. It's like the publishing embargos on books that UK litigation laws make advisable. We have to send for books about the Royal Family or Tina Brown. It's been happening years. I remember during the war switching the radio to the the American Forces Network & hearing an amazing tune I'd never heard before. It was because LPs of show tunes were not on sale in UK until the musical arrived here. (The tune was "Out of my Dreams" from 'Oklahoma')

Can I jump in?Sue Miller is a favoriet of mine .I read all her books I just finished her latest The World Below. It was a wonderful read.

I have orderd Sue Miller's new book ....I am sure I will read it in short order.....I will then place it in the book exchange.....be on the look out if interested........

I beseech you - please - a small hint - what's "The World Below" about?

What is 'world below'? One minute I didn't know about a new book was published, then the next there's somebody who's read it.

I rate her so highly but because she seems to be a slowly-writer, I expect a very long gap between books. Must be my age - the time passed nice & quickly this time

Here is a synopsis I found from the publisher.

Maine, 1919. Georgia Rice, who has cared for her father and two siblings since her mother's death, is diagnosed, at nineteen, with tuberculosis and sent away to a sanitarium. Freed from the burdens of caretaking, she discovers a nearly lost world of youth and possibility; and meets the doomed young man who will become her lover. Vermont, the present. On the heels of a divorce, Catherine Hubbard, Georgia's granddaughter, takes up residence in Georgia's old house. Sorting through her own affairs, Cath stumbles upon the true story of Georgia's life and marriage, and of the misunderstanding upon which she built a lasting love.

Yes, Stegner is a good writer - no matter what he writes about.

Here are a couple of women writers who are probably not as well known, but I have enjoyed their work.

Pamela Jekel --- Natchez is what I read and enjoyed by her and she won an award for her Columbia. I also read Bayou that she wrote. wonderfully done!

Another is Jewell Parker Rhodes who wrote VooDoo Dreams: The Story of Marie LaVeau, and a fictionalized account of a race riot in Tulsa Oklahoma in the 20's called The Magic City. All the books held my attention well and, after quite a few years, are still memorable.

I have read Walk Across Egypt. It is the "perfect story"! I didn't care for Killer Diller at all. It didn't seem to hold a candle to Egypt. Linda

Very many thanks for that synopsis. Doesn't sound like my kind of book at all. I'm not fair to authors - reading a synopsis like that & deciding against the book if I didn't know the author - yet when do, I settle down with it expecting to enjoy it.

Many thanks again - something solid to look forward to now.

viogert - the difference in timing works both ways - I remember my grands so anxious for the next Harry Potter book we sent off to Waterstones for it - and several times I have found Waterstones advertising a book that is not available through either Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com here in the States.

Saddest thing folks - Stopped by to visit a friend who switched offices this summer and heard through the grape vine he had a stroke. Shocked since he was only in his 50s I stopped by with a Garrison Keller tape since I am a firm believer that you improve any malady with laughter.

Thank goodness it was a tape - turns out he had the stroke on Thanksgiving and can no longer read - no longer READ! He gathered his entire library last week and sold it - oh can any of us imagine no longer being able to read. Seems stuff comes in but he cannot compute and nothing he reads will make sense. His speach is fine and his body functions but, he gets things mixed up like, he said he had his stroke on New Years and then I said I bet it was Thanksgiving and he still couldn't compute so he kept saying it was Thursday - which is tradionally Thanksgiving Day. But no longer being able to pick up a book and read for yourself adding your own inflections and understanding - oh dear - the blessings we take for granted.

You are welcome. The review I posted must not have been enticing enough. I probably should have written the review myself but when I do that I tend to ramble on and on telling practically the whole book(lol)You did ask what the title refered to... The story takes place in Western Massachusettes and Vermont In Georgia's(the great grandmother of the heroine) diaries she realtes that to create a reservoir in order to supply drinking water to residence of Boston a whole town was flooded. As a child Georgia would take walks with her grandfather and he mentioned if you looked deep into the reservoir you could see the buried town.Hence the title "The World Below"

One of my bigest fears is to lose my sight. But now I fear this type of stroke more. My heart goes out to you and your friend.

No - I didn't mean the synopsis of Sue Miller's new book wasn't interesting, I was confessing to being picky in my old age. Familiar writers can get away with anything. But I am grateful for the information about reservoirs & water, Anything to do with water is exciting NanaB.

I sent the Harry Potter books to a friend's boy in Texas because the US publishers 'Americanised' the prose to make it easier. Children are pretty savvy everywhere I think - no reason to change things. We read "Holes" without an interpreter didn't we?

Not being able to read any more, sounds like the end of the world, but there are worse things. I don't want to think about them, but there really are.

I paid for surface mail, but some kind person thought it would be a nice read over the holiday - but I don't know who to thank - I wasn't charged for it.

What an adhesive style Sue Miller has - I've reached where Miss Chick has just gone & Georgina is settling in & digesting some bad coffee. If I pace myself it will last until...maybe. . . .

How are you enjoing The World Below? I received The Red Tent for Christmas I didn't read it when it first came out but I have heard good reviews about it.Have you read it?? Anita Diamant is another author I make it a point to read. I just finished her latest Good Harbor. It was well written but I found it disturbing.

NanaB... We reda and iscussed "The Red Tent" in July 2000. The Archived discussion can be found HERE

You might find it quite interesting.

I placed "The World Below" on the book exchange today......

Thank you Pat I will read the discussion. Call it a senior moment but in the back of my mind I have a recollection of taking the Red Tent from the library and not finishing it. I am going to read the discussion and give The Red Tent a second chance. Have you heard of Good Harbor??It could probably create some interesting discussions,pro and con.

I just finished listening to "Good Harbor" on tape and am currently listening to "The Red Tent." This is in the opposite order of how most people have "read" Anita Diamant, I know. One would not think they were written by the same author...just my opinion. I plan to go to the archives and read the discussion of "The Red Tent."

When migraines permit, I am reading Sue Miller's "The World Below." I am just a tiny bit ahead of you, viogert. Like it so far! I'm working on trying to get that reading contact lens for my right eye to see if it helps me be able to read without triggering that migraine always on the left side. You may find this amusing, they will not allow me to take the contacts home until I am able to put them in at their office! I failed my first lesson, go back tomorrow for another one, wish me luck. I told them that I thought I could do it at home without someone watching my every failure!!!

What did you think of Good Harbor??I couldn't stop reading it even thou I did find it disturbing.

was a very good read. What is Good Harbor about?

Who is the author of "Good Harbor"?

Nana B, what I liked about "Good Harbor" was the friendship between the two women as atypical as it was. I also like stories about women striking out on their own as happened in this book. I like it that women can then stop and hear their own inner voices, discover the value of solitude. Tigerlily, the author is Anita Diamant.

Anita Diamant is the author of Good Harbor I am reading her backwards I read Good Harbor first and now I am reading The Red Tent

Good Harbor is foremost about frienship. Two women who live in the same town,one permantly and the other ,an author,and her family bought thier home for a summer retreat. They meet by chance and a wonderful friendship develops. They are a great support for each other during thier very differentlife problems. For anyone familar with the east coast of Massachusettes Good hHrbor is a very beautiful beach located in Glouster.

"Good Harbor" sounds like a good read.....I am going to get it....

to get on the list at the library for it! Tomorrow I will tell one of my friends about it. We both like stories about women. She recently returned my book A Thousand White Women -- I haven't read it yet myself lol

GinnyAnn - if you like books about women try _Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God_. It is an amazing look at 3 women - written by a man.

Kathy

You have mentioned one of my all time favorite books ...I loved Beachcombing For A Shipwrecked God. Any time it comes up in talk about books I can't praise it enough At one time I heard Jodi Foster brought the rights in order to make a movie but I haven't heard anymore about it.

for another good book to look forward to reading!

Nana - wow, that book would make a good movie. I am glad that you liked the book, too. I was so taken with the characters.

Kathy

I try to imagine who could play the parts The only one I think is Judi Dench for the older lady but I don't know how Judi Dench's English accent would do for a house boat owner in Portsmouth, New Hampshire(VBG)

Hi Ginny and All Readers,

WOW!!!! What a great place to come! I just discovered this site today. I love fiction. Right now, I am reading The House of Gentle Men by Kathy Hepinstall. For me, she is a new writer. I have fallen in love with her and want to read more of her books.

I haven't read all of the posts, but I can't wait to read them. I know there will be many wonderful book suggestions.

I am going to start Friend of My Youth by Alice Munro. Everyone talks about her short stories, but I have never read them. Like others of you, I love short stories.

I am debating whether to read The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Well, thanks for being here.

Talk to You Later, HATS

Judi Dench is like "a little black dress"--she can do anything and be just right. She's in "The Shipping News" with Kevin Spacey (I haven't seen it yet). I'd watch that woman reading a telephone book.

Joe Coomer wrote "Beachcombing . . ."

HAPPY NEW YEAR--HOWZAT

She was a lovely actor when she was a girl too. Played Sally Bowles on stage in "Cabaret" - danced & sang. You're right Howzat - she can do anything. But before that, she played a wayward daughter in a suburban family, in John Hopkin's quartet of television plays called "Talking to a Stranger". (The same day seen through the eyes of each character). They were very disturbing - everybody stayed in to watch this loveable, difficult - exasperating, daughter. She has always mesmerised me.

I must get that 'Beachcombing'...I'd forgotten all about it NanaB - didn't you recommend it to us?.

Hats - I'm the same about John Franzen - I seem to be put right off getting 'Corrections' because I don't like his face! Doesn't sound logical but there you are - takes all sorts.

Critics in UK think Alice Munro's short stories are mini-novels,they've said she is probably the greatest novelist of our time. Well, I'd drink to that. There is Jane Gardham too - she writes novels as well, but her short stories are riveting.

Viogert, I am with you. I saw Franzen on the Today Show. He didn't really make a grand impression on me, but I don't think he was trying to impress anyone. He seems sort of shy.

Thanks for telling me more about Alice Munro. I read the first page of one short story, and it really caught my interest.

HATS

If any of you are putting off reading The Corrections,because you don't like the way Mr Franzen looks or talks or bad-mouthed Oprah, the I assure you that you will be missing one of the great reads of the past few years. I'm about 3/4 of the way done and it's remarkable for it's plotting and language. Some excellent and prize winning authors were not such nice individuals (Hemingway comes to mind)but they knew how to write.

You have a good recall memory I did recommend Beachcombing awhile back I think in another thread.

I hope I don't hurt any feeling but I didn't like The Corrections I started to read it and usually I will finish a book ,very seldom I won't ,but I just couldn't enjoy this. I saw the author on the Today Show and respected him for his stand about not wanting his book on Oprah's book list but I have since read where he apologised to her.Maybe he decided he needs her help to entice readers to read his book.Again my apologys to anyone enjoying this book.

So nice to find other Judi Dench fans. I didn't know she appeared in Cabaret I read the Shipping News,I hope the movie does the book justice. I saw Kevin Spacey interviewed by Matt Lauer With two such talented artists as he and Judi Dench it should be a winner.

It's too much to expect complete type-casting in a film, but Quoyle's huge chin was a feature right through the book. Kevin Stacey hasn't got a big chin - but he has star quality - like we can't take our eyes off him when he's there. Judi is the same. What to do?

Ed, I never judge a person by their looks. At least, I don't want to judge a person in that way. I just feel that Mr. Franzen is shy, maybe humble, is the right term. I think he wants his book to speak for itself. I think he loves the act of writing and public approval might not be one of his major priorities.

I feel that neither Franzen nor Oprah held any bad feelings toward one another. I think the public made a bigger fanfare over the situation than Oprah or Mr. Franzen. I have read a few of Oprah's books and liked them. So, I probably will take a chance on this one.

I want to read Cane River and A Fine Balance too. It seems Oprah's picks are either hated or praised, a split right down the middle.

HATS

I know two people who read The Corrections and are raving about it.

Hairy, For now, at my library, The Corrections is on the seven day list. It remains there for six months. Then, it moves to the twenty eight day check out. When it moves to twenty eight day, I will check it out of the libray.

At first, I thought about using my Barnes and Noble gift certificate to buy it, but I will wait and get it from the library. It's a fat book. I will probably have to renew it. If we were reading it here on Books, I would chance buying it.

Thanks for telling me what you have heard about The Corrections.

HATS

in the Book page of our Sunday paper there was a review of The Corrections. It was in the worst books of the year. It seems you either love it or hate it. lol

Thanks for telling about the review .I was beginning to wonder about my ability to judge a book.I guess it really is a matter of everyone to thier own tastes.What one likes someone else might not enjoy.And isn't that what makes reading so interesting?

I agree - I listened to a reading group on the radio discussing John LeCarre's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" - a book I thought was as near perfection as possible in the spy genre. I don't think those people had read the same book as me. What I thought was beautifully crafted, they thought was pointlessly complex - I was amazed. Le Carre was very gentle with them though. There have to be enough good books to suit every individual without forcing ourselves to read those that don't suit us. Doris lessing says if a book bores you, put it down, find one that doesn't.

Why are so many author's photographs taken by Jerry Baur? Do you suppose he gives publishers a discount for quantity?

I never noticed that until you mentioned .I just looked at The Red Tent and sure enough Anita Dimant's photo was taken by Jerry Baur Now I will be looking to see who the photographer is on other books. MMMM why indeed him???

Just finished the book "Good Harbor" and it was a good little read....

What a wonderful discussion going on here. Speaking of the book Corrections, the most interesting thing happened this past week after I'd read about half of it and decided to put it aside for a while, as the subject of troubled relationships was beginning to weigh on me. I turned to The Bonesetter's Daughter, by Amy Tan, a book that's been in my to-read stack for months.

As soon as I began reading Tan's book, though, the immediate satisfaction of leaving behind the troubles of several relationships was cancelled out because I also left behind Jonathan Franzen's incredible writing!! I've always enjoyed Amy Tan, not because I thought of her as an amazing writer, exactly, but because I can always count on another journey into an Asian story that she tells so well. I have to say, though, the differences in the writers' skill levels was SO APPARENT. I had to laugh at my predicament.

Does anyone remember Charlie's take on Corrections? He said the subject might be depressing for some readers. That kind of warning usually means I'll like the book, in that I like thinking about how people get into and resolve problems.

At any rate, I think this means I highly recommend the book. The writing is wonderful. The human suffering/troubles are given to us with such precision, are relentless, and caused the same fatigue (in me) as if I'd been in a long argument. Great writing.

Betty

Betty your post was interesting to me....I very much enjoy books concerning relationships, familys, trials and tribulations of living in this world....I too am interested in how others feel and resolve or don't resolve some of their prolems.....I have a friend who I used to save all my books for ...... she thinks they are all DEPRESSING and wonders what she is missing! I am now reading "For Love" by Sue Miller.....I had it tucked away and have not read it.....then I am going to spend some of my Christmas gift certificate on "Corrections".....Sounds like my kind of read......

You said it better than I I found the troubling relationships too much To me it seemed from when the older couple met,married and had children up to and including the present there was dysfunction.Mostly caused by the Mother.(IMHO) Maybe after a while I will attempt to continue reading it.I liked Franzen on the Today show and after seeing him I went and got the book so I hope he does well as an author.

It has been my observation over the years that most family's have some degree of dysfunction.... hard for some of us to admit I imagine but I believe this to be true.......

I wish to welcome our new Discussion Leader, Louise Evans, to this vibrant and vital discussion, she already leads the Books on My Bedside Table and does a tremendous job for us here in the Books as well as is the DL for the WEBTV discussion,

Welcome, Louise!

Due to your wonderful discussion of the Franzen book The Corrections and by direct request in email you may now have a chance to discuss The Corrections, whether you loved it or hated it, in a new Proposed Discussion: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and since Barnes & Noble compare it to Richard Yates's Revolutionary Road, I thought it might be fun to do a littlel comparative lit. If you don't fancy buying this large hardback The Corrections, you might want to chime in on the Revolutionary Road part, it's in paperback and not likely to be on demand in the LIbrary. No person should miss Revolutionary Road, it might make a new and different way to start the spring.

tigerlily's post above reminds me we already did look at Back When We Were Grownups and enjoyed arguing over the relative dysfunction of THAT family, too, perhaps those of you who read that might chime in, also?

The date will be determined by the interest of the participants, do post there if at all interested?

Happy New Year to you all,

ginny

I read the first chapter of "The Corrections" in the N.Y. Times First Chapter section.....intriguing...I like his discriptive writing.....that book is being discussed now in the book discussion part of the N.Y. Times......I didn't read it because I want the book to be all new to me.........

Hi this discussion brought to mind a book with another dysfunctional family Gail Goodwins A Southern Family When this was suggested for discussion in another forum site I somehow found myself drafted into leading the discussion At first there was much enthusiasm and then as the reading went on people were abandoning me right and left.They didn't like the story because of the dysfunctional family members. I had to plead with them to continue...how would it look if my first attempt as a discussion leader ended up with no one participating. I did like the book.

Ginny Thanks for the welcome. I do like these discussions that involve more than one book. Each of us has his/her own taste. I love mysteries, but I also love Star Trek. Of course, I'll never be able to go "where no man has gone before" but it is such fun to pretend. Right now I am reading a bran new book I just got from the library. I already had about 6 books in my arms but I made the mistake of going by the shelves of new books and spotted this one. It just begged to go home with me also.

Iis called "GATEWAYS." Since there are 6 novels together there are 6 authors. There is one novel for each TV series and one for the new fiction series that will probably never be on TV. Three of the authors are women.

Nana B.....I think sometimes these novels such as "A Southern Family" hit to close to home....Gail Godwin is one of my favorites....

Good Morning and Happy New Year to Everyone,

First of all, Betty your whole post spoke to me. I am definitely going to use my Barnes and Noble gift certificate for The Corrections. I do like books that are about family relationships and friendships. All relationships involve change, discomfort and pain at some point in time. Perhaps, none of us like the word "dysfunction." However, Like Tigerliley, I believe all families, at some point in time, experience a shake up. Life becomes like a roller coaster ride.

I like to read books that draw me into the "real" lives that people experience. Some of the troubles I read about have been my experiences. LOL. So, I come away with a lesson or a new way of coping. I think it is unfortunate when we become afraid of reality. When we become afraid of dealing with reality, don't we lose the ability to care for one another? I don't know. I am just wondering.

I just found a new book on Barnes and Noble. It is titled "Spilling Clarence." It is about repressed memories. The book sounds soooo interesting. The author is Anne Ursu. She is a new author.

Thank you Tiger Lily for writing about the descriptive writing in The Corrections and the New York review.

Ginny, thank you for the links.

Welcome Louise.

Nana B, what a coincidence. I just ordered a book by Gail Godwin. It is titled The Good Husband, and I ordered The Glass people. I looked at Gail Godwin's books on Amazon, and all of them look wonderful to me. Any suggestions will be gladly accepted.

HATS

Any book by Gail Goodwin is a winner IMHO. Evensong was very good. She is like Elizabeth Berg, you just can't go wrong.

I just finished RANEY by Clyde Edgerton and I loved it. I chuckled, giggled and laugh out loud while reading it. Wonderful.

Thank you all for the great suggestions for my must read list. The list is looking marvelous.

Sage

I cannot figure out why no one has not requested "Open House" by Elizabeth Berg , on the book exchange....I thought it would be snapped up........Ellen Gilchrist is another of my favorite authors....

Tigerlily I just started to read Gilchrist. I have Annunciation ( think that is how it is spelled. It's in the bedroom and I'm too lazy to go look.)Sigh! I think you recommended her before and so I found some used and snapped them up. Thank you.

Sage

Sage, thanks for the info about Gail Godwin.

TigerLiley, I do like Elizabeth Berg, but I have not read Open House. I have read Range of Motion. I want to read Pull of the Moon. I just have too much going presently.

Jill McCorkle is another of my favorites.......I am like some of you and have lots of good books stacked up to read.....I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

I'm reading A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul in preparation for the Book Club Online's first look at this new Nobel Prize Laureate on February 1.

I have to tell you I love it. I understand some people don't, but I do. You're immediately in another world, Trinidad and Tobago, but the characters are from India, expatriates, it's just smashing. I love it, love it, love it.

AND it's an Everyman Library book and the binding is just wonderful, there's a ribbon to keep the place, a huge long introduction, bibilography, just a pleasure.

AND I have had already to look up a word, "pleasance" as in "the buffaloes's pleasance was in a muddy, cloyingly sweet pool..."

Listen if you want to be taken AWAY by a book read that one, I'm only on page 50, we'll only take 135 pages a week, so don't be daunted, come join us.

Roslyn's class is giving me all SORTS of new ideas in looking at books!

I'm also reading Henry IV, I, II, and III and Richard III for an online course at the U of Mich, and want to see how they handle that, it sounds good, we shall see.

Am also reading "Gormenghast" (the Gormenghast trilogy) since seeing the series on HBO. It was written by Mervyn Peake in the 40's and has quite a distinguished critical reputation.

The first book in the series is called Titus Groan. It's about an Authurian legend type of thing and it's also GOOOOD!

Am also just beginning again, hate to read too far in advance, the one and only Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, who is now deceased, but a new book of his short stories is just out, some never published. You may know Yates as the author of Eleven Kinds of Loneliness.

Yates is favored by the literti, who appreciate his wonderful ability. He's often been called a "writers writer" because of the respect other writers and critics have for him, but the introduction to his short stories seems to imply he'd have hated that.

You remember all the fracas about the author who did not want to be an "Oprah book?" Well we're reading that, The Corrections, probably in March in the Book Club Onine and B&N compares it to Revolutionary Road. We're going to read both, why not join us? We'll make our own comparisons.

If YOU have not read Revolutionary Road we'd love to hear your opinion of it, it's in paperback and fairly short, TOO short for me, a wonderful experience.

As well I've started that wonderful old Mutiny on the Bounty by Nordoff and Hall, another trilogy. It is THRILLING and we're going to look at the REAL Bligh, we have all the Hollywood movie portrayals of him to lend out, and we're going to make our own decisions, you can read one book or ten, do join us, if you somehow missed that book you missed a wonder, and it's fiction, too.

I had been long looking for something really GOOD to read, and now have found it and hope that you all will join us in the Book Club Online in February and March. The Gormenghast trilogy is 1172 pages, and quite frankly, I have no idea how anybody could discuss it!

&ginny&

On the Today Show this morning Gene Shallit was very unkind to the movie, Shipping news.He had praise for the book but said the movie was a bore .I read and enjoyed the book and I was looking forward to seeing the movie.

I don't necessarily agree with critics. One might like a movie even though critics don't. I think it is hard to see a movie based on a book. I spend time trying to compare the 2. But I guess it's better not to.

By the way, the Today Show has been on the air 50 years.

I have been watching the snippets from past Today Shows So much fun to see.Mondays celebration show should be interesting to watch When they reminess about the early shows all the men outside the windows are wearing shirts and ties and the ladies in the fancy hats which were a must wear in the 50's.

The Today Show began in 1952. That was the year I graduated from High School. I didn't have a TV set. Radio still had plenty of good shows. I am fascinated in the changes that have taken place over the years. When you see an informercial selling recordings of older music the singers are wearing clothes and really singing and you can actually understand them.

Louise I graduated High school in '51 was married in '52 had my first baby '53 and second '54 and so my mornings included the Captain and Dave Garraway. I honed my values with Dave Garraway as I often aloud, while cleaning, argued vhemently with the mans views.

There were for me a series of mis-carrages till finally in '59 had my Paul - Didn't go to college til the early 70s after they were fairly well grown. It has only been the last two decades that the Today show was not a morning occurance as I was most often out the door by 8:00 or 8:30. I thought Hugh Downs brought so much to that show - I remember him from the 50s also - he was on a Home Show but I cannot remember the women whose show it was.

Oh you youngsters!!(VBG) I graduated high school 1948 Married in 1951 and between 1952 and 1965 had six babies,.I can't recall ever watching the Today show I think, as already mentioned, Captain Kangaroo,and Miss Jean ,Romper Room and eventually Sesame Street occupied morning TV. Keeping to the thread I am reading Conclave by Greg Tobin Has anyone heard of it?I just started so I haven't formed an opinion.

I'm not to thrilled with "The Correction".....I will finish it though....

TIGERLILY: You will go to heaven - finishing a book you're not thrilled with. I never do - don't feel I can squander my time on unsuitable writers. I have read several absolutely stinking reviews of "Corrections" so you are in good company.

50s MOTHERS: Do any of you feel we are living through a famine of Arts? Where are our Cole Porters? Irving Berlins? Rogers & Harts? Where is the exciting new music? Not Lloyd Webber that's for sure. Our theatres are full of revivals, our films are remakes, sex 'n' death, or Mark III, IV & V. No musicals, no operas, no operettas. The Book Business is going slowly down the tubes in UK - the conglomerates say "Let's just sell Best Sellers?". So we are being offered uniformity of content, style, sellability & all the h/bs are GLUED & not stitched. Central heating will turn the glue to powder - the paper they have used here in the last decade or so will turn brown like grated apples in a very short time. These books are our heritage - such as they are, but where is our music? our songs? We used to be constantly singing the latest tunes. Where are ours?

Viogert....you just make me think about something I said earlier..at my age I don't feel I have to read or finish anything I don't like... "The Correction" is going on the book exchange list...I have a stack of good books I am going to read next...I think I will read "Palace Walk" next..........thanks for reminding me.....It's early here...the book I am not going to finish is "The Corrections"

Tigerliley...I'm with you. I've never believed in reading to punish myself because the author didn't grab or hold my attention. Yes, we all had to read some materials for school reports, but reading for one's own enjoy should be enjoyment. To me, it's in the same category with forcing people to eat burned or rotten food simply because it's there.

š jane›

I agree. If I don't like the characters by the third chapter I ditch them. Life is too short. Too many good, good books to read to waste my time on those I don't enjoy

I finished the Anna Papers by Ellen Gilchrist. So sad.

Sage

TigerLily & Jane. I wrote earlier about not liking Franzen's face which isn't as silly as it sounds. After seven decades of meeting people, their faces can become C.V's. I've also evolved some sound methods of finding authors there's a chance I'd like. I start with reviewers who like books I like. That's the best method. I wouldn't read a book where the author-photo is a woman with her head on one side, or a man who I wouldn't trust with my 13-year old daughter. (You can think of some good old boys that rules out!) Writers chosen for their faces have included Joan Didion, Annie Dillard, Henry James, Margaret Atwood, E.Annie Proulx, John le Carre, Ian Rankin, Lee Child, Joanna Trollope, Susan Griffin, Alice Munro, Seamus Heaney, Peter Hoeg. A bit like finding friends - a quote says "You don't choose your friends, you recognise them". Who said that?

There is an excerpt from "The Corrections" in Amazon -- a sample of Franzen's florid prose. 'Never use one adjective when there is room for several' -- seems to be his principle. I don't mind flash prose if it makes me smile, (first page of Martin Amis's "Money") or terse prose that takes your breath away, (first page of Joan Didion's "The Last Thing He Wanted"), but over-ornate prose is indigestible - tries too hard. "Language was invented to disguise what we're thinking", said Tallyrand - so too many words could be leading us up the garden? Still, Oprah thought he was the kipper's-knickers & she hasn't been wrong very often.

I think it's only fair all round, if we search diligently to find writers who appear to be writing especially to please us. Oh the joy when we do!

Viogert....I am in complete agreement with you....I like most of the authors you mentioned and have read them ....I am not a big fan of mystery or science fiction...guess it may be a good thing as I have trouble keeping up with things I really enjoy....."The Corrections" was tedious, tedious, tedious.....what really did me in was the nightmare had by "Albert" on the ship.......

That was the exact same place I gave up on The Corrections. I feel better knowing I am not the only one who finds life too short to keep reading something I am not enjoying.

I'm so sorry so many of you did not enjoy The Corrections, but there's still hope for the March Book Club Online, in our new Readers Fiction Series, and that's the second of the two books to be looked at there, Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.

I want to be able to say that I read The Corrections, I hope I don't hate it, but if I do I'll say so, you can depend on that hahahaha.

You all are welcome in the discussion no matter if you've only read one, do tune in, anyway, if only to say how much you hated The Corrections!

&ginny&

NanaB....I laughed and enjoyed your post..The funny thing is I have usually many times read Oprahs picks even before they are her picks and have usually liked the books....I don't read them just because she picks them...I like the same things she does it seems.....but this book is a loser as far as I am concerned...dreadfully depressing and much to wordy....I was very disappointed.....I read the first chapter in The New York Times first chapter section and it sounded interesting.....

Regarding author's pictures: I look at James Lee Burke and feel I have come home, found an old friend or relative. When I read his books I feel the same way.

Linda

I can't imagine choosing a book by what the author looks like. At the library, if I am unfamiliar with the author, I open the book to the inside dust cover flap and read what's there. If that sounds interesting, I read the first few pages, and a page or two in the middle (never the end) and if it is still interesting I check it out. After reading the book, if it is good and I want to add it to my collection, I buy it.

If the book is by an author that I know and trust and collect, I buy it sight unseen and my heart sings as I look forward to pleasant hours ahead.

HOWZAT

If I find a "good find" I will usually then read everything by that author....seldom am I disappointed.....and like someone else mentioned....those who review the authors I like are generally someone else I like to read.....has led me to many a good find.....

I agree there is a famine of long lasting quality arts. When I attend a show it is always a revival of a former Broadway hit.I recently watched a PBS show on Richard Rogers,Where are the Richard Rogers of today? I listen to music, read books,watch movies and I admit derive enjoyment from some but in years to come will any of them be considered classics.I think not.

NanaB I think we are probably compensated a bit by the number of contemporary good writers & poets, but I miss the music - all that folk music we took for granted: Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, the Gershwins....
But what I wanted to tell you, was that last night I finished "The World Below" by Sue Miller & to say it was exactly as you described it. It isn't the easiest plot to precis is it? I had a shock in the middle when Catherine sank under the weight of a new baby, two toddlers & the gynecological wounds. I'd forgotten all about that - being quite unable to break out of the squalour because I was exhausted - & a young husband thinking one was doing it on purpose to annoy. Ah well - happy days.
Hairy you're right - James Lee Burke has a marvellous face - it goes with Robicheaux & that atmospheric prose.
Howzat In the past when I liked a book, I would sit looking at the jacket & the authors face. I used to think how their faces matched what I'd read. After a few decades, I learned to look at the face first. If I thought the writer looked interesting then I'd give it a go. I found in time that it works better that way round for me. Everybody is looking for a short cut to a good read, but all books don't please all people - & I end up feeling really ungrateful if a recommended book isn't my sort.

We do seem to be losing the arts. Just recently Miami's Classical Music Station was closed. To me this is so upsetting. It's hard to tell what kind of music has replaced it (I really didn't stick around long enough to figure it out.)

Some of the books I am written now are some mysteries written by Marian Babson. She was born in Massachusetts and moved to London so all her stories are set in England and very definitely have a British accent. What is fascinating me is the differences in the colloquialisms and spellings. I was born in Massachusetts and I got to remembering that my grandparents used a lot of British spelling and I did too so I suppose we were actually reflecting our English heritage.

I will be looking for Marion Babson's books. I was also born in Massachusettes and my paternal grand parents came from England.

I was just looking at the cover - it says she has written almost 30 books. My library doesn't have all of them so soon I will be looking in the computer for the rest of them. One thing good is that the stories never refer to previous ones. Each one is completely different and there are a few for cat lover.

"He seemed like a tree with a hollow trunk lacking the vigor to reach towards the light and grow a canopy of leaves." Lordy, Lordy. I sure giggled when I read that description in Marianne Fredricksson's novel TWO Women. Finished the book still chuckling.

Sage

Purple Sage It's a vivid description of people who rattle around without receiving any nourishment from their surroundings.

Not people like us of course ha ha!.

One of the quickest methods of filling the human vacuum is to start them reading - anything to start with - cornflake packets, comics, picture books - re-reading their old letters. Then start them hunting for their own past, then give them a book on it. Gottem!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4347632,00.html

There's a list in the Guardian this morning of the 100 most popular authors taken from the shelves July 2000 to June 2001 in UK. I found a dozen authors I'd read in the past & one I collect (Sue Grafton). D.J.Taylor who has written a companion piece to go with the list, makes the usual remarks about the standard of reading that we expect with lists like this.

When I could get to the library, I took full advantage of all the services they provided - which meant they would find any book available from libraries in the country - some private - & though the length of borrowing time is less than usual, at least the books were available. It's a brilliant service - it's less than it used to be - but I was amazed what they could find for me. I suppose mine was the scholarly end of library-ticket holding. The majority simply wanted a few reliably readable authors whose names they recognised, that they could take home for a couple of weeks. It was students & specialist types - or cranks like me - who kept the ordering department busy but not over-subscribed. Just as well, because if everybody used it, it would collapse under the strain.

I am trying to argue that people like myself have always been supported by the borrowers who provide lists like this for the Public Lending Rights people. Without readers who turn out every week to pick up books by authors who don't write for me anyway, the local authorities would assume nobody read books any more & would put the money into film libraries or computers instead. The idea of thousands of people reading books of ANY kind, fills me with delight. Nobody stands still in their reading life do they? We all move on to other authors who either write a bit better, or whose characters are better drawn. It happens without us knowing - luckily readers talk to each other & their progress is like mine has been - in the short time with Seniornet here - being guided into new fields of fiction I hadn't known before. Actually - I'm quite proud of this list - I don't need D.J.Taylor to make snotty remarks about it.

Viogert...thank you for the link. As a former library person (I was in charge of the order dept. of a public library) I was always fascinated by what a variety of materials our readers were reading. We of course had heavy collections of mystery, romance and science fiction, but always we had the readers who demanded more. We relied heavily on those readers. Our selection committee was also made up of selectors who kept up on what was available for the 'crank' patron. We called it 'patron driven'. Whatever our patrons desired, we tried to supply. Even if we knew that material would never be read by another person. What we really tried to do was to have the material in the library before the reader knew they even wanted to read the material. And I must tell you, it kept us hopping. We had some really great readers. I miss it so, now that I'm retired. I miss seeing the new materials. Sigh!

I have managed to read some authors that I never would have known about through this discussion. For that I'm grateful. Hurray for Senior Net and the great people who read what I want to read.

Just finished another Ellen Gilchrist. This one called, Starcarbon. Interesting name for a novel. A little 'fluffy' but I enjoyed it. It's a fast read.

Sage

viogert.

Don't we get around in S.Net.? Thanks for posting that site. I now have a list to put in my Library Sack (Can't afford to buy books) We have a great library were can request and they always find for you. I read 2 - 3 books a week and as I now prefer to read the large print as I find them easier to read in Bed. Today was a cold one. Settled in and read a fast reader"Joanna Trollope's" "The Rector's Wife" Enjoyed it.Always thought that some Rector's wives did not have the best of lives. Tonight starting "The bone Collector" by Jeffery Deaver and then" NOra Robert's Midnight Bayou. When does this women get any housework done you are asking. I let a lot go in the winter is my excuse.

JeanneP

JeanneP Big event - a new one from JT. All the reviews have been favourable so far, this time. The men who usually review Trollope's books (& refer to them as 'Aga-Saga's') belong the cliquey group who come over all hormonal when women write about middle class families. They resent the writer's popularity & loathe it if they get rich. It takes them years to get it out of their system. (J.K.Rowling is going through this stage in UK at present). Anybody who lives in Charleston has a novel written about them by Joanna in "Girl from the South". She writes about the place like it's a love affair - a lovely place. This book is about young (30s) uncommitted people.

Ruth Rendell starts a review in the Sunday Times yesterday like this:

"Novels should excite. Not be sensational; that is another thing all together. Among the definitions that the Oxford Dictionary gives for the word are "to rouse up, call forth, to quicken" & "to move to strong emotion, stir to passion", interpretations that apply to Henry James as much as to John le Carre. But many novelists today seem to have forgotten about excitement or have lost it in the mists of magic, intricate playing with time, & prose twisted into strange configurations".

I was so pleased to read this, I copied it out & hope all writers will too.

Viogert.

Will look forward to reading. Joanna Trollope's new book "Girl from the South" Will call the library and put my order in right away. Will have to read it Small Print. Usualy takes awhile before they come out with a Large print. It is getting better now. Have found some current books that size.

Off to pick up my car. Been getting a damaged bumper replaced. I remember my first NEW car I bought in around 1962 only cost twice the price of this bumper.

Jeanne

JeanneP

Thanks for the update on Joanna Trolopes latest. I went to the library today and mentioned to the librarian that Joanna Trollope has a new book.She wasn't aware of it and was so thank ful I told her.She put it on her list of books to obtain. The librarian was the one that first suggested Joanna Trollope for me to read and I have been a fan ever since.

I read the Rectors Wife years ago and loved it. Will have to look for some of the other newer stuff of hers. I am reading John Irving "A widow of one year" As always he is decidedly odd. Irvings characters never do what you expect them to. Part of his charm.

Joanna Trollope says she's written about all sorts of contemporary families & had run out of permutations. "Girl From the South" is about a group of young uncommitted people in their 30s. Some of them have parents but they don't influence them much. I loved the "Rector's Wife" too - in our class-ridden country, people always think the middle-classes are well off, or that the intellectual types always have access to money when they don't. Trollope is good at giving us another view of how respectable-looking people really cope, & their priorities are often different from what you'd expect. Every book contains at least one good quote:
"...nobody ever gives disappointment the credit of being a prime force behind wayward behaviour" - from "The Men & the Girls".

quote is so true. I have her Marrying the Mistress on one of my 'to read' shelves. I just checked my 'read' list and cannot find her listed. Somehow, though, I think I have read her.

I will put her down, I also read about 3/4 of one by Trollope that takes place partly in Spain.. A Spanish lover?? perhaps. Did not like it at all. Was so disappointed. Irving and I are still head to head. The twists he puts in the novels always fascinate me. This is not going to be my favorite of his.. But it is still fascinating.

In the 11 Feb 2002 edition of The New York Times, Ann Beattie talks about going out on book tours. I have never attended a book signing or a symposium featuring writers reading and talking and answering questions about their books, but I would have had I had the opportunity. Here is the link for the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/11/books/11BEAT.html?todaysheadlines

HOWZAT

Howzatt. Thanks for that URL - She is brilliant on the subject, & subtly places the emphasis on parallel events influencing the tour. But the subliminal question is to publishers - is the book-tour worth the expense - & the wear & tear on the writer? I can think - offhand - of half a dozen budding authors, hawking their MS round agents - all starry-eyed about authorship, fame & fortune. They are all going to be marvellous to their fans, love every minute of the interviews, sign everything offered for their signature & wave & smile throughout. It's just not like that - not all authors get rich, not all fans are adoring & public speaking is very hard work.

Have never gone to a book signing or reading. I guess in a lot of ways, dont want to know the author,, just the book itself. Dont want to know why they wrote it ..Funny never thought of it before, but I truly dont want to know much .. Just the book

Last summer I went to a book launch and reading by a local author in my area and really enjoyed it.

Stephanie. I'm the same - I don't want my book inscribed & I wouldn't know what to say. But I'm always interested in what writers say about their readers. Martin Amis once wrote about people lined up to get their books signed by Julian Barnes. He said he was astonished how attractive & intelligent they looked - "The sort of people you'd like to meet", he said, whereas his own fans seemed to look in pretty poor shape by comparison. The staff in the bookshops have another viewpoint & never forget an author who was rude. They tell anybody who'll listen too - it's a laugh, book promotion!

I knew that book store staff are quite critical of authors. I owned a used book store, used to see some of the bigger stores people in my store all the time. They would read a current book and then want the older stuff. So I heard a lot about a few very well known authors who are not favorites of staff. Lots of fetch me this and that and general unpleasantness. Made me glad I did not worship the authors.

Stephanie There are some authors it seems, that everybody loves, people like John le Carre about whom I've only heard good things. He was interviewed during a reading group's meeting, everybody asking him questions about his characters. Some were only this side of rude, but he was courteous & gentle with them. Joanna Trollope in the past was given a hard time by the media, they commented on her marriage & children. She's such a quiet, private person - I felt protective, so I wrote her a short note telling her how much we loved her writing & were extremely grateful for her books, & please take no notice of the journalists. She replied at once & was warm & friendly - nothing formulaic about her letter. Some writers like Jeffrey Archer are so awful on book tours, the publicity & press people simply don't want to go with him, he is a bully.

Joanna Trollop is a favorite of mine, so am glad to hear she is nice and of course John LeCarre is the only spy person I will read. In the states, we have some authors.. Anne Rice is a good example. She will only sign a hardback and if she is in a bookstore, you must have a receipt from that day for the book.. Not an easy person to like.

Stephanie. I think the people who spoil it for ordinary readers & for many famous authors at Book Fairs, are the dealers who turn up with a dozen books, dump them on the table saying "Sign these. NO NOT THERE! On the title page!" (It will add as much as 15% to their selling price). They even bring old books to be signed for free, to make them more valuable to the dealer. An author prefers someone who says "Please write 'With love to Auntie Vera' in the front would you?". You can understand it when these are their real audience I suppose. It's the others make them crabby.

Hi Everybody, I just finished reading a great new debut novel called "Angel Fire" by newcomer author Lisa Miscione. I wanted to share this with you because I found it to be a real page-turner and I would highly recommend it! Check out her website at http://www.lisamiscione.com for more info...

you know about the Book Exchange. That's where there are listings of books to give away, by mail, just for the price of the postage (usually less than $2 for one book, hard cover, and less than $1 PB).

Right now, "Killer Diller" by Clyde Edgerton is up for grabs. I can't believe it's still there! This is one great book, and laugh out loud funny, too. It's a paperback, but not to worry, all the words are there.

The first time I went there, I didn't know how to use the site, so, hold on, let's have a little instructional music here . . . . Mal, where are you?

You scroll down and find the book you want, click on the name of the person that has it, send them an email (with Book Exchange request in the subject line), telling them you'd like to have "X" book and include your full name and address (I always put the name I use here, too, when I sign off "Sincerely"). Then, go down to the comments and post your request there, too (only without the name and address). You'll get your book, then you just send whoever a check for the amount of the postage showing on the package.

Sweet deal? Well, I guess.

HOWZAT

I think I have some good posted there too.....and no one has bitten....

Anybody who likes this author's books might like a slightly gossipy piece about her in the Sunday Times today.

http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/article/0,,185-222721,00.html

I think she is a very nice lady.

Thanks for The Times link (Joanna Trollope) but could you ask The Times to enlarge the type? My eyes! I think, though, when I access The Times from my own bookmark the type size is bigger.

HOWZAT

I just finished a book I read by mistake. I had seen in the discussions that everyone was reading On Mystic Lake so I requested it from my library, by title only. They sent me Mystic Lakes by Damian Musello. I didn't discover the mistake till after I had finished the book. I found it interesting enough to finish in 11/2 days. The story involves several people who were political activists in the 60's , where they are now and how their values have or have not changed. BARB

I'm hoping that someone else in Senior Net, has read any books by Anita Shreve? I read, "The Last Time They Met", (her most recent) and was absolutely crazy about it. A very intriguing and unusual story. I hurried back to Barnes and Noble, and bought, "Resistance". Just finished it, and was equally impressed!

Most likely, "The Last Time", would be of more interest to women than men, because it is basically a love story - but with a convoluted plot and unique style. However, "Resistance", would be equally appealing to both men and women. It takes place during WWII, in Belgium, and is a fictional story about what was then called, The Resistance. . The word, refers to the civilians of the occupied countries, who risked their lives to help people escape from the Nazi's., through the underground network.

Marilyne, I just listened to Anita Shreve's "The Last Time They Met" on tape. Migraines are keeping me from reading these days. I enjoyed it and right now have her "Fortune's Rocks" which is abridged...hate that...one gets one third of the book.

I, too, have read several of Shreve's books and certainly enjoyed them.

Kathy

Marilyne..I've read all her books. If you have just discovered her...you have a treat in store. I sometimes want to rewrite the endings, but she must have had a reason for ending them so. (G)

Sage

I truly enjoyed "The Pilot's Wife." Obviously, Sage has read it. Marilyne, have you? If not, you are in for a good read.

I heard her speak in Syracuse last night, at the Rosamund Gifford lecture series. She was as interesting in person as she is in print. She said that she had seen the house in "The Pilot's Wife" and kept it in her mind. She then had overheard a conversation at a cocktail party. In the conversation, a commercial pilot was describing the process when a plane is down. She put the thoughts together, and wrote the book. This is a great lecture series. The Onondaga County Public Library sponsors it with help from various local corporations, and the proceeds go to buy new books for us here in the Syracuse area. I thought the "Weight of Water" was also great.

On May 1st, the guest authors for next season will be announced. I'm hoping for Barbara Kingsolver....!

PS: She said the story in "Resistance" came from real life. It happened to her husband's father, who was shot down over Belgium in WW11.

Wow! You got to hear Shreve. Lucky you!

Kathy

Paige, Sage, Kathy and Catbird - Thanks for responding to my message about Anita Shreve. I'm happy to hear that there are many others out there who are enjoying her books as much as I am. Now I can hardly wait to get, "The Pilot's Wife", or ,"Weight of Water". (Probably both!)

Catbird - how exciting, and timely, that you had a chance to see and hear, Anita Shreve . Yes, I would also love to see, Barbara Kingsolver. So far, I've read, "The Poisonwood Bible", two times. I'm sure I will eventually go for three!

Marilyne, have you read Kingslover's other books? They are fabulous, although not big works like "Poisonwood." Catbird, how lucky you were to hear Anita Shreve. I was fortunate to hear Maya Angelou a few years ago, a very memorable evening...love her!

Barbara Kingslover is a wonderful author! I havn't gotten to The Poisonwood Bible yet, but enjoyed her The Bean Treesand Pigs In Heaven.

Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was a very good read. She had a hard youth, but she wrote about it in a way that presented it as it was and that she got through it!

GinnyAnn, Maya wrote many books after Caged Bird continuing her story. I highly recommend them. She has a brand new one coming out, "A Song Flung Up to Heaven." It is the sixth volume of her autobiography, she has had quite a life! Reviews say some of it is a recap but does contain new material also.

I also read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and would give it a rave. Maya Angelou is someone who has acquired a lot of 'wisdom' and I always find what she has to say of interest.

Maya Angelou not only has her new book coming out but has a new line of cards for Hallmark that are very well done...contain some of her words of wisdom. I have bought a few for friends and family. So glad to see other Maya admirers here. She has had a life of highs and lows and has truly paid attention and learned as she has gone along. Speaks several languages too. Makes me feel as if I have spent my life under a rock!

This is the place to talk about fiction, but as some of us have read at least one of Atwood's books, I wanted everybody to read this review about her new book of non-fiction that's about writing.
If you see what I mean:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29944-2002Mar14.html

I just finished reading Hart's War by John Katzenbach and think it is a worthwhile read.

Most of it takes place in a POW camp overseas during WWII.

A young man is there who was going to Harvard prior to the war. He meets two men who know law and they help him practice arguing cases so he won't be too far behind when he gets back home and to school to get his law degree.

In time a new prisoner comes to the camp who is from the US Tuskagee unit. The racial tension begins to come to a head soon and the central plot develops from there.

It is deeply intense at times, shows life in a POW camp, but more than anything, takes a close look at racism and friendship.

Was worth my while.

Katherine Graham said of the book, "A really good, absorbing read." I would agree!

Here is a link. It is a movie now, too.

http://www.randomhouse.com/BB/promos/hartswar/

Hairy - that one sounds excellent. Is it a novel?

Yes, Hart's War is fiction.

It's on my must read list! Thanks, Hairy

Just finished reading the, City of Dreams by Beverly Swerling. I didn't want to finish it as I knew I would grieve for awhile. I loved the story and the way it was written. Medical stories are one of my favorite reads. This is also the historical story of early Manhattan. It is also the history of medicine. Plus the usual love stories and family fueds.

Now I will have to look for another good book. Sigh!

Sage

Sage - I have a big stack of books here, that I think you would like. I just finished one by Sue Miller, called, "For Love". I've read most of her books, and liked this better than the last one I read - "While I Was Gone", but not as much as, "Family Pictures".

I've read most of the Anita Shreve, books, except for "The Pilot's Wife", so will be starting on that one as soon as I get it. If you havn't read "Resistance", or, "The Last Time They Met", by Shreve, I would highly recommend both.

While waiting for "Pilot", I guess I'll take a look at, "Icy Sparks". I've had it around here for awhile, but somehow have not been able to get past the first few pages. I'll give it another try. Has anyone read it?

P.S. I'll put, "City of Dreams", on my next book list!

Hairy--Linda, isn't it? I very much enjoyed Hart's War and was looking forward to the movie. However, the reviews were so unencouraging that I didn't go to see it--afraid it would spoil my memory of reading the book. Has anyone seen the movie? Is it safe to see?? ............and Sage, you say you like medical novels, so I have a recommendation for you. Operation Wandering Soul by Richard Powers. This is a story based on a real character--a surgeon working for six months in pede ward of core city Los Angeles. Beautifully written, but sad--very medical; one participates in many surgeries while reading the book. Intellectual, mostly stream-of-consciousness, SAD.

I had not gone to a signing until last year, when I got to meet Susan Witting Albert at Borders, and she signed my copy of "Chili Death." (hmmmm- not sure about the form of that title). Anyway, she was fun to hear and to talk to, , and since then, I have felt a little like I have the inside scoop on what she is going to do next.

I have just finished reading Charmaine Craig's first novel, "The Good Men."

It is very well written, but such a sad, sad story. It held my interest, and after getting over the first impact of reading about such a sad period in history - when I was torn between "taking it back to the store" or continuing to read it, I chose the latter, and found it difficult to put down.

It's a novel set in medieval France and appears to have been thoroughly researched.

Has anyone else read it?

Just finished Anita Shreve's new book, Sea Glass. I loved the main character and hated the others. My interest in any book is the characters. I have to like something about them. Well, I liked this one character so much I miss her already. I'd like to pick up the phone and ask how she is doing. I do have the feeling that she will be ok, but she has such potential. Oh, well. I grieve each book I like.

Sage

Sage, I want to read Sea Glass. It sounds like you enjoyed it. I enjoyed The Pilot's Wife and Fortune's Rock. These are the only books I have read by Anita Shreve.

Hats

Anyone ever read any of Jodi Picoult's books? She has quite a following on the AOL Book boards.

Elizabeth...I started, Operation wandering Soul, by Powers and I'm confused. He seems to use 50 words when 20 ould do. It is like plowing. I have kept going as you recommended it to me. I do like medical stories so I will give it a couple more chapters.

Yes, I did like Sea Glass, by Shreve. Not her best.

Sage

Hairy, I want to read Jodi Picoult so badly. Everyone says to read SALEM FALLS or THE PLAIN TRUTH or THE PACT. What do you suggest? I really want to read one of her books.

Sage, which one of hers did you like the most?

Hats

I don't know what to suggest about Picoult. I haven't read any of hers yet. I just know a LOT of people have been talking about her for a long, long time and love her dearly.

This web site might help you out:

http://www.jodipicoult.com/

Thanks for the website. Very helpful.

Hats

I have read all Jodi Picoult .I so enjoy her work.I started reading her at the suggestion of my librarian.I read recent ones and then went back and read her earlier books.She is so adept no matter which subject she chooses to write about.

I usually read John Grishom's books ,somehow I missed The Brethern.On my recent visit to the libray I took it out. I am enjoying it. It is a fun book to read. All the various characters. I think it would make a good movie.

I read the book "Salem Falls" about 2 weeks ago and really did like it but I have not found any of the other books written by Jodi Picoult. I would like to.

I have also read a book called "Murder in the Charlston Manner" by Patricia Houck Sprinkle. I would like to find some more written by this author. It's fun to visit another part of the country even if it is only in a book.

It is fun to visit other places in book. My husband and I are planning to visit Savannah. When I read A Penny Urned by Tamar Myers, I fell in love with Savannah. Plus, a friend took a visit there and enjoyed it.

Awhile back I read a lot of Eugenia Price. Our family ended up visiting St. Simon's Island and Jekyll Island. We visited Christ Church. The tour guide said that EP had been in that very church more than once. I think Eugenia Price died recently. I was sorry to hear about her death. She wrote some good books.

I am going to try Salem Falls.

Hats

HATS I'm so glad you mentioned Eugenia Price, she was one of my all time favorite authors. Several years ago, on our way back from Ohio to Fla. I insisted we stop at St. Simons and Jekyl Islands. When we got there we discoverd they had been fogged in for 3 days. About 30 minutes after we arrived the fog lifted and we were able to tour to our hearts content. Her descriptions of the islands were so good. We have friends who have their Family Reunion on Jekyl every year. I'm so sorry we won't be getting any more stories from Eugenia.

GRAM62, you have really made me want to read Eugenia Price again. I read them so long ago. I can't remember them. I enjoyed hearing your experiences. Thank you.

Hats

I saw one of Price's books in our Lounge area at work. We donate books to lend out to anyone who wants to read them.

I read a couple of pages and read all about it and it sounds like something I would like to read. I've forgotten the name but it is the first of the Georgia Trilogy - just the area of which you were speaking.

Linda

I have always loved Eugenia Price.. She wrote a wonderful trilogy about St. Augustine, Fl.. Anyone who has not read it and likes Florida and the origins of the state would love it.

Hi Stephanie and Hairy, I do love Eugenia Price too. My mother and father were born in Florida. My mother was born in St. Augustine, Fla. So, I would really like to read that series again.

Hats

Purple Sage + Hats I am almost to the end of "Sea Glass" & have been enjoying all of it. The setting is perfect - I can smell the sea. I like most the characters so far. I like Vivien very much - buying the house - taking on the dog - giving away good bits of sea glass? She makes a good friend. I will miss that character. Sexton I don't like much & Honora reminds me of many of my mothers friends of those days, when I was three years old. They were quiet, thoughtful & kind - would give away their last warm coat - if anybody needed it more than they did.

So far, I've read The Weight of Water that was very atmospheric. The Pilot's Wife ditto. I couldn't get into Resistance so left half way through - might try it later. Last Time They Met was unputdownable. During all the fuss over Franzen & Oprah, I read somewhere that nobody had heard of Anita Shreve until Oprah recommended her.

Hard to believe Shreve was unknown until Oprah came along. I started reading her several years ago when I picked up Strange Fits of Passion (that remains my fave of hers). I also liked Eden Close (could have the title slightly wrong but the name Eden is right) a lot. I read Pilot's Wife but didn't care for it as much as the other two although it was entertaining enough.

I wondered about Last Time They Met. From what I've read, it is a different sort of love story. Maybe like time travel?? I don't know, but Viogert, I hear your suggestion and will take it to heart.

Suzz, I hear what you are saying. I heard of Anita Shreve before Oprah ever mentioned her. I had also been well acquainted with Maeve Binchy. Yet, Oprah mentioned Binchy like she was some new author on the scene.

I will miss her bookclub. I still am not sure why she gave it up. Maybe it was too exhausting reading for herself and the American public too.

I am in the middle of Never Change by Elizabeth Berg. Very good. I am also looking forward to The Painted House discussion here at Books.

Suzz + HATS
All researchers into reading habits turn up numbers like 80% of library books are taken out by women, or that most books are bought by women. If you look closely at the sales of 'best-selling novels' -- that is the one's that have been widely reviewed -- they are usually books about men, by men, reviewed by men with big pictures of men. Researchers into people's reading habits show that women will read anything, but men prefer men's books & avoid books with 'Love' in the title. (Ian McEwan will remember that in future after sales figures of "Enduring Love" were not very good.)

What I'm trying to get at, is that women knew about Anita Shreve ages ago -- before Oprah asked her friends,which books gave them the most pleasure. When the same names kept coming up again & again, it was a good brain-wave to start a book club. Popularity in books is spread by word of mouth - Oprah just broadened the catchment area.

I finished "Sea Glass" last night. Very satisfactory I thought - & I liked Vivian even more at the end. Now I have started a new author - a first novel called "Accidents in the Home" by Tessa Hadley that is astonishingly, modestly - brilliant. (She has another book about Henry James published at the same time from Cambridge Uni.Press so she is probably quite bright). Two reviewers in two different papers seemed to have been stunned by her brilliance. Julie Myerson wrote "This writers is a rare & startling gem; she deserves to be read" -- maybe she's related? hahaha

I have never heard of ACCIDENTS IN THE HOME BY TESSA HADLEY. I like first time authors. Maybe you will let us know how it turns out. The title is interesting.

Hats

Has anyone read "Back When We Were Grownups" by Ann Tyler?

Lorrie

Lorrie
I wrote something just now about Anne Tyler in 'Libraries'. It's a really good book so I think it's a brilliant suggestion. I would recommend the book highly - but it's a bit soon for me to read it again, but I will in a year or two.

I just bought The God of Small Things today.

Back When We Were Grownups by Ann Tyler I started it and got distracted and finally took it back to the library. It was good, but I have been in the mood for introspective books. I will probably finish it someday. I have read other books by Tyler and enjoyed them.

Hi I am reading John Grishoms latest The Summons.It is a very fast and good read .Sometimes I find his books tend to drag with all the legal jargon but for me this is a "can't put it down book".

I loved The Summons. I am only one chapter into The Painted House. I am looking forward to reading further. I would like to read Skipping Christmas by Grisham.

Hats

I enjoyed it so much I started it Friday and finished it Saturday. I didn't expect how it ended.

Michael Dirda of the Washington Post read a book recently and couldn't put it down. That is a mighty fine recommendation, if you know Michael!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10119-2002Apr18.html

Linda

Hi Nana B and Linda,

Nana B, you really finished it quickly!

Linda, thanks for the link.

I have finished Never Change. Now, I am working on Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman. It is a page turner too.

Hats

Hairy/Linda, I loved God of Small Things. I'd be curious how you react to it. Roy is a very fine writer.

You and I have similar tastes in books.I loved the Blue Diary. I am a Alice Hoffman fan

Linda (Hairy), that book in your link, The Horned Man, recommended by Michael Dirda of The Washington Post, looks fantastic. Thanks for the link!!

You're welcome, Betty. Here is another some people are really enjoying. It's called My Name is Red and is a book of love, mystery, ideas taking place in the 16th century.

My Name is Red

Hi Nana B, I am just getting into Alice Hoffman. I have read Here on Earth, Local Girls, Property Of and now, The Blue Diary. After The Blue Diary, I am going to try Fortune's Daughter. Have you read that one?

Hats

Sarah T, I would like to read The God of Small Things. Is it about twins in India?

Hats

Elizabeth I finished , Operation Wandering Soul, and what a strong story. The wordplay was a mighty task to struggle though. I was most interested in Joy's story and her willingness to just go with the flow. Of course she had no choices did she? I found myself questioning my own value system and shifting just a tad as I read. Thank your for recommending. It was worth it.

I also finished, Mercy, by Jodi Picoult. Long debates will go on forever over Mercy killings. The idea here was a fresh approach only in that the killings was was such a small part of the story.

The story begins with the wife clearing the house of all his things. She stacks them in the front yard and has a garage sale...marvelous. (G)

I'm all set for another Jodi Picoult.

Sage

No I haven't read Fortunes Daughter.I will have to look for it my next visit to the library.

Hi All,

Nana B, I have enjoyed the book discussions. I had a lot of fun. I will look forward to other book recommendations. We learn so much from this forum.

Well, I am going back to The Painted House.

Will Post later,

hats

Hats, yes, that's the one (The God of Small Things). It's written in a non-linear way, in which you learn pieces of the story bit by bit, by I couldn't put it down. The writing is fine, but it's also a page turner.

Hats/NanaB - On Fortune's Daughter - are you actually talking about Daughter of Fortune, Isabel Allende's book from a year or two ago? It is also excellent, and she has a new one out that's a sequel. We discussed Daughter of Fortune here, which focuses on a woman's journey from Latin America to California during the 1849 gold rush. As with all Allende books, it was a great read, and I look forward to reading the latest, whose title I'll find and post here momentarily.

Portrait in Sepia is Isabel Allende's newest (discussed in my previous post). Here's some info:

http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=665PTEJFHL&mscssid=A9KVCQ8V4UPB9PUC31R7V6XA69BB8KR6&sourceid=00000211283368667105&isbn=0066211611

SarahT, thanks for the link!

Hats

Sarah,There is a Fortunes Daughter by Alice Hoffman published in 1999. Daughters of Fortune sounds interesting I willl have to put that on my to read list.

Hey, NanaB, whaddya know! Thanks for that! I like Alice Hoffman too!

Hi Hats, Re Fortunes daughter Went to the library today took it home and I had read it.Grrr!!!I hate when that happens.I do recall it and I did enjoy it when I read it. But there is an up side I also took out Jodi Picoult latest (so new the libarian had just finished cataloging it)it is called Perfect Match.I just started it.

NanaB, be sure and let me know how you like Perfect Match. I bet it's really good. I am enjoying The Painted House. I have started Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood. I like that one too.

Hats

Nana B, my dad (since deceased) had a secret code he put in each library book he'd read, so that any time he picked up a book that looked interesting, he could go to the back of the book and check on whether he'd read it before. It's hard to imagine being such a voracious reader that one would run out of good books to read - I always despair: So many books, so little time - but he read 8 books a week or so and all of them started to run together after awhile.

When the librarian told me "here is the brand new Jodi Picoult"I just signed it out didn't read the jacket. I have started it and it is her most gripping book yet. I am hooked on reading it. Here is a brief synopsis .I don't want to give too much away. <<<<Career-driven assistant district attorney Nina Frost knows the guilt familiar to all parents torn by the demands of home and office. But whereas most parents imagine the dangers that can befall their children, Nina witnesses them firsthand. She prosecutes child molesters — and she has seen too many criminals slip through the system and walk free. Nina's husband, Caleb, is a stonemason, a methodical man who glories in his ability to construct physical barriers. But even the strongest walls cannot guard Nina and Caleb from the shattering discovery that their own beloved son has been sexually abused. >>>>

My library is in a small town(one that is growing by leaps and bounds.) Until last year they had the old system with the paper in the front of the book where they would record the name of the person along with the date to be returned.Could always see which books I had read.Last year they went high tech and all the books were bar coded and computerised. I keep promising myself I am going to start a page on my computer and immeduiately when I bring a book home list it .Yeh right!!!(LOL)

NanaB -- keeping a computer record of your books is a very smart method - but I think I might forget to do it. I have kept unused pocket diaries to record what I read, rather than tossing them out. I start with the date, & list the books as I read them. Then, so that I remember, I write in how much of the book I read - that is if I didn't like it much & only read half. (Also I record it if I threw the book at the wall.) I put in all the books I re-read as well. When one diary is full I start another - a funny little collection, but I keep them by me with address books & dictionaries & stuff so they are easy to reach & they remind me to write in them.

viogert and Nana B - I've told this story before, but it touches me so I'll tell it again. My dad was a voracious reader, and kept a list of every book he read over about a 20 year period on ONE sheet of paper in teensy writing. He starred the good ones, and put a minus sign next to the not so good ones. The average ones had nothing next to them. I have spent years reading the starred ones!

Sarah,What a lovely story . It must give you comfort , knowing you are reading the books your Dad read and enjoyed.

I have a small chunky note book that I keep track of books I have read. I also write books in it that would like to read.

I have both a computerized record and a notebook record. In the paper notebook I also have a section for listing books to read. I am a bit behind on getting all the books listed on the computer, but I try hard to get them in the notebook. Then when I have the time, I record them on the computer. I have been recording what I read since I was in my twenties.

SarahT -- You didn't say whether your taste in reading followed your father's or if his favourites, in the event, were not the same as yours. A comforting record to have in any case. My own father would visit the library on a Friday & come home with an armful of Westerns -- & pick up some novels for my mother. She would call out as he left, "And no sloppy love-yarns mind."
GinnyAnn. I wish I'd kept a record of my reading since my 20s. I used to read anything at all, & right to the end too. I only started getting picky as I aged. Maybe our early greedy reading forms the foundation for what we eventually think of as 'our taste in books'. Has anybody read Ann Patchett's "Bel Canto"? It is in the short list for the Orange Prize this year. She was shortlisted with "The Magician's Assistant" one year & I liked that.

Viogert, we're going to squeeze Bel Canto into our fiction lineup this year for discussion. I'm hearing such good things about it.

Yes, my dad had great taste in books - it was he who introduced me to Iris Murdoch, Margaret Drabble, AS Byatt, Anthony Burgess, Nadine Gordimer, Ivan Doig, Cormac McCarthy, etc etc etc. I so wish he was still around!

I enjoyed Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner.

Jan Karon has a number of books out. Hers might be good. I haven't read any so I can't say for sure, but lots of others have read her.

Linda

Viogert - Read bel Canto and loved it.

We've discussed a lot of the Jan Karon books here, actually. Yes, Angle of Repose has come up many times as a good one (I think it was on my dad's list too!). Let me see what I can find about it!

SarahT + Harper - thanks for the feedback on "Bel Canto" - very grateful for that, I've ordered it. I really liked Ann Patchett's cool style & recently saw a picture of her & she looks just as I thought she would.

I like Ann Patchett, at least I think it is her.. I read a book a few years ago, about the woman who ran away, had a new life and then ran away from it as well.. Some thing Liar, I think.. I am terrible about book titles and adored this book.

Wallace Stegner is a favorite of mine. I haven't read Angle of Repose yet, although I own it. I can highly recommend Crossing To Safety which is a study of a long term marriage.

Here's a list of 100 best works of fiction determined from a vote by 100 noted writers from 54 countries & released by The Norwegian Book Clubs.

http://www.books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,711520,00.html

I've only read a fraction of these. . . !

Hi Nana B, Jodi Picoult's book sounds GREAT!!! I will try to get it as soon as possible. I bet you are almost finished it. I am still reading The Painted House. I also want to read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

Have a nice day!

Hats

Sarah T, the story of your father's reading style is so memorable. He must have been a fine man. Knowing you are reading his starred reviews is such a truly wonderful way of continuing to show your love for your dad.

Could you share a couple of titles that are on the list?

Hats

Stephanie, I loved THE PATRON SAINT OF LIARS. It is the only book that I have read by Ann Patchett.

Hats

Hats.. Thank you so much. That is the only one I had read either. It is excellent. I actually read it twice and that from me is high praise indeed. I will try and read the more current ones, since I loved that one.

HI Hats, I did finish it .It was very good.The subject was disturbing but Jodi is such a good a writer.I don't know how someone as young as she appears can be so knowlegeable about so many subjects .. Most of them right of todays headlines. I just started The Painted house today. Are you enjoying it.

Hi Stephanie and Nana B,

Yes, I am enjoying The Painted House. It becomes better and better as the story flows.

Thanks for the link, Viogert! I've only read a fraction of a fraction of them.. Wish I were 10 again.

Hats,I am enjoying the Painted House. It is a departure from Grisholm's usual work. Amasing that in 1952 when most of the counrtry were getting into TV and other modern discoveries there was section of our country living so primatively and poorly.

Nana B, my thoughts exactly! I have not read many Grisham books. Have you? Well, I have written down Perfect Match. Do you have any other good recommendations? I enjoy the books you pick.

Hats

I have read all the Grisholm books.I think his very first was A Time For Killing. I enjoyed his earlier books .Even thou I read allof his works I became bored with some ..too much legal talk. I did enjoy The Summons ,his latest I like Anita Shreve Have you read any of her books?? Alice Hoffman is another favorite of mine Her latest The Blue Diary was a "can't put down" Have you read any of Sue Millers? Then mysteries are another genre I like . That is another Discussion group(lol)

Nana B, I love Sue Miller. I have read The Distinguished Guest and While I was Gone. I want to read The Good Mother. Have you read the new one called The World Below? If you have read it, tell me how you liked it.

I don't read everything Grisham writes. Like you, his legal plots get in my way.

I like Anita Shreve too. I have read Fortune's Rock and The Pilot's Wife. Which others by her are good?

I am enjoying The Secret Life of Bees. After reading The Secret Life...I might start Big Cherry Holler. I loved Big Stone Gap. She has a third one out in the series.

Hats

Viogert, thanks for the book link. It is very helpful and informative.

Hats

I am reading Big Cherry Hollar now.....I have read all that you listed above and allways am waiting for something new to come out.....

Tigerliley, I can't wait to get into Big Cherry Holler. I should have started Big Cherry immediately after Big Stone Gap, but I didn't have time.

Hats

By Robert James Waller, 181-page hardback, John M Hardy publishers, Houston TX, April 2002. Sub-titled "An Epilogue to The Bridges of Madison County" best enjoyed by those of us who enjoyed the 10-years-ago Bridges book...or its later movie version with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

In this 16-yr-later sequel, the photographer Robert Kincaid and the Iowa housewife Francesca (ages 52 and 44 set in 1965 in Bridges) are now 68 and 60 in 1981.

Waller again writes prose that's almost poetic to read, even including an original, apt poem now and then. Again he does great character development, yet moves the story along at a good pace. I think his sequel treats the 2-novel story sensitively and well. It left at least this reader with a warm fuzzy, satisfied feeling.

Like Robert Kincaid, the author is also a photographer, musician, and poet. And it shows. Waller says he sees 80% of himself in Robert Kincaid...and I see some of myself there too. This makes for a love story both male and female readers can enjoy.

Warner Books, publisher of Bridges, didn't like the sequel's rough draft, so Waller got a small local publisher in TX. Warner now regrets, because the sequel looks to be a best-seller. Here's a link to one newspaper's online book review:

http://www.jsonline.com/enter/books/apr02/32866.asp

To JIMVA,

I've just recently finished a wounderful love story in Dennis H. Christen's MADAM, THE GRASS IS HIGH. I've been asking around to other chats if there are other 'feel-good' stories for seniors out there. It sounds like A THOUSAND COUNTRY ROADS just might do that. I'll get the book and go for it. It is wonderful that writers are giving we seniors a little credit for being able to still fall in love.

Nana B and HATS - I'm also a, Sue Miller fan, and I think I have read all of her books? My long time favorite is, Family Pictures. It's a hard one for most people to relate to, but I love it because I have an autistic granddaughter. Such a devastating childhood disorder, and she describes it perfectly - and especailly it's effects on the entire family.

I just finished another book by her, that I enjoyed very much. It's called, For Love, and I highly recommend it! I also liked, The Good Mother. My least favorite of her books is, While I was Gone.

I read all of Sue Miller's books too..enjoyed everyone of them...Elizabeth Berg is another favorite of mine.......

Happy Mother's Day ya'll and hope you get a lot of neat books for gifts.

I am reading(well attempting to read)his book "Observatory Mansions "by Edward Carey Has anyone read it?? It has received awards .But it is so strange. This once impressive mansion as a result of misfortune becomnes a rooming house with the most unbeliveable group of misfits imaginable. I will be reading and think this is weird I am going to stop and then I find my self reading one more chapter.

Janemc, please don't forget that in my first paragraph describing Country Roads, I'd said that it is a sequel to "Bridges of Madison County" and is best enjoyed by those of us who loved that 1992 book.

In fact, it's Bridges that is more of the "love story" you seek. Country Road is a follow-up sequel with lots of references to acts and people we learned to love and identify with in the Bridges story. I.E., if one hasn't already, I'd read Bridges first.

Someone else told me the same thing. I'm almost finished with the first and have the second on the desk. You are probably right about the love story part of it. Thanks. Jane

Just finished another Jodi Picoult book. This one is Plain Truth. It is set in the Amish community and is filled with information about 'plain' life. It also has a court scene. I'm not crazy about court scenes, but this one had me reading every word. Picoult is a good writer and well worth the time. So far I've read: Harvesting the Heart, Mercy and Plain Truth. I have The Pact ready to read.

Another great books to read: Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Gracelin O'Malley by Ann Moore, and Instances of the Number 3, by Salley Vickers. I enjoyed them all.

Sage

I read Plain Truth and liked it .I love anything pertaining to the Amish whether a book or movie. I also read The Pact So good but a very disturbing subject. I have mentioned in another post how I it amases me how Jodi Picout is able to write so knowingly about what ever subject she chooses.

Good Morning,

Marilyne, you have awakened my enthusiasm. I am going back and pulling out all my older Sue Miller books, especially Family Pictures. Unfortunately, I have not read all of her books.

Nana B, I have not read Observatory Mansions. It sounds wonderful. I am just ending The Secret Life of Bees. I have a few more pages to read.

So many good books: A Thousand Country Roads and Sister of my Heart. I too like to read about the Amish.

Have Fun Reading Today,

Hats

Don't know if I belong in this venue. Y'all sound like such serious readers. I normally like to read non fiction, mainly history or biography. But every once in awhile , for a change of pace, I pick up a piece of ficton. I like a good mystery. Have read a couple just recently I enjoyed. The first was one of a series by Rita Mae Brown titled "Catch as cat can". All her books involve a couple of cats and a dog that solve mysteries. I get a kick out of their dialog, of course, not understandable to their human friends.

Normally, I read mostly male authors, but my wife has been suggesting I try Mary Higgins Clark, as she is a good mystery writer. So I just finished her latest book "Daddy's Little Girl" which I enjoyed. Good mystery, well written , and light enough to offset the heavy stuff like history etc.

In case you are interested in biographies, I would recommend "In the eye of the Storm" which is rather current and a bigraphy of General H. Norman Schwartzkof. It has a few surprises in it. It has two authors, who I have already forgotten their names.

What a great list, HATS! And williewoody (what DOES that name mean????), of course you "belong" here. We love books, and you obviously do too. That's the only "qualification" for being here!!! Welcome, all.

Now, of course, the title of the discussion is "Fiction, " so we should focus on that, but I have a question about reading itself.

To what do you attribute your love of books and reading? I'd love to hear your stories.

My dad took us to the main library here in San Francisco every Thursday after school when I was a kid. My parents were divorced when I was very young, so I didn't have that many days with my dad, but he created lots of "rituals' like this one for us that I still appreciate now that he's gone and I'm in my 40s.

The librarian in the Children's room of the main library knew we came every Thursday, and set aside books for my brother and me that she knew we'd like. It was magical.

In the early 90s I became closer to my dad than I'd been in previous years (you know how that goes!). (Thank goodness I did this, because he died in '95.) He is a great reader - always has been. At my mom's house there still is a huge wall of books (virtually all his) that he brought to the marriage from his entire life as a reader. He left it behind for us, I've always assumed.

Anyway, as we became closer, we inevitably talked more and more about books, and finally, the bug bit me again. I'd not read steadily since I was a kid. Yes, I read 5 or 6 books a year, but it was nothing like my reading since 1991. My first book after the bug bit me was by the South African Nobel Prize winner Nadine Gordimer (dad had great taste in books), and I've never been without a book since.

Thanks, Dad!! ' That's my story (or part of it) - now tell us yours.

I never thought of people who read fiction as being serious. Fiction is something to be enjoyed. My favorite fiction stories have cats as sleuths. So you know I can't be serious. Right now I have the newest book by Carole Nelson Douglas. It is called "Cat In a Leopard Spot."

My love of reading and books I am sure came from my paternal grandmother......I spent a lot of time with her as a small child and she read to me everyday.....she also taught me to read before I was in the first grade.....she also took me to the library to get my first library card..... I remember snuggling with her in her big chair and her reading "Uncle Wiggley" to me.....I can still smell her......

I like reading for a whole bunch of reasons: to escape, imagine, relate to characters, relax. My favorite authors are ones who give the reader some latitude in imagining the characters and leave strings untied at the end, which lets my own imagination work on where they would go from here. The first book that made this impression on me was "Lonesome Dove," which ended with characters going in every which direction. Another recent book along these lines is Tidewater Blood by William Hoffman.

Cheers,

Bobd Author of Sandman and Book Editor

tigerliley and bobd - thank you! I think our parents and grandparents do so much to further our love of reading, tigerliley. What a gift. And bobd, you out so clearly why we continue reading after someone gives us a good start with it.

Do you have children, nieces and nephews and grandchildren to whom you are imparting this love of reading?

Hi all,

I visit this web site from time, but haven't been here lately. I've spent only a minimal amount of time in the mystery section--not because of lack of interest, but because of lack of time.

I also enjoy fiction and non-fiction. I'm a retired librarian and really miss the chance to peruse all the latest books. I just finished Nicolas Evans new book, "The Smoke Jumper"--he also wrote "The Horse Whisperer" and "The Loop". Read John Grisham's "The Painted House" just before the Evans book and intend to read the Colin Powell autobiography, as well. Love mysteries and enjoy Janet Evanovich, Joan Hess, Peter Robinson, James Patterson, Michael Palmer and many others.

Good talking to you--will be back later. Have a great evening.

hi:

yes, my daughter likes to read, and indeed for a class project said she also liked to write. whether published or not, writing can be a great source of relief and creativity.

cheers!

bobd

Hello, Fanfan and bobd9150, and welcome! We just finished a discussion of The Painted House, Fanfan, how did you enjoy it? You will also find a very active Mystery folder here in the Books, just look all the way up at the top of the page and click on Books & Literature and you'll see all the selections, some very knowledgeable mystery fans and some ex librarians, too!

Welcome, bobd9150, what types of books do you enjoy reading?

I'm deep in a Patricia Highsmith at the moment, Ripley Under Ground and it's absolutely super. Started by viewing the film The Talented Mr. Ripley and was hooked, then read the book now the next, Under Ground is just wonderful.

I've just gotten Farm Fatrale in the mail which looks a super hoot and The Nanny Diaries which the NY Times goes on and on about so I think I have tons of good reading in front of me.

I am enjoying, and this will probably sound strange, listening to CD's of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce's Sherlock Holmes Radio Shows. Some of them are absolutely fabulous, I LOVE the old commercials, the War messages, it's very fine. I got mine from Crabapple something or other old time radio and they're on CDs so you don't have to fool with tapes and there are more than 100 of them, it's whetted my appetite for Arthur Conan Dolye again, they are just fun.

What are you all reading now?

ginny

Thanks for the welcome. I really enjoyed "A Painted House" and am wondering if Grisham plans a sequel. I started Barbara Kingsolver's "Prodigal Summer" back in March and have a little more than half the book to read. Got sidetracked in finishing that one because we took a three week road trip back east. I need to finish it. Have also read Kingsolver's "Bean Trees", "Pigs in Heaven", "Animal Dreams" and "Poisonwood Bible". Also enjoy Anita Shreve's books, especially "The Pilot's Wife" and "Fortunes Rocks".

We're lucky in that our daughter-in-law manages a book store, so we receive lots of books as gifts. Needless to say, we visit the library on a regular basis. I also volunteer at the library each week, and have done so since I retired from there a year and a half ago.

Love those books--always have and always will!

Good morning, Have not been here for a long time. I am hoping maybe somebody can give me some help in finding a series of books that I had read a long time ago. It is a series of about 5 or 6 books covering a span of maybe a century. One of the series was called The Immigrants. I cannot remember any of the other titles. It was about a family and I do remember some of it took place in or around San Francisco around the turn of the century, I think. I would love to be able to read this series again. I cannot even remember the author. Thanks for any help. Joy

Lady Beejay, my sister talked about that "Immigrants" series for years, so I typed that title into Amazon.com search box for you and came up with the author Howard Fast. Here are the titles of 5 of the 6 titles of the series. Looks like "An Independent Woman" was a surprise 6th, published many years later. Good luck on finding the missing title. Maybe you could read the personal critiques on each book at Amazon.com. Someone is bound to mention the missing title.

The Immigrants, Second Generation, The Immigrant's Daughter, The Legacy, An Independant Woman.

Betty

I just finished Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult. As per usual she writes so well that I forget the time. I'm unsatisfied with the ending. Anyone else feel that way? I'm concerned about the character Gillian. I wish that lose end had been solved. Sigh!

Sage

Betty, I knew somebody would come up with an answer!! I typed in The Immigrants in Amazon also, but I came up with thousands of titles. Thank you so very much. That is exactly what I am looking for, and I do remember Howard Fast as the author. It is a wonderful series. I had the whole set of paperbacks and loaned them to my friend. When my friend died last fall, her children went in and threw away all her books; mine included. I did not think about them at the time. But, I am looking for something to take on vacation to the beach in a couple weeks, and just happened to remember those books. I think in the last one, one of the main women characters becomes President of The US. Thanks again, so much. JOY

Gosh, lady beejay, the idea that one's children would throw away all of one's books is pretty sad.

Sarah, the whole situation with my friend was very sad. I can't imagine someone doing that either, but that is what happened.

I am still reeling from just the idea that children would throw away their mother's books, but I should understand it. My sister (and only sibling) started throwing our mother's "stuff" away right after the funeral. I was still in a state of shock, but as I watched the plastic sacks accumulate it seemed as if my mother was disappearing right before my eyes. I screamed at my sister and my father to stop and generally made a big scene. They didn't, and I still do not forgive them, although I am silent about it.

Disposing of the dead's "things" should be a thoughtful process. It should never be hurried. Family and friends should be consulted.

HOWZAT

Howzat, it's amazing how relationships can be ruined over the death of a loved one. I don't know anyone who hasn't experienced one or another aspect of this phenomenon.

I was so, so surprised how organized and sensitive my mother and her 2 brothers handled dismantling her mother's house last year. A representative from each of the 4 families, including my mother's dead brother's family, each turned in a list of their families' wants. As many wishes as were possible were granted going around and around each of the 4 families. Then, with the bulk of the possessions still to be divided, each representative came by appointment many times the first week, going in order down the list of 4 many times, then once or twice more, picking up a certain number of items each time. A few negotiations took place....I'll give back the yellow quilt you wanted if I can have the blue cups. Not everyone's wishes were met, but the disappointments and satisfactions were spread around evenly. Before all this, a few pre-distribution decisions were made by the 4 for needy, young-adult grandchildren for much of the older furniture. Everyone knew this would have pleased my grandmother....thinking of need first.

I didn't realize that my mother and her brothers could do something this cooperative.

Betty

I'm new to this discussion but I think I've "met" several of you before. I noticed that some time ago there had been a discussion of Anita Shreve's "The Last Time They Met." I just finished reading it and I thoroughly enjoy her works. I do have one question and need an opinion as I am a bit puzzled. Do you think that Thomas in the end committed suicide? There is a reference to this and am just wondering.

Keene

Keene - Interesting, that just this past weekend, I was discussing the book, and the ending, with my daughter. Both of us loved the book, and were surprised, but very intrigued and moved, by the ending. Yes, Thomas definitely did commit suicide. I hate to ruin the ending for others who might not have read it, or i would quote the last paragraph. Go back and read that last page again, and it will leave you with no doubts. I have read most of Anita Shreve's books, and, "Last Time", is my favorite.

Marilyne and Keene--

I've also read all of Anita Shreve's books and liked them very much. I do agree that Thomas killed himself. My favorite book by Anita Shreve was "Fortune's Rocks."

Just finished reading Rebecca Wells' "Little Altars Everywhere". I haven't read her "Divine Secrets of YaYa Sisterhood" as yet, so will read it soon.

I'm currently reading a book by Sue Monk Kidd titled "The Secret Life of Bees". It's very good and it's the first novel by this author. This one is set in the south in the early 1960's.

Fanfan, I just finished listening to "The Secret Life of Bees" on tape and liked it more than any book I've read lately. Great first effort for the author, I didn't realize it is her first book.

It makes you wonder if the author has planned a sequel to this book, doesn't it? It certainly seems as if she may have this in mind. I was also amazed that this was her first novel--I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. Very good reading!

Fanfan, I hope you are right about there being a sequel to this book. I didn't want it to end.

I have just begun "Sea Glass" by Anita Shreve. I'm finding it most fascinating. Has anyone else read this book?

Keene

No, I haven't read it, but have read Anita Shreve's other books and enjoyed them very much. Thanks for mentioning this one--I'll look for it.

The Ya Y is a better book than the Altar one.. At least I thought so. Not sure if I want to see the movie. I have such vivid mental pictures of the characters.

Keene . . . I would recommend "Sea Glass" - & Anita Shreve to anybody. I thought the novel was lovely. The only book of her's I couldn't get into was "Resistance" - about France during the war.

I picked up RESISTANCE tody at the library. I haven't been able to get any of the SEA stories of hers yet. Last week I finished SECRET SERVICE by JOHN JAKES I throughly enjoyed it as I do love historical fiction. This was a Civil War story and the beginnings of Pinkertons. My list of books is growing faster than I can read, I'll have a busy summer BARB

viogert - I urge you to give, "Resistance", another try. I thought it was a fascinating story, and an authentic accounting of the, underground resistance, movement in Europe, during the War. It's the only one of Shreve's books, that I feel is equally compelling for both women and men. My husband, (WWII buff), read it after I recommended it to him, and he liked it as much as I did.

I just finished reading, "Weight of Water". I had no idea that it was written BEFORE, "The Last Time They Met", and is about Thomas Janes, when he was married to his first wife, Jean. It is also beautifully written, with two separate stories being told, throughout the book. One story takes place in the 1800's, and the other, (Thomas), takes place now.

Marilyne . . You are right, "The Weight of Water" is beautifully written. It was short listed for the Orange prize & as I'd never heard of Anita Shreve before, I started looking for her other books. About "Resistance" though, the problem with novels about the occupation of France during the war, is that there was less resistance than you'd think. Because of the amount of fear, there was a lot of collaboration & betrayal. After the Germans left, the reality was too painful to face, so romanticised versions of peoples heroism emerged. I am sure "Resistance" is a lovely novel - I still have it here - but after the first few chapters, it seemed Anita Shreve had chosen the whitewashed version of history & it was a bit exasperating, but only for that reason. I really like her books.

I see James McBride (Color of Water) has written another book, Miracle at St.Anna. Has anyone read it yet? I tend to shy away from war time novels right now. I did like te Color of Water.

Sage

viogert - I still think you would like, "Resistance", if you give it another chance. It is not about just a bunch of selfless people, but is also about betrayal and collaboration with the enemy. No one knew who to trust and who to fear. She really did her homework on this one, and I believe it is historically correct. Also it has another one of those unexpected, Anita Shreve, endings! By the way, it takes place in Belgium, not France.

Well, as long as you live anyway. James McBride's "The Color of Water" is so good that I'm going to get it out and read it for the third time. Thanks for reminding me, Purple Sage.

My husband and I just arrived home from seeing the movie "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Rush out to see it. It is wonderfully funny but very thought-provoking at the same time. I have not read the book, but intend to do so soon (how am I ever going to get through my long reading list?!).

Keene

I heard Anita Shreve speak. She said that the story is based upon true events which involved her father-in-law (one of the downed pilots). The NY Times gave it an excellent review.....

Marilyne. . after all you've said, I promise I will give "Resistance" another try - she is a pair of safe hands. Looking at the blurb on the back, of course it's Belgium - it's my knee-jerk of connections where 'The Resistance' is always 'French'. I see there's an authors note where she explains the help she had from the Collings Foundation & lists all the people who checked the details for her so I needn't have suspected her of poor research.

Catbird. . hearing Anita Shreve speak must have been an interesting experience. Thanks for telling me more about the basis for the book - all the more reason to trust it.

I started the Secret Life of Bees yesterday and I am thoroughly enjoying it.What a wonderful story for a first time novel .I have been reading almost non stop.

Yes, it's a difficult book to put aside and I'm really hoping for a sequel. That may be wishful thinking, but will keep the fingers crossed anyway.

I'm nearly half way through another great book. It's "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" by Michael Chabon. Has anyone else read it? It's a very long book (over 600 pages), but another that is really hard to put down for any length of time.

NanaB. . . the author has an interesting website - lots of info. .

http://www.suemonkkidd.com/

Thanks for the web site.I looked at it. Isn't it amasing how life can change.How she loved writing,put it aside and became a nurse and then went back to writing. I loved the book .Got it yesterday at the library and finished it this afternoon A sequel would be nice.

Just saw the movie version of "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" this afternoon. It was a very good movie--really entertaining. I don't know if it was faithful to the book or not, as I've not read the book.

Has anyone else seen the movie? If so--how did you like it?

Yes, my husband and I went to the movie last Friday and we both thought it was terrific, very funny, and very deep and sad at the same time. I haven't read the book either, and am wondering about the comparison. -Keene

I loved the book, but have not seen the movie. My husband is not a lover of that sort of movie, so will wait for video.

What an outstanding book. Mama Day, by Gloria Naylor. I want to read it over as there was so much wisdom in the main character. It's both modern and historical.

I need some suggestions...my stack of 'to reads' is dwindling.

Sage

Ya Ya is being called a Chick Flick so I guess they think us females will like it better than men. I have neither read the book nor seen the movie. It really doesn't appeal to me.

When I went last weekend to see Ya-Ya the entire theater was filled with women and only ten men (including my husband). We counted the men for fun!! My husband loved the movie, so whether it is a chick flick or not, it did appeal to at least one man. -Keene

I didn't think I would be interesed in The YaYa movie, but after reading all of your reviews I will certainly make a point of seeing it. Don't know if I can convince my husband to go with me though.

I read the Ya- Ya- book several years ago before it's current popularity.....I didn't want it to ever end....one of my favorites....I know some women who read the book AND saw the movie and they loved the movie too.......

Hi I am reading In This Mountain. This is the newest in the Mitford series with Father Tim and Cinthia and all the wonderful chacters in Mitford. Is anyone reading it? Poor Father Tim ,his faith is being tested in this story.

I've just finished reading "Sea Glass" by Anita Shreve. It's wonderful. Anyone else read it? -Keene

Keene . . I read "Sea Glass" last month & thought it was lovely - very atmospheric. Does LittleBrown print her USA editions with those lovely photographed jackets? The UK editions of "Sea Glass", has a pink seascape which was perfect to stare at after I'd finished it. I like jackets with the same atmosphere as the books.

Keene...I read Sea Grass also, and I enjoyed it.

Sage

viogurt -The jacket of my edition of "Sea Glass" does not have a photograph. It has a young woman in a bathing suit looking out at the sea. -Keene

Keene . . thanks for letting me know - I could have assumed everybody had had the same. It's a trivial subject is book jackets, but some of them seem all of a piece with the story - like the first jacket of Miss Smilla. It had Smilla all wrapped up in freezing mist looking up at a dark figure on the harbourside.

I've just finished this older book, copywrite 1957, and was greatly moved by the author's genius.

Would anyone happen to know the titles of any other books by Rachel Maddux? This book ended as though a sequal was planned and I'd love to find it.

Thanks for any help.

Fanfan: You are very wise to read Little Altars first (I read them in reverse order)to acquaint you with the characters that will carry on in the Ya-Ya book. Stephanie: I AGREE w/you that the Ya-Ya book is much the better of the two, but I still think you need to read Little Altars first. (I just finished reading the Ya-Ya book for the second time) I also just finished The Secret Life of Bees, and thought it VERY interesting. Footnote: If you read the Ya-Ya book and then see the movie, I predict you will be disappointed. JOY

I just finished the following books: The Beginner's Book of Dreams, by Elizabeth Benedict. Very good.

Bastard Out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison. It was also very good.

Crossing Blood, by Nanci Kincaid and is was so, so.

Anyone read any of these?

Sage

Ya Ya in the Basque language means "always". Basque is an extremely difficult language still spoken in Northwest Spain and over the border in eastern France. The Basque language does not have any thing in common with any other known language.

Sage, I read "Bastard out of Carolina" several years back and it was devasting. I still carry the images in my mind. There is a movie. I have not been able to make myself view it. It is not fiction! That stuff really happened to her and her mother.

HOWZAT

I read The Bastard Out of Carolina. Very well written . I also have seen the movie on TV. This was a disturbing book but I find reading such a book jolts me out of being complacent about the disturbing lives some folks have to endure.

Nana and Howzat...I didn't know it was based on truth and that it was a movie. It was a devastating read. I've always known by the things that I read, that I have led a charmed life. When I read of some other horrible life and count myself so lucky.

Sage

I found the book in my "To read" box.. Will have to move it up, since it sounds interesting. Bastard out of Carolina, that is.

Now you have me curious about The Bastard Out of Carolina. Just out of curiosity, what is the theme? -Keene

Abuse. The husband abused the wife and daughter. I kept wishing he'd get drunk and crash his car into a tree instead of making it home each time.

HOWZAT

I just finished UP COUNTRY by Nelson DeMille. This is the first of his books that I've read and I did enjoy it. I must admit I read rather quickly over some draggy parts as I needed to finish it and get it bck to the library. It was nonrenewable. I think most of the gentlemen among us would enjoy this book.

hi everyone and happy friday:

has anyone read garden of faith by lynne hinton? wondering what your reaction was.

cheers!

bobd author of sandman

hi ginny:

just saw your message of late may. i tend to read in spurts. sometimes i read books about california history, other times documentary-type books, now am reading a lot of fiction. i just finished garden of faith by lynne hinton and have started a novel entitled consent.

cheers and happy reading!

bobd author of sandman

I just finished reading, THE LOVELY BONES, by Alice Sebold. I'm in shock. I read a review of this book and so I was prepared for the subject matter, murder of a child, but I was not prepared as to how it would affect me. I'm in sorrow and yes a bit of anger also over chaper 21. I wish they had taken out that chapter.

It is so frightening reading this and hearing about the Smart girl. Sob, what are we going to protect our children?

Sage

Did You like the book. I have it on my must read list. Sounds fascinating.. Just finished Bastard out of Carolina ( I know, but I have a ton of books in my basket, so I am later than most). Wonderful but harrowing. I find the Mother totally a mystery to me..

Bastard out of Carolina is the true story of Dorothy Allison's terrible childhood. I saw her read from it some years ago and it was truly compelling. They also made a movie out of it.

I don't mean to disrupt this wonderful discussion, so ignore this if it's inappropriate, but i wanted to remind folks that the discussion of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath begins tomorrow, July 1.

Jane DeNeve "---Grapes of Wrath ~ by John Steinbeck ~Book Club Online ~ 7/1/02" 6/30/02 10:12am

Stephanie...I did like Pretty Bones. The author is a powerful writer. I hope we hear more from her. After two days I'm still thinking about the book.

Sage

I just finished the Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus.This is a relatively short book , supposedly fiction written by two former Nannies about their experiences. I don't think it was completely fiction. It was humourous, sad and left me with a feeling of outrage. I hope I never meet the parents they write about in a dark alley, I would fear for their safety. Enough said?? I would appreciate the opinion of anyone else who has read this book. Barb

I have the book on audio tape and will start it probably Friday. I am just about finished with the Susan Isaacs on tape. What a complicated story she did this time. Anyway looking forward to Nanny. Supposed to be excellent.

It is becoming evident that you and I have very similar tastes in books.I am on the waiting list for The Nanny Diaries I hope I don't have too long a wait.

I very much like Susan Isaccs writing....what audio book are you listening to Stepanie?

Susan Isaacs..."Long Time, No See". It was quite good, but oh my the twists and turns.. I still think she is being a fool with Nelson, but otherwise, it is the same heroine as her first book.

hmmmmm. I like twists and turns......thanks

is one of my favorite authors. I think I have read all of her books.

Yes, I like Susan Isaacs and have read them all. Was terribly disappointed in the movie that they did however. Melanie Griffith is a squeaker and I just did not see the heroine like that. I should never go see movies from books. The books are always so much better.

Just finished reading, THE HEAVEN OF MERCURY, by Brad Watson. Wonderful characters. Finus, the main character, is also the town newspaper editor. Finus tells each characters story with love and compassion. Birdie, the love he never has, Parnell, the town undertaker, and even a wooden dummy who the maid, Creasie, who belives the dummy changes into a man she love, Frank. It is a marvelous story and so well written.

Sage

Hi Has anyone read Man and Boy by Tony Parsons? Tht author is from London and the story takes place in England I just started it but I think I am going to enjoy it.

Here is a synopsis. Meet Harry Silver: a man who has everything going for him before the age of thirty: a killer job as a late-night TV producer, a beautiful wife, a four-year-old son, a shiny new red sports car...until one night, when an irrational decision causes him to lose everything. Now Harry must face the myriad, baffling questions of suddenly single fatherhood, such as "how do you wash a 4-year-old's hair?" and "should he eat green spaghetti for breakfast?" In this poignant, witty story, Harry has to not only raise his child alone, but to look after his parents, make a living, and somehow, someway, try to survive in this brave new world

Hi all I am reading Sea Glass by Anita Shreve. I love her books. This is starting out to be good. What fascinates me is how this takes place in 1929 and the characters make references to the scandal that occured at Fortune Rocks in the 1890's. One character is renovating the house that the Doctor(who had the scandolous affair with the fifteen year old)and his family lived in.The main characters,Honora and Sexton are renting a house which hab been a convent established by the young girl of the affair when she became older. It appears this book is going to have it's share of scandals also.

I've read "Sea Glass" by Anita Shreve and think it's wonderful. It has somewhat of a surprise ending. I won't tell and ruin the book for you. -Keene

hello out there?

i'm new here and my friend told me about this site. i am looking for two books. one is Pretty Bones and I don't know the writer. The other one is Madam, the Grass is High, by Dennis Christen. I have read so many good things about these books that I want to buy them as gifts. Anyone out there can help? Jessie

I have seen Pretty Bones in the book stores and you could order either Book on-line from Barnes&Noble or amazon.com I am sure........

I think tigerliley has a good suggestion. I get most of my books from Amazon.com. Good luck.

Keene

I recently ordered the paper back of, Sea Glass, from Amazon and am looking forward to reading it. I have thoroughly enjoyed every Anita Shreve book , and when I finish one, I send it on to my daughter. She just finished Weight of Water, and we have been having interesting email and phone conversations about it.

I knew that the, Smuttynose Murders, were true history, but I didn't realize there were so many web sites and interesting accounts on the internet. Also there are apparently message boards, where people discuss the book, and compare it to the actual historical events.

Also, I didn't know that the movie, "Weight of Water", was made a few years ago in Canada. It apparently has not been released in the United States? Does anyone know anything about the movie?

I finshed Sea Glass .Very well written How knowledgeable Anita is about the Depression and Mills The folks of that era had so much hardship .I can not imagine how difficult is was to live thru the Great Depression. My parents like Honora and Sexton were married in April 1929 Another coincidence my maternal grandmother's name was Honora. The ending did surprise me.

Has anyone read SLAMMERKIN, by Emma Donoghue? I am going to see if I can find another book by the same author.

Sage

Tell us a little about why you liked this book Sage......

Tigerlily...The main character in this book was a product of her own upbringing and she was her own worst enemy. It was facinating watching her maneuver others. She did try to better herself and up until the sad event, she did try to have a better life. She never saw herself. Always a user of other people and yet...how it must of felt to be thrown out by your own Mother. I never liked her, but I felt for her.

Sage

Glad several of you have enjoyed "Sea Glass." I, too, enjoy Anita Shreve's books.

Am now reading Jan Karon's "In This Mountain." Has anyone read it?

Keene

Hi Keene It seems we are reading the same books I read In The Mountain a few weeks ago. I have read all the Mitford books and I enjoyed this one. Poor Father Tim has his faith tested in this one Do you agree?

thanks Sage.....I will be on the lookout for this book.....I have sworn I will not buy another book until I read the three I have waiting!!! lol

Tigerliley...you only have three to read? I have at least fifteen. If I don't have that many to read...I feel antsy. (G)

Sage

tigerlilly - like you, I have a stack of books waiting to be read - so I have promised myself that I won't buy anymore! But I just can't resist the lure of, Barnes & Noble or Border's! Also I try to stay out of Amazon.com, but will succumb every so often as I did this week when I ordered, "Sea Glass".

Today, I started a very interesting book called "The Looking Glass", by Michele Roberts. I can tell that it's going to be a good one!

I'm about three-quarters of the way through "In The Mountain" and, indeed, Father Tim is having his faith tested. He is certainly in a questioning period of his life.

Keene

Just finished,MILK GLASS MOON by Adriana Trigiani. This is the third novel in the Big Stone Gap Novel. I did enjoy all three novels. Not the best writing but the story is a bit unusual in that in the first novel a spinster finally marries and has a child. The second novel the marriage is tested by a great sorrow and in the third...the parents are tested by the raising of a teen age daughter. What is so rewarding about the book is the many characters that are so likeable. Als is set in the Appalachian mountains region. A good read when you don't want to think about heavy duty stuff.

Sage

I agree SAge....I read the first two but don't think I will do the third one....I am reading a new book called Some Days there's Pie.....Will let you know how I like it.....

One more day to vote for books to be discussed.

Please vote for THREE of the following books for Bookclub Online Fiction Reader's Series discussions.

Here are the titles

1. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
2. Atonement by Ian McEwan
3. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
4. Claire Marvel by John Burnham Schwartz
5. Empire Falls by Robert Russo
6. The Fall of Light by Niall Williams
7. The Good Husband by Gail Godwin
8. Hanna's Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson
9. Hungry Hill by Daphne Du Maurier
10. The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve
11. Perfect Recall: New Stories by Ann Beattie
12. Simon's Family by Marianne Fredriksson
13. To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck
14. Unless by Carol Shields

"How to Be Good" by Nick Hornby. If you can get past the first few chapters and hang on to see if this couple is going to remain trapped in this same argument for life, you may just find this book funnnnny! Hornby does a great job of writing from the female perspective. At least this female things that. Keri Johnson

hi, everyone:

am just wondering if any of you have read sandman, by bob drews, and what you thought of it.

cheers!

bob

"Sea Glass"....thought is was excellent. Such a challenging time that was in which to live. I've collected sea glass. It's so exciting to find a piece. Never been to the ocean tho...there would be more finds there.

Am reading Carol Shields novel - "Unless". Heard her interview on CBC radio for the 3rd time this morning. All her novels make an impact ; definitely all need a reread to see more of what she is saying.

~Marj

Wasn't Sea Glass interesting? Anita Shreve never fails to keep the reader riveted on the story.

Am now reading Nora Roberts' Dance Upon the Air , the first in the Three Sisters Island trilogy. Am only a few pages into it, so can't comment yet. Have any of you read it?

Keene

Good qutesion, Howzat, also, where is her pal Roidinski?? We need our England Contingent back, summer's over!

hahahha

ginny

I was going to ask, too, where is everyone? Any comments on Nora Roberts' books? Ginny, I see you are back from your trip. How was it? Hope you had a great time.

I have been on the library wait-list for this book "forever". I would be interested to hear any comments on the book before I get the book (IF I ever do get it)

Joy

I just thought I would "throw this out" and see if I get a reply----Has ANYONE read the above named book, and what is your opinion of it?I just happened to see it at the library NEW BOOKS shelf, and it looked interesting. The author (although I never heard of him) won the Pulitzer Prize AND the Pen/Faulkner award for Independence Day. Joy

Joy - started to read _Atonement_, but couldn't connect. Read probably 70 pages and it did not hook me.

Kathy

Thanks for your reply, Kathy. If a book doesn't "hook" me almost immediately, it is NOT for me, so I probably will not pursue it.

Joy

Just finished another Jodi Picoult book, PICTURE PERFECT. Such a good writer. She takes a marriage apart this time. Her transitions from character to character needs some work. I kept losing Will, one of the main characters. All in all a worthwhile read. I have enjoyed all her books.

Sage

Keene!! There YOU are and there's Kathy Hill, too !! Kathy , TELL us about your summer, how did it go? And Sage !! there you are, I love your take on that book, needed more work on the transitions from character to character, boy I can relate to that, it's funny but it makes YOU feel like the Dumbo when the author (or at least it does me) confuses you as to who is speaking, irritates me no end, I have to stop and go back and read it in the right character's eyes. hahahaha

And lajoy, are you new to our Books? if so welcome, if not, welcome WELCOME either way, we're glad to have you! I agree, I want to know about Atonement. What's wrong with Atonement, Kathy, we have it scheduled for December but I'm not hearing good things about it, tell the truth, I just bought it myself.

I was just whining today that I guess we never WILL get to read A Christmas Carol in December here in the Books, something I have ALWAYS wanted to do, I read it every year and every year find something new. We should act out the parts, I get to be Marley!!

What's going on with Atonement?

Keene, yes had a fabulous time, full of adventure, got caught up in a mob protest World Hunger/ Che Guevara March in Rome, trapped between the police, state police and National Guard in riot gear and shield and the protestors, that was scary till we got out of there, we finally got about 1/2 mile away but our bus and all the others going our way sped right on. the drivers would wave NO, and on they would go by the stops, it was kind of surreal there for a while. We walked from the Colosseum to the Vatican and if you know Rome you kow what that was hahahahahha LOOOOOOOONGGGGG way.

The police were protecting their monuments and I don't blame them, there appeared to be thousands of marchers. Helicopters, etc, it was something else.

We rented a car in Avignon, France and the Hertz lady asked me Avez vous les extensions? And I said huh? And she said do you have an extension for your driver's license? And so I kindly explained American driver's licenses to her and she very kindly explained American Driver's Licenses to me: mine had expired on my birthday, February 4? This was in June hahahahaha.

SC was not sending out reminder forms!!!! AND THEN as if it was not bad enough, THEN they trotted out this brand new Mercedes, some model we don't have here yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Sandy my friend got to drive and she does not care for Mercedes, so it was two very snorty women who set out for the French Provence area hahahahah Started to drizzle and DOGGONE if the car didin't turn it's own wipers on and off according to the water on the windhield?

Could you cry? hahahahahaa

Snort, but it was no trouble to get a new license, just stand in line and take the eye test, I was petrified that I would have to parallel park.

What have you all been doing this summer?

ginny

I have been reading gardning books.....I did post a Jodi Picoult novel in the book exchange if anyone here is interested......

My goodness, what an action/adventure scenerio--took my breath. And, that car!, I mean, automobile (any vehicle that smart can't be a plain ol' car).

Viogert and Rodinki are over in Mystery. I remembered they both inhale one mystery after another and went over there to check. Sure enough, there they were. I dropped that discussion a while back because I don't really read that many mysteries.

HOWZAT

Yes, Ginny, I am new to your Books; however, I have been in Books(Senior Net)for quite a while. Just discovered this board ---it is indeed amazing how much is out there that I know nothing about. Joy (lajoy)

I loved the way she began chapter two.Ruth is shopping and for the first time I became interested in Ruth. I seem to be one of those few rare people who love to go to supermarkets of differeent types and love the produce and seafood selections. Once upon a time , a long time ago, I lived near Cambridge , Ma. and they had specialty produce and seafood and meat shops that would knock your eyes out. This seems to have been Ruths experience now. I also began to understand how a ghostwriter functions, or at least how Any Tan decided they worked. Very interesting indeed.

How did I get here. I was posting to Bonsetters and bang.. I was in fiction. Oh well.

JOY!

Welcome then, especially! By "Books(Senior Net)" do you mean the AOL site? Or do you mean the Books here? Either way you are most welcome!!

I think we have come a long way here in the Books in the last 6 years, due entirely to the wonderful, willing spirit of our Participants and Discussion Leaders: it's a beautiful collaboration.

We have our own URL now http://www.seniornet.org/bookclubs, which leads to our own Enrichment Center Page, and we're doing Reader's Guides and now of course NOW comes our fabulous news of being a Partner of the Library of Congress (that's a three year appointment and we get to have a place as Parcitipants in this years National Book Festival on the Capitol Grounds.

Golly WHAT AUTHORS! I hope you all have looked at al the authors planning to come to the National Book Festival, more are being added daily, and that is a reader's chance to actually speak to an author whom he likes, it's a fabulous situation\ for a reader. Please plan to join us there, you can be one of the people manning the booth on the grounds of the US Capitol!

Ann Wrixon, who is the President of SeniorNet, will also be at our Bookfest, this is a good chance for eveyrbody to meet her, as well, I hope everybody reading this will give it a try and come for at least one day.

If you are new, look under my (or the last post here) post and under the buttons for the words Books & Literature, click on them and you will see our entire offerings displayed, please try them out,you are welcome in all of them.

Howzat, no our Dynamic Duo from England is not recently in Mystery, but they have been there, I've not seen them since I got back, they are AWOL, we miss our bookies when they are absent, we need to track them down and hope they are OK!

Have you ever been disappointed by the reviews of a book? I read the NY Times and sometimes I just HAVE to have what they're talking about but lately it seems that every book is advertised as the BEST of the BEST and sometimes when I get them I wonder what the shouting is about. Not so The Nanny Diaries, it's wonderful, can't put it down.

But it's been a long time before that that I had a book I siimply could NOT put down, is anybody reading somethng that they wholeheartedly recommend?

ginny

Someone asked for a book which one could not put down --- well this is it! The Summons will hold your attention all the way through. I hope they make a movie someday --- this is his latest book and I thought it was great.

Yes, Ginny, it is the AOL site. And thanks a bunch for the URL to check out books on the Enrichment Center Page, etc. I WILL go there when I have a chance.

Joy (lajoy)

I also can't get into Atonement I feel a little better that others don't care for it I felt with such a renowned author thier was something wrong with my literary taste. I recived it as a gift so every so often I will pick it up and attempt to contiue but I can not get interested in it.

I greatly enjoyed The Summons A terrific story It should make a good movie TV has been showing some Grisolm books which were made into movies which I hadn't seen.Last week it was A Time To Kill and last night was The Chamber. I thought both of them were done very well as movie from books that is IMHO.

has anyone read this book It was so good It is fiction. It is by Lori Lansens. It is the story of a African Canadien girl told by her by way of flashbacks from when she was young in the great depression thru the next fifty years of her life. A very informative,well written book.

You all are scaring me about Atonement (and isn't it funny how we blame OURSELVES? hwhhahah awonder if we've lost it, etc., when we simply can't get into it) instead of blaming the author?

What is it about it that's a turn off? We may have to scuttle the December scheduling of it if it's a dog? I've not tried it yet.

NanaB, no I missed that one entirely, it sounds good, where did you hear of it? (I'm always interested in where people hear about or want to read a new book).

lamloft, thanks for the Grisham recommendation, I've not read it but I've heard a lot about it. I'm now reading another PG Wodehouse, this one is very good, not about Bertie Wooster at all but the Rowcester Manor, he has a very fine hand, almost a skewering hand with the English upper classes, but always funny unlike Waugh.

I like the catalogue A Common Reader, do you all get it? I love the reviews, and he's got some that are oldies but goodies and some I never heard of. He's got a lot of Betty MacDonald (sp), you remember the movie The Egg and I with Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray? Well in real life they did get divorced and actually she had quite a bad time of it but always wrote such upbeat things, she had quite a life.

Joy, what are you reading now or have just read? (I had a friend interviewing for a job teaching LD kids in grades 1-3 and the Superintendent asked her right out of the blue WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? I believe I would have fainted, hahahaha what would YOU all say?

There's another site which is cloed to the public and is by invitation only and their Books area had a game going something about what most famous book have you not read? Boy I would have no trouble with that one, for some reason I've never read any F. Scott Fitzgerald? Never one. Not the Great Gatsby, not one.

I guess I have strange taste in fiction, is there a "book everybody on earth has read" that YOU have not?

Has anybody here read Among the MIssing by Dan Chaon? It's short stories, which I love, it was a National Book Award Finalist and a New York Times Notable Book, have any of you read it?

I read a devastaing review of Richard Russo's new book of short stories, they say he's tring to imitate Richard Yates (one of my favorite authors). Russo, who wrote the famous Empire Falls, is the editor of the last book of Yates's combined stories, but this reviewer said he's got the shell of Yates, if I understood him correctly without the substance.

Have any of you read it? Russo is a very fine writer, I'm still trying to start Empire Falls, I would hate to think he had failed?

ginny

Ginny, So glad you had such a good time in Europe, but am glad you have returned. Have you seen some of the latest Nke commercials. They are in French. One is a chicken chasing a man.

Stephanie, if you like supermarkets, you would probably like the ones here in south Florida. Ours are full of exotic fruits and vegetables from other countries. I don't recognize some of them/ It would be nice if they wold label them and even give some tips on how to use them. I guess they figure they Cubans and other Latins already know.

Right now I am reading a book entitled "The Little Doctor" by Georges Simenon. The main character is a doctor but he solves mysteries. It is a translation from French.

I found this book in the library ,it is new.I read the jacket and it caught my interest,other than recommendations from my librarian or other people, this is how I usually find most books . After I finished it I went to B&N website to read reviews from folks who read it and thier reviews were all favorable.

I've read that the Russo book lacks his sense of humor this time around. It's a selection of short stories called The Whore's Child. Without the humor, Russo isn't Russo.

Ginny: Books recently read: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, VERY GOOD----Secret Life of Bees---Which held my interest to the very last sentence, The YA-YA Book AGAIN. Presently have sitting on my table to read: A Multitude of Sins, by Richard Ford, Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett, and the library FINALLY called me that Atonement was in. I got it, but now am wondering if I will endeavor to read it since it has so much negative reports. Also, since it is "hold" book @ the library you can only have 3 weeks, and I am a slow reader---very involved in the lives of my 6 adult children, 11 grandchildren and 2 greats. Joy

Hi Ginny - don't know in which I saw your neat posting. Glad that you had a great trip. Where did you go in Italy?

Have enjoyed reading your selection of non-fiction. Re: _Atonement_ I found the language too burdensome, too flowery for me. It seemed that it took him forever to move anywhere. I can handle this kind of language in the classics - maybe he wants this to head in that category, but for a fiction read, it was just too much for me.

Am trying to read up a storm, but the great outside keeps calling me as Alaska is having the most incredible weather ever. It has even been in the low 80s in my area which is unheard of - usually it is in the 50s/60s at this time of the year. Wow! My house is about finshed with its new paint job - trimmed out with orchid/teal/lime green and California poppy colored doors to match. I went for the gusto!!!

Kathy

Kathy I would love to see a photo of your house. The colors are wonderful.

Sage

My computer conked out so I've been hors de combat while my techie put another better one together.

I have read most of Ian McEwan's books & each time I vow never to read another. He is sickening - he writes books that would be called 'noir' if they were mysteries. Have a look at his face - that's creepy enough. (Looks a bit like Heinrich Himmler!). He writes well, but so does Nabukov, Roth, Mailer, Genet - but none of them write for women.

I still go by my theory that if I like the authors face, I will like their books.

I reread one of your previous posts about The Lovely Bones I just started it and I echo your sentiments. I only hope I have the stamina to finish it. This book is so relavent with the rash of child abductions that have been happening. What are parents raising children to do?They want thier children protected but they also don't want to raise children with no self reliance.As a grandmother I share my children's concerns

viogert and lajoy - doesn't sound like you'll be interested, but just in case, our readers voted to discuss Bel Canto and Atonement this year. We'll probably do Bel Canto in October and Atonement in December.

All right now, Everybody, I've been away reading Atonement! hhahaahah I've read the first chapter, and I need to know how far I have to read before it gets bad? What happens? is it nasty of is it some sort of psychological thing? You can email me if you're afraid of spiling the beans?

So far it's an English Country House and a little girl who writes plays to preform for her brother, I kinda like the way the author expresses himself, I kinda an enjoying it, but if it turns nasty, I need to know what it IS that everybody hates?

TELL ALL, email me!!1 So far I like it?

Different strokes, and speaking of that, Kathy HILL with the house, I agree with Sage, you are SOOOO an artist! Can you send us a photo? We want to see? I'll tell you what I did in Italy if you tell us what YOU did this summer! Deal?

This year I wwnt to Italy for the last week of a long trip, we went from Paris to Rome on the Euro Night and slept on the train, it was fun. I love Rome and go every year, we only went to Rome, there's so much to see and do there. The train was an adventure, the Che Guevara protest march was an adventure and Rome is still eternal Rome, they've put a new ramp entirely across the Colosseum floor and you can walk and look DOWN in the depths and it's stunning, every time I go something old is new again, just love Rome. Of all the places I've been in Italy and all the times I've gone, Rome still holds it for me. There's a new (one year old) archeobus out to the Parco degli Aquedotti where the long spans of the ancient aqueducts run across the fields in unbroken arches, it's magic and very exciting, four ancient aqueducts meet there and tower over head, disappearing into the distance.

Here is the incredible Claudian Aqueduct, built in 38-52 AD, which carried at its height, 185,000 m3 per second in volume, don't ask me, but it's a huge one, do you see the ROAD running underneath it? That's where the bus comes in!!

The Marcia (144-140BC) the Appia (312 BC) and the Tepula (126-125 BC) also meet in this place.

Here, for instance, you can see the Claudian Arcade" marching off into the sunset, it's unreal NO mortar holds those giant blocks together, just the force of the weight, it's unreal.

Viogert! THERE you are again, so glad to see you and Et Tu with the Atonement? WHAT Is wrong with the book? I feel as if I have a scorpion by the tail?

Louise!!! There you are again, I'm so glad to see you back and how is that Miami weather? I know it's HOT, don't tell us it's not, now, and how's the car situation?? I have not seen the first Nike commercial, in fact have seen almost no commercials and am beginning to feel commercially illiterate, everybody is asking about commercials lately, apparently there are some good ones out there!

Nana B, thank you for that description of why you chose that book, as long as there are intersting dust jackets, the mega bookstores will never die, I almost faint every time I go in one, it's all I can do to escape with only a few things.

Hairy (LInda) I appreciate that Russo isn't Russo too, I think I may pass on his latest till it's in paperback, if he's ANYTHING like Yates, tho, it would be a pleasure, so I need to see for myself, maybe when it comes out in paperback or in the library (more likely).

UPDIKE depresses me to such an extent that I can barely hold up my head, the man's miasma invades everything I do when I read him especialy the Rabbit Angstrom series, don't EVER read that unless you are a bouncy happy optimist.

Joy: How was the The YA-YA Sisterhood, you've read it more than once? What does it compare to, did you see the movie? Let us know about A Multitude of Sins too, that's another one I've got here waiting for the "right" moment, meanwhile, Sarah, I'm still in a quandary about Atonement!!

ginny

Am still apologizing to Sam, my cat, who WAS asleep behind my left elbow before the whoop!!! I let out reading about your expired drivers license, Ginny. I can just see you carefully explaining American licenses to that woman while holding an expired license! So, you never got to drive the Mercedes? (Be glad your license was expired. If it had been renewed, they would have made you wait 6 hours for a dilapidated oddball car that had a broken gas gauge and a missing spare tire, etc.) I assume you never had to use your terms for flat tire. Too funny!! All that preparation for "flat tire," but no license.

Riot gear. Goodness. Sounds like Berkeley....who obliged my curiosity about the 60s during the short time I lived there in early 90s, since the Rodney King verdict happened while I was there.

Well, I was looking forward to reading Atonement.....I mean, I really got excited after looking at some reviews, etc. and wrote my support of it in a post somewhere. I think some quotes from the book sounded wonderful, as I remember. The downer buzz in the posts makes me think of spreading cold germs. Everyone, go wash your hands.

Betty

Betty Gregory - - Funny you should use that phrase about washing hands over Ian McEwan, because it's just how I have felt about his books. I read "A Child in Time" first because it was highly praised. I would award a prize for brutality-to-readers for that one. (The hero's little girl, whom he gently dresses & takes with him to the supermarket, is abducted & for the rest of the book we never hear of her again). "The Innocent" is about a couple in Germany, as I try not to recall, carrying a body about in a suitcase & the "Company of Strangers", more abduction & creepy people. He writes very well - no doubt about that, it's the subjects he chooses that turn my stomach. "Atonement" could be quite different maybe?

Ginny: Yes, I did read the Ya-Ya Book twice (indeed a rarity for me) and liked it just as much the second time. However, I live in Louisiana, the locale of the book, and am familiar with so many of the situations. About the movie-----it was NO WAY as good as the book. By all means read the book first----------also read the first one of the "series", Little Altars Everywhere, to become acquainted with the characters. Joy

I'm back on the computer after being away for a few days, and, wow, what a busy board this has become. Great!

Ginny,what a fascinating trip you had to Italy. Am glad you came home in one piece.

Am beginning to read The Beach House, by James Patterson. Has anyone read it?

Keene

Re: How I choose a book .I would be remiss if I don't include the suggestions I get from the Senior Net book discussions (this and others) If it weren't mentioned here I would never have read The Secret Life of Bees"also The Lovely Bones which I just started.

Again i have to agree with you, on subject matter this time. I simply refuse to read any book about abducted/missing/violated/murdered children.Far too many authors seem to be jumping onto this particular bandwagon?Asif, they had just caught on from Jonathan Kellermans suiccess and he's another i won't entertain.It doesn't matter how good the book is no-one will convince me that this is good entertainment.

Keene I just picked up The Beach House How are you enjoying it?

Nana B, I've heard good things about The Lovely Bones.

Betty

Hi Betty, When I started it I really didn't think I would have the stamina to finish it because of the subject matter,the abduction and murder of a young girl. But I found myself enthralled with the writing of the author The complete book was written from the perspective of the victim, Susie Salmon.She is in a place between earth and heaven where she watchesover her friends and family and sees how her death effects thier lives I found it to be a very well written book which raises the unending questions of the mystery of life after death .

I agree, I get such good recommendations from this discussion and I fell prey to the "NanaB" syndrome yesterday when I went to the local B&N, I got hooked on a cover and description of The Unconsoled on sale for $3, apparently it was not well received or appreciated, by Nazuo Ishiguro and realized I had not read his first one The Remains of the Day tho I had seen the movie.

Jo, THANK you for saying the Ya Ya had a prequel, I would never have known and have ordered them both and thie Secret Life of Bees (I KNEW there was one I was supposed to get but I forgot) that NanaB mentions, you all have mentioned that before, what's it about? I thought I could remember BEES long enough to get the book, but apparently I didn't, fill us in?

Yes please tell all on the Beach House, Keene, I want to know if I want to read it too! Nelson DeMille's The Gold Coast is one of the best "house" books I ever read, second only to Anne Rivers Siddons's The House Next Door which has some very strange stuff in it, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. In my opinion, tho, neither DeMille nor Siddons ever equalled the early grace they did in those two books, it's a quality missing in the sequels.

I've read some Patterson, he's good, tell all.

Atonement will go forward in December as the Fiction Reader's Series, Judge Thomas presiding hahahaha and we dearly hope you will tune in there, ESPECIALLY if you HATED the book so we can all discuss it and have a rousing good read! Please put that on your schedulies for upcoming delights, I love opposing opinions!

But O I'm drowning. Remember how I said I wished I could find a book I couln't put down" I have found it. Took it up idly out of the stack from B&N last night, read self to sleep with it, got up reading it, it's sitting here on my desk and the very second I finish typing this I'm off to read it again.

It's The Remains of the Day, have you read it? I am totally blown away by it, have never ever read anything like it. We MUST read this book together, we MUST discuss the ideas and issues in it, I need to hear YOUR insights and wisdom on these very very crucial issues.

It's about idealism vs reality. It's about middle age and the loss of idealism (is that always the case?) and losing powers. It's about relationships, parental and grown child, and duty, it's sooo poignantly done, it's about morality vs reality, in short...it's about dignity or what constitutes dignity and the pedestals we put people on and why and what that means to us and them, we simply MUST discuss this book, we must.

Have you all read it? We MUST discuss it?

ginny

Nana B and Ginny , I'm two pages into "The Beach House." Will let you know how it is as I go along. Ginny, you have me soooooo curious about "The Remains of the Day." Maybe I'll put down "The Beach House" and go buy it to read right now !!

-Keene

I just went to the Amazon.com site to look up The Remains of the Day. Is it the story of a butler? If I recall, I think I have seen the movie, if it's the book you are talking about. Just curious. -Keene

GINNY .... "Remains of the Day" by Kasuo Ishiguro won the Booker Prize the year Margaret Atwood was short-listed with "Cat's Eye". Ishiguro's is a super little book but only won because it was a well-written story by a Japanese man about a Brit butler. GRRRRR! - Margaret should have won it - but who was the first out of her chair that night to give Ishi a congratulatory hug? Yes, right. I still think "Cat's Eye" was the better book.

Actually, Ishiguro is British. He moved from Japan to England at the age of 5 with his parents. I've read "Remains of the Day" -- as usual the book is far superior to the rather good movie -- and it is a simple and complex book. Wonderful book. For more on the author see

Who is Kazuo Ishiguro?

Marvelle

Was the book "Remains of the Day" made into a movie?

Yes, there is a movie of "Remains of the Day" with Anthony Hopkins as the butler. I admire his work and he is perfection in this part. Fine movie but still....there's the superb book that started it all.

Marvelle

.......and none but Emma Thompson could have played against Anthony Hopkins as well, for the movie, Remains of the Day, but I quite agree that the book surpasses the exquisite movie. I read the book this past spring and had THIS movie of posts (here, your posts) not moved so fast, I was going to come to say, but you must read the BOOK, Ginny. But the script moved too fast, and here you are, already into the book. Isn't it incredibly written!

Viogert, is that you?, or has someone nipped your online name to come in to rave about Cat's Eye and put down the "super little book" Remains of the Day? hahahahahaha Or, is the increasing heat of the planet doing strange things to our brains (my brain, probably)......I can't remember even ONE time here in the Books that I didn't shake my head yes through every post of yours, and here we are, I love it, seeing crossed-eyed over two books in 10 or so posts. (Though I think I'm crumbling on the Atonement issue, 'cause I've developed some recent allergies to abduction and assorted violence stories.) But, but, but, Remains of the Day takes us deep into the assorted mysteries of life, listed ever so elegantly in Ginny's post. Even history buffs are treated to a glimpse of how England could be caught so unprepared for WWII. And on, and on. I loved reading that book, I love that story, in part because the simple represents the complex and there is no attempt to offer simple answers or any answers at all.

But, I agree, there are endless, familiar life issues that would energize a wonderful discussion. Let's do it! (I've been in the worst kind of funk for months now, but I'm fired up thinking about rereading and discussing this one.) .........what about the already crowded schedule??? Have we actually reached the point of having to turn away (put off?) good discussion ideas? Or, are other people better at selecting/prioritizing than I am? I want to read everything!!

Betty

Betty Gregory . . . I wasn't belittling "The Remains of the Day", only its choice by the judges as winner of the Booker. It is still a tour de force for an adoptive Englishman from Nagasaki, & I only guessed that it had impressed the Booker judges.(And Ishiguro is a really sweet man too).

When I get carried away by books I like, I start to sound like a self-appointed 'authority' but I don't know any more than you, about what attracts some people to a book & repels others. "The Remains of the Day" is a little jewel of a book - everybody agrees on that. But it's a book reaffirming the status quo which added to its popularity. The Booker Prize Winner of 1984 was "Hotel du Lac" by Anita Brookner. Another little gem, but it was a subtly disturbing story that did not quite reaffirm the status quo. It sparkles out there, sort of banished in its literary outer darkness, because it upset people, but I have read it umpteen times for the sheer pleasure of it. I have read Ishiguo's book once, & though I'm surprised how much of it I can remember, I doubt if I'll read it again.

Oh yes oh yes, I finished it last night, and I feel suitably bereft of its presence, yes it was the movie with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson and it's Emma Thompson I see when Miss Kenton is mentioned, and in the scenes, yes, I do see them together, but what Hopkins, for all his ability, (and I can't imagine anybody else playing the part) could NOT show was the inner thoughts and motivations of Mr. Stevens. And THAT'S what the book is about, oh gosh we must discuss this book, I do need to hear your opinions on it.

Viogert, I LOVE contrary opinions and intelligent responses, as yours was and I very much appreciate Margaret Atwood and I did appreciate Cat's Eye but THIS book, to me, maybe I'm in the right mood, was not even in the same ballpark. It's not a BOOK, to me.

It's about worth, I have never read anything at all remotely like it, I finished it last night in tears and yet it's not sad. Or is it? We must discuss this book, it's about......us. I can't see for the life of me how a young man could have written it, we must write him and ask, I have questions for him. We will all have questiosn for him.

One of the comments on the cover says it's a "comedy of manners."

HUH?

EF Benson writes comedies of manners, this is not a comedy, if it is, then I couldn't have cried thru it, or would I? And WHY did I? It's NOT sad?

We need to read this book. If you only saw the movie and have not read this book, are you willing to get it? We need desperately to discuss this book, marvelle9, viogert would you be willing to read it again, we need a not impressed view, tigerliley, betty, NanaB, Steph, Sage, Keene, Kathy, Jo, Roi, Linda, Louise, Sarah, WHO have I left out, it was NOT intentional!!!, sound off! Are you all intersted? I would say January, is that too far off, our slates are full as Betty said or perhaps, sooner? Next week? hahahahaah

What do you all think? You can read it in ONE day, (that is I bet you can't put it down?)

What do you think?

ginny

And now I haven't read Hotel du Lac either, but I've heard a LOT about it and I wouldn't mind comparing it, either, to Remains of the Day, Vioegert, if you could force self to read it one more time?

Let's do it.

One at a time?

I've writetn Sarah, our Fiction Coordinator!

ginny

Ginny, , what a great idea. I'm for reading The Remains of the Day on everyone's positive vote. I hope to get to B&N soon to purchase it. I saw part of the movie on television. Actually, I think I came in on the middle. Don't we hate to do that? Since everyone says the book is so much better, I'm now inspired to read it.

Keene

P.S. Betty, I'm with you. I want to read everything, too, and am getting frustrated with lack of time to do so.

I stayed with Atonement all the way thru. Some sections I thought were super, others rather boring ie, the war scenes. That young girl, Briney (I think) was so horrid I needed to follow it to the end. And the love story was well done.

Lajoy-----Richard Ford writes most interesting short stories. Good to read about him before taking no the stories. Adds to their interest.

I agree - I've seen "Remains of the Day" over and over. Great film. Reading the comments I must get to the book.

~~~Marj

Oh thanks....I couldn't remember the actor Hopkins and he is superb!! I loved that movie and now will have to read the book....I am presently reading "Blue Diary", by Alice Hoffman.....I do so like her discriptive writing and her characters......I was hooked on the first page......

Ginny, I'd be up for reading "Remains of the Day" again. It's always helpful to hear many voices discussing a work and bringing up things I hadn't noticed, or with other interpretations, or other responses.

I've added "Hotel du Lac" to my reading list; I want to see if it causes any delicious, disturbing ripples.

Marvelle

I read When We Were Orphans.

What is the prequel to Ya Ya. I missed that post.

Thanks!

Linda

But I thought Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) was not able to express feelings...his narrow existence didn't permit it. Maybe this will be a true distinction between the movie and the book, that the reader (not the movie watcher) can know more about his feelings than the Emma Thompson character and others can know. Hmmmm.

This won't make sense to anyone else (I think), but the ache-y sadness of Remains of the Day is the same kind of sadness I felt reading/watching Marjorie Morningstar, an old Herman Wouk novel, movie with Gene Kelly and Natalie Woods. Either the book won a prize or the movie won an oscar, can't remember without looking it up. Something about distances, or barriers to love or constraints of tradition. More to say, if we discuss the (1st) book.

Betty

Atonement is the subject of the reading group at The New York Times Book Review, going on right now.

Books into movies: The Shipping News with Kevin Spacey and Dame Judi Dench was not well received. Anyone know why? I read the book once, along with millions of others, but would never bother to read it again. I haven't seen the movie, but I would hope it was more uplifting than the book. Quoyle was such a silly, unattractive twit. If it hadn't been for the supporting characters I wouldn't have been able to finish the book at all.

HOWZAT

Howzat....you make me feel better....I did not like "Shipping News" at all and did not finish the book........I even tried to read it once again sometime ago but had the same reaction.......

I read Shipping News several years ago and enjoyed it, but wasn't it bizarre? I read it for a book club and we had quite a lively discussion. I have not seen the movie.

Am hoping to get to B&N today to purchase Remains of the Day.

Keene

The first book Little Altars Everywhere .

The valuable lesson I learned reading Shipping News (Sarah and I had an identical experience with this book) was not to give up on a book too soon. Five or six years ago when I first read this book, it didn't grab me AT ALL for the LONGEST TIME. But I still remember how amazed I felt when the writing captured me and wouldn't let go. I remember comparing my slow engagement with the writing to the main character's slow awakening. Anyway, I loved the book and will forever think of it when I'm tempted to give up too soon reading another. A 2nd lesson, not as easy to express, has to do with wanting to get better as a reader....wanting to experience a different kind of writing or a different kind of author....waiting a little longer before deciding "I don't like this" when the writing is not as familiar.

Betty

Betty, I felt the same way when reading Shipping News. I forced myself to keep on reading after a very slow start, and found that in the end, I really enjoyed the book, strange as it was.

I've just been to B&N and purchased The Remains of the Day . I'll start reading shortly.

Keene

Well, to join in. I've read "Shipping News" 4 times. I love her writing and the setting. She really well rounds her strange & strong characters. In that area of N America people are strong characters. I felt the movie left much to be desired. No way could K Spacey depict Quoyle. I can't figure how the author put her stamp of approval on it!!!! One of those many enigmas of life.

I'll have to look at the NY Times book discussion since H mentioned they are talking "Atonement".

~Marj ~Marj

Well, I purchased The Remains of the Day yesterday and am hooked as was Ginny. Are we going to have a formal discussion, or just an informal one?

Keene

Is that something or is that something, Keene, I think it deserves a formal discussion!!!!! It DESERVES the best, we're trying to fit it in now to the schedule, it's not a BOOK it's a...a......I'm so glad you like it, will everybody who does not and everybody who does stand in readiness, I will gladly read it again (and again) and the date will arrive shortly!

ginny

Ok, Ginny, we're eagerly waiting.

Keene

Ia am expermenting inthe internet

Welcome Daisy!!!!! Hang in there.

Just read a book by a first time author, James Zagel - "Money to Burn." Mr Zagel has been a police chief, prosecutor and a trial judge. The story is about a Federal District Court Judge in Chicago, who plans and carries out a robbery of a Federal Reserve Bank. I had about 165 pages left last night when I went to bed, and had to keep at it until midnight to find out what happened. If anyone reads it, I would like to hear comments. Natalie

I'm halfway through The Remains of the Day. What a book!! Is anyone else reading it?

Keene

I sure hope so, Keene, because we're definitely going to discuss it together, so no reading of it will be lost, what a book. I agree with you, what a BOOK!

Hello, Natalie, good to see you again, that's a ringing endorsement for that book, I've not heard of it, anybody else?

ginny

This morning I went to the library and brought back home 5 more books. One of the books I took back is called "The Chinese Oxymoron" by Veronica S. Pierce. I liked it and was hoping to find some more books by her. I don't know if she wrote any thing else or not because I didn't find any.

I rented the video The Remains of the Day and am enjoying watching it.

Keene

It's up!!!

Come see, come join us, Keene, how do you think the movie compares?

Come see our newest discussion going up beginning October 20, The Remains of the Day, a book which is so stupendous it goes beyond the word BOOK.

You may have seen the movie with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson and you may have thought you did not want to read about a butler, it's not only about a butler, it's about all of us.

Are you over 50? If so have you had to surrender your own idealism to the "real world?" Were the generations of the past more idealistic?

Are "Duty" and "Honor" and "Service" three things only read about in books?

Is the word "dignity" a joke?

If you have not read this affecting masterpiece, won't you do yourself and us a favor and join us there, we need to hear your reactions to the issues in this book!

You will not regret reading it, and you will never forget it.

Do come over if you're the least bit curious,

ginny

Thanks, Ginny, I got your message and will most delightedly, emphatically, participate in the "The Remains of the Day discussion. Actually, I have to admit I'm 60 and almost 61 in November (don't rush me), and I'm dealing with the very definite idealism vs. realism in the book (and movie/video). What a book!

Keene

Me, too, Keene, me too, I can't believe I almost missed this book!

I'm 59 and it's very hard for me to believe that in February I'll be 60. I can't even write it.

If I'm going to make the US Olympic Team I better choose a sport, huh? hahaahahaha

60.

jeepers.

ginny

You will do great things for the age of 60, Ginny. We won't have to say, but you seem younger than 60....we can say, oh, so that's what 60 looks like (sounds like). I'm 6 years behind you, but you already make 60 so much easier to think about.

Betty

60??? where is 60? It's been so long!

I appreciate that, Guys, hahahaaha.

Listen, I'm reading The Martian Chronicles for Nellie's discussion starting up October 1, everybody has heard of The Martian Chronicles and Ray Bradbury, if you have not read it or think you don't like Sci Fi you may be in for a surprise?

I'll tell you, people thought Star Trek the TV series was original, this thing is soooo unique and it's so ....brilliant, it just shines, I have to physically shut my mouth when I'm reading it, I don't believe I have ever seen such imagination. The man has such a way with words, and deals with such issues, it's unreal.

If you wonder why any person reads Sci Fi, treat yourself to this old classic and find out what Ray Bradbury means, I'm ....I dunno, but you sure get swept up in it.

ginny

Ginny An aquaintance of mine who is in her seventies (as I am) says when she meets someone in thier sixties she refers to them as The Kids

I've recently finished her new book, The Seven Sisters & loved all of it. It seems ages since I settled with a book I could read slowly & enjoy all the characters. There are some ghastly ones & she spares nobody. I think after reading this, I must have changed a bit - grown into myself - if you know what I mean? Her last couple of books were disappointing - she seemed to be crabby in her old age. Well, she's crabbier than ever in this one & she's absolutely BRILLIANT. Unfortunately, so far, her sister A.S.Byatt has been getting all the attention with her new book, so the reviews for Margaret are sparse & not very good, or they miss the point completely. It's a book about old women, (well, mid-60s if you think that's old? There's one in her 80s). This is the only novel I have felt I'd like to discuss with other people - if only to defend it & mainly because the young-women reviewers think the heroine Candida Wilton is a nasty old bat. I think she's lovely. If anybody else gets a read, let me know what you think will you?

Viogert! Seven Sisters, Step Ball Change, Madam, the Grass is High... Seems like more and more stories are surfacing about old folks. Seems refreshing the ones I've read. I, too, enjoyed the character of Candida Wilton in Seven Sisters. Old bat or not, she's a great heroine. Anyone of you seniors know about any more books about seniors out there? If so, I for one would love to get my hands on them. Donna

DonnaJeppson - it was lovely to find another Candida fan, Donna. Here are a couple of young women's reviews - almost begging Editor's to give books about mature women to other mature women to review. Girls just don't understand how repetitious & predictable life is for mothers - or that it's possible to dislike your middle-aged children without being a complete harpy. One reviewer suggested Candida can't have been a very nice person if her daughters didn't side with her after the divorce. Children will side with the parent with the money & the power. Candida had been dealt a pretty rotten hand - but who noticed? - in fact her self-contained attitude caused more irritation than admiration. Society seems to prefer the abandoned wife to go into a decline - so the book made me laugh when she didn't. What a nice practical person she was - generous & intelligent.

Natasha Walter: http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,786812,00.html

Anna Shapiro http://www.observer.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,784056,00.html

Viogert, thank you for your response and for those two reviews. Young ones just have no real clue, do they. Guess it takes a few years to understand what sticking to your ideals and your believes really mean. The direction wherein 'Points Of View' come from shows the experience level of the person sharing their point of view. How can a young person ever understand someone much older than they? I couldn't back then. Anyway, thanks for the info. Hope others have new suggestions on stories about older people. Most of them that have come out, either as books or movies, have done rather well, I think. Cacoon, Driving Miss Daisey, Trip to Bountiful, Sunshine Boys, Grumpy old men I and II, and the three titles I mentioned in my first post. They are all about seniors (old people) but where fun and enjoyable to most of the readers/audiences or they wouldn't continue to be mentioned time and time again. Give us more of the same!!!!

Welcome DonnaJeppson! We are delighted to welcome you to the Books!

What an interesting point you raise! I immediately thought of the books of Corrine Holt Sawyer, but they are mysteries, with two sleuths who live in a Retirement Center, they're quite good, the first, The J Alfred Prufrock Murders, is qutie intelligent, but that makes me think of all the other elderly sleuths and to question why sleuths are often elderly and the characters in books are not?

And I'll say further that the times I HAVE read about an interesting (not a sleuth) female older character, it usually ends up in just one way: she finds a man and is happy.

Not that there's anything WRONG with that, but why can't she be happy period?

Interesting topic and our viogret always knows such good reads, we need a SeniorBooks area!

The Seven Sistres? I've gotta have that, when viogert says something is BRILLIANT you need to rush out and get it!

There's one in her 80s). This is the only novel I have felt I'd like to discuss with other people - if only to defend it

Viogert if we get up a Proposed discussion for this one would you be interested?

Remains of the Day is about a person in older life who finds a clash between his idealism and reality, I truly recommend it to every person over 50 and the discussion of it beginning October 20, which already has 16 people planning to read it, all it needs is YOU!

I'll read Seven Sisters!

ginny

DonnaJeppson -- you are absolutely right when you kindly point out that young people haven't a clue - because they are young. We have been there & know what 'young' is, but nobody has researched the 'antiquity' of the older women or why Nature chose - of all the animal kingdom - to extend our lives by limited childbearing. Some research in women's eldercare homes among the over 85s, when asked, if they could go back, what age they'd choose - all of them said 50. This is one of those mysterious rewards discovered by women towards the end of their lives.

I was directed to a better review in the Financial Times which sounds exactly like the book I read. The 13th Sept edition of the FT under 'books', it's the first review.
http://www.ft.com/culture

Ginny - - I think in mystery novels the ground was broken by Miss Marples. A nosy old woman was a well-known character in every culture. And the stuff about any old girl finding a man & being happy ever after is as destructive as the fairytale princess's life, that apparently came to an end when she married the prince.

Yes I agree with you & Donna - I wish there was a good bibliography of decent books for old people - & I mean those experienced, matured, seasoned - weathered people. Not like Jane Smiley's "At Paradise Gate" either. It was a good shot, but it was all wrong - elderly people don't feel like that - they only LOOK as though they do.

If there are enough members who would join a discussion about "The Seven Sisters", I would gladly join in, but I am totally unsuited to be a discussion leader - but I'd follow her anywhere if somebody volunteered. Now I will scout out some books for us seniors.

Anna Quindlan (whose work I enjoy)was on the Today Show this morning to discuss her latest book BlessingsWhich is the name of the very wealthy 80 year old who has become a bitter,cynical lady In the dark of the night a teen age couple drop thier baby on the doorstep of her estate thinking it is the best place for the baby to live.. The caretaker finds the baby and he decides he wants to keep the baby and raise it , Mrs Blessings agrees to help him. As the author mentions this leads to the discovery of hidden,dark,secrets. It sounds like it should be very good. I will have to see if my library has it yet. Mrs Blessings sounds like another strong"older"heroine.

Nana B - - - there was a big advertisement for Anna Quindlen's books in the New Yorker this week & "Blessings" was among them. I've only read "Black & Blue" & "One True Thing" & liked both. I'm pleased you brought the subject up - I wanted to ask if anybody had read her others - & which they liked best. An 80-year old you say? Ms Quindlen looks rather young to know about them, but I'll give her a try if you will. I do hope she doesn't treat the 80-year old like a female Scrooge & have her go all gloopy with sentiment in the end. I'm sick of people thinking little old grannies should always be smiling & nice - & all they need is a hug.(Put me down dammit).

I love Anna Quindlens books and will look for the latest. Black and Blue was wonderful. But so was her first one,, ( senior moment on the name)

You all read my mind. I was going to ask about Anna Quindlen until I read your posts. I didn't know she had written other books but Blessings sounded interesting. Now I can look for her others until I can get it. Thanks BARB

I wish I could recall just what Anna Quindlan said about the character but I do recall her mentioning how she enjoyed her protrayal of this character . I definately want to read Five Sisters.Sounds great.

NanaB I forgot to say thanks, this "Kid" sees a very much older woman in the mirror suddenly wonder who she is? hahahaah

Listen let me find out when we can schedule this Drabble book, it may have to be later in the year, that will give more people time to get it, I RAN to B&N today and all they had of hers was The Peppered Moth so I thought I'd start with that, is it good? I also see a new one by Joy Fielding so bought two of her older ones, The First Time and Grand Avenue. Joy Fielding is the author of See Jane Run and there's an older character in it but for suspense you can't beat it, you literally can't breathe when you read it.

Then I saw taht Rachel Cusk 's Whitbread winning book Saving Agnes, so bought that too, she wrote The Country Life which we read some time ago here and loved, so I'm pleased to read this prize winner of hers. Some of the raves, are "neatest and funniest prose obesrved for years, skeptical, ironic, beautifuly resonant prose, articulate throughout, with never a lapse, a splendid novel." Her novels are usually about young women, thom but you CAN empathize.

Having an unread book to me is like having a stocked refrigerator, all that good stuff just there waiting to taste!

Let me go see about getting up a Proposed discussion for the Drabble!

ginny

"The Stone Angel" is an interesting novel about a woman who is 91. Written by Canadian novelist Margaret Laurence more than 30 years ago. In my opinion has passed the test of time. I"ve read it several times.~~~Marj

The Stone Angel

Ginny -- read "Realms of Gold" first please - "Peppered Moth" has a lot of baggae attached & might need explaining. Frances Wingate in RoG is SO good - the book is a lot about the affects of DNA on families, & she is funny. It's my 'comfort book'.

No hurry about the "Seven Sisters" discussion - I joined a Drabble-club & they are as obsessed over her as me - so I'm not champing at the bit. But I AM very grateful & will have lots of wind left over.

MarjV Thank you for "Stone Angel". I've heard of Margaret Laurence - Margaret Atwood speaks highly of her too, so I will order it.

Senior Fiction - so far the only list I have been able to find is from the State Library of Tasmania - & it's a really good mixed list of genres. I've read several of them - the 'old' people in some of them are kids like Ginny har! har!

http://www.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/Novelapproach/seniors.htm

Ginny------that is a neat link. I encourage all to take a peek at it.

Ginny: A Senior Book group? Count me in. I have some resources about old people, mostly mysteries, but I'll have to look them up at home. I'll be back.

Well maybe we JUST OUGHT TO think about looking at Seniors in Literature! Why ever not?

Meanwhile lots of interest already in the Seven Sisters , please note our Jane has us already up a Propsoed discussion: and HERE it is: Proposed Discussion: The Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble!

One of our problems here is that the book has not been released in the US yet? It's to come out on October 21 (B&N) and in November (no date given) (amazon) so it appears that December or, better still, January would be the best time for us to discuss it, give peo[le time to get the book from the library, etc. Our Fiction Coordinator Sarah will say when she thinks the best time is, I'm leaning toward January, it's a brand new au courant book, just up our alley and maybe we need to spin off a Seniors in Literature Series, I'm game!

Baby that I am! hahahahaha

I wish.

Seriously, it's up and drop by and express your interest. Maybe we should write our own book about being full of Grey Power!

ginny

I can't believe that so many titles exist with Senior's in them. Those two or three titles I mentioned in my first post really made me want to read more. I love reading all your posts on this subject. I'm going to the bookstore straight away. What a great group!

DonnaJeppson - - I agree with you - especially Kate Braverman's "Palm Latitudes" from that Tasmanian list, but it's out of print. I picked a used one out of a list of bookshops in USA because there's nothing available in UK. Those two books you recommended - Jeanne Ray's "Step Ball Change" is available, (& has some interesting reviews in Amazon.Com), but the other "Madam the Grass is High, I couldn't find it anywhere, but so far I haven't used my super-duper search. It occurred to me you have access to forthcoming titles & had been reading a proof?

It's exciting to know about so many good readable books, but I checked out "Blessings" - & with the best will in the world, I can't afford it. The days I could get to the library are years ago, & I don't know about you people, it's not pride disliking to ASK for help ordering & fetching new books, but I lack the energy needed to get the request exactly right. And though I am always very grateful, fulsome thanks - even truly felt, are pretty exhausting. When I finally sank into wishing I could pay for the service, - it occurred to me I could BUY the books! Get them delivered! I've been at that stage for a few years now. But - suddenly books are more expensive than they were. Never mind, there are always p/b's eventually. Donna - let us know about "Madam the Grass is High" won't you?

Here you go, Viogert, Dennis H. Christen's Madam, the Grass Is High

Format: Library Binding, 263pp. ISBN: 0971815100 Publisher: CG Star, L.L.C. Pub. Date: January 2002

It's available on our own SN B&N Bookstore, a fairly recent new book, with only two customer reviews, they both liked it a lot, there are no other reviews that I can see.

ginny

Ginny - Viogert. I'm glad to hear that SN B&N is also carrying Madam, the Grass is High. It will probably be less expensive there than where I found it. I found it on www.booksnflicks.com and it only had a hardcover available for $24.95. I just checked that site again, and see that it now offers a paperback edition also for $12.95. As I said, I highly recommend it for a feel-good read. I will go after Blessings next. Thanks for the suggestion. Hard to find is even funner. Los Angeles has lots of little hole in the wall bookstores hidden everywhere and I find great finds in them sometimes.

DonnaJeppson: I've been reading your posts and assumed you lived in England like a number of the posters in Books, but I see now you're talking about bookstores in LA? Do you travel a lot back and forth or am I way off track here. Anyway, I'm really anxious to find out where you got your copy of Seven Sisters? It sounds as if both you and Viogert think it's really good.

Jane: Seven Sisters? My friend's copy. She lived in Saudi Arabia for many years working as a nurse and just returned home. She told me where she'd got the book but I can't remember now. She not enjoyed the book so had not finished it. I've since given the copy to another friend who is struggling to get through it right now. Yes, I really enjoyed it. I think the relationships in that story kept me reading. I really enjoy character driven stories.

Ah...thanks for 'splaining that, Donna. Now I understand.

Ginny - well thank you for putting me out of my misery about Dennis H Christen's "Madam the Grass is High" - he's quite new to me. Amazon.UK - for reasons best known to themselves -don't stock books they think wouldn't sell in the UK. How would they know? I have imported quite a lot of books from B&N in the past, but usually o/p titles, or books published ahead of ours. Unfortunately there isn't a local branch here, so loyalty naturally goes to the outfit who take an order one day, & deliver the next.

It's a relief to hear dissenting voices about "The Seven Sisters" - I worry now about having given the wrong impression. For readers who enjoy romantic love & close family relationships - this is NOT it. In fact it's more likely to delight people who took Latin at school & loved it.

I am reading this riveting book.The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King A synopsis.

Married for 20 years to the Reverend Benjamin Lynch, a handsome, ambitious minister of the prestigious Methodist church, Dean Lynch has never quite adjusted her temperament to the demands of the role of a Sunday wife. When her husband is assigned to a larger and more demanding community in the Florida panhandle, Dean becomes fast friends with Augusta Holderfield, a woman whose good looks and extravagant habits immediately entrance her. As their friendship evolves, Augusta challenges Dean to break free from her traditional role as the preacher's wife. Just as Dean is questioning everything she has always valued, a tragedy occurs, providing the catalyst for change in ways she never could have imagined

The reviews I read from readers also liked it This ministerial family is nothing like Father Tim and Cynthia nor the parishoners and the towns problems are much more complicated than in Mitford.

Hi, I may be in the wrong forum, but I have spent all morning looking for a more appropriate one, with no luck, so here goes: I am would like to help my 86-year old mother-in-law find something she can follow on books on tape, or cd. She is rather infirm, in a nursing home, and cannot see well enough to read or watch TV. We have tried getting her to listen to books on tape, but she can't really follow them, even though we have tried not very challenging things like Mary Higgins Clark. She is a wonderful, gentle spirit, who was a good reader, but time has taken some toll on her ability to understand at a general pace. Does anyone know any sources for books on tape for the elderly, or even learning-disabled? I would be very thankful for any feedback you could give me on this.

Thank you,

Sentimental Tommy

Tommy: Most of the things I know about that are put out for the LD population are geared to children to follow along in a book while the tape/CD plays.

However, have you tried the Children's room at your local library? They probably have book/cassette/CD packages that you might try out, esp since the adult ones seem too difficult for her to follow. I don't know that the content will be suitable, but if she has trouble following an adult CD, maybe you can find something there.

Tommy....what about young adult titles with which your mother-in-law may already be familiar (if it's familiar, it will be easier to follow), such as Little Women, Little Men, Jane Eyre, the Mark Twain books. Or any adult books that were her favorites, if she remembers them well, such as Gone with the Wind or any of the Jane Austen books. What about short subjects, such as Paul Harvey stories?

Good luck to you.

Betty

Fit the lady with earphones--not the itty bitty ones, but ear phones that cover the ears. Be sure the volume is not too high or too low for HER, not you, and make sure the left/right are balanced. Stick around until you are sure she not only likes the earphone technology but is getting benefit from it--knit or crochet or balance your checkbook while you wait.

HOWZAT

Just finished Anna Quindlen's new book, BLESSINGS. I enjoyed the book and didn't want it to end. One of the main character is an 81 year old woman. She is a wonderful character.

Sage

What thughtful person you are. I hope you are able to use some of the suggestions in the previous posts to help you mother-in-law.

Hello, LOUISE! So glad to see you back are you all moved??

I came in to say I've just started reading Joyce Carol Oates's Middle Age and wonder if any of you have read it? It's quite fine, so far, the cover attracted me. I'm not usually a big fan of hers but this one is super, will comment when I'm farther into it but so far it's a winner!

ginny

I believe the messages were in the Library. Ssome of us read Madam theGrass is High and really enjoyed it. If you look in the index you will see the posts. We even had the author in there talking to us and us helping him pick out the actors for the movie. It was a lot of fun.

Just finished Hungry As The Sea by Wilbur Smith and enjoyed it very much.

If you want to laugh give A GIR NAMED ZIPPY by Haven Kimmel a try. It has some wonderful moments told by a growing girl about her childhood. I recommened it. It is one of the selection by Today's book club.

MUST LOVE DOGS, by Claire Cook was funny, but I liked Zippy better.

BLESSINGS by Anna Quindlen was brilliant and I enjoyed thinking about the characters after I finished the book. I could write a new ending however.

Sage

I went to the library to take out Blessings.I had to be put on the waiting list.The librarian mentioned everyone is asking for it. MMMM Do you think they are lurking in this group and heard about Blessings?(lol)

Same here---put my name on the list---don't know when I will get it. Library won't tell you how many are ahead of you. Joy

Today I saw the movie, White Oleander, and I was so disappointed. The book is one of my favorites in recent years - in fact I have read it three times. I was looking forward to the film, even though I should have known that it could never live up to the book, and of course it didn't..

I hope that some of you who read and enjoyed the book, will go to see the movie. I'm curious as to other opinions?

Hm.. I loved White Oleander and dont know whether I want to try the movie or not.. Full of pretty faces,but whether they can act?? I generally am disappointed in movies from books.

Here's a last call invitation to you if you really want to read and enjoy discussing a good book, our discussion of The Remains of the Day begins on October 20, with 21 people already assembled and waiting to converse over this absolutely super book and you are likewise invited.

Don't miss this one, if you saw the movie and did not read the book you missed what I think is the best book written, but of course it's NOT what I think, but what you think that matters, and we'd love to have you there,and find out your perspectives.

We will look at the material covered by the first 76 pages starting this Sunday, plenty of time for you to get on board!

ginny

BOOK SUGGESTION: Piddler on the Hoof by S.I. Fishgal The derisive living truth, escapades, eccentricity, idioms, life and death emotionally awake a preschooler in the Red Army's Rearguard during the WWII and trigger readers' thrills, laughter and bittersweet tears. S.I. Fishgal spills the guts in this potent, rich, vivid, fascinating, stimulating, gripping and teasing novel. http://piddler-on-the-hoof.8m.com/ http://s.i.fishgal.freeservers.com/ http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/fishgal/ http://www.authorsden.com/sifishgal/

Ginny, I am still waiting to close on my current home and am hoping to move into a condo. I'll be glad when all this is over.

That hasn't stopped me from getting a couple of books from the library/ One author that I find ieresting is Candace C. Robb. Her books take you all the way back to the 14th century. It is interesting to see how people lived back then.

Hi all I just finishedBlessings When Skipfirst decides to raise the baby himself I found it a little far fetched. Oh maybe I am just jealous .I had six babies and fourteen grand babies and never as new borns were they on a perfect three or four hour schedule and sleeping tru the night,(LOL) As the story progressed and you learned more about Mrs Blessings past life I found myself admiring her .I did enjoy the book and would like to see a sequel. After I that book I read a delightful story Jeanne Ray who wrote Julie and Romeo has written a funny,sad book called Step,Ball, Change

Welcome, Mrs. B! We are delighted to see you here, I was sent Blessings by a mail bookclub and have not yet started it, me too on the schedules, it seems kind of frightening how we stuck to schedules back then, but I seem to remember happy children too? I envy you your grandchildren, I don't have any yet.

I have heard about this Step, Ball, Change, and it's gotten really good reviews, how did you like it and what's it about?

Louise, so good to have you back again, we have missed you!

ginny

Ginny,OOPS I should have mentioned I am not a newbie I was Nana B but I saw there is already a NanB so I changed my name. Here is a brief synopsis of Step,Ball Change ,which I learned from the story are terms used in dance. Carolina McSwain owns a dance school in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the classes run as smoothly as her own 42-year-long happy marriage. Then all the graceful arabesques of Carolina's life collide with two surprises: Her daughter Kay has just become engaged to the richest bachelor in town, and Taffy, her recently jilted sister, is about to descend on Raleigh. A free-spirited family romantic comedy.

.

I predict that one of us will give in and read The Lovely Bones, then come in and insist that we shelve our first impression and read it. Remember, when we read in a post that it's about a young girl that is raped, dies, goes to heaven.....we said, no, thank you.

I keep hearing and reading, "It's not what you think," however. For one thing, the book's main character is the girl already in heaven.

What prompted this post is that someone being interviewed by Charlie Rose mentioned that a million copies of Lovely Bones has been sold and that Anna Quindlen (?spelling) said about the book that it is destined to become a classic in the same vein as To Kill a Mockingbird. Because the words come from children?? I don't know. But I wrote down what he said to repeat it here.

Has anyone read this book?

Betty

I read The Lovely Bones .As disrurbing as the subject matter was I loved the book. I was so moved and impressed. The book is written in the first person ,the young victim , She is in Heaven and can see and hear all that is going on after her death.Which she uses to watch over and guide her family and others as they search for her killer.

Hi, I read The Lovely Bones a few weeks ago. I loved it even though it was a little dark.

Vanessa

Query: Someone--in biographies I think--mentioned a "book of the month club" page here in Books. Is this the page mentioned?

I read The Lovely Bones and and loved it. I don't read horror books and I don't read gory books. This book was neither, in spite of the dreadful rape and killing that took place. The author has managed to have it told in a simple, matter-of-fact way without dwelling on the awfulness of it - it is handled perfectly, a real tribute to Sebold's talent. Although part of it is set "in heaven," it is not a religious book in tone or in intent. I cannot believe anyone would be offended by the way the setting is laid out. I could not put the book down. Don't be afraid to read it.

Hello, Elizabeth 77! Andrea mentioned a book of the month club and she was referring to the Book Club Online, which has put on a book a month discussion since 1996, (in fact) it's the oldest running book club on the internet open to all, it was the first.

But that's enough of bragging! The current selection of the Book Club Online, just winding down, is Empire Falls. Hanna's Daughter will start November 1 and Atonement will round out the year and the Fiction Reader's Series in the Book Club Online for December.

Are you on the Book Bytes Newsletter list? That will keep you well informed, are you all interested in reading The Lovely Bones in a book club??

I have the Lovely Bones but have not read it, it was sent to me by a book club in the mail and somehow the subject matter keeps turning me away, but you all have raved over it so I may have to take a peek.

ginny

I think I will take on The Lovely Bones. once it makes paperback It sounds interesting and well written and nowadays that is a hard to find combination.

THE LOVELY BONES

Rebecca Meade, staff writer on The New Yorker, wrote this review of the book in The London Review of Books. There's enough in this to help anybody make up their minds about it.

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v24/n20/mead01_.html

Hi. I have been looking for someplace to rave about author Terry Pratchett. He writes entertaining stories in weird settings, full of really strange characters, humor, satire and social commentary. I couldn't find a book category that fit, so I picked on general fiction.

Pratchett is a lot more fun than "Gulliver's Travels". Here's an excerpt from "Pyramids": "The fact is that camels are far more intelligent than dolphins. They are so much brighter that they soon realized that the most prudent thing any intelligent animal can do, if it would prefer it's descendents not to spend a lot of time on a slap with electrodes clamped to their brains or sticking mines on the bottom of ships or being patronized rigid by zoologists, is to make bloody certain humans don't find out about it. So they long ago plumped for a lifestyle that, in return for a certain amount of portage and being prodded with sticks, allowed them adequate food and grooming and the chance to spit in a human's eye and get away with it. And this particular camel, the result of result of millions of years of selective evolution to produce a creature that could count the grains of sand it was walking over, and close its nostrils at will, and survive under the broiling sun for many days without water, was called You Bastard.

(You Bastard, you understand, is not the hero of the book. The hero is the son of the Pharaoh/King of a desert kingdom, and graduate of the Assassin's Guild, who decides he doesn't really want to kill people.) Pratchett really is priceless. ...Babi

Babi.. Terry is generally thought of a fantasy or sci-fi, but I agree his stuff is wonderful and should be everywhere.

Hmm, yes, fantasy would be appropriate, Stephanie, though there probably isn't a great deal of 'sci' in his 'fi'. I find the satire and humor so great, I guess I tend to want to put it in that category. Which may very well be the only book category we don't have listed here.

Since I am new to this section, what type of fiction would you say comes up most often here? For some reason, most modern 'novels' don't seem to appeal to me that much. At least, the glitter/glitz and crude/rude types don't. ..Babi

Hi For those who have read The Pact by Jodi Picoult it has been made into a movie showing tonight on Lifetime. TV Guide gives it an eight.

The fiction seems to be fairly light here. Maeve Binchy,, Jody Picoult, etc. I read a very few fiction authors nowadays. Most of them seem to be romance and I am not fond of romance. I like Binchy because of her ability to take a central point and then aim all sorts of characters around it. I like Ann Patchett, Anne Tyler, loved a few of the one or two book authors.. "Bastard out of Carolina", Pearl,etc.

Stepanie.....read some of Lee Smith....I read many of the same things you do and I think you would like her......

Reading John Grisham's new one, "The Summons" and it is excellent so far.

I thought the Summons was a great read.

Love Lee Smith. Have read all of her stuff. Yes, a fun author indeed who says things that resonate with me.

She has a new book out...."The Last Girls" or something to that effect......there is also an article on her in the new issue of Simplicity..............

I just finished "The Emperor of Ocean Park" - which was really, really long and wordy novel, though not all bad (hoping his next one is a little less wordy) and now working on the fine "Lobster Chronicles," a very interesting and unusual non-fiction book by a female lobster fisherman (fisherwoman?).

Just popping in to read through posts from August, and list some ideas for my reading that I'm borrowing from you. I've filled a page! Thanks.

I'm glad we're going to do "Atonement"--I think I'll lurk in that upcoming discussion, as I have been one to think I could commit to a discussion, and then when it starts, the toilet leaks and I have to get a whole new bathroom! I'd say "grin", but it cost too much money!!

) Anyway, I loved "Atonement".

On the topic of great views of women as they age: "Fried Green Tomatoes" is a great fav of mine. Every now and then I rent the movie so I can cheer as Kathy Bates runs her great big car into that itty-bitty volkswagen, and smashes and rebuilds the wall in her home. Isn't that what we do as we age: smash walls we've built and then rebuild? Or maybe we re-create ourselves, and what we read helps give us a new image of what we can become? The Jessica Tandy character in "Tomatoes" is my idol!!

I, too, just love "Fried Green Tomatoes . . .", the book and the movie. There is just so "much" in the tale. I keep finding allusions I've missed before.

HOWZAT

I love that movie. Every time it comes on the TV I have to see it again. Another favorite it Arthur and Arthur II. I laugh everytime I see these movies. The husband thinks I am nuts but these are better than some of the junk on now IMHP

I agree! Who is any funnier than poor Studley Dudley ?

another favorite when I need a belly laugh is that silly "A fish Called Wanda." I don't know why that movie cracks me up but it does the trick everytime. I love John Cleese.

Alf, if you like "A Fish Called Wanda" (which I bought because I like it so much) you'll also like "Fierce Creatures" which has all the same stars playing to humorous advantage, just like "Fish" does.

HOWZAT

Guess I missed some serious laughs--will check that one out.

I saw "A Fish Called Wanda" and I remember being worried that something awful would happen to the poor fish....must get that one and refresh my memory.

A really awful movie that makes me leery of animals in movies was "The Sailor that fell from grace by the Sea" I had to leave and go to lobby when the little boy started after the cat. I don't remember the rest of the movie at all. I would have left completely, but I had asked a friend to come with me, and she was having no problem...

Is Arthur a mouse?

In a weak moment, earlier this evening, I agreed to join the BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB. So I will soon be getting Blessings by Anna Quindlin. It sounds like a good book. Has anyone here read it?

No Arthur is not a mouse. He is the son of a VERY wealthy family and also a drinker. No body could play a drunk like Dudly Moore. His anticks always leave me laughing. His butler is played by I belive the last name is Geilgood. Thats not close but maybe someone else can spell. The leading lady is Liza Minelli. Great movies.

Sir John Gielgud played the butler.

Those boys murdered that sailor at the end. I get the creeps every time I think of it. The sailor was played by Kris Kistofferson.

HOWZAT

Howzat are we talking about the same movie? I am talking about the movie Arthur and I don't remember anyone getting killed.

Ginny I read Blessings by Quindlin and I liked it. I liked the characters.

Sage

No, no. Two different movies. Someone else had mentioned the movie "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace Into the Sea" from a book by the same name, about how creepy it seemed, and whoever it was had never finished watching it. I'm sorry to seem confusing. I forget who now, but there was a post about the exact name (and spelling of the name) of who had played the butler in the movie "Arthur". Okay now?

HOWZAT

Whew thanks Howzit I was really sure I had lost it. hehe

Catbird as far as I know you didn't enterrupt anything. We just all jump in whenever and sometimes we are posting at the same time.

Ginny: I am on the "list" @ the library for Blessings. It is a long list, so don't know when I will get it. Now, I read somewhere that it is "long" on description. If so, I may not persevere. Let us know how you like it, please. Joy

Haven't been here in awhile as the past few months have been hectic.

I have managed to keep up on the reading, though. Just finished two books by Terry Kay..."Shadow Song" and "Taking Lottie Home", both good reading and hard to put down. The author is male, from Georgia, and he also wrote "To Dance With A White Dog" which was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie several years ago.

A really cute memoir is "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel. It's a short book and an easy read.

Will try to return later....so, happy reading all!

Has anyone read this book, by Anne Lamott????????It is a very new book and was on the new books shelf @ the library, so I picked it up. I know I heard something about it, but cannot recall what it was ----good??????I have not started it because I am reading a Noah Gordon book(an author I have just met and really like)--Matters of Choice. His first book, The Rabbi, which I just finished, was outstanding. As I am not Jewish I appreciated reading about Jewish customs, etc. Joy A Southern gal

Hi, Everybody! I am now the new Coordinator for Fiction on our boards here, so I will be popping in here now and then to see what you are all up to. I have taken note of much of whaat you have been reading, and they all look good. There are one or two that I am looking at with the view of maybe running them for a discussion on this site. "Blessings" by Anna Quinlen, for one. Are there any other Fiction books that stand out in your memory that you think would make a good topic for discussion and review? Let's hear from you! Everybody's opinions are welcome!

Lorrie

Lajoy, I am nearly finished with "Blue Shoe." If you like Anne Lamott, you will love it!

The other day I was called by the Book of the Month Club. They caught me at a weak moment, so I will be soon receiving Blessings by Anna Quindlen. That means I should be ready for a discussion of it.

Sounds great, Gaj! Let me go check it out and I will get back to you here on this. Anyone else have any suggestions?

What about "Blue Shoe," lajoy? Who is the author of that one?

Lorrie

A very big welcome, Lorrie. The Blue Shoe's author is Anne Lamott, and it is a very new book. Paige, please let me know your final assessment of Blue Shoe---I have never read anything by Anne Lamott. Thanks, Joy A Southern Gal

I don't know. I don't always go by what book reviewers say, but this one in "The Christian Science Monitor" isn't such a glowing report on "The Blue Shoe."

BLUE SHOE

Lorrie

Lorrie: Thanks for the website for the Christian Science Monitor - Books. Because of the review of Blue Shoe, I very well may SKIP reading it. Thanks Joy, a Southern Gal

That's what I like about discussing some of these titles beforehand in a folder like this one. I have taken up the subject of "Blessings" by Anna Quinlen with the DL committee, and I wanted to ask if we put it up as a proposal, would we be able to get a quorum? (We have to have at least three interested parties besides the Discussion Leader.

Meantime, several other people had suggested a book called " A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest Gaines. I believe the decision has been made to focus on that as a Proposed book for the month of February. How do you folks here feel about that?

Lorrie

lajoy:

On looking at your screen name, lajoy, I wanted to ask you if the subject matter of "A Lesson Before Dying" would offend you. This is a story of a condemned African/American man who is befriended on Death Row by a newspaper reporter, and the book is written by an African/American, an excellent and prize-winning author. But you sign yourself "a southern gal" and I don't want to step on any toes here. Please let me know your feelings on this matter.

Lorrie

Lorrie: Be advised that you will NOT step on my toes!!!!!! My memory is SHORT, but I believe that is the story about a prisoner put to death at Angola (Louisiana)prison, amid lots of protests led by a LOCAL Catholic nun (Baton Rouge). Tell me if I am "thinking straight"??? Joy in Louisiana

Joy:

Your memory is not that short! As they say, you are in the right church but the wrong pew. Hahaha "Dead Man Walking" was the name of the book, (and movie) that you are referring to, and yes, it's a true story, dated sometime in the 70's I believe. A Catholic nun became the spiritual advisor to a condenmned prisoner who later was executed. Marvelous movie, by the way.

"A Lesson Before Dying" is aa novel written in the late 40's and has become somewhat of a classic because of there are so few African/American writers of renown who can write an extraordinary book like this one. It is the story of how a newpaper reporter befriends a condemned prisoner, also, and what happens as a result.

Both books are similar, the time frames are wide apart.

Lorrie

Lorrie: OF COURSE that is the name of the movie. I cannot remember the name of the nun (short memory again), but I saw her often when she came into the Catholic Books and Gifts store where I worked for years. "Thanks for the Memory" Joy, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Lorrie: I think the time frame for Dead Man Walking was much later than the 70's-----more like the 90's, but I have been WRONG before.Anyway, the time is of little importance. Joy(Louisiana)

Well, you might know---I was just making a stab at the time. I think you are right, and it serves me right for being too lazy to look it up. Anyhow, we have a proposed listing for this book discussion on the main page of Books and Literature here. Anyone here care to join us? This book can be purchased second-hand if you wish through Amazon at ridiculously low prices. Here's the link to our Proposed Discussion:

A LESSON BEFORE DYING

Or else just scroll back up on the Books & Literature page until you get to "Proposed Discussions.

Lorrie

Just finished the book. Save your money. I read it in two hours and I wondered why I bothered. Of course if you like romantic twaddle then this is for you. (G)

Sage

Hey, Purple sage:

That has got to be the most terse book review I've ever read. Hahaha Right to the point! anyway, thank you for the tip.

Lorrie

To those of you who enjoy reading southern literature--liberal doses of 'sin and guilt', humor, a good bit of decadence, a few surprises-----and REALLY good writing---try Brad Watson's ( his first novel ) The Heaven of Mercury.

I've mentioned Margaret Drabble's books a few times - especially "Realms of Gold" (1975). Maybe it's because we are both Yorkshirewomen makes me go on a bit, but yesterday I was sent this lecture she gave in Wisconsin a few years ago, (on Jane Austen & her father!) I wondered if it would persuade anyone to give her books a try.

http://www.humanities.wisc.edu/archives/drabble/

Interesting link, Viogert. That name rings a bell somehow, and I am looking to see if we ever discussed any of her books.

But while we're on the subject, we are taking suggestions for our new schedule for Fiction, so do any of you have any favorites they think would be of interest for readers to discuss in length? Let's hear from you!

Lorrie

Folks: I have been looking in but not contributing because I have suffered a GREAT trauma. My husband of 55 years was found dead @ the local Food Pantry, where he volunteered. EMS etc. could do nothing ----he had a long history of heart problems. This happened on Dec. 2nd. I feel as though half of me is gone---well, actually it is. I have not been able to concentrate on reading, but I wanted to share the name that I have just been "introduced" to--Noah Gordon. I read his first, The Rabbi, and thoroughly enjoyed it (these are not new books). I have been into his "Matters of Choice" (not nearly as good as TheRabbi) forever because I cannot put my mind to reading . I intend to read all of his books at some time other. Joy

Oh Joy....I am so sorry about your husband......I know all of us here on senior net send you our sympathy and will hold you in our thoughts.......

Joy, please accept my deepest sympathies for the loss of your husband, and I'm sure everyone on seniorNet shares that feeling.

I do appreciate your suggestion for a look at books by Noah Gordon. Thank you, Joy, and bless you!

Lorrie

Joy, Please accept my deepest sympathy.I cannot imagine the pain. Noah Gordon. I have read all of his books and I know you will enjoy them. He does excellent research and you really end up knowing a lot of things that you did not know before.

{{{{{Joy}}}}}I hope you are being comforted by family and friends. May God hold you in the palm of his hand and give you the rest you need to keep on keeping on.

Dear Joy, am so sorry to hear of your great loss, please accept my sympathy and condolences,

Love,

ginny

Bless you, Joy. What a shock that was for you. We are shocked, too, and will be praying for you and are here for you anytime you feel like talking.

Some have been asking about Blue Shoe so I will say a few things about Lamott.

I've only read Bird By Bird - a non-fiction book about writing which is hysterical and another non-fiction book by her called Traveling Mercies which is also heart-warming and extremely funny.

A couple of weeks ago I finished reading Blue Shoe - the first fiction book I've read by her.

I loved it. It may have a weak plot, the characters may be stereotypical - I don't know. I didn't even notice. I feel like I've gotten to know Lamott in those first two books I've read by her. I feel like she is a friend with whom I truly enjoy spending my time. I like her. I like the way she thinks and expresses herself. She can talk about anything at all and I will enjoy it.

When I finished the book I was very close to starting it all over again to just savor it all the more. I had other books I wanted to read, too, so I set it aside and will save it for another day - but I almost read it twice in a row! That's how good I think it is!

Linda

Linda, excuse me for stepping into the conversation here but I too, am an Anne Lamott fan. I know that Blue Shoe got mixed reviews but I enjoy entering her world. It is kind of like a visit with an old friend. She has a quirky outlook that I like. You might also like "Operating Instructions, A Journal of My Son's First Year."

Read the first chapter of "Lies In Progress" on B&N.com and it hooked me and my granddaughter (18). Novel tells of the sexual/love development of a pregnant teenager, her murderous lover (a U.S. senator), a bio-terror plot, a thoughtful Ireland priest, all within the framework of recent American political history. Great, almost lyrical writing.

Thank you for your suggestions, all of them. they have been duly noted,and if one of these books is selected for an in-depth discussion, we will post that fact here.

by the way, have any of you read "The Little Friend," by Donna Tartt? It has been suggested as a March book discussion.

Lorrie

For all you Lescroart fans, his newest will be in bookstores soon. February, I think.

Howzat

Lorrie, my copy of Little Friend arrived today with Anna Quindlens Blessing, Dean Koontz Light of the Moon adn Harris'es Coastliners. I'll let you know.

Lately, I find that I have become fascinated by some mysteries written by Kate Sedley. They are set in medieval England. I like historical novels. It seems to give a picture of what life was like so long ago and the changes that have come to our language.

Hi, Louise! I haven't seen you around for a while...good to see you here!!

Someone has suggested doing a discussion on John Grisham's latest book, "The Summons." Is anyone here interested?

How about "The Little Friend?"

Lorrie

She has a series (3 so far). Three main characters are 3 women who are living in a "retirement home". Through circumstance (an inheritance) they find themselves going from PA to the Carolinas; and beginning a new phase of their life. In the beginning the sense was that they were "resigned" to living out their lives in PA but with no great hope. Their journey; the growth of their friendship; and their new lives in North Carolina are sad, happy, joyful, tearful - but so worth the time. So come to know and love Hannah, Grace and Amelia. I have shared the books with friends. We all have an urge to cast the movie and get in a van and go from our homes in Minnesota to North Carolina. Titles (to be read in order): "The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love", "The Gardens of Covington" and now "From the Heart of Covington". IF YOU'VE READ THESE, I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS. I recommend these books to all of you!!!

MJB.....thanks for those titles ....I have jotted the author and the titles down........

MJB13, that actually looks really good, let's see if some of our readers can find a copy and report back, that's a new premise (Corrine Holt Sawyer did a mystery series on two lady sleuths in a Retirement Center which was a hoot) but this is the first I've heard of this, many thanks for bringing it to our attention!

ginny

MJB13:

As Ginny say, this looks promising. I researched a little of these three books and apparently they were pretty well received. The plot struck my eye because so many of our readers in the website are of that age! Or else won't admit it! Hahahaha

Ginny, I think this author is from somewhere down in your neck of the woods? Or is it North Carolina? anyway, I have made note of this.

Lorrie

Will look for the books. The premise is interesting, but I truly had never heard of them.

I just finished a very unusual novel (I thought) titled, "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides. He has another I'd like to read, "The Virgin Suicides". Our library doesn't carry the second book, so will try to get it through the interlibrary loan system.

Am now into Marcia Muller's latest, "Dead Midnight", and will read James Patterson's "2nd Chance" next.

Fanfan:

It might interest you to know that "Middlesex" is being offered here as a proposed discussion sometime this Spring. Watch the boards here for an announcement to go up on the Main page.

"Dead Midnight" and more of Patterson's novels are duly noted. Thank you.

Lorrie

Thanks for the information about "Middlesex". I surely will keep watching for this discussion.

"Middlesex" is a very interesting book and extremely well written. It will be fascinating to hear other readers' views of this book.

Thank you again.

Okay, you can laugh at me starting right now. Shoot, I even laughed at myself, at first. But I was just turning those pages as fast as I could to find out what happened next. Michael Hoeye's "Time Waits For No Mouse" is the neatest book I've read in a while. Talk about suspension of reality? Right away I was thinking that a "mouse watch maker" was entirely plausible. I don't have a clue how Hoeye did it.

I had ordered what I thought was a "picture book" to read to my great grand daughter when she comes to visit. Two books, actually. There is a sequel called "The Sands of Time", also about this same mouse. But when they got here I discovered that the only "pictures" in the books were the ones "painted with words" by the author. Well, I sat down to read the first one to see if it was suitable to read to a child only 5 years old.

Tee hee, I don't know about that, but this first book is certainly suitable to read to a 68 year old. Delightful. Check it out the next time you go to the library. Sit down and read the first chapter. Betcha can't read just one!

You see, there's this mouse aviatrix (of some reknown) that comes into this mouse watch maker's shop to leave a badly damaged watch to be repaired, right away. She'll be back at noon the next day. Working far into the night and early hours of the morning, the watch is ready, but the lovely aviatrix doesn't show. Naturally, the watch maker is curious as to why such a woman, of obvious good breeding, would not keep her word. So, he decides to find out why. And, therein lies the tale. . . .

Howzat

Hey, Howzat!

the book about the mouse aviatrix sounds delightful, and we will check it out. thank ou for the suggestion.

Lorrie

Louise:

Is there something wrong with your email? I cannot seem to get an answer when i write to you.

Lorrie

If, prior today there was I am not aware, However, when My keyboard stopped working I could not get online. I had a very frustrating time trying to get in touch with Philips by phone. They kept giving my web addresses and never a real person. If you can't get on line you can't get to a website. So yesterday I wnet to Ciruit City and bought a new RCA receiver.

Recenty found the site. I'd appreciate your fiction suggestions, as I'm always on the lookout for new gems. Mine is a novel called Only in America by John Soltez. The main character is this self-centered young professional whose world gets shaken by social unrest and the declining economy. There's much more to it, but I'll just say it really captures the country as it stands today. It tackles such issues as entitlement and society's ability to take care of everyone. Personally I think every American ought to read this one -- especially the ones in D.C.

By the way, I don't know if it's in every store now... so you may have to go to one of the online places like Amazon to get it. Just make sure you do! Oh and thanks in advance for your recommendations.

Louise they're not the only business that gives you e-mail addresses instead of real people. And I thought voicemail was frustrating! You might want to find out the president or CEO's name, and extension. A few calls there and they may be a bit more forthcoming. (Just a thought.)

Ron Hazlett, I guess Philips has gone completely out of the webtv business. So I had to settle for an MSNTV new Classic Model manufactured by RCA. It really has turned into a happy settling. I get pretty music while I am waiting to connect and a pretty background to look at instead of a highway and I didn't lose any of my "stuff" which includes my websights and "favs" like Seniornet.

Hi all, am trying to recall the title of a book I read I think I discussed it in this group.It had Blue in the title It was about a perfect family,Mother,father and childen living the perfect life until the husband was arrested for a murder he is suspected of committing in the town where he previously lived before he met his wife. Anyone recall the title

The Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman.

Oh, yummers. Alice Hoffman is such a good writer.

Howzat

Howzat,Have you read The Blue Diary ? I have read it. It is sooo good. My DDIL Bday is next week and she said she would like a book I gave her The Nannie Diaries for Christmas and she loved it. I guess she is presumming I will make a good choice for her B day. Oh my the pressure(lol) I ordered two at Amazon.com The Blue Diary and Blessings. I hope she likes them.

I heard the author interviewed on CBC radio Sunday. Looks to be a fascinating novel with layers to explore. It would proabably be a good book discussion novel. Here's the Salon.com review..... Middlesex

MarjV:

Thanks so much for the reminder of the telecast. "Middlesex" is tentatively scheduled to be discussed here in July. Watch the main board here for the proposed notice when it goes up.

Lorrie

Great news about Middlesex, Lorrie. It's definitely on my to-read list. The other book I'm hearing a lot about is William Boyd's newest.

Thanks Lorrie, I will surely want to join that.

~Marj

I've just finished Tenure Track by Meigs and if you ever wondered what goes on behind the halls of academe, this is an hilarious look at what it's like to be on university staff and seeking tenure, it's a riot, loved it, just loved it.

Prey by Michael Crichton, and I need to put this in the Action Adventure area is just fabulous, you literally can't put it down, escapism at its best, some of it is predicable and like a formula, but not all much and it really keeps you going till the last minute.

I've got Piano Tuner but have not started it yet, due to being in the Caesar which is stunning this time around, a Brutus I swear I never saw in the past, (have they changed the text?) hahaah starting Act II tomorrow, you can catch up in a minute, come on down.

Am now starting Captain Saturday by Inman, have heard tons about it, it looks hilarious, and Bone Vault by Fairstein. Could not get into The Dream of Scipio book, have any of you read it? It's so many conceits on top of each other I got lost, shame, I think there's some real stuff there, too much flashing back and forth (and in the middle).

I've got Austerlitz, Making Things Better, Gramercy Park and The Southern Woman short stories by, I think, Elizabeth Spenser, I really like Elizabeth Spenser, almost as much as Penelope Fitzgerald. I'm curious about Middlesex, could those of you who have read it tell us something about what makes it good?

ginny

Wow! That's a real list, Ginny! Listen, when you do finish Piano Tuner let me know how you like it. Several people have inquired about discussing it.

Lorrie

Hi I am reading The Dwelling by Susie Moloney It is a modern day ghost story It starts when a real estate lady returns to work after taking time off due to the the untimely death of her husband. Her first listing is an old renovated house. The book is divided into three parts each part dedicated to one of the three families who purchased the house and the strange occurances that happened while they lived in the house Each time the house goes back on the market the same lady is the one who attempts to sell it. I am not usually into Ghost stories but I find this a page turner.It is about four hundered pages, I started yesterday and I am half way thru .

Finished THE MURDER BOOK by Kellerman and it was a yawn, literally, shut the light off at 11 P.M. Finished WITHOUT FAIL by Lee Child and that was a 1 A.M. book and what an exciting movie it would be, a thriller. Reading Lescroart's new book, THE FIRST LAW and the jury is still out. I was about 1/2 way and put it down for Child's book, so I think it isn't quite what I expected, but will finish it. Read Grisham's new book KING OF TORTS and my, I knew these class action suits were money makers for attorneys, but what happens to the people they sign up to participate is an eye opener.

Mrs B and Fran! Welcome!! Mrs. B, that sounds like just the thing, I never heard of it and Fran, I have heard of the Grisham, boy you will be my source for the newest ones, you say Without Fail is the page turner (don't you love those 1 am books? hahahahaah Can't stay awake but can't put it down, it's been a long time since I had one of those but it's worth it!) I can always tell when I have one, I start carrying it all around the hosue with me.

What's the ...don't tell all, but what's the plot somewhat of the Without Fail?

Mrs. B, I'm going to have to have that one, many thanks. Have you read...Holy Terror? It's about a skilled needlewoman who moves next to a house which is strange, it's not at all the awful way I'm describing it, it's strange, and really good and there MAY be (or may not) a ghost.

Lorrie, I sure will, it's on my stack but now for some reason All is Vanity seems to be pulling me over to IT! hahahahaa

ginny

Thanks for the recommenddation I will look for Holy Terror.

I read it and it is absolutely super! An amazing piece of work.

Gail T: It's been proposed as a book for a book discussion. I hope you'll post there your enthusiasm for it and join the discussion if a quorum can be gotten so it's scheduled.

Piano Tuner click here

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson I started this fascinating and moving book yesterday and I haven't been able to put it down . It is so well written. Here is a synopsis Kate Morrison, the quietly complicated narrator of this lovely first novel of tangled tragedies, relives childhood events in the small Canadian farming community of Crow Lake, Ont., during a family reunion. When Kate is only seven, her parents are killed in a car accident, and her 19-year-old brother, Luke, relinquishes academic success to keep the siblings together. Instead, it is Matt, 17 and brilliant, who reluctantly and guiltily agrees to finish high school and go on to college, all the while sharing in the care of Kate and her baby sister, the hilarious, scene-stealing Bo. The violent, secretive history of the neighboring Pye family intrudes into the Morrisons' fragile system, detonating Matt's plans, and it is ultimately Kate who escapes into an academic career of challenge and respectability

Mrs. B: Crow Lake sounds like a great book. We shall have to remember that title!

GOOD NEWS! We are offering a book for discussion in May, itiled "Girl in Hyacinth Blue," and it is a winner! But the crowning point is we have invited the author, Susan Vreeland, to join us in that discussion and she has accepted! Please come check this out! We need you to post your intention to join, if you are so inclined. Sign up and join the author in talking about her book!

GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE

Lorrie

Mrs B

Crow Lake sounds like a winner to me also! I am so glad I found Senior Net because I now have a list of books recommended by the members. So far I have enjoyed each one that I have read. Looking forward to reading Crow Lake. Thanks!

Marge

I am reading a fabulous new book by Christina Szhwarz, called All is Vanity. It's about two friends and the voice of the narrator (they take turns) is stunning. I have an awful feeling about this book, have any of you read it?

Two friends, one, precocious and smart, but the other gets the honors.

What will that do to a friendship?

Here's a quote:

I think my point was clear. I was precocious. I was enthusiastic, unswerving, creative. I had imagination. It took me only twenty years to realize that none of this mattered.

What you find out in your thirties is that clever children are a dime a dozen. It's what you do later that counts, and so far, I had done nothing.

So she takes a year off to try write a book. It's marvelous, but there's an undertone in her rivalry with her friend, it's stunning, I love it, have any of you read it, very Rachel Cusk like.

PS: Sorry that post doubled up on me, I thought I was seeing double there for a while, I think it's straight now!

ginny

Ginny, loved Rachel Cusk, so I think this is one for me to read. Is it a novel?

Hey, Sarah, so good to see you!!!!!!!!!!

Yes it's a novel, and it's..it would be nice to have somebody to talk to about this one, I love it so far, she is also the author of Drowning Ruth, which I did not read.

Talking about HOT, did you see the author of The Dante Club just now posting in that discussion? It'a a mystery and on everybody's best seller lists, go see!

ginny

The best-seller The Dante Club and Dante's Inferno discussions begin Apr 15th so there's still plenty of time left to get the books. What a treat to read these two books in tandem, but readers can choose to be in one rather than both discussions. Author Matthew Pearl is participating The Dante Club discussion!

GINNY, I just picked up a copy of All Is Vanity and it looks like a winner.

Marvelle

It's different, marvelle, I really like it so far but am behind in it, I also like and am also reading Captain Saturday which I also think is fabulous tho completely different, a TV Weatherman/ Celebrity's life goes amok, so far I love the tone, it's quite humorous, there is a lot of good writing out there lately!

Yes, everybody RUN don't walk over to the big event of April, (no foolin') the Dante Club and Dante's Inferno, a tandem discussion WITH the new author, very HOT in the bestseller lists, hot hot hot.

Also in May we have another author participating with us!! Susan Vreeland, author of Girl in Hyacinth Blue, will be in that discussion in May, and the book has raves, learn about art while you enjoy a well written book, join either or both of these discussions and you can talk with the author!

ginny

Hoo hoo!! We are really cooking now! A wonderful tandem discussion in both English and French of "Madame Bovary," another side-bt-side discussioh of Dante's Inferno, and the great mystery, Dante's Club, with the author joining in, no less! And in May, another author participant discussion of "Girl in Hyacinth Blue".

This is great! Come join us, everybody!

Lorrie

Mrs B

Have just finished reading Crow Lake! It was a book you just didn't want to put down. The story line was sad but you cared about each of the characters immediately, even the Pyres, including the abusive patriarchs. It was too bad she wasted so much of her sympathy and felt so guilty on Matt's behalf without realizing Matt was happy with his choices. She had agonized all those years on her PERCEPTION of Matt. Look how this misconception influenced her on choices in life! Such a well written book especially for a brand new author. I thank you so much for the tip!

Marge

I am glad you enjoyed my suggestion. When I returned Crow lake to the library the librarian asked my opinion and if I thought it would be a good choice for one of thier book discussions.I went on and on praising it. Then when I returned home I started to have doubts thinking What have I done " . So you approval of the book gives me confidence I didn't lead them astray(LOl) I agree the story line had some sad momements but the characters were so compelling.And the locale sounded so beautiful.

mrs. B. and Marge:

Why don't we just add the Crow Lake book to our list of potential books for future discussion?

SUGGESTED BOOKS OF FICTION
BLUE ANGEL by Francine Prose
LADIES OF COVINGTON SEND THEIR LOVE by Joan Medicott
DEAD MIDNIGHT by Marcia Muller
LAY THAT TRUMPET IN OUR HANDS Carol McCarthy
THE MURDER BOOK By Jonathan Kellerman
BLESSINGS by Anna Quindlen
The Siege By HELEN DUNMORE
FLAUBERT'S PARROT by Julian Barnes
Crow Lake..by Mary Lawson.

Lorrie

Fanny and Sue by Karen Stolz I just finished (in one day)this book.The prologue takes place in 2003 and after a brief 2003 update the story reverts to the lives of twins Fanny and Sue ,from St Louis, who were born in 1920. This is a poignant,warm,funny story of the close relationship between the twins and thier family. Although they grew up in a much simpler time we are aware of the hardships of the era.The Great Depression,and illnesses there were no immunizations for,scarlet fever and polio . The author is a young person and I marvel at her ability to write of a so long ago time and with such accuracy. This book would be a wonderful read for twins and those of us not having the good fortune to have a twin sister can only wish we had!!

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger was a choice we made for our fiction/lit group. I began reading it with misgivings; for one thing,it takes place in the backwoods of Minnesota. For another, shortly into the story, there is a hunting trip with lodgings minus the creature comforts of a Holiday Inn. Who could care about this motherless family that seems to get a kick out of living on the fringe of society-or so I thought.

I got to care a lot and I got to thinking reading is like writing, leave it alone for awhile, come back to it and it is not the same. It is either better/worse then you first thought or something different. Peace Like a River got to be something differtnt in my second reading of it. The story is not one that takes a straight and narrow course, the author leads you down roads that may or may not be where the truth lies. You puzzle over whether cold-blooded murder is sometimes justifiable rather than a crime that needs condemnation. Peace Like a River is a story within a story, within a story...it is quite a trip.

I heard on TV this morning Mary Tyler Moore has been signed to star in the movie version of Anna Quindlan's book,Blessings.

Denise, (Showdog) thank you for that thoughtful review, and isn't it the TRUTH, the second reading often times is a lot different than the first, I think you are right, sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. That's the way I am with reading, too.

I tried to read About Schmidt but the grief in the first few pages stopped me cold, the movie may be a comedy but the opening pages of the book are really hard to read, have put it aside.

Mrs. B, thank you for that one, and BLESSINGS is on our Book Exchange, free for the asking and it's the new hardback, too, anybody who would like to try it should run over there.

I'm currently reading two mysteries, which I talked about in our Mystery section so am a bit low on good fiction, but have ordered Jane Smiley's Good Faith which they say is a WOW, and am reading, for a course, KIM by Rudyard Kipling which I never read and it's fabulous, no wonder people talk about it all the time, it's just amazing the world books can transport you to, but it's getting to be summer and people will be asking for recommendations for a good BEACH BOOK, what's new in fiction that you really like?

Did you all see White Teeth last night? I did not but some of our group read it here and I wondered what you thought of the adaptation?

ginny

I saw the first part last night and am enjoying it except for the music track. I watch with closed captioning, and I realize the "modern songs" that have been chosen are supposed to "enhance" the story's meaning, but it's irritating (to me). Otherwise, I plan to be back in front of the TV on the 18th for the second half.

Howzat

Here's a new title message which the author put in the Authors' Corner that I though someone might want to look at:

My novel, STAY SAFE, BUDDY will be released soon from Publish America. Here is a short synopsis:

Promised that he won’t have to fight in combat, instead of being drafted for 2-years, 19-year old John Lefter enlists for a 3-year hitch in the Army Security Agency and ends up in the Korean War. At first, Lefter has a “candy ass” assignment 30 miles behind the fighting area. He spends a lot of time drinking beer, laughing and partying. Then he is forced to face his own mortality after being assigned bunker duty in the fighting area. He breaks down after his foul mouth buddy is hit with burp gun fire while saving Lefter’s life. In a hospital psychiatry ward, his recovery is aided dramatically by an innovative doctor and the only man he has ever hated. Back on the front line and atop the bunker celebrating just after the cease-fire, Lefter is again confronted with a shocking incident that takes him over fifty years to find closure.

Read more and follow my progress at: http://www.authorsden.com/jcharlescheek

Stay Safe, Buddy. John

Has any one read this book At the suggestion of my daughter and ten year old grand daughter I read it A very good story.

I thought it was an excellent movie.

Come on down to HERE WE ARE and let us know if you'll be joining Maryal and I for this wonderful book. Even though I am still in a bit of a snit because Daonna Tartt ignored moi, I still feel that the writing of this novel is superb. The expressive language in this story is heartfelt, sincere and very moving. I loved it. Do come join us.

Talking about what's new and hot, have you read All is Vanity? It's the kind of book you call your friends and tell them about, it's exquisitely subtle, from the author of Drowning Ruth, an Oprah pick optioned by Miramax.

We're discussing All is Vanity, which is new and in hardback on June 1, I love it, it's very wise about the nature of friendship/ relationships and the Author is going to join us in the discussion! Here's the discussion, All is Vanity it's a very good book, hard to put down, especially in the last third, you can't read it fast enough and at the same time you are afraid of what's going to happen!

Come join us June 1, plenty of time to get on board!

ginny

Those of you who enjoy discussing books, please go here immediately SeniorNet Home Page and take the Poll on Fiction and Non Fiction Reading Preferences??

Thanks for letting your voice be heard!

ginny

I finished Kirstin Hannah's new book, BETWEEN SISTERS and enjoyed it so much I read it in one sitting. I must say this is one author who never disappoints me. There are some sex scenes in this one that I could do without, but part of the story, I suppose. It just shows how fragile relationships are in families.

I also finished CRAZY IN ALABAMA can't remember the author, and it is just plain weird.

I finally have a stack of books to read and I am so happy. I had awhile there that I didn't have enough to read and I was sure nervous.

Sage

Sage, isn't that the WORST feeling? To be without a good book. ESPECIALLY if you finish a good one and then there's nothing! The worst.

I picked About Schmidt back up in another place (it had put me off originally, very keenly felt grief but now I love it, it's quite fine.

I am also trying to finish Kim by Rudyard Kipling for a class and now need to read A Passage to India for the same class, I hope I can read fast, I'm behind.

Some books you can toss off like the newspaper and some you need to savor, All is Vanity is a book to savor and we're really enjoying discussing it WITH the fabulous author, in the Book Club Online, come join us!

ginny

Ginny I have to put in a few words for Steve Martini.......He can tell a story and keep you awake all night! I've read all of his books since last Christmas....upto and including "The Arraignment". They are all wonderful and well researched.Because he is a lawyer, don't expect a plain court room drama.....each novel is totally different but I do want to recommend the first one if you folks haven't read it....Much involved scientific research went into this one....."Critical Mass"...i.e. a nuclear fission expert, troubled by the failure to account for 2 Nuclear devices which are missing from former Soviet Union....fraught with tension., magnificent...Plotting Ingenious! (A Reviewer).........Headline at Amazon. Sci-fi fans will enjoy but the truths in this are frightening and near the mark. Steve Martini was publicised as the new "Grisholm" but in my opinion is by far the better story teller.......John Grisholm is another favourite of mine but is pure Court room. Of interest Steve is at present writing another....His own website is worth a visit.

Has anyone read this book? I just started it and I can't put it down! Excellent! I'd like any one else's opinion. Thanks, Mal

I want to read The Beach House. I will try to get it in my next library stack. I think James Patterson's new book is The Lake House.

I've got the Beach House but haven't started it yet, glad to hear it's good, and WELCOME Lamloft!

I'm reading A Passage to India which is not at all like the movie, it's something ELSE, have any of you read it?

ginny

Ginny, I would like to read A Passage to India.

Hi Jenny.

Hi Jenny, I have never read Steve Martini.

Hats, it's really good, it's not like the movie and nothing like what I thought, we may have to read it someday!

ginny

Ginny, looking forward to it.

Is that E. M. Forester's?

Our Great Books Reading Group read A Passage to India last year. It was long, long---------------------- long.

Not a book to take to the beach.

Pat, yes, it's EM Forster and Andrea yes, it's not a light read, it actually MIGHT be a good beach book, Hats, but it's.. very involved. It's about human rights and how easy it is to lose them, it's the Anglo Indians in India, the British, and the native Indians and how even the Indians differ: the Hindus, the Buddhists the Muslims, actually it's almost like ...it's good. It's not a quick book, and it's not easy to read, but once you've read it you do feel you understand and are actually there: it's good.

ginny

Ginny, I really do want to read A Passage to India. Just joking about a beach book. If a book is good, the time does not matter. More important, I think, is our mood. What are we in the mood to read? I very much want to A Passage to India. Thanks for telling me a little about it.

Super point, Hats, isn't it strange what we want to read and when? If I'm going to the beach, should I admit I will read the trashiest Rich People Acting Badly thing I can find? I love those things where Rich Man Poor Man clash? Lewis Orde? Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous? I don't know why!! There's something about the mighty eternal ocean out there and the necessity of having a potboiler paperback with sand and sun tan lotion in it, I don't know hahahahaha I gotta have ONE "Dallas" or "Atlas Shrugged" or Michael Crichton or preferably something about the rich, famous and how they fell. ahahahaha

(Now THERE'S probably some psychological thing!) What was that show on TV with Linda Evans and all that glamorous stuff? That's the kind of book I want for the beach. I just got the new Richard Yates Biography and it looks searing, there are two new ones out and this one, the Blake Bailey, looks like a killer, I wonder why it is that so many authors (like Yates who wrote fiction) live such miserable lives in person? Yet their spirits seem to shine thru the book, am not sure how that works.

Have any of you read Micheners The Fires of Spring? That was a young man coming of age novel that made a big impression on me in the 60's I wonder if it would now? Thinking of Yates makes me think of Marjorie Morningstar and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I wonder if any of them have stood the test of time. Mayvbe we should have a Nostalgia Book Club and see if any of them are any good now that we are...er....grown up? ?

ginny

Hi Everyone, I know I checked in before but I wanted to let you know there are two books -- one "The Beach House" and the other "The Lake House" by Patterson --- I haven't read "The Lake House" but the other is great! Mal ----

H ello Hats and everyone...Patterson is a prolific writer if Amazon site is to go by...Excellent reader reviews of all his books...I'm ordering him when I've finished all of Harlan Coben's works...Wow..."Tell No-One".by Harlan Coben.....I'm reading it now...finished two thirds last night......When can I get some sleep folks..this is so exciting!!!He is a master of mystery and excitement. Mind you no-one can compete with Steve Martini...I eagerly await the novel he is working on at present!..A great story-teller and such varied themes...Not as prolific as others but he puts a great deal of research into each novel, I think that's why. He's Unputdownable.Poor John Grisholm has gone onto back burner for me now..His are all so similar. Hats "You haven't lived"....get onto Martini now! I loved "A Passage to India"...as a film...haven't read the book.. Jenny.

Please can anyone tell me about a book called "The Giving Tree". It was recommended on B.B.C. Radio here a few weeks ago as a childrens/adult read...American...quote "A life changer".

Ginny.. I loved Marjorie Morningstar. I grew up in a little town in Delaware ( actually out of town) and the book was a revelation to me. I simply had no idea what was going on for the longest time. Then it hit me, that it was about prejudice and opened my eyes to the way we did behave in the 50's. There was another Indian series.. Four books as I remember. I seem to think it was called "The Raj Quartet". First book started out with a rape in India and explored this through so many different permutations. Nostalgia books do appeal. I loved Sinclair Lewis as well.. and John O'Hara ( now there was serious trash).. Oh me, now you have me remembering all sorts of authors from the 50's.. Majory Sharp.. who wrote a wonderful potboiler.."Brittania Mews".. and a lot of other stuff.. Ben Ames Williams "The Strange Woman" .. again another female villain to make your hair curl. Oh and on..

Lightning: The Giving Tree is a 64 page story for preschool thru grade 3 ages. Synopsis Embraced by many as a simple story about altruism while attacked by others as a cruel allegory about the selfless love of parents and the ingratitude of children--and seen by still others as a sexist attack on women--THE GIVING TREE tells the tale of a young boy and the tree who, literally, piece by piece, gives her life for him. Throughout the story, the tree (which is referred to by female pronouns) never hesitates to give the boy whatever he asks of her. At first she provides shade, then her fruit, next her branches, and finally her entire trunk. By the story's end, the little boy is an old man who, after many years away, returns to the tree to use her last remaining piece--her stump--as a place to sit and rest. Illustrated with b&w line drawings.

Publisher's Notes This story of a boy who grows to manhood, and of a tree that gives him her bounty through the years, is a moving parable about the gift of giving and the capacity to love.

Alf...Thanks...I will try to obtain this as a keepsake....for my second grandson who suffers with M.E....and for me....

It's a tear jerker, Jenny. My step-daughter bought it for her 20 yr. old son. It's the point of it and I wondered at the time if he would GET it, at that age.

My last post I was growsing about nothing to read. Well I sure found a wealth of titles. This is the books I read in June. Everyone of them I enjoyed. Some more than others, but I recommend them all.

THE THREE MARGARETS, by Louise Shaffer

CRAZY IN ALABAMA by Mark Childress

THE SKATING POND by Deborah Joy Corey

THE MIRACLE LIFE OF EDGAR MINT by Brady Udall

SECOND GLANCE by Jodi Picoult

ALL HE EVER WANTED by Anita Shreve

TRUE TO FORM by Elizabeth Berg

ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS by Lorna Landvik

FERRIS BEACH by Jill Mc Corkle

AVA'S MAN by Rick Bragg

BETTY SWEET TELLS ALL by Judith Minthorn Stacy

THE WIFE by Meg Wolizer

TENDING TO VIRGINIA by Jill Mc Corkle

THE BOOK CLUB by Mary Alice Monroe

WOMEN OF THE SILK by Gail Tsukiyama

LANGUAGE OF THREADS by Gail Tsukiyama

I have a stack to read and I'm chomping at the bit.

Sage

You make me feel like a book reading amatuer. Did you enjoy "Ava's Man" by Rick Bragg?

Howzat

Is the new Lorna L.. BonBon book good? I loved her others.

How was ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS by Lorna Landvik?

Purple Sage, what a great list! and Stephani and gaj; I'm glad to read there's another Lorna Landvik book - I love her stuff

Living in Texas, some of my friends don't get Landvik, but it makes me laugh out loud!

isak

Howzat...I enjoyed AVA'S MAN very much. I'm ordering another title by the author.

Stephenie. & jaj...HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS is very good. Makes me want to find a book club. I've been in four or five, but didn't enjoy them that much. I do love to discuss what I read, but the book clubs I tried were too busy posturing. IMHO

isak...I like her books. Have you read, PATTY JANE'S HOUSE OF CURL, TALL PINE POLKA, WELCOME TO THE GREAT MYSTERIOUS and YOUR OASIS ON FLAME LAKE? I think the "Bon Bon" book is the best.

What is everyone reading? I like to have a list.

Sage

I just started a new book.. First time out for the author."Bread Alone" by Judith Ryan Hendricks. Looks good. Since I am a demon Bread baker, the title attracted me.. It is fiction, not a cookbook.

Howzat...I wanted to talk more about AVA's MAN by Rick Bragg. I did enjoy the reading. It reminded me so much of my grandfather. He was a farmer and had four sons and a daughter. He was the head of the family and there was no doubt about it. He adored my grandmother and so the love between them keep them both from being overbearing. Grandpa taught me write my name. He died when I was around five years old. I remember sitting on his lap concentrating on my long, long name. He was of course from the depression era. He drank, boy, could he ever drink, so the family remembers. A had worker and taught his sons to hunt, fish, take care of their families, go to church and hang out with men friends whenever they could get away from the wimen. He was also talented with his hands and able to make a set of kitchen articles for his little gir, my Aunt. He built a stove like an old black top stove, a sink, and table and chirs. I played with them after my Aunt left home. They were just right for a child. He also make rockers that looked like ducks that had a seat inside. My grandmother painted all. She was an artistic persons and a gardener. She had a rock garden and pool that grandpa had make for her. It was the talk of the town.

The book sure brought happy memories for me. I spent many days with grandma after grandpa passed. She said I helped her get over her grief.

Sage

Thanks for sharing your grandfather with us. My grandfather Adams died at 39 so I never knew him. My grandfather Reckley was a wonderful, kind man who drank. I remember him sitting quietly in his rocking chair while adults and children interacted around him. He always had a small smile on his face. He hardly ever spoke in my hearing. He smelled like whiskey and tobacco. He was a carpenter. The depression killed his spirit. Even though it was beyond his control, he felt like a failure at not being able to better provide for his family. I used to stand by his chair and pat his arm. I wasn't much of a mixer either.

Howzat

Sage - I'm way behind you, but I did manage to read four books in the last month - each one was excellent.

"When You Go Away", by Jessica Barksdale Inclan. This book is fabulous - I highly recommend it!

"The Secret Life of Bees". by Sue Monk Kidd. I know lots you have already read this one. For those who havn't, it is well worth reading. I loved it.

"Crooked Little Heart", by Anne Lamont. Very good story about two young teen girls who are doubles partners on a competitive tennis team. It's about them, their families, lives, pressures, etc.

I just finished. "A Round Heeled Woman", by Jane Juska. WOW! More about this one later! (Besides, it belongs in the non-fiction discussion.) Let's just say that it might be an inspiration to some women over 60 ..... then again, maybe not! LOL!

A new one by Elizabeth Berg....."Say When"...just finished it and liked it as I do all of her books.....

I don't remember who suggested reading "The Skating Pond" but I am very grateful for the suggestion.....I don't remember when I have enjoyed a book so much....I was simply swept away by the ability of the author to discribe the feelings of women....also such wisdom when discussing things which have been painful to women for eons.....I finished it last week and I am still thinking about it..........

What has happened to Viogert? I haven't seen a post from her in a long while.

Howzat

Tigerlily...I felt the same way about SKATING POND. I too had many thoughts about the book.

I am reading the last book by, Gail Tsukiyama, DREAMING WATER. This is a new author for me and I have now read all she has written. I can't get enough. So well told and so gentle. I want more by her.

I also finishe QUALITY OF LIFE REPORT, by Meghan Daum. It was very interesting. It is the story of a young career woman who goes to the prairie to write and film about the way people live. She becomes hooked herself. It is funny in place, sad in places and just like an all around good book. No violence.

It will be hot again today, so I've finished up most of my chores, and watering and I plan to take it easy this afternoon and read, read, read. JOY!

Sage

Undeceded what books to now read so going to take your suggestion above. I have not read any books by either author.

JeanneP

Sage.....I wrote the books down you mentioned and will get them...I think I read a review about "Quality of Life Report" and then never followed up on it.....I thought it sounded interesting then.....I am reading a novel called "Pasadena" but it has not grabbed me yet..... I will get the others from the library.........

Is that "Quality of Life Report", about the woman who went to the prairie to film, a non fiction book?

Howzat

Howzat the book QUALITY OF LIFE REPORT is fiction.

PASADENA is a lengthy book with a long, long introduction. The beginning part about the dam collapsing was a grabber. From there the book slows down with what happened before and after. I did have a bit of a problem keeping the characters straight. Finally the story began to grab me and I enjoyed it after that. I did almost quit reading several times.

Sage

A 'hot' author for me is Lee Child. He writes 'mystery/adventure'. I suggest reading them in the order published. Below is what the publsiher says at Barnes and Nobel on-line. His latest is Persuader

From the Publisher: Jack Reacher. The ultimate loner. An elite ex-military cop who left the service years ago, he’s moved from place to place…without family…without possessions…without commitments. And without fear. Which is good, because trouble—big, violent, complicated trouble—finds Reacher wherever he goes. And when trouble finds him, Reacher does not quit, not once…not ever. But some unfinished business has now found Reacher. And Reacher is a man who hates unfinished business. Ten years ago, a key investigation went sour and someone got away with murder. Now a chance encounter brings it all back. Now Reacher sees his one last shot. Some would call it vengeance. Some would call it redemption. Reacher would call it…justice.

Purple Sage..regarding "Pasadena"....yes...the the part about the mud slide was gripping....when I got to the horse being cut up on the track that was it......I promised myself I would no longer read books that didn't really interest me anymore... I am going to return it..Dancing Water is on the shelf at the library so I will get it.....

Hello everyone

I love EM Forster - A wonderful author. I have also read the Raj Quartet.

Carolyn

The BBC did a series on Paul Scott's book, The Raj Quartet, called Jewel in the Crown. Oh my, it was so very well done. Eight (or maybe it was twelve) hours if I remember correctly.

Howzat

I did see part of the TV series. Yes it was good. I think the BBC do very good drama's.

Carolyn

Wasn't it fantastic?. Wish now I had bought the VCR tapes. Wish they would show again. I did buy the "Gandi". "I Claudius" was also a favourite of mine. Now that as been shown a couple times. Could watch it again.

JeanneP

Carolyn and Jeanne; Are either of you readers of Anthony Powell's "A dance to the music of time"?? It is a series - not sure how many of them, but I read part of them in an English Lit class in the 80's and was quite fascinated. Think I need to have another go at them. isak

I am not familiar with that writer. Will Look the book up. Today at the library I got"ULYSSES" by James Joyce. My libary only had one copy and it was the Special Edition. So fancy.Says from "the oxford library of the Worlds's great books.Been many a year since I read it.

JeanneP

my son bought a first edition Philip Roth The Great American Novel for $.25.

Just read the outline of the book "A dance to the music of time" Sounds like my kind of reading. Will get it.

JeanneP

I just finished reading Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult. She has a wonderful writing style. Perfect Match is a painful story. It is one that will make you think of children and their importance to us and other issues. A lady named NanaB recommended this book. I would like to say thank you to her.

This is my second book by Jodi Picoult. The first one I read is called The Plain Truth. It is about The Amish community. It is another wonderful book, very thought provoking. This is an author who has not disappointed me yet.

I've finished all of Gail Tsukijama's books. I loved them all, but my favorite was Samurai's Garden. Her books leave me with such a good feeling. And the descriptions of what was going on during troubled times is very gently done. I highly recommend any of her books.

This month I tried WHITE TEETH by Zadie Smith and I didn't finish it. I understand the play was better than the book. I also gave in and read LIFE OF PI by Yann Martel and I liked it. I had lots of tense times reading it, but also some fine chuckles. Reading the MAMMOTH CHEESE, by Sheri Holman was fun. A great story to read about a small town's residents getting together. Read it if you get a chance. THE MIDWIFE'S TALE, by Gretchen Moran Laskas was a good read also. This midwives book was totally different than all the others I've read. If you like medical books, you will like this one. I did. I also read: THE QUALITY OF LIFE REPORT by Meghan Daum, PLANT LIFE by Pamela Duncan, SURRENDER DOROTHY by Meg Wolitzer. I enjoyed them all.

How about some recommendations from others. I need to keep a list so I never run out! What a terrible thought.

Sage

I have ordered the books by Anthony Powell you mentioned. There is an album of all of them together with a foreword and some information on the books - it looks like a scholars edition. The local library has one copy only and its on the shelf. I ordered it on line so I should get it. I can't see a waiting list for this book. I see he wrote The Fisher King too!

Carolyn

I read most of the Anthony Powell series.. Some were definitely better than others, but I did enjoy the whole thing.

Hi, Y'all!

Like an Army new recruit I have volunteered to respond as leader to this particular page. I just want to remind everyone that when we get two enthusiastic suggestions for a book here, then I will takeit to our Discussion Leaders Forum and see if we can't take it from there in regard to having a discussion of said book. Okay?

So what is everybody reading (Fiction) that you think we should discuss?

Lorrie

I am reading Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood's (The Blind Assassin) new hardback and it's stunning. The perfect escape reading: the aftermath (apparently, who can tell) of an Armageddon. It's almost Science Fiction but not quite: Mad Max with a scientific twist and enough truths about everyday life, relationships, etc., that the reader can bear. I think it's a masterpiece.

I'm only about 1/3 of the way thru but you pick up the book and you are instantly transported to another world, and you can handle it, while you figure out...it's fabulous, truly fabulous.

Anybody but me reading it?

In Edit: Whoops!! See post below for more, got a little further in the book: whoops!!

Oh Ginny. Oryx, etc is on my list, just have not picked up a copy yet. I am so far behind just now on stuff. A lot of my favorites finally hit paperback and then I buy them..But I love Margaret Atwood.. so I will read it.

WHOOPS!! TILT!! OK well I'm half way thru and suddenly of course we're plunged into NastyLand, why DO authors feel they need to do this? The teenage boys are playing some very nasty games, snuff games (on computer with live film), games where atrocities (Blood and Roses) are balanced against art: the suggestion that one Mona Lisa equals Bergen Belsen, for instance, I find incredibly offensive.

In addition we have selling of little girls and boys and the inevitable result, in detail, and child pornography in detail (tho the child seems to be strong: disgusting) and child abuse, I think I have come to the end of the book, for me.

What a shame, am I just getting OLD or am I developing taste finally??!!??), WHY do authors insist on including such details>? Why? Because they can? Do such details really add to the plot? Are they really necessary? Do they advance anything?

Jeepers.

Two thumbs (maybe three) down.

ginny

Ginny; One always reads that publishers say that readers demand these kinds of things, but I don't think so - I wish they'd listen to our conversations like this....I much prefer other things than gratuitous violence and gore. isak

GINNY, I was interested in Oryx from your original description and reserved it at my local library. I was disappointed to find the author was Margaret Atwood because, although she's a beautiful writer, she's gotten mean and ugly in recent writings. I was willing to give Oryx a try all the same based on your enthusiasm but lately she's more preacher than writer. (boring! yawn) The library book may have a very very short visit at my home.

Marvelle

Oh, Ginny, I was all enthused after reading your first post about the Margaret Atwood book, but on seeing your additional comments I think I'll pass. Like you said, why do authors feel they must add all this gore?

Wasn't margaret Atwood the author of "The Handmaid" or something like that?

Lorrie

Sage, that is a wonderful list of books you posted! is there any one in particular that you feel you could feel comfortable with enough to join in a discussion? I promise we would refrain from posturing! hahahah Did anyone read "The Book Club? I don't know why, that title makes me laugh.

Lorrie

Cant decide if I am brave or stupid, but I still want to try Oryx.. Margaret has never let me down yet..

I haven't read it yet, but that book by Cornwall about Jack the Ripper looks interesting. Is anyone interested in joining a discussion of same? Stephanie, are you still game?

Lorrie

I got started on the Jack the Ripper book but after about half way just stopped reading it. Seemed to be so long and drag out. I also think that she wasted a lot of money doing the research. I still believe that we will never know who the real Jack the Ripper was. Being from England we heard so much growing up. Lots of rumers. I myself believe that there had to be more than one person at that time. sort of copy cat murders. I loved Cromwell first two books and then sort of stopped reading her.

JeanneP

As I reported earlier I think in the Mystery folder, I , too, read Cornwell's book, it's quite gruesome but I did learn a lot: I had no idea why he was called Ripper (I do now) and a lot of the other truly hideous details, one of which still boggles the mind: at that time, it was customary in the initial inquiry that the public could attend the procedures and it was customary to hang up the deceased by a hook naked to demonstrate the wounds: good thing we've come a long way, huh? The book is full of Forensic CSI like details but Cornwell, despite her reputation, was not a Forensic pathologist, she just worked in a pathologist's office and got the bug for that type of investigation. It's pretty hard to read, definitely non fiction, and really revelatory on every gory detail.

The book does give an excellent picture of the way of life at the time of the prostitute, and it, too, was pretty hard, you end up with a lot of sympathy for these poor creatures: a hard book to read, in many aspects, but very revealing.

ginny

I read the Ripper book and am still annoyed with Cornwell. She simply jumped to a conclusion on such slim evidence. I would still be up for reading.. I will be gone the month of September, but after that will be around and would participate. As you guess, I do not think she proved anything other than the fact that this artist was probably the author of one Ripper note ( and from all indications, those notes were in great supply by a lot of different people.

Someone had said that recent selections were heavy and they wanted a change. I don't know how the term heavy is being defined but I can think of some categories: Literary or popular; socio-political issues or non-issues; unpleasant topics or pleasant topics ..... I was curious to see what books were discussed in 2003 and here's the list I came up with which is probably incomplete:

JANUARY 2003
Lovely Bones (Book Club Online)
Seven Sisters
Ambiguous Iroquois (non fiction)
Bush at War (non fiction)

FEBRUARY 2003
Life of Pi (Book Club Online)
A Lesson Before Dying
Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family (Non fiction)

MARCH 2003
Julius Caesar (Book Club Online)
The Dante Club (Book Club Online)
Abraham (non fiction)

APRIL 2003
Madame Bovary (English/French discussions)
Inferno of Dante (Great Books)

MAY 2003
The Girl in Hyacinth Blue
The Nine Tailors
All Over But the Shouting (non fiction)

JUNE 2003
All Is Vanity (Book Club Online)
Little Friend
Searching for Hassan (non fiction)

JULY 2003
The Piano Tuner (Book Club Online)

AUGUST 2003, currently being discussed
Leap of Faith (Book Club Online; non fiction)
Middlesex

SEPTEMBER 2003, scheduled
The Da Vinci Code (Book Club Online)
Disgrace

OCTOBER 2003, scheduled
Benjamin Franklin (non fiction)

There are proposed discussions which I haven't listed because they aren't confirmed yet. There are 16 fiction and 8 non-fiction in the above list.

From the 16 fictions I can tentatively identify six (6) literary fictions, without judging whether I liked them, as the following:

JANUARY -- Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble.
MARCH -- Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare; The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl.
APRIL -- Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert; The Inferno of Dante.
AUGUST -- Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.

I purposely left out long-term discussions of multiple books such as "Civilization" because that covers each month. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if I inadvertantly left a book out of the list. At least I have it (sort of) straight in my head as to what SN has discussed this year.

Marvelle

VOTE for the next BOOK CLUB ONLINE selection! We want to hear from YOU! Come on over to the BOOKS COMMUNITY CENTER this week and nominate titles you might like to discuss with us. NEXT WEEK, we'll VOTE and discuss the winner in November. Get in on the fun!

I've begun reading a 2002 novel, Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. The novel's narrator is a young Ukranian by the name of Alex who meets Jonathan Safran Foer, the actual author and secondary character of the novel whom Alex calls 'the hero'. So far it's sweet and hilarious with intimations of serious issues ahead.

A third-generation Jewish American, Jonathan Safran Foer, has come to the Ukraine in search of the woman who might have saved his grandfather from the Nazis during WWII and he meets the incomparable Alex, the translator of a tour group. From the first chapter, narrated by Alex:

"Mother dubs me Alexi-stop-spleening-me! because I am always spleening her. If you want to know why I am always spleening her, it is because I am always elsewhere with friends, and disseminating so much currency, and performing so many things that can spleen a mother.... Mother is a humble woman.... She toils at a small cafe one hour distance from our home. She presents food and drink to customers there, and says to me, 'I mount the autobus for an hour to work, all day doing things I hate. You want to know why? It is for you, Alexi-stop-spleening-me! One day you will do things for me that you hate. That is what it means to be a family.' What she does not clutch is that I already do things for her that I hate. I listen to her when she talks to me. I resist complaining about my pygmy allowance. And did I mention that I do not spleen her nearly so much as I desire to? But I do not do these things because we are a family. I do them because they are common decencies. That is an idiom that the hero taught me."

Good words spoken about this debut novel by Russell Banks, Joyce Carol Oates, Dale Peck, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Nathan Englander. What the book's dustjacket says that might very possible be true rather than mere hype: "An arresting blend of high comedy and great tragedy, this is a story about searching for people and places that no longer exist; for the hidden truths that haunt every family; and for the delicate but necessary tales that link past and future. Exuberant and wise, hysterically funny and deeply moving, Everything Is Illuminated is an astonishing debut." I'm halfway into the book and so far I agree with the publisher.

Marvelle

Just finished Diary: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk who also wrote The Fight Club. The author can't write a female narrator -- no way, no how -- and this was a major flaw that I couldn't ignore while trying to finish it. Definitely a waste of my reading time.

Marvelle

I've heard a lot about that Illuminated book, Marvelle, it's good to hear a report on it and to know somebody reading it, thank you for that!

I see Joyce Carol Oates's name there and I'm very much enjoying her Middle Age, it's quite good and it surprised me, a lot.

ginny

Thank you for the excerpt from 'Everything is Illuminated', Marvelle. It really piqued my interest. And I can borrow an audio cassette copy from the library. Even better. Sure take the boredom out of dishwashing!

I am currently slogging my way through 'Emperor of Ocean Park' by Stephen L. Carter. I feel like he must be paid by the word, as there seem to be so many of them. On the other hand, the story is so convoluted, and yet seductive, and unfolds so slowly, that it keeps pulling me along to see what kind of shock the professor is going to receive next, and from what source. An annotation on the library online catalog reads: Set in the privileged world of New York-Washington-Martha's Vineyard upper-crust African-American society and the inner circle of an Ivy League law school, Carter tells the story of a complex family with a single seductive and dangerous link to the shadow lands of crime.

Perkie, I'll take a look at Emperor of Ocean Park. Please let us know here what you think of Everything Is Illuminated. The innocent and off-kilter way of speaking, rendered harmless certain expressions (harmless and hilarious). I bet the audio book will be wonderful!

Ginny, have you read Illuminated? The book reminds me in some ways of The Remains of the Day and All Is Vanity.

Marvelle

NO! Does it? Well that sold me, I'll read it next after Middle Age, thanks!!
I've heard a LOT about it, and I have a special fondness for "illuminated," I remember Ray Bradbury's "The Illuminated Man," which I also liked.

ginny

Rebecca and the Forsytes are two of my favorites..hailing from over the pond as I do...Has anyone tried Tess of the D'Urbervilles and seen Polanski's movie of the same? Had a wonderful time in Windsor(GB) where they had a sale on paperbacks.. buy 2 get one free..my freebie was the Oxford Dictionary...how's that for a holiday gift to myself ? Not everyone likes Harry Potter.. but I do..every time a new one comes out I buy one for my grandsons as well. Fiction based on history is one genre I like too.. Colkot

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I finished 'The Emperor of Ocean Park' by Stephen L. Carter and am glad I stuck with it. The first third setting up the problems was interesting and the middle third of thrashing around with too much pressure and too little information was excruciating but the final third with all made clear and the resolution was riveting. I can't take the responsibility of recommenting it ,but if anyone reads it I would love to know your take on it.

I love the Harry Potter books and movies also, Colkot, but then I have always loved mythology and legends. I just wish the books themselves were not so big and heavy. I'm glad most kids read lying on their stomachs with the book on the bed or floor!

Ginny.. Back from the mountains of North Carolina. I did finish Oryx and Crake while there. My, that is one strange book. I actually liked some of it and another part was way too predictable. I do see where Margaret is coming from, but I think in the end, the book was a failure. Just no real plot and she is such a lovely plotter. Oh well. all authors have at least one unreadable book.

I finished "Everything Is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer. It started out so well and was funny-sad and I really like the main narrator Alex but in the end ... too jumbled, too gross, too much. I had thought when reading the first pages of the novel that it would be a keeper. I was disappointed but was glad I read it. It was thoughtful and the sections narrated by Alex were well done. The alternating sections by a second narrator didn't work for me.

The best parts of the novel were the finely drawn and humane narrator and the many laugh-out-loud parts but I did have to wade through (or skip) the grosser bits of the story.

I honestly have no idea if anyone at SN would enjoy this book. I know I'd have enjoyed it immensely if I'd stuck to reading only the 'Alex" sections.

Marvelle

Perkie, I was glad to see your latter comments about Emperor of Ocean Park. One of my daughters, at my recommendation, gave it to me for Christmas last year. I had read a little about and it sounded intriguing. Haven't read it yet, but am glad to hear you didn't think it was a total loss.

Just finished a novel by Anne Lamott called "Blue Shoe"....I could hardly put it down....I cried, I laughed, and I have felt just like the main character whose name is Mattie.....Her characters in this novel are just wonderful and some of the things they say are so beautifully done......there is something here for everyone who likes a good read............

Have you read any of the other books by Anne Lamott, tigerliley? My roommate loves her and has read all of her books. I read a couple, but she doesn't interest me as much. We started reading her because she is local and we like to give local writers a try.

I am intrigued by your comments about "Everything Is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer, Marvelle, and have put it on my list. It may be awhile. There are 8 books in my library pile at the moment. Turning me loose in a library is like giving a kid carte blanche in a candy store.

Yes I have read her other books but I think this is her very best....By far.....

And I went ALL OVER DC to find Everything is Illuminated!!! I couldn't remember the title or the author, forget the major chains, but I DID find it, finally, in a REAL bookstore called Olssons pronounced Ole Les Sens and I loved it, all i had to do was say "Illuminated," and voila! I bought so many books in DC I almost had an overweight suitcase and got some really good books and met the author Wally Lamb who has agreed to come in HERE and talk with us and let me tell you it was something else!!

If you can, come with us next year to Wasthington DC and help us tell the world about SeniorNet and our Bookclubs. (you DID hear that Laura Bush referred to us in her opening remarks, I hope??) hahahahaha WHEE?

I've got it but am reading Waiting now and need to read Mr. Lamb's in the next two days!

ginny

Wow, Wally Lamb. I really have enjoyed his books.

Kathy

I get so many titles of books from reading everyone's posts. Wally Lamb's book is now on my to-read list. GINNY, you absolutely have to tell me the names of all the books you bought. (I'm still wavering about Everything Is Illuminated and I think you'll see what my qualms are all about when you start reading this book. Yet I'm willing to change my mind because the author is so talented. Maybe I need to read it a second time?)

I've been gathering up paperback Holiday Mysteries now before the used copies disappear in Nov/Dec; I found about 20 books so far and haven't put a DENT in my list. I have visions of a chair-side basket piled high with holiday mystery books and reading one a day during December. Probably too ambitious but that's my idea -- wallowing in delicious murders during the holidays (inbetween the traditional celebrations and the Luminaria processions of course).

Marvelle

Oh Ginny, you know me by now. I'm SERIOUS about getting a copy of your list of new books!

Have you read The Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor, Marvelle? I also collect Christmas mysteries but I must say lately they are so cutesey cutsey cloying you need a bite of pickle first, here's my list dragged back from DC, not all Fiction, and showing an EXTREMELY eclectic taste, I'm afraid! hahaha

The Perfect House: A Journey With the Renaissance Master Andrea Palladio

Tilt: a Skewed History of the Tower of Pisa (entire book cut on a slant hahaahah)

Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh

Revenge by Stephen Fry

I Don't Know How She Does it by Allson Pearson

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (highly recommended by the bookseller, Dickensian mystery apparently)

Endangered Pleasures by Barbara Holland

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Smuggler's Moon by Bruce Alexander

The Words of Ghandi selected by Richard Attenborough

Brick Land by Monica Ali

The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston

The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester

Literary Occasions by VS Naipaul

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin

Gandhi's Passion by STanley Wolpert

Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron

The Laws of Eveining (short stories) by Mary Yukari Waters

and of course, Couldn't Keep it to Myself, by Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution.

Talk about carrying HEAVY baggage~!~~ hahahaah You'd think I had never been IN a bookstore!

ginny

Definitely eclectic, GINNY. I've read some of the books and will try the others. Thanks for the new titles! I liked Endangered Pleasures by Barbara Holland, especially her take on martinis!, and I also have her book "Wasn't the Grass Greener?: A Curmudgeon's Fond Memories" but pefer Endangered Pleasures.

Have you read (pub. 1936) Rose Macauley's fantasic book "Personal Pleasures"? It has chapters such as: Disbelieving; Finishing a Book; Arm-Chair; Bed -- getting into it/not getting out of it; Improving the Dictionary; Not Going to Parties; Parties; Taking Umbrage.

I don't care for the cutesy holiday mysteries either, I think because it's overkill on the cutesy entertainment in December and I need the antidote. Here are some holiday mystery titles I've stocked up on:

-- Fredric Brown's Murder Can Be Fun

-- Martha Grimes' Jerusalem Inn

-- Martha Grimes' Old Fox Deceived

-- Martha Grimes' The Man with a Load of Mischief

-- Ellery Queen's Finishing Stroke

-- Ngaio Marsh's Tied Up in Tinsel

-- George Simenon's Maigret's Christmas

-- Robert Parker's Winding Gyre

-- W.J. Chaput's The Man on a Train

-- Carter Dickson's -- aka John Dickson Carr -- The White Priory Murders

-- anthology, Holmes for the Holiday (not by Doyle but various well known authors)

-- anthology, More Holmes for the Holidays (not by Doyle)

-- anthology, Canine Christmas, ed. Jeffrey Marks

Some of the stories in Canine Christmas may get cloying but others are very good. Haven't read Puzzel Manor yet; waiting for December to roll around.

Marvelle

P.S. There is a holiday mystery with a vineyard setting, but don't know how good it is. Phillip R. Craig's A Deadly Vineyard.

My library has 'She's come undone' and 'I know this much is true ' by Wally Lamb on audio cassette. I will look for them this week. They are narrated by George Guidall, who is excellent. Thanks, Ginny.

We have a few Christmas mysteries, but nothing so ambitious as your wonderful Christmas plans, Marvelle. Have you included one of my favorites 'A Christmas memory' by Truman Capote? Another I absolutely love, and re-read every year, is 'The story of the other wise man' by Henry van Dyke.

I tried listening to 'Women in Love' by D.H. Lawrence and had to give up about 1/3 of the way through. As King Clode said in James Thurber's 'The White Deer': Blather, blather, blather. If you like legends and a wonderful way with words, I highly recommend 'The White Deer'. I have it on cassette and listen to it every once in a while just to revel in the language.

Perkie, I'll check on "The Other Wise Man" and "The White Deer." These will be new to me. Truman Capote's story is always a treat to read and I usually find time for him.

Overall my holiday reading plans are ambitious and I honestly don't expect to come close to reading all the tattered little books I've gathered. Still, it's kind of pleasant knowing that I've got holiday mysteries on tap for at least the next few Decembers.

Marvelle

I have just finished 'Sophie's World' by Jostein Gaarder, translated from the Norwegian. It is subtitled 'A novel about the history of philosophy' and it does give an overview of philosophy but also veers off into fantasy. It makes an interesting juxtaposition. I did get bogged down in the middle and had to take a breather and read something else for awhile, but I was drawn back to it and toward the end was fascinated by how it played out. I just happened to stumble on it on the sale shelf at the library.

Perkie, I read that book last year and kept it. It's a delightful trip into mythology and philosophy isn't it. I think that would make a great read here. Thanks for reminding me of that one, I may reread it.

Did anyone else see the news item about the burrowing purple frog with the pointed snout and red eyes that was recently found in India? It sounds like it could be made into a good children's book, the finding of a new family of frog thought to be extinct.

I finished a heartwarming little book, the first in a trilogy by J. Lynne Hinton titled "Friendship Cake" about a Women's Guild at a church in North Carolina who decide to put together a recipe book and the growing friendship as they learn more about each other's lives. The author is the pastor of a church in North Carolina.

I just found this section.

If I were to pick a fictional character with whom I've always identified, I'm afraid it would have to be 'Jo' in Little Women and in the later book, Little Men. She just seemed to be someone who was what I would like to be.

As an adult, I can't think of a single fictional character I indentify with, but as a child I identified with The Whiney in 'Manners Can Be Fun' by Munro Leaf. It seemed like my mother was always telling me not to whine. When I mentioned it to my mother years later, she was surprised. She said I didn't whine all that much!

Speaking of which, I finished 'Big Cherry Holler' by Adriana Trigiani. It, and the first book 'Big Stone Gap' would have been completely wonderful stories if Ave Maria would just stop whining about her relationship with her husband. I love the setting in the Appalachian Mountains. I never got that far north on the Appalachian Trail since I started from Atlanta. I was amazed to find on the internet that Big Stone Gap actually exists and by that name. There was even a picture of the Mutual Pharmacy where Ave Maria worked as a pharmacist. And the characters are vivid and described lovingly.

I checked out The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. What an exceedingly odd and delightful book. I'm enjoying it immensely. Anyone read it?

Oh, MY, these are really interesting suggestions. So many books whose titles are completely new to me, which doesn't mean anything particularly, except that you readers all have eclectic tastes.

PERKIE:

I like the idea of a new children's book about a brand new type of frog, so much could be made of that!

JEANLOCK;

That's funny, I also identified with Jo in Little Women. To me she always seemed so brave and stalwart.

HARPER:

Time Traveler's Wife sounds like an amusing read, and PERKIE, I think I will make a stab at Sophie's World, if I can ever find the time!

HEY, EVERYONE, STAY TUNED! WE ARE PLANNING TO START A NEW CATEGORY, IN A SERIES, CALLED "BEST SELLERS," and WE WILL BE INCORPORATING SOME OF THESE SUGGESTIONS IN WITH IT. DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US AFTER JAN.1!

Lorrie

'The Time Traveler's Wife' sounds fascinating, Harper, especially since the main character is a librarian at the Newberry Library in Chicago. It is still on the new book shelf, so it may take awhile to find it checked in.

I listened to an interesting little book by Dorothy Gilman. I know her from her mysteries about Mrs. Pollifax, but this is entirely different and, I think, ever so much better. It is titled 'Thale's Folly'. An annotation for the book in my library's online catalog reads:

"As myriad readers will gladly attest, there is nothing more entertaining than a Dorothy Gilman novel, for the author of the beloved Mrs. Pollifax novels brings to her work a distinctive mix of romance and mystery that inspired The New York Times Book Review to say of a recent Gilman jewel, "Should delight you whether you're looking for smiles or thrills." That promise is honored -- with dividends -- in Thale's Folly.

At the request of his father, New York City novelist Andrew Thale tackles an odd assignment -- to check out an old family property in western Massachusetts, neglected since Aunt Harriet Thale's death years ago. Much odder still is what he finds. Far from being deserted, Thale's Folly is fully inhabited -- by a quartet of charming squatters, former "guests" of kindhearted Aunt Harriet. Elegant Miss L'Hommedieu, Gussie the witch, Leo the bibliophile, and beautiful nineteen-year-old Tarragon, who is unlike any girl Andrew has ever met in Manhattan."

I'm going to blow my own here. A Century to Remember, a collection of my short stories and poems has just been published. If you have any book lovers on your Christmas lists, perhaps you will remember me.

Whether your tastes run to comedy, contemporary, espionage, fantasy, history, mysteries, poems, prose, science fiction, or westerns, you will find it in "A Century to Remember".

The book can be found at: Amazon.com, Borders.com, Barnesandnoble.com and your local book store.

Thanks in advance.

Scrawler (Anne of Oregon)

Someone in this forum suggested the book, THE TEA ROSE, by Jennifer Donnelly. It is marvelous. The heroine, Fionna Finnegan is very charming, clever, smart and long-suffering. The book takes you from London to New York. This is a splendid and hearworming novel. Thank you for recommending.

Sage

Good luck with your book.

Howzat

I missed the first mention of 'The Tea Rose', Sage. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

I just finished my fourth Clyde Edgerton novel, 'Raney', a woman's name. I thoroughly enjoyed the other three: Walking across Egypt, Floatplane notebooks, and In memory of Junior. Raney and her new husband are so different, and Raney is so unforgiving of any opinion other than her own, that I got tired of her constant harping on how wrong he was. She never considered that she was the inflexible one who never accepted any blame because she was always "right".

I like Walking Through Egypt.. But did not finish Raney.. Just too whiny

Stephanie:

I like your choice of words. "Whiney" seem to apply to so many of the so-called popular books lately, don't you think?

Lorrie

Lorrie, Yes, I have real problems with the number of books that end up with a main character, who spends their life whining about being mistreated or not paid enough attention to or some such nonsense. Man of the so called Generation X writers are prone to this.

Fortunately, I have not run into too many whiny books. Haven't tried Gen X ones, I guess.

I am finding "Mystic River" a riveting psychological novel, but I don't think I will see the movie. I didn't understand when my mother said that she could read some books but didn't want to see the play or movie because that made it too real. Now I understand!

Perkie, I've been getting rave comments here about Mystique River. can you tell me what it's about, generally, and do you think it would be a subject that could lend itself to at length discussion here?

Lorrie

Woops! I meant Mystic, not Mystique. Sorry, bad hair day.

Lorrie

I saw and loved Mystic River.. We had lived around Boston for about 10 years and I found it so evocative of the area in the movie. Have not read the book, but it is in my find list.

I'm new to this, so please bear with me. I have recently read Disappeared by Colin Falconer, Absolute Zero by Chuck Logon (Phil Broker series). I enjoyed both, not necessarily the best. I have a wide variety of interest, from Historical romance thru Courtroom dramas, corporate corruption, national security to whodonits.

If it holds my interest enough for me to wish to turn the next page, it gets about 7 on my scale of 1 to 10. Then there are those that cannot be put down until the last page is read. Some I read the first page, or at the very least the chapter before giving up.

I find lack of continuity, physically impossible situations and glib (new age,just for the sake of it) to be some of my pet hates.

This probably is not what one is supposed to say, however I just needed somewhere to start. Rence

Disappeared and Absolute Zero! I swear both of them sound familiar but I've not read either one. Welcome to our Books/Lit discussions. Come on right in and sit down and join the fun. Do not be shy, ask any question you'd like and feel free to make any comments.

Mystic River could well be a good candidate for discussion, Lorrie, since it is so complex and has so many strong characters. It is about three 11-year-old boys who played together until one of them was abducted and the other two weren't forced into the car with him. It moves back and forth between that fateful time and their adulthood when a murder brings the three men in close contact again and stirs up painful memories. The picture of what happens, and how the men react to it, is like a jigsaw puzzle as the pieces of it are slowly fitted together. Much there to talk about.

I just finished 'If Morning Ever Comes' by Anne Tyler, usually one of my favorite authors. The people are so vague and the plot just shambles along so much, that I was glad to see that it is one of her earlier works, written in 1964, and delighted that she improved so much in her later works.

Hi, Rence!

Let me share the welcome with Alf to you, and yes, this is the place to air any kind of comments you wish about what you have been reading and how you like it, or them.

"lack of continuity, physically impossible situations and glib (new age,just for the sake of it) to be some of my pet hates".......... Good for you! i agree.

Perkie, I have read so many good comments about Mystc River that I am going to put it up for proposal for discussion. We have a pretty full schedule right now, but at least we can plan ahead with it.Thanks for the input.

Lorrie

Especially his newest book, "One Vacant Chair", which should be in your library now (It was released in September 2003). It is a family story. Wholesome, funny, and so true that I feel as if Joe Coomer has been to my house. I am only on page 88, so I can't inform you about the story past that, but I'm already feeling sad that this book will end.

The story; Grandma Hutton has died, after a lingering, 20 year illness. Her youngest daughter, Edna, has cared for her all this time. Edna paints portraits of chairs, no one in them, just chairs. At the reading of the will, on the day of the funeral, it is learned that Grandma Hutton wants her ashes scattered in Scotland, an unheard of request from a woman who had lived her whole life in Fort Worth, Texas, and a request that will leave Grandpa Hutton all alone at the cemetery where he's been for the past 20 years. After a great deal of controversy, it is decided that Grandpa will be exhumed, cremated, so the both of them can be scattered in Scotland. Sarah, Edna's neice, will stay on to help Edna with these arrangements, since Sarah wants to be away from her husband, Sam, who has been recently unfaithful. Sarah is 40 and Edna is nearly 60. Sarah will accompany Edna to Scotland.

BTW, it has been revealed that the elderly, blind black man, who recanes chair seats for Edna, has asked her to marry him, and she is taking the proposal under consideration.

Howzat

Howzat:

Well, that one sounds really good, doesn''t it? thanks for the recommendation.

Lorrie

To Alf and Lorrie, thank you for your warm welcome.

Disappeared is set in Argentina, mid 70s, moves both to Italy and England. A work of fiction, but the background to the story was based on recorded history according to the Author note. First published 1997. Mainly involved 3 families and twin girls separated at about 9 months of age.

I,m certainly going to read Mystic River.

Rence.

I just bought Mystic River since I saw the movie and loved it. So I would be up for a discussion.. Just lay it on..

Okay, that does it. I think we could get a quorum going on Mystic River, don't you? I'll start the ball rolling. Thanks for your suggestions, everyone!

Lorrie

I can't get my hands/eyes on the book until 16th Dec 03, unless whoever has it is a quick reader..!!

In the meantime I will watch with interest and hope I'm not to late to participate.

Rence

Oh, Dear Rence, never fear! With this really crowded schedule we have, the closest date we could get for a discussion of Mystic River would be January. Anyway, we always announce them in plenty time for people to either borrow the book or buy it. I personally like to wait for the paperback, some of these hardcover books are out of sight to buy.

Lorrie

Yes, prices of books in hardbacks(hate paper back) to expensive for me now. What we aught to have is a swap club People buy one book and then we exchange. Not one on one but keep books circulating around this way then all we would have is the cost of first book and the postage each time we send a book out. About $1.90 At this time the library doing good getting me current titles but come Feb. they will be closed for 3 months. Just added a 14 million dollar extension to current building and will have to move everything over. I will be lost without them.

JeanneP

JeanneP:

Have you ever tried our own Book Exchange here on SeniorNet? The cost is only for postage. Check it out.

Marjorie "---Book Exchange" 2/23/03 4:07pm

or Ginny "---Books Wanted" 4/26/02 3:39pm (Books Wanted)

Lorrie

Yes, I did use the books wanted a couple times past years. Did not get any responses. I suppose that most people do not get into that part of the book discussions.

JeanneP

The exchange is by far the most active and really has some neat stuff. I am doing the Wally Lamb thing in December so January or after is much better for me. I have started on Mystic River, since I always read through before any discussion. A most interesting book at this point. Much deeper than the movie.

Thanks, i will start going back in there. I did not see the movie Mystic River but will try to find the book. Sounds interesting.

JeanneP

I didn't get around to mentioning it before, I am in Australia. Are there any other members down here? The time difference puts me at a slight disadvantage, I post my msgs either early morning or evening, your time either midnight or noon...!!, my time which is now on Daylight saving so that adds another hour, is 7.00pm 27/11/03. I am also a little out of range for your book exchange. Rence

Yes, Rence, there are several members here from "down under." I will try to get their email addresses and post them for you here. How aboout New Zealand? We have two from there, as I understand. Rence, the time difference doesn't matter. We all read these posts at our own convenience, sometimes we don't see them for days at a time, but we respond whenever it suits. In my estimation it is one of the better advantages over a chat room.

Have you tried any of our other discussions? Go to the Books and Literature main page and take your pick!

Books Main Page

Lorrie

irapas 1:

This same post of yours has been popping up in many of our discussions so there is no need to repeat any answer.

Lorrie

That's great news Lorrie, perhaps we down here could organise a micro book swap via this site. Books down here are absolutely over the top expensewise. I am located at "The gateway to the Yarra Valley", subscribe to the Eastern region libray and am on my second reading of material, except for the odd new paperback.

I just finished a reprint of Georgette Heyers' "These Old Shades". first published 1926, she had a way with words, which I have always found delightful just for the sake of them. The plot of this one was a little deeper than usual, didn't grab my interest initally, I did however enjoy it, but not as much as others she has written.

If you like a play on words in "olde english" with humour in a light romantic plot, you will get a chuckle out of her novels. To laugh, when not expecting to while reading, is to me the ultimate experience.

Rence

Thank you for Joe Coomer's "One Vacant Chair", howzat. It sounds good, and it is on the new book shelf at the public library.

I just finished "Quentins" by Maeve Binchy. This one has so many characters that it seemed a bit jumpy and dragged a bit from time to time, but I like Maeve Binchy so much that I hung in there anyway! If you have any interest in trying an Irish author with books set in Ireland, frequently Dublin, then I suggest you start with some of her earlier works. I don't know if I am just in a critical mood, but recent books of beloved authors often irritate me by not being as interesting as they used to seem to me. Does one automatically turn crochety at 70 or is it just me?

It's not just you. I think all of us become more discerning as we grow older. Our reading standards elevate, since we have mostly "been there, done that".

Howzat

I suspect that Maeve Binchy used Quentins to bring a lot of characters she had little bits about. It was not quite as coordinated as most of hers. She has threatened to stop writing, and seems more comfortable nowadays with the short story format.

I am usually enthralled by the Mitford Series by Jan Karon, but the latest one, "In This Mountain" seemed to drag a bit. A little too much soul searching and not enough about the other members of the community. I was glad that another of Dooley's brothers was found, and even laughed at one of Uncle Billy's jokes, so it wasn't a bad book, just not quite a good as the previous ones.

I did enjoy 'The Eighth Commandment' by Lawrence Sanders. I had to look up the commandments on the internet, not remembering the order and was not surprised that the eighth prohibits stealing. I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, Dunk, and her entertaining descriptions. An interesting story, also, and Dunk doesn't make egregious errors that get her into life threatening situations, a pleasant change. She makes plenty of errors, she just doesn't have to suffer hugely for them.

Perkie, I haven't seen much of Lawrence Saunders writing lately. I thought he was dead, for some reason. When was the Eifhth Commandment published, do you know?

Lorrie

Newcomer here and I'm sending messages out like crazy as each board is so interesting. And I've just been oohing and aahing about a whole series of posts on this board that reminded me of some of my all time favorites....but when Dec. 14, ll:something P.M. rolled by I thought this isn't possible and discovered I was in 2001!! Well the posts don't lose their impact, that's for sure, and you were there Lori so figured it was a "current event". They were discussing regional writers - and bringing up books, comic & serious, I had semi-forgotten. What fun. I have loved my travels through the book section of Seniornet. I think (I hope) I'm at the end of the road....But am planning to come this way again.

Yes, Lawrence Sanders is dead.. He only wrote the one book about Dunk and I loved her. He liked his male detective?? Edward?? more than any other.

PAULITA:

When you post "I have loved my travels through the book section of Seniornet. I think (I hope) I'm at the end of the road....But am planning to come this way again"..................I am perplexed. It sounds like you are leaving? Please stay around!

Lorrie

I am very much enoying a new Annnotated Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, I had one but this is a new one I just picked up in Barnes & Noble Friday and it's really complete. I had no idea that Christmas, that is the celebration of Christmas had almost disappeared by Dickens's time and he almost singlehandedly brought it back, he was a great admirer of Washington Irving who also wrote of a fabulous "old" Christmas celebration, it's fascinating reading, and I'll also put this in the Non Fiction area since it's full of non fiction historical tidbits, I really recommend it.

ginny

Where has everyone gone, I thought this would be a most popular site, but no messages since the 15th. hello Ginny...!!! Hasn't anyone read a good yarn lately they wish to share?

Well I just finished another Colin Falconer "Rough Justice" set in England, detectives trying to get convictions and villains put away for a reasonal length of time, without a great deal of success.

But I wonder if it is considered politically incorrect nowadays to read and admit one enjoyed such a book.

Rence

I think a lot of us have been in the Could'nt Keep it to Myself discussion. It is hot and heavy so takes a bit of time.

Hi - I am in Mexico in a cybercafe and keyboard is odd...where is the punctuation...so please excuse. Have been reading a never-heard-of book by a never-heard-of author......and absolutely can{t put it down. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. Anyone ever hear of it or her.... I heard you were ill Lorrie - I wish you a speedy recovery. Happy holidays to all the bookies.....

Hi. Do you live full time in Mexico? How does a cyber-cafe work? You go in, get a cup of coffee, take a number to get computer access, pay X dinero, then start typing away??? Do you worry about catching the flu from using a keyboard many others have used before you? Is English your second language?

Welcome.

Howzat (^:^)

Sarah Walters.. I will h ave to go to Amazon and check this out. Name is not familiar.

Hello paulita, yes I posted back in October that when we went to the National Book Festival we found a REAL bookstore? And in that bookstore they were pushing and strongly recommending. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, and I was so taken with their recommendations I bought several of hers and have not, because of Couldn't Keep it to Myself as Steph says, had time to open it, but I am so glad to hear it's good because supposedly it's one of the best mysteries (and it is a mystery, right?) written.

I have sympathy for you on a Mexican keyboard, hahaahahah Italian and Parisian keyboards do me in.

Hello Rence!! I have not read one of his, do you like English authors? Have you read Michael Dobbs? Why would it not be PC?

howzat, in London they have interesting Cyber Internet Cafes, I like the one in Rome best, no food, right next to the Vatican, that's so fun sitting there with the nuns and typing away, I don't know what Mexican Cyber Cafes are like and look forward to hearing from Paulita, but in Rome you pay for a card, you get a number scrawled on a piece of paper and then you have that time no matter how many visits it takes you to get it, love it. In London the entire thing is automated and does have food, a counter servinig food, in some of them a Burger King, in some upscale light food, you put your money in a vending machine and get a card and it's automatically done in the one next to Victoria Station, but there are NO helpers if something goes wrong. In Paris they are usually nasty and dirty and downstairs with the strangest keyboards you ever saw but the MOST helpful bemused young men who can't quite believe you, an old granny want to use the internet, they are VERY nice but the @ key is missing, not to mention the capital shift. hahahaah

Lorrie is ill, as paulita mentions and so we need to just chatter along here cheerfully, what's new with YOU? I keep buying new books but have no time to begin them, maybe I can delve into the Fingerpost one over the holidays, it's supposedly fabulous.

ginny

Each time someone asks me what I want for Christmas, I tell them gift certificates from Borders, B & N or Waldenbooks. Books a Million-- Yikes I'm planning on moving and hate to buy more books, but what's a gal to do?

The kids are all going skiing today (the Sunday before Christmas) and can not figure out why I do not wish to go. The only place one would find me at a ski lodge is before the roaring fire with a drink in hand. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

And a BOOK in hand, right? hahahahaah

I find myself strangely attracted to the newest Harry Potter movie and somewhat desirous of reading the book, I can't believe I'm saying that but it's true. Have any of you read the Chamber of Secrets?

ginny

Ginny- it's a long one.

Don't be embarrassed! The Harry Potter books are wonderful! I've read all of them and have seen the movies that have been made, so far. Looking forward to the one coming out next summer. I must be one of the world's oldest Harry Potter fans. Chamber of Secrets is long but the last book, The Order of the Phoenix, is the longest of all. While I was reading it the house could have fallen down around me and I wouldn't have known and as soon as I finished it I wanted to start it all over again.

Ginny, I am with Phyll.. I have read all of the Harry Potter and loved them. The books are a universal like a good many sci=fi are.. You can be any age and love them. Just need the urge to believe.. I suspect everyone wants to be Harry or Hermione or Ron..

My faith in Children's Literature was reaffirmed after the very first Harry Potter. It's magic and it's magical. I loved every single one of them and enjoyed reading the first one aloud with each one of my grandkids a couple of years ago. Each night we'd lay on the floor and take turns reading. It is one of my favorite memories.

Hi All ' Am once again in the cybercafe ' It is not quite the same as Rome, Paris or london here in Mexico. There is no coffee, no numbers to take, few people, few computers and it{s right on the sidewalk. Very festive, actually, with kids, balloons, ice cream, music - the street life that is so typically Mexico - all around. I finished Fingersmith and tried to start an Elinor Lipman novel but it didn{t fit the scenery - so am just about through with Nuala O{Falain{s - not spelled right - sequel to Are You Somebody. Am also reading Nickle and Dimed....so interesting. No, Howzat, I don{t live here full time, am from Conn., but have spent a lot of time down here. Mexico, its people and culture, fascinate me. Feliz Navidad to all of you. Am looking forward to chatting about books with you all in the new year.

Reading "Nickle and Dimed" will cause you to revise upward the amount of the tip you leave for people who wait on you. Thanks for the response to my cyber cafe, a la Mexico, questions.

Merry Season to you, and all others at this site.

Howzat

Please give me your opinion of the Da Vinci Code. I received it at Christmas and am eager to read it, but have "questions" about it. Any opinions you care to offer will be appreciated. Joy

I would like to know more about the DaVinci Code.. Saw it in the store, but dont know much about it.. Something about Mary Magdalene??

Books just finished a bit ago an entire discussion on the DaVinci Code. I'll go get you the URL and I'm sure you'll find lots of views there about the book.

Here's the URL for the SeniorNet's BOOKS Readers' Guide done on that book:

http://www.seniornet.org/php/readerguide.php?GuideID=41&Version=0&Font=0

'The Eighth Commandment' was written in 1986, Lorrie. He died in 1998.

Don't be embarrassed about liking the Harry Potter books, Ginny. They are well written fantasy. My only complaint is that they are so physically heavy! Kids must have to read them on the floor, lying on their stomachs. At age 70, I am also one of the oldest Harry Potter fans, Phyll. I have read and loved all four of them.

I just finished listening to an audiobook of 'Hill Towns' by Anne Rivers Siddons. Her books border on romance, but the characters are fully fleshed out and her plots more complex than that would suggest. It was pleasant listening and held my attention for all 10 cassettes!

Hello, Joy!

You asked about The DaVinci Code. Jane gave you some excellent links, but as far as personal comments are concerned, I think it's safe now to say that I personally didn't care for the book, thought it was hopelessly convoluted, too complicated with unending new puzzles and hints. I thought it was over-rated, but of course this is MHO.

Lorrie

I had a different reaction to the DaVinci Code than others with whom I've chatted about it. I read it in 2 days - but only the first half held my interest. I started almost skimming as it seemed to turn into one of the thriller type novels that I'm not crazy about personally. I find myself thinking about it though. Has anyone read the Nelson DeVille books? I read one, the Lion's something or other, and was mesmerized. But haven't much interest in reading another....maybe as time passes I might want to. Have just a few pages to go on something in quite a different vein which I'm finding light and delightful and fun. Elinor Lipman's The Pursuit of Alice Thrift. For entertainment I'd not hesitate to recommend it to one and all. Hope everyone had a Merry Holiday...and is still having one for that matter..... Happy New Year!

Paulita, I read Nelson DeMilles The Gold Coast and absolutely loved it, one of his best, I think , but not a new one. I've just bought, on recommendation of a friend of mine, Dan Brown's (The DaVinci Code author) Deception Point I think it's called, in paperback, I hear it's super, have any of you read it?

I haven't read his other two now on the top 5 bestseller list I see today.

ginny

I am one who liked the DaVinci Code and really didn't think I was going to.....I friend gave it to m and I ploughed through the first chapter thinking I was going to hate it because I don't read mystery's.....Then I couln't put it down! I like the way it is written...short quick chapters that also makes it go quickly.....

I recently read Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

It's about a young man who is on a ship that sinks. The ship was carrying zoo animals so he ended up on a life boat with a zebra, an orangutang, a hyena and a Bengal tiger in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Great ideas for a plot!

I just finished the reading of this, do we discuss it here or wait for some future date at some other site?

Well this is my thrpenceworth - I did not find it in the least complex, it was all rather predictable once the characters were established and not a compulsive page turner.

As a narrative, it was however well written, continuity good, no spelling mistakes.

Rence

Rence, I think that our Lorrie will be leading a discussion of Mystic River for February. She's a wonderful facilitator so I going to see if I can get ahonld of the book myself and join in.

Rence, yes we are going to put up a proposal for a discussion of Mystic River, in February, and I would love to see your name there. Even if you didn't care that much for the book, your opinion is always welcome. That's what this is all about!

Alf:

Great!

Lorrie

Lorie. I am in on Mystic River, although I cannot say I agree with Rence.. Spelling errors are less common now with spell check in books.

Here it is:

For those of you who expressed an interest in participating in a discussion of “Mystic River”, we are attempting to get up a quorum to that effect. Please come to the address below and let us know of your intentions. The book is available in paperback and also reasonably priced used sales. To begin in February, if we get enough people interested.

Lorrie "---Mystic River ~ Dennis Lehane ~ Proposed ~ February" 1/1/04

Lorrie

'The Lion's Game' was written by Nelson DeMille in 2000, Paulita. With the holiday "Orange Alert" status, I am not sure that I can bring myself to read about anti-terrorist tactics in Libya right now! The Publisher's Weekly review makes it sound like a fast paced book, with John Corey from 'Plum Island' back in action.

My library has Elinor Lipman's 'The Pursuit of Alice Thrift', Paulita, and I have happily added it to my list. I can use some entertainment!

I am about halfway through 'Almost Paradise' by Susan Isaacs. It reads like a sociological study of the families of the two main characters, a husband and wife. There is a lot of jumping from past to present, but amazingly is not confusing. I am a bit tired of the wife's insecurity and misery and would not stay with the book if it dwelt on her too much. Fortunately, it keeps moving on to more interesting family characters.

Perkie:

Your library sounds well-stocked, and I like the choices you named. Yes, I too do not think I want to read about any more terrorism than what we get in real life every day.

BTW, I have added your name to our list of intended posters for "Mystic River". Welcome!

Lorrie

The Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille was my first book by DeMille. I loved it.

I have in my library all of Nelson DeMille's books they are keepers in my opinion

I haven't visited here for awhile .I came in purposely to see if anyone mentions The Da Vinci Code and I saw your post.I too received it for Christmas and finished it in two days The funny thing is months ago I had it in my hand at the library and decided I won't like this. How wrong I was .I enjoyed it It leaves me with many questions about my long held beliefs I would like to hear your or anyone elses opinions. my dil also recived it for Christmas and she is enthralled with it We had a two person book discussion on New Years day.

I am just finishing up "Revenge of the Middle_Aged Woman" by Elizabeth Buchan...... I think the lady is English....loved the book..read it in two days..... I quote from the cover blurb..."Full of humor, clever insight, and a wonderful sense of the absurd. It is an irresistible and finely written novel for anyone who ever wondered what a certain age would look like from beyond the looking glass-and who will find it ripe wiht promise that the best days are yet to come"....Now are you hooked?

tiger lily:

I found your title "Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman" very funny, and I imagine this book to be very intriguing.

Lorrie

Well I think we that like stories of family life, hearth, and garden will really enjoy this novel.

I listened to Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman on tape and just loved it. It was read by a woman with a lovely British accent which made it even more delightful. Maybe you have to be "that certain age" to enjoy it but it filled the bill for me. A perfect one for driving.

Yep Paulita.....a lovely read....I especially loved her devotion to her cat "Parsley".......of course I am an animal lover.... I would read anything she wrote......

I bought Revenge of the MIddle Aged Woman and after reading the reviews here can't wait to read it, I'm glad it's as good as it looks.

Wednesday I bought Under the Banyan Tree, The Bruised Hibiscus, Hold for Enlightenment and the Magic Circle (that Circle book is a sequel to the Eight book if you read that, and that was marvelous). Do any of these ring a bell? They all LOOK fabulous and exciting?

ginny

hmm. Will put Revenge of the Middle Age Woman on my to buy list. Sounds quite interesting.

Ginny I have added the first two books you mentioned.....Don't you love the name "The bruised Hibiscus"? Anne Tyler has a new book out entitled "Field of Battle" which I intend to read very soon.....I have liked all her books very much.....more of women's issues and psychology.

I love Anne Tyler and have put her new book on my read list. Generally wait until paperback since I like to keep her books.

Stephanie.....I thought of you today ......A coach of some football game was being interviewed and had the same last name as yours.....since it is such an unusual name it caught my attention..... I don't know whether I can wait for Anne Tyler's new book to come out in paperback! I will probably get it from the library.....I am about finished with the "Diana" book and of course was pleasantly surprised.....I thought Mr. Burrell treated everyone all around in a decent manner....I did feel rather sorry for his wife and Prince Charles however......Diana may have been a bit on the spoiled side and perhaps a little immature? Such a sad bit of history....

Whoops.....wrong place to post about "Diana" but know I will be forgiven by my fellow book lovers.......

The Hochuli was Ed Hochuli.. He is my husbands second cousin. He is a referee. The head one actually at the games, he does. He is also on the board of Referees for the Superbowl and will help pick the ones who do the superbowl, which means he wont do it. Diana always struck me as young, not bright and truly immature.. Charles was told to marry and made a horrible mistake that they both paid for.

Tigerlilly, yes don't they both sound good? Let me know what you think of them, it may be a while till I can crack them, I'll start with the one you like best!

Stephanie, how exciting, I wish he were IN the Superbowl, we could point and say we knew YOU!

ginny

Stephanie.....what fun!!! I love football and have a son who referees high-school and small college games in this area.......All my teams lost! The St. Louis Rams, the K.C. Chiefs, and the Green Bay Packers..... There probably are not a lot of people who carry that name......

Hochuli is an extremely rare name in the US. There seem to be two familes, both from Reitnau , Switzerland coming to the US in the late 1800's. They are surely related, but not sure just how. In Switzerland, there are a lot of Hochuli's.. When we went the first time, I could not get over, that people could pronounce the name right and always assumed we were Swiss German.. ( Until they saw us, we obviously look American)

I thought the first time I saw the name it could be Hawaian......couldn't have been further off!

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this but I highly recommend the book,"The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri. I saw her interviewed by Charlie Rose and found her to be interesting, was lucky to get the book from the library.

Paige ...this book is highly touted by publishers weekly etc....I have added it to my long growing list.....I went to BarnesandNoble and read the reviews.......thanks

"Revenge of the Middle_Aged Woman" by Elizabeth Buchan sounds like great fun, TigerLiley. I have added it to my list. I have not read anything by Buchan, but have also added "Consider the lily". The other titles in the library catalog didn't sound that interesting to me.

Oh, good, a new Anne Tyler. It is so new that my library hasn't ordered "Field of Battle" yet, but I have flagged it to check later.

"The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri also sounds interesting, Paige. Both copies are checked out, but I will keep looking.

I love Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon stories, but I tried to read "Love Me" and bogged down. The main character seemed to repeat himself endlessly. "Publisher's Weekly" gave it an excellent review, so I guess I have a lower tolerance for repetition.

Hello everyone: I am reading a two-volume novel about the American Revolution by Jeff Shaara Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause. George Washington is my number one hero and I've read a lot about him. This novel is almost perfect historically as far as I am able to judge and yet it is a page turner. I am there. I am appaled (spelling). I am awe-struck. I recommend this book to all who want to have a firmer grasp on what this country --this grand experiment--represents in terms of genius and what suffering and sacrifice (spelling) has accrued to the account. Oh well. Good book. God bless the author. Elizabeth

Hello Elizabeth 77, I thought your mgs deserved an answer as people seem to be a bit thin on the ground in this site.

I just finished "Sound of the Trumpet" by Gilbert Morris where George Washington was mentioned. It is a very heart warming story, set at the time of that war, but pure fiction of course. However it gave a very good insight into, what could be assumed to be the lives of the people at that time and the conflicts that must have beset them. And yes George Washington was a great man, as I have read others.

I also finished lately "Sons of Fortune" by Jeffery Archer, which was absolutely marvelous.

Fiction covers a very wide range and there are so many interesting stories to be read and discussed. I must admit that The Revenge of a Middleage Woman, who has a cat, would not be one of them.

I read Mystic River 2 months ago. I treat my mind the same way I treat my computer hard disk "delete unnecessary information". In order to join in a discussion at this or a future time would mean I would have to go to the trouble of getting the book out of the library again and reading the first page, wherein I would actually have instant recall of the whole story as in "Restore from the recycle bin", however I didn't find it in any way remarkable and would rather move on.

I don't think I am of much value to this site.

Rence

Hi, Elizabeth and Rence! It's great to see posts with reading suggestions always.

Sometimes one's reading doesn't coincide with a book discussion, but sometimes the announcement of a book discussion coming up is enough to get me to get the book at the library and give it a whirl.

I'm sorry you don't think you can participate in the Mystic River discussion, Rence, but perhaps another discussion will come along that is right up your alley and you'll want to join in. There seems to be a lot of "talk" about Mystic River around these days, so the discussion may be a neat thing to look in on, at least.

Happy Reading!!

jane

I read Mystic River and saw the movie. I have the paperback still at home to refresh myself when the discussion starts. The discussion groups are fascinating since they have a wide range of opinion.

I've just finished reading about the books you all have liked and not liked so much. Have to say that I love Eleanor Lipman's books and have been waiting for 'The Pursuit of Alice Thrift' to come to our library system. I've enjoyed all of Lipman's other books.

I would like to recommend 'The Three Miss Margarets' by Louise Shaffer. It is a delightful book about three older women living in the South and how their lives are intertwined. I couldn't put it down.

I recently read 'Full Cry' by Rita Mae Brown. I've read most of her books (as well as her cat's mystery series) and found this particular book to be the least interesting mystery I've ever read. Most of the book was taken up by extreme detail on fox hunting. Ms. Brown is VERY involved in the sport (she is a hunt master) and is way too generous in sharing her knowledge. The actual mystery part of the book could have been told in one chapter, as it appeared to be merely an after thought. The dust cover on the book gave details that had nothing to do with the actual book. It was as though they changed the story line after the dust covers were printed and didn't bother to change them after the rewrite.

Hi Elizabeth. Have you read Kenneth Roberts' books on the American Revolution? His books are finely written and well researched and we see the sacrifices of the average person as well as the more famous. Oliver Wiswell is about a young colonial, a Yale graduate, who's an ardent loyalist. Rabble in Arms follows the trail of a young rebel. In both books you meet the leaders as well as the soldiers and families. Roberts also wrote Arundel about Benedict Arnold's doomed march on Quebec in 1775. Great books - well researched, war is not romanticized, superbly written by this author who won a special Pulitzer for his historical novels. I'll see if I can find copies of Jeff Saara's books on the American Revolution.

Rence, I read Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman and wasn't entertained. The unoriginal title turned out to be the best part of a safely PC book. So you can see how people react differently.

K8ie (love your name), dustjackets are crazy aren't they? Can't be wholly trusted. I hadn't realized that Brown was a hunt master which would lend authenticity to hunt scenes although I'm not drawn to the idea of a hunt. You might be interested in SN's two discussions on mysteries - "Mystery Corner" and "Classical Mysteries".

Marvelle

K8ie I will have to look for your book The Three Miss Margarets I love books about the south. I think I was supposed to live there maybe in another life. I call Ginnys house just hoping Mr W will answer the phone his voice is so beautiful I would follow him to the ends of the earth. hehehe

Rence I got Mystic River yesterday and have started it after your comments and I finish the book we will have to compare notes. Of course the discussion startes the first of March so we can say what ever we want then.

Marvells I bought the Reveng of The Middle Aged Woman and to tell you the truth I forgot it. Going to have to look that up and start reading. boy the memory is going. I have always said the day is coming when my husband and I will only need 2 books and 2 movies as we even now get about half way through a movie and decide maybe we have seen it before. Pitiful.................

Have a great day everyone and send your prayers out to our Lorrie who is very ill.

Rence, thank you so much for the title of a novel of the Revolution,, Sound of the Trumpet by Gilbert Morris, that's next on my reading list. What is Sons of Fortune about? An excellent novel about Washington's battle on Long Island is The Unvanquished by Howard Fast. Marvelle, I have read (and loved) Kenneth Roberts' books, except Oliver Wiswell and am looking forward to that one. Histories are fine, but a good historical novel touches the heart.

Judy....I too love books about the south and read them all.....hope I have not missed any good ones.....I think the south is in my genes....grandmother did hail from Mississippi.......

Glad to hear that others have the same problem I have. I read about 3 books a week. Get them at the library. Like to read the large print ones not because bad eyes but easier when read so much. I do the same thing. Will bring a book home and after getting into it first few pages I know I have read it. Also forget the titles of books really fast. Also authors names. Bad when you want to recomend to someone However I do remember a couple good ones from 2 weeks back. "The Patron Saint of Liars" and "Picturing the wreck " by Dani Shapiro. I really like her books. Both very good. I now put a little pencil mark in books after reading so can check if I have had them out. Very small and not noticable to anyone but myself. That helps. Off to library today. Jeanne

Tigerlilly have you read Mary Alice Monroe's books/ She is terrific especially the ones about the turtles. There is one about birds like birds of prey that was excellent I am reading another one right now.

I happened to find some software a while back and now I list every book I read all my keeper and its great. Too bad I don't have the darn list with me when I go to the book store.

Remember my friends only in America do the have drive up ATM machines with braille lettering. off to work see you later

'The Three Miss Margarets' by Louise Shaffer sounds interesting, K8ie. Having lived near Atlanta, I, too, enjoy books about the South. I already have ‘The Pursuit of Alice Thrift’ on my list. Both are still on the new book shelf and checked out, but I will catch up with them as soon as possible. I haven’t read any of Eleanor Lipman’s other books, but will check them out. “K8ie” reminds me of personalized license plates. My favorite was a Honda Accord “NG2HOYL”.

My library has both of the Mary Alice Monroe books you mentioned, Judy. For a minute I thought I had read the turtle one, then remembered that it was part of a Pat Conroy book, I think ‘Prince of Tides’, where the main character’s mother was involved in saving turtle eggs and hatchlings. Also Nevada Barr's 'Endangered Species' which takes place in the National Seashore on Cumberland Island, just off the coast of Georgia, near the Florida line. It is a mystery, but the island and the turtles are an important part of the story.

I decided to read an Anne Bronte novel, ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’, just for a change of pace. I liked the first half of the book, then became bored with the myriad details of the tenant’s endless problems with a profligate husband. How often do you see profligate in modern fiction? Anyway, it ended up satisfactorily and I am glad I read it, even though I scanned much of the second half. I wonder if the sisters compared notes while writing, their styles are so alike that any of them could have written any of the novels, they seem so similar to me.

Perkie the Bronte novefl sounds good. I am going to have to draw a line here somewhere, you know the old saying so many books so little time.

We just Tevo'd Prince of Tides and enjoyed it again. LOve that book. I want to go find that cottage that was in the turtle book and buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I plan a trip to SC sometime this year or first part of next and I will find that cottage. We are in the throwns of a huge remodeling job which I thought was just a few wall and now it growning kind of like a mushroom. YIKES>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Patron Saint of Liars is ( I think) by Ann Patchett. Excellent book. Very good and odd at the same time. A most peculiar woman indeed.

Oh yes you posters......I have read all those authors and love them....I am all ways on the look out for new books from Southern writers......

Well, I finished Mystic River today in the car. What a book! It is so well written. Dirty language doesn't bother me much in books so I'm anxious to start this one. It is a wonderful story and I can nOT wait to see the movie soon.

Oh Alf you give me hope. I have not been able to get into so far. Your right bad language doesn't bother me either. You should hear me in Seattle traffic hehe

hhahahaha,WHAT Judy? You can't get into it? No, it's probably just your mind set this week. This bloody book grabbed me in the first chapter. Try it again. Start it all over. Right from page #1. I can't wait to read it again to see what I missed the first time.

Well I thought I didn't have much to offer, do you mind if I take a little credit for getting you moving again !!! The messages all have a nice feel of excitement about them.

Hello Judy, I'm sorry to hear Lorrie is ill. I'm sure she is glad you are filling in for her. Mystic River really is quite a good story, just not worth all the HOO-HAH that has been attached to it. The amount of coincidence......well stick with it and see what you think.

Hello Elizabeth, "Sons of Fortune" twins separated at birth by a strange event, their journey through life, how their lives touch. Fair bit of coincidence here also, but for obvious reasons. Jeffery Archer sure knows how to tell a tale.

Has anyone read books by Taylor Caldwell, I think her first name was Margaret, great writer.

Dirty language and sex are OK with me if it is in context and adds to the establishment of a character or situation, but those two can often be the reason for the book and any plot incidental. If the plot is at all interesting, then skipping the repeditive is the only way to go. Some books I have read start off with the makings of a great plot, fall down in the middle and dwindle to the end. Some would be very good, if the author knew when to quit, but goes on for a 100 pages more than necessary, ending in an anticlimax.

Has anyone ever started reading a book in the middle, decided it was worth reading and gone back to the beginning? That can be an interesting variation.

How often have you correctly chosen the villian in a plot before getting to the end?

Rence.

Rence- Has there been a lot of hoopla about this book, or is it because of the movie?

Strange that you mention my two very favorite authors. I love Jeffrey Archer and I don't think I've read "Sons of Fortune" . Is that a new one of his?

When I was raising my kids I was a Taylor Caldwell fanatic. It's been a few years since I've read anything by her. I always loved the biblical history that she threw into her novels.

Talor Caldwell oh my old favorite. Can't talk this morning off to workk and to Microsoft this afternoon. Then I shall return.

Well I am back from Microsoft and the end of a long day

Alf do you remember Captains and Kings, Answer As A Man and Dear and Glorious Physcian?? I wouldn't mind reading him again.

Yes, of course I remember . Captains and kings and Dear and Glorious Physician are two of the 5 books I have ever reread.

Alf I will look in my keepers library and see if they are still there and if not I will get them at my book store I would really like to read them again.

I will be back later with something I have been thinking about to discuss. Meantime do you buy or borrow your books because of something someone said to you?? Did you read about it in the paper? How about SN? OR would it be a friend or just browsing the bookstore?

Have a great day I am off to work.

Ever wonder why a man who handles your money is called a broker??

I keep a list in my head, also a list that is on my library web site, based on what I read here, in a couple of other reading sites, the newspaper and friends. I always have more books on my shelf than time to read, and I am constantly adding new ones. I usually get books from the library, but sometimes I buy those I can't get when I want them, or books that I know I will either reread or want to share. I have found the SeniorNet book discussions provide wonderful suggestions, and they are books that my friends also find good reading.

N

While reading the Sunday paper the other day I came across an book that sounded interesting and fun. This is what it said. (Dyer) is assuredly among the funniest writers alive.

San Francisco Chronicle

Dyers writing brims with offbeat insights that had me chucking for hours later or reading aloud to dinner companions.

New York Tomes

The title of the book was Yoga for People who can't be Bothered to Do it. Well I am on page 49 and haven't laugh yet, I will read further and if it doesn't give me a laugh Barnes and Noble are going to get it back. Who to believe?????????????

I get 98% of my books from my local library. I look at their new books shelves, and I look for books that have been mentioned here in the various Books discussions. I also look online for the latest books by my favorite authors and I request those books be purchased at my library. I also browse at B&N, but, again, usually request the book from the library, unless it's a paperback I can't wait for or if I'm going on vacation and want to take it along.

jane

I am ashamed to admit this here but I have never been to a library since I was probably in grade school. I really need to go downtown Redmond and check it out. My only problem is that I know I would forget to take them back or be late or something. My Daughter is an avid reader and when every she comes down she brings me like 40 books. If its on the supermarket best seller list shes got it. We also have a used book store here in Redmond which is outstanding. You take your books and they give you credit and then when you want to buy some you give them your credit slip and they charge you like 6.00 for e5 books and these books are in perfect shape. Love that place.

Gosh, Rence, I haven't thought of Taylor Caldwell in years. No, I have never thought of starting a book in the middle. It would be like turning on the TV in the middle of a movie except you can't go back to the beginning until the next time they air it! I never know who the villian is until it is shoved in my face. I save what little puzzle solving ability I have for crosswords.

Good one, Judy. No, I had never wondered why the person who handles your money is called a broker. Could it be because you end up broker than s/he?

Here is my wondering: Can unconditionally good things happen to unconditionally bad people?

Here is what Publisher's Weekly says about "Yoga for People who can't be Bothered to Do it". Don't know if it will help:

Dyer's ninth book (Out of Sheer Rage; Paris Trance), a collection of 11 personal essays covering his travels around the globe, begins in New Orleans when Dyer is in his late 20s and concludes in the Nevada desert some 20 years later. In between he touches ground in destinations such as Bali and Amsterdam, usually seeking a "peak experience." More often than not, he is disappointed in his quest, but makes engaging stories of many aimless walks, such as wandering stoned through Amsterdam in search of a lost hotel, touring the ruined Roman city of Leptis Magna, or stumbling upon a suicide on South Beach. Even more intriguing than the far-flung locales he describes-such as Cambodia, Libya and Thailand-are the seemingly pedestrian ones he makes exotic. His essay "The Rain Inside," on experiencing a near emotional breakdown at a techno music festival in Detroit, is a masterpiece, equal parts introspection and cutting observation. Though the moments and perceptions he records are fleeting, Dyer deliberately provides touchstones-repeat references to Auden; the durability of his Teva sandals-that mark a path through the book. Fittingly, it's only when he finds himself in the metaphorical nowhere of the TAZ (Temporary Autonomous Zone) at the Burning Man Festival, that this postmodern pilgrim finally finds his place in the world. This original book from a genuine writer-a modern Montaigne-should provide serious readers with a lasting high.

Unless there is a library en route to somewhere you often go, Judy, then you are better off buying used books, plus the riches your daughter brings you. I have a sister-in-law who goes to thrift stores and buys paperbacks by the sackful. Then she reads the ones she likes and mails them to another friend who does the same. They seldom duplicate, which I find rather amazing. My library is on the way to the grocery store, so I stop in once a week. I can check my holdings online and can return the ones I have read and renew the ones I haven't. That way, I rarely have to pay fines. Works great for me.

I have just finished reading "Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom. He is the author of "Tuesdays with Morrie" (another excellent book). Albom's latest book is riveting. I found it so interesting and such a fascinating concept that I could not put the book down. I found it to be a book of profound substance which I think would lend itself to a very lively and introspective book discussion. Has anyone read this book? I would be interested to learn if others share my view or feel quite the opposite. I have not stopped mulling it over in my mind since I finished reading it.

Morning Tryxie. I read the book when it first came out. I'm thinking of starting it up again March 3rd since it's an easy read PLUS over at Amazon(or it could be B&N's site-don't have time to confirm it this morning but will check back and repost)Albom will be doing a read-along and discussion on it. I'm looking forward to that.

Lisa

tryxsie - I read, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven", a couple of weeks ago, and posted a message about it in the Best Seller, discussion. As you can see by scrolling back and reading my comments, (message #79), I loved the book. In fact when I finished it, I immediately read it over again! So far, I havn't heard anyone else comment on it here in Senior Net? The title makes the book sound religious, but it really isn't. It's so much more than that - very uplifting in a simple way.

Welcome Treyxie and Lisa

I am certainly going to look at that book Five People You Meet In Heaven. Maybe we can get a discussion going on it.

I have been very lax about getting in here. I could tell you all my trials and tribulations but it would take all day and nobody would care. I must go off to work now.

I am having a problem besides reading Sarton to find anything I want to read. Could be because my house is filled with people all the time. I think there are three Joses in my kitchen as we speak. They came at seven this morning.

Whats everyone reading today?????????

Hi has anyone read Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling? Being an artist I Found it very interesting and factual.

I have read The Five People you Meet in Heaven. It was very insightful.

Hi, Seekmyface, and welcome to SeniorNet and the Books folder!

I'm not familiar with the Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling. Who's the author?

I've noted several here have read The Five People you Meet in Heaven and it seems to remain on the Best Seller List.

jane

Welcome to the posters who are joining us here now from several other fiction discussions. We thought it best to merge several separate fiction discussions into just one.

Welcome to those who had been posting in Best Sellers and/or Books on My Bedside Table.

jane

welcome I just found this folder and I am discussion leader. This should be fun.

I still haven't got The Five People You Meet in Heaven. But it is on my list. I also see that it got a mention in the book section of The Seattle Times on Sunday.

I will be in and out as my youngest son has been injured in a snowmobile accident in Idaho.

Seekmyface can you tell us a little bit about The Five People??

Judy--I hope your son will have a quick recovery. Those snowmobiles can be dangerous!

I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven in Borders, the whole book. It is short enough to read in an hour. I enjoyed it, but won't attempt to summarize it here lest I spoil the plot.

I enjoy reading the book review sections in local newspapers, and in the process, getting to see the current local and national bestseller lists too. Recently I picked up on two novels that turned out pretty entertaining... nothing of real consequence, just fun to read.

One was reviewed here in Portland probably because it is the first work of a local Oregon author... Going to Bend by Diane Hammond. It's reminscent of the sort of novel written by Fannie Flagg or Anne Tyler. Interesting characters and a most believable plot. I liked it.

The other has been on the best seller list recently... The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier. I HAD to read it being a fan of the set of old French tapestries named in the title! It's a behind-the-scenes romp about how these tapestries MIGHT have come to be made. The key word is "romp" but it's short and fun to read.

Judy, I sure hope your son has a speedy recovery. Best wishes to him, you, and all your family during these worrisome times.

Thanks Jeryn I will feel better when we get him back over here, but its going to be a rough trip for him and for his brother. He can't fly because of his lung so its about a ten hour drive at best, 3 passes to go over I hope its in the daylight.

Thanks again

I am attempting to read The Count of Monte Cristo..but so much is going on ..mostly there is trouble in computer land...right here at my 'puter as my youngest grandchild (3) says. Verizon who is my provider and I have a love/hate relationship. I love it when it works and hate it when it doesnt..right now I HATE it ...I thought having dsl would be neat..does anyone else have dsl ? and how are you doing?

Well I guess I should really return the subject..but have you ever noticed when you seem to be having problems with modern inventions it becomes THE SUBJECT? You are infused , confused and hard to defuse about it..

Back back I say ..My neighbor has THE FIVE PEOPLE ...and I must pick it up tomorrow and read ...but will do The COunt first...HAS anyone read a really good humorous book lately..? Now that is what I can use...perhaps a good laugh would clear the air and let me see having computer problems is not really as dreadful as it feels...

Judy please know you and yours are in my thoughts and prayers and hope to read soon that he is doing well with no more problems...hugs to you...anna

Judy, I can sympathize with you about your injured son and being so far away. He should not blame himself as accidents happen just anywhere even when you are careful. When I see my family off for a weekend of skiing and the kids snow boarding, I can't help but worry a bit. They always invent more dangerous sports.

Anna, I am sorry about your computer woes. Yesterday my network connection came off and I had to wait until my daughter, who lives downstairs reconnected it. I am hooked on their system and it tends to come off at the least little provocation. This oldie, The Count of Monte Cristo, is still alive and well after it was written more than 150 years ago and it is still available in both the French and the English version. There is something about that fantastic tale that keeps it popular. I am glad Anna that you are reserving some time for it.

Eloïse

Anna and Eloise thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.The word I have now is that they are on their way back, possibly in Oregon by now. If I know Randy he has it wide open and will make it in record time. His injuries are painful and horrible but not life threatening unless he develops pneumonia and then the doctor's say that will be another story.

This has absolutly nothing to do with this folder but if you are interested in butterflies and cataterpillers and such I looked at the home page of a man posting in Problems or Comments RE Discussions, chat or website. It was post number 435. Theses are the most fascination pictures I have ever seen.

http://home.earthlink.net/~worobquist/index.htm

Everyone has me interested in 'Five People You Meet in Heaven' by Mitch Albom.Thanks for starting the ball rolling, Tryxie. I am not familiar with 'Tuesdays with Morrie' but will look that one up, also.

How terrible to have a life full of trials and tribulations, a house full of people, AND an injured son, Judy. I am so sorry to hear about your son. I hope his injuries are not serious and that he will mend quickly and completely. How are you coping?. It would drive me bonkers. I am visualizing you in a soundproof room with a sturdy lock on the door so you can relax and read to rebuild your strength! Good luck.

I like Anne Tyler and Fannie Flagg, so will definitely look up 'Going to Bend' by Diane Hammond, Jeryn. 'The Lady and the Unicorn' by Tracy Chevalier will also be added to my list. Is it as good as 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring'? I loved the book and the movie.

I just finished a rather unusual story. It is 'The Photograph' by Penelope Lively. The main character has died before the book begins, but memories of her by the people closest to her develop to the point that I ended up knowing her better than any of the living characters. Very well crafted, if a bit slow starting

Anna is it here??????????

Just got through reading Anna quindlen "Blessings" loved it. Thing I I just got it yesterday. finished it today and so now library closed and I am out of anything good to start reading on. Oh! well guies I could do a little laundry.

JeanneP

Reminder to posters if you click on the link in the heading Complete NY Times Best Sellers list you will find what's new ..and also allows you check out what else it there...sometimes you have already read or at least considered the top five and would like to see other books that are selling...that is the place to go...anna

Your comment regarding laundry make me laugh..I would rather read than do almost anything else..although the computer is in second place..so everything else WAITS AND WAITS until I absolutely have to do them.

Wish I could say this was a new habit but I can fondly recall having dinner on the table and my husband and children eating while I was engrossed in a Mary Stewart mystery ...near the solution of course. I wouldnt have done that in the beginning....mmmm well perhaps.

Thank goodness I had an understanding husband. I used to read in bed before going to sleep but had to give that up since a good book is one you JUST CANT PUT ASIDE........anna

I have to read before going to sleep, otherwise I lay in bed with my mind running 2000 miles per hour. lol However, I don't read in bed because of my sleep problems. Bed is mainly for sleeping.

Now if I am close to the end of a book, I find that if I try to go to bed, my mind keeps trying to finish it. So many times I get back up and finish it. So I guess I can say I would rather read than sleep. lol My Mom knew that from my teenage years on I would rather read than dust, (clean).

Jeanne P, how awful, nothing to read and the library closed!! I try not to get into situations like that, I might have to do some housework or something.

If all else fails, I can usually find a good book that I've read before.

Alice

And find another book I did and so NO LAUNDRY GOT DONE. Library today and so have more books to read now.

JeanneP

Wow Jeanne you managed that well. No laundry and still something to read.

I finished Plant Dreaming Deep last night and started Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing by May Sarton. Of course I have the fun book to read along if my mood swings. hehe

Have a good day I am off for work.

Anna Quindlen is one of my favorites, but have not read "Blessings", Jeanne. Thanks for mentioning it. I will certainly try it, but will get some other books, also!

Oh, good, Judy, a May Sarton I haven't read. Have you read her "The Fur Person"? A must for cat lovers.

I listened to "Power" by Linda Hogan on audio cassette. It is a story about a young Taiga woman living in Florida who is drawn away from her Westernized mother and back to the traditional people of her tribe. It is based on a true story, and is very interesting.

I put Quindlen's _Black and Blue_ up on the Book Exchange. It is yours for the asking.

Kathy

Going to pop over there and see if your book. (black and Blue) still there. I get my books from the library and then tell my daughter who lives in Texas to read the good ones. (She loved Blessings) thing is she has to buy because no library close and so now I am trying to mail her books I can sometimes buy used. I am just happy that I have gotten her as hooked on books as I am. She wasn't most of her years until now.

JeanneP

Jeanne its great when your children read for pleasure. I am always happy to know my daughter is reading every night as her Mom does.

See you all next week I am off to Vegas

Have fun, Judy!

We're taking votes for a new ballot of three Fiction contenders to read starting April Fool's Day, do come over and vote for one you'd like to read with us, only one election, Polls Close on March 24, Click and vote!

ginny

I recently listened to an audio book of "Never Change" by Elizabeth Berg. I was not sure I would finish it at first, since it is about a nurse and her cancer patient, but I got so caught up in the story that I had to listen to the end. I found the ending a relief and encouraging at the same time.

We hope to go to Hawaii and I have been reading all of the fiction stories about the islands, as well as guides, of course. One was "The Money Dragon" by Pam Chun, about a Chinese man who arrives in Hawaii destitute and founds a large business empire and equally large family. It dragged a bit at times, but was interesting enough to keep me going through all of the family infighting.

Perkie, have you read Hawaii by James Michener? It's fabulous.

Tell us about your trip, what are you going to see?

I always like to read before a trip!

ginny

Before we went to Hawaii for the first (and only, so far!) time in 1969, I read a book by Albertine Loomis, "The Grapes of Canaan," published in 1951, which told the story of the New Englanders who went out to the Islands as Christian missionaries in the 1820's. Whether you applaud or lament the imposition of Christian teaching on people who had a religion of their own, the grit, determination, and mostly benign (though perhaps misguided) intentions of the missionaries make a fascinating story. I enjoyed visiting the mission-related sites on Oahu.

The book is long since out of print but used copies can be obtained through Amazon. The title didn't turn up in a search on B&N.

Hm. Seems everywhere I go I am off topic <G>. Sorry, this isn't fiction!

I ran a search looking for Patrick O'Brian and found no mention ... so has there been no discussion of reading any of his Aubrey/Maturin novels? They are the basis for the recent "Master and Commander: Far Side of the World" movie.

I was in New York City the weekend the movie opened, visiting a college friend, and we almost went to see it but didn't make it because we were exhausted after traveling downtown and seeing an intense and disturbing play ("Omnium Gatherum," had a very short run) in the afternoon. I had never heard of Patrick O'Brian, but my friend opened a cupboard door and revealed a stack of about 20 paperbacks, all of which she had read.

I read a couple of chapters of "Far Side of the World" while I was there, and was glad I had done so when I saw the movie in San Francisco the following week. I wasn't too impressed by the movie (I didn't think the characters were all that well developed, and I got bored during the battle scenes, couldn't tell which ship I was on or who were the good guys), but the books are much, much better. They are all based on real events in the history of the British navy in Lord Nelson's time, the early 19th century. I am not a sailor but I understand that they are technically very accurate in their descriptions of the workings of sailing warships. With respect to the technology of the time O'Brian may be the Tom Clancy of the 19th century, but his characters are much more complex and interesting than Clancy's (I think), and he doesn't overwhelm the reader with technical stuff.

The downside is that there are about 20 of them, and once you are hooked, there's no stopping <G>. I've read the first three, plus "Far Side of the World" which comes in the middle, and now have the next three in my hands, and I'm sure I won't be able to stop until I get to the end! I told my friend in NY that it is all her fault, and she cheerfully accepted the blame <G>.

Judy, your little tag line reminded me of a poem my mother used to recite. I recite it every time we go to the zoo; drives my grandchildren crazy <G>:

I had a gnu and never gnu he was a gnu at all;

I thought him a gnu kind of horse and put him in a stall.

He ate the stall, boards, nails, and all,

He ate the barn beside;

And then he got gnumonia

And very nearly died.

Hi, Katie...

I'm not familiar with Patrick O'Brian, so appreciate the explanation about him and his work.

LOVE your gnu poem!!

jane

Katie thanks for that little poem...I love it and am going to copy it to recite to my grandchildren...they already think I am a bit strange..LOL want to prove it to them...anna

Hi everyone I am back, sure not caught up that takes a couple of days. Mail computer work. Should I start laundry, go to the store or look at the mail. Well maybe I will just do computering.

It was a very successful trip and I came back with MONEY. They are having some kind of a norwalk flu outbreak there but we didn't get it. I took the every present vinegar. Very hot in Vegas, breaking all records. It was over 90 when we left yesterday. Back later

What books are you all reading I love the gnu poem. Ginny is always say whats gnu with you????

Hello Everyone,

As I mentioned on another post today is my first time actually posting on SeniorNet. Kattie, I too enjoyed reading your poem about gnu.

To answer your question Judy, I'm reading a book entitled The Package by Nicklas Maddox and Nea Williams. This is a very good book. I enjoy reading fiction that's full of drama and suspense and this book offers both.

Have you heard of the book or read it? If not what are you reading? And it's a good thing you left Vegas when you did.

I have not heard of the package Fawny, are you enjoying it.??

Why am I lucky I left Vegas when I did??

Just reading Jodi Picoult "The Pact". Maybe half through. Interesting book although somewhat odd in concept. Has anyone else read anything of hers. This one has some odd turns thus far. Suicide as a theme is a strange one.

Stephanie is the book the Pact non-fiction??

Sounds interesting my take on suicide is different than most people as I found out on Carolyn Heibert book.

Hi Judy,

I am enjoying The Package very much. There's a character named JD that is out of control. The main plot of the story has to do with the so many missing people in the world today. On the back of the book it mentions about the pictures we see on the back of the milk carton or card that come through the mail and it has created a question that no one seems to have an answer for. That question is Have You Seen Me?

This book is offering the answer to that question.

I said that you were lucky to leave Vegas when you did because you mention an outbreak of norwalk flu. I took that to be something serious. Also you mentioned the heat breaking a record. Was I wrong for saying that? If so then I apologize. If not how was it?

The Pact is fiction and decidedly different on its take on the suicide.. or was it murder. Interesting book.

FAWNY FAWNY You certainly did not offend me. I just thought maybe something bad happened after I left. As you get to know me its pretty hard to offend me I am about as outspoken person as there is on senior net. In fact I am surprised they let me hang out here.

In the airport in Seattle I saw something go across the screen about a sickness in Vegas. When we arrived we heard their were 1100 cases of norwalk virus in the California club. We were at the Fremont. The next day we went up and talked to the general manager and as usual the press was looking for headlines. Their have been approximately 1100 cases that may have been the flu since December 1st. When I got home my husband gave me a article that it was in the California Club, the Main Street and the Fremont. So we are home and did not get sick. As for the heat wave I don't go outside much so it didn't bother me.

We now have two books that I hope to look into. The Pact and The Package.

I am now reading the Survivors Club I wasn't sure if it was the same as the movie on TV a couple weeks ago but it is. I wasn't going to read it because I saw the movie but I got into it and its so good that I am almost done with it.

Oh Judy I was quite happy to have read your last post. I wasn't aware that Survivors Club was a book will you please tell who the author is and maybe we can discuss it together.

Judy, you are more outspoken than I? Halle-damned-lujah. Wait till I tell my husband, Ginny and Pat.

Alf you should ask my sons, half of them are not even talking to me, what a blessing hehehe

Fawny I finished Survivors Club last night. Wow what a good book. It was written by Lisa Gardner who by her picture in the back is at least twelve. She has a number of books out and I really enjoyed this one and seeing the movie on TV didn't seem to have much impact on me as far as the book went.

Off to work

I had just posted here a couple times when I developed an eye problem and was told that I could not read anything for at least six weeks! The eye doctor said that the eye movement that comes from reading the written page could put me in danger of having a retina tear. I obediently stayed away from all written material until I was given permission to resume reading. It was just about the most difficult six weeks of my life. I tried books on tape, but they just weren't the same. Happily, on my birthday, the doctor told me I could read again. I could have hugged the man!

In the ten days since I was given the ok to read, I read 'Girl With A Pearl Earring' by Tracy Chevalier (excellent) and I'm half way through 'Emma's Secret' by Barbara Taylor Bradford (ok, at best). I just got Barbara Delinsky's 'Flirting With Pete' from the library. I had been about a third of the way through it (and it was just getting interesting) when I developed that sudden vitreous detachment in my eye.

I read 'The Five People You Meet In Heaven' and enjoyed it very much. I think I went through it in an evening.

Question: I understand that Tracy Chevalier also wrote a book called 'The Virgin Blue'. Has anyone here read it?

Glad to be back to hearing about books!

K8ie: Wow...how great to have you back ... and reading!

jane

K8ie glad to see you here and know that your eyes are better. That is such a worry I always think the two worst things I would miss if it happened were my ability to read and to drive. These things I love the most.

Had lunch today with a friend who recommended two authors that I had not heard of. They are Bernard Cornwall and Donna Leon. I shall have to go to my book store and see if they have any. Her ideas are always good.

In my Sunday paper they reviewed a book that sounded good. What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt It is about the 25 year friendship of an artist and a New York art historian, an a novel Misha Berson called absorbing and powerful."

You know so little books and so little time.

Hello K8ie,

I'm new to this board as well, maybe three weeks now. It must have been difficult not to be able to read for such a long period of time. I don't think I would have made it. I have listened to books on tape before and I really enjoyed them. It reminded me of when we had to listen to the radio for entertainment.

To answer your question I don't know if Tracy Chevalier wrote 'The Virgin Blue', but I have a question for you. Have you read 'The Package' by Nicklas Maddox and Nea Williams. It's a great book and I'm looking for someone I can talk about it with.

Hi Judy,

I went to the bookstore for 'Survivors Club' by Lisa Gardner but the store didn't have it in stock. So I'm waiting for my copy. Did you get 'The Package' yet? How have you been other wise?

Yes, Ginny, I have read 'Hawaii' by James Michener. Granted it was a long time ago but several scenes are etched in my memory. The Polynesians who learned to travel from the Southern Hemisphere, using the southern stars, to Hawaii and being pleased at the fixedness of the North Star for navigation. The missionary making his nauseated wife eat bananas while running the heavy seas through the Strait of Magellan. Building the church with four solid walls instead of leaving them open to the sea breeze to cool them. I do have a nit-picking memory!

I love your gnu poem, Katie Jaques. It vaguely reminds me of 'The Yak' by Hillaire Belloc. I used to know it by heart.

As a friend to the children commend me the Yak. You will find it exactly the thing: It will carry and fetch, you can ride on its back, Or lead it about with a string.

The Tartar who dwells on the plains of Thibet (A desolate region of snow) Has for centuries made it a nursery pet, And surely the Tartar should know!

Then tell your papa where the Yak can be got, And if he is awfully rich He will buy you the creature -- or else he will not. (I cannot be positive which.)

'The Virgin Blue' is indeed by Tracy Chevallier, . Here is the review from "Library Journal" written in 2003:

Written well before her popular 'Girl with a Pearl Earring and previously published in England, this brilliant hybrid historical novel/contemporary romance/mystery has the signature Chevalier touches of fluid language, strong characters, and imaginative plotting. At loose ends after arriving in France with her architect husband, American midwife Ella Turner decides to research her elusive Huguenot ancestors, the Tourniers. Soon, however, her marriage founders (repeated encounters with an intriguing French librarian don't help), and Ella starts to have troubling dreams featuring the color blue. Flashbacks to the 16th century introduce Isabelle-also a midwife-who married into the Tournier family and is suspected by her rabidly anti-Catholic husband of continuing to worship the Virgin Mary. The punishment he finally exacts for her perceived crime is horrific. Fans of A.S. Byatt's Possession should enjoy this work, though it's Byatt with a soup‡on of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"; the startling ending, when all the (blue) threads are tied together, is not for the squeamish. This marvelous piece of writing firmly establishes Chevalier as a talent who's been worth watching. Highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.-Jo Manning, Miami Beach, FL

I finished 'Once Upon a Time on the Banks' by Cathie Pelletier, but at the beginning I wasn't sure I would. I don't think it is that well written, but I did get caught up in the lives of the characters and had a fleeting desire to read a sequel just to see how their lives continued, but I managed to quash it. I really don't want to know any more about the Giffords than I already do.

I'm so glad your eyes are healing, K8ie. Six weeks without reading would be very difficult, although I do love taped stories and that would help. Could you drive? Not driving would be even more of a hardship than not reading.

Perkie...Thanks so much for the review on 'The Virgin Blue'. I'm definitely squeamish...so might not enjoy that one. I'll give it a try though because 'Girl With A Pearl Earring' was so good.

Fawny...I'll see if I can get 'The Package' at the library. I live in rural community, so I usually have to order things from the library's main branch. This forum is great for me because I can hear what's worth ordering and what isn't. I know all of us have different tastes, but it's still helpful.

Ginny...My husband and I both enjoy Michener, though we tend not to like the same ones. We last read 'The Novel' and 'Recessional'. Haven't gotten to 'Hawaii' yet.

Katie...I meant to comment on the Patrick O'Brien books. My husband absolutely LOVES those books and has collected every one. He was so disappointed when he realized there were no more new ones that he started reading them all over again from the beginning.

To those of you who are interested in vitreous detachment: It happens to almost everybody between the ages of 40-70, though in most cases it happens so slowly (over months or years) that you won't notice it. Being a voracious reader doesn't cause it! The gel in the eyeball slowly dissolves. It's not painful and it's not usually dangerous. However, if your vitreous detaches very rapidly as mine did, it can cause a tear in the retina. Symptoms are a sudden onset of sparks, floaters and a kind of ghost that travels across your line of vision when you move your eye. That's what happened to me. The eye doctor said the eye is most stressed by reading because you constantly move your eyes back and forth while reading a page. I didn't have to give up anything else (though he said I shouldn't spend a lot of time reading on the computer). People are allowed to drive with this condition, though I don't drive because I have epilepsy.

LOVED the yak poem so much that I just went to half.com and bought a used copy. I saw that the same author had lots of other books and I will be wanting to get them for my little grandboy and ward. Thank you so much!

K8ie

Thank you for the information about the vitreous detachment! That's something that could be really helpful to know. I'm sorry, though, that it has caused you so much trouble. My eyes are failing and I am an artist, so I know the fear of complete loss of sight. I guess I would have to sculpt and I am so grateful to SeniorNet and IBM for providing the software to help me on the computer! Have you gotten it? It's free and would be just the thing for you because it would read FOR you! (God bless you, SeniorNet and IBM!)

Oh... and about books...

I just finished "Sea Glass" by Anita Shreve and really enjoyed it. Her books often throw me because they have some strange twist at the end, but this one didn't.

It's a love story of sorts about a newlywed woman and her salesman husband in 1929. They are fairly poor but they buya dilapidated old house on the coast of New Hampshire (same house as in a couple of her other books). They begin rehabilitating the house and she begins collecting work bits of colored glass she finds along the shore while he is away on sales trips. Her neighbor, a distance away, is a spoiled young rich woman. The story is actually told from the perspective of several different people. Others are a boy from a very poor family of mill workers, and a young man who is involved with union organizers at the mill. The stock market crash has an influence on everyone but I can't tell you much more without giving away the whole plot.

I also read 'Sea Glass' by Anita Shreve. I found it very enjoyable and have recommended it to others.

Have you read others of hers? I found out the hard way that one should really read them in the order that she wrote them. I could not continue with "The Weight of Water" because I knew what was going to happen and it was too traumatic for me, even in a work of fiction.

Loved "The Pilot's Wife" and "All He Ever Wanted" and right now I can't remember what else. There are three that include the same house, but in different eras. And others that connect in other ways.

Maybe some later time I will begin at the beginning and read through them again (skipping "The Weight of Water").

I love anything by Barbara Kingsolver, but "Pigs in Heaven" was my favorite. "The Poisonwood Bible" was magnificent, as was "The Prodigal Summer," but both of them were pretty "heavy" for me. Serious and weighty, I mean. Terrific yarns, however. I have not read "Animal Dreams" or "The Bean Trees" but will as soon as the library can get them.

Has anyone read Dan Brown's Angels and Demons? What did you think of it? I couldn't put it down and it made me do a lot of thinking about the future. Please respond, anyone! Mal -----

I had seen Angels & Demons when it first came out in paperback and picked it up. I loved it, went and found Dan Brown's other works and waited patiently for The Da Vinci Code, LOL. I love a book that makes you think, and his books fit the bill nicely!

Lisa

Zinnia...I haven't read many of Shreve's books. I did enjoy 'The Pilot's Wife', as well as 'Sea Glass'. Just went to Amazon and did a little search though, and I'm thinking I might put a couple of her books on my 'must read' list. Bet we all have those! Anyway, I liked the sound of 'All He Ever Wanted'...so may put that one on the top of my list.

I know what you mean, Zinnia, I hate to read books out of order. I've been reading the Stephanie Plum Mystery series by Janet Evanovitch. Always good for a laugh! I started out by reading the fifth book in the series, liked it, and went back and started from the beginning.

Whatever happened to Anne Rivers Siddons? I haven't seen much new from her lately. Siddons is an author who completely threw me by writing a book I'd never have chosen, 'The House Next Door' (creepy). It was so unlike anything else she'd written that I was shocked at first. Strangely, it is one book I won't soon forget, and I even managed to get through it and enjoyed it!

I think I'm just impatient. My favorite writers have never been able to turn out books as fast as I can read them. LOL Plain, Pilcher, Binchy, Lipman, Irving, etc....I'm always waiting!!!

Hi Fawney I am doing great just so busy. I thought when you got old you got to slow down, not so here. Lots of yard work today and I must make a worm bin for a man that is coming to pick it up tomorrow. I have not had time to get the Package yet.

I keep all of Anne R. Siddon and Belva Plain's books they are keepers for me. Candi just brought down a load of books and she loved Her Fathers House by Plain and I enjoyed it too. I don't know of anything new by Siddons at least it isn't out in paperback. I believe one of the books I remember as my very favorite is about a river and secret pollution and I can't remember the name of it. But I loved it and I am sure it is in my library but things are not totally put back from the remodel.

Have a great day!! Sun shining in Redmond

It's either "All He Ever Wanted" or "The Last Time They Met" that spoiled "Weight of Water" for me... I get them mixed up. So I'd advise Weight of Water first and also reading those three (or aqll of her books,just in case...LOL!!!) in the order they were written. "The Pilot's Wife" seemed to be a stand-alone, as did "Sea Glass."

Hi Judy,

I know what you mean. I've been a little lazy in getting in the yard. Just haven't felt like it, but if it's going to get done I'd better get in gear (smile).

It's good to hear for you though. And remodeling is so worth it but a pain the butt as well. The whole house seems to be upside down all at once, but I loved the outcome when everything was put back in place.

Good Luck. The sun was shining here in Michigan but not for long. The cold wind returned.

While I was reading The DaVinci Code it was highly suggested I should read Angels and Demons .I did and liked it even more tha The DaVinci code

Has anyone read Angels&Demons by Dan Brown? I couldn't put it down,I thought it was perhaps a chilly glimpse of the future. Please anyone respond. Mal

Mal/Lamloft: I think somehow you've missed the two answers to your question about Angels & Demons you asked on April 3:

Did you see these responses:

bibliophile3168 4/3/04 6:15am

Mrs B 4/4/04 6:09am

They appear before you asked again today. You might want to try the "subscription" method to keep up with the newest posts since you last posted so you don't miss any new posts.

All you need to do is click the SUBSCRIBE button and then when you come back to SeniorNet just click Check Subscriptions and you'll be taken to the first new post since you were there last. Otherwise, you need to check manually... and again, you'll be brought to the first new post since you last were here...if you're logged in under your username when you come here.

I know it sounds a bit confusing at first, but soon you'll be an "old hand" here.

Another way to find messages about some particular title is to use the SEARCH button at the bottom row of buttons. For example, I put in Angels & Demons and clicked to Search this site and got four responses...Yours on April 3, the two I mention above and yours above on April 4. Nifty feature!!

If something doesn't seem clear or you can't find it, ask again, and we'll do our best to answer/find what you want.

Welcome!!

jane

I agree! Angels and Demons was a better read than the DaVinci Code, IMO.

Jane, I just followed your advice and searched for the title "I'm Not Scared." Today's NYT has a film review for this Italian film that is opening this week in New York. It's based on the novel of the same name by Nic Ammaniti, pub. in 2001 and translated into English.

Has anyone read it? It's focus is on children and fear. A 9-year-old boy discovers what he thinks is the body of a boy in a deserted house, but is afraid to tell anyone. He returns to the scene and finds that the boy is alive, has been kidnapped, and that many adults in the village are involved. The reviews in Amazon were 5-star. It is available in paperback.

Alf where did you come from?? Pedlin that looks like an intersting book. Will put it on my list, which is growing daily. Maybe I will find time to go to my book store today. Ny daughter called from Alaska yesterday and says she has a whole box of books for me. That is always a fun time.

Hi Fawny I can't do red.

Andy, since you and many others so highly recommend Angels and Demons I'm going to have to read it. But right now I'm in the middle of my second Dennis Lehane -- Gone Baby Gone, which I know you've read, and it is a winner.

This is my day to do nothing, and since the knees are behaving badly, I'm going to go soak in the tub and take Dennis with me.

Pedlin that was scarey I had to go back and see who Dennis was. hehe

This is a list from the N.Y. Times

HARDCOVER FICTION Top 5 at a Glance 1. THE DA VINCI CODE, by Dan Brown 2. THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, by Mitch Albom 3. 3RD DEGREE, by James Patterson and Andrew Gross 4. THE LAST JUROR, by John Grisham 5. ANGELS & DEMONS, by Dan Brown

PAPERBACK FICTION Top 5 at a Glance 1. ANGELS & DEMONS, by Dan Brown 2. THE GUARDIAN, by Nicholas Sparks 3. DECEPTION POINT, by Dan Brown 4. DIGITAL FORTRESS, by Dan Brown 5. DEAD AIM, by Iris Johansen

Complete Paperback Fiction List

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAPERBACK NONFICTION Top 5 at a Glance 1. READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN, by Azar Nafisi 2. THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, by Erik Larson 3. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, by Mitch Albom 4. DRY, by Augusten Burroughs 5. RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, by Augusten Burroughs

Complete Paperback Nonfiction

I am working my way through Lehane as well. Started with Mystic River, but I have gone back and am picking up his early stuff.

Thank you for that list, Judy and welcome Mal/Lamloft! Thank you for that help, Jane! I haven't read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown but I do have this one Judy mentioned: 3. DECEPTION POINT, by Dan Brown, and it starts out very well, my kind of book.

K8ie, I am so glad you are doing better and if you like Michener you will die over Hawaii, it was the first one of his I ever read and I think it's his best, what do you think, Perkie? Like you I have images from it indelibly stuck in my head, it's just a super book and you learn SO much about Hawaii.

One of the best books by Michener I ever read was The Fires of Spring, it's autobiographical and about his own childhood, but with fictional characters, it's stranger than fiction, a wonderful coming of age book, his childhood makes that of Dickens look normal, I loved that book.

Actually Hawaii might make a super book to read here together some day, but it's long, would you say its a beach book?

We're going to read what's been called "the perfect beach book," this July in Pompeii and you should know that the ancients are very hot topics now, there's a new HBO series filiming on Ancient Rome in 12 parts for next year and a new movie coming out this summer (trailers with Brad Pitt now in the theaters) about The Iliad. We're reading The Iliad here in October with Dr. Mark Stone and we're reading Caesar's Gallic Wars (in Latin) in September as well as taking up Latin 101 in September for BEginners, so if the ancients interest you at all, there are plenty of places here on SeniorNet including the Story of Civilization ongoing discussion, where you can enjoy saying you are in the know!

Pompeii is a new book by Robert Harris and concerns, of course, the eruption, but also a Repairer of Aqueducts, and some moral questions, they say it's fabulous, so plan to join us in July for our discussion of Pompeii. I would be interested in doing Hawaii some time.

ginny

What do you mean where do I come from? do you mean where am I now? where was I born? I don't know know whether I'm coming or going but I DO know I've BEEN!!!

I've read two other books by Lehane since Mystic and not one of them hold a candle to Mystic, IMO.

ALF your better off than me then because I don't even know where I've been. I thought you were moving and wouldn't have a computer for 4 months or do I have you confused??? We need to set up the Alzheimer's discussion again I am really losing it and fast.

Been? Who's Been? Or is it Ben? Yes, I am uprooted for four months. At this point we are "house-sitting" and I'm allowed to use the 'puter. As of Tuesday, I'll be without for a while.

Do you know that yesterday I found 2 (TWO) Alzheimers Homes near our new location.

ANDY--You don't need an Alzheimer's home. You are just feeling homeless. It will be OK. Really.

Where ever you are Andy do they have room for me?????

heres a site I thought I would share with all of you it seems worth looking at to me. I really enjoyed it.

www.wonderofitall.com

Isn't the new book "Islands" by Anne Rivers Siddons? I will look in a bit as I have asked our library to get it for me......I am first on the list of whoever wrote it!

Yes....."Islands" is new book by Anne Rivers Siddons........

I hope you will all look The Wonder of It All Would someone please make this a clickable???Thanks

Pat thanks so much for the new heading.

tigerlily,

Thanks for updating me on Siddons latest book. I'll get my name on the 'hold' list real soon. Our county library system closed down for ten whole days to revamp their system. Wish I had known in advance. I'd have stocked up!

Just finished the last library book I had in the house: 'Flirting With Pete' by Barbara Delinsky. Not at all what it first appears...keeps you wondering until the end.

Am catching up on a couple of weeks of "subscriptions" and enjoying the comments.

Zinnia - don't put off Bean Trees and Animal Dreams - they're both terrific.

Anyone who's a books-on-tape fan, Barbara Kingsolver's are wonderful - read by someone (can't remember name) with a perfect voice for the subject matter!

I've just finished Devil in the White City - well worth the read - and for plane reading, Tears of a Giraffe was just the ticket. Probably his others in that series are equally appropriate and easy to tuck in your purse. Am about to start the Amateur Marriage which was read by one of the Sr.Net groups last month. A local reviewer had given it a "disappointing" review but in the next month's paper (a monthly) she said she couldn't get the couple in the book out of her mind. Interesting......

PAULITA: Do come join our discussion of The Devil in the White City since you have read the book. I haven't finished it yet. However, I grew up in Chicago and lived near the area of the Fair many years after the Fair was over.

Just finished a book called Scent of Danger by Andrea Kane. It was just a fun book I can't remember when I had fun reading a book. Theres romance, murder, intrigue, and excitement. I really enjoyed this book.

Recently I have finished reading

Robert B. Parker's Bad Business

Jack Higgins' Bad Company
Both were fun fast reads.

I really like the new look of the Mystery Corner. And the dark text is much easier on my less than 20/20 vision. Thank you.

I haven’t read anything by Anita Shreve but have added "Sea Glass" to my list and will definitely look up others. I love strange twists in my stories.

I have read several of Anne Rivers Siddons books and liked them, but have not seen "The House Next Door", K8ie. I will have to get in on interlibrary loan, since it is not in my branch, being one of her older titles. Maybe she got less creepy as she went along. When I first saw the title "Islands", my mind jumped to "Island" by Aldous Huxley. It is one of those books that crosses my mind from time to time but haven’t read in years. I may have to try it again. As well as the plural title

I didn’t know that "I’m Not Scared" was a book as well as a movie, Pedlin. The film review already has me interested in it. Now the eternal question. Read the book before or after seeing the film!

There seems to be a lot of interest in "Angels and Demons". I wonder if it would be a good one to add to the discussion list.

The Michner book that I looked forward to reading and couldn’t finish was "Chesapeake". I grew up near Annapolis and have traveled by boat from Norfolk to Baltimore, so don’t know just why I found the book so boring.

I just finished a rather unusual story. It is "The Photograph" by Penelope Lively. The main character has died before the book begins, but memories of her by the people closest to her develop to the point that I ended up knowing her better than any of the living characters. Very well crafted, if a bit slow starting.

I aso read "In Country" by Bobbie Ann Mason. It is a rather strange story, about a teen age girl obsessed with the Vietnam War that killed her father before she was born. I don’t know that I would recommend it because the writing is quite earthy, but I did find it moving.

I grew up in Delaware and thought I would just love Chesapeake, but no.. I did not and regarded most of it as pure bosh.. I thought it was me, but I know a texan who feels the same way about Texas that Michenor wrote and we have a Japanese American friend who has been in Hawaii for three generations and he actively dislikes Hawaii. So I suspect if you know a lot about the area, you do not like Michenors take on your area.

Just finished 'The Lady and the Unicorn' by Tracy Chevalier. For whatever reason, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'. It was very good, but I just wasn't as taken with it as I was the other book. Still, it was captivating enough for me to finish reading by the light of my itty-bitty book light while my husband slept last night. LOL It's another fact and fiction story about a famous art masterpiece. I'd recommend it.

Some time ago it was mentioned that Blue Shoe was a very good book. I happened to see it in the store yesterday so I bought it and have just started it. I believe it is going to be a keeper.

I just finished reading "The Nazi Officers Wife" even though a sad book I really enjoyed reading it.

JeanneP

Perkie, my copy of "I'm not scared" just arrived. I'll probably read it before I see the movie, although I have to read some others before that, "ladies No. 1 detective agency" for our local mystery club first week in May, and "Five Slices of the Orange" for our May discussion here. Except for the current Mel Gibson movie, we NEVER get subtitled films here. Maybe in DC or Seattle when I visit the kids, or wait until the DVD. The trade paperback is about 200 pages.

Michenor -- strange. I've liked most, including Chesapeake, and loved Hawaii. Caribbean is the one I couldn't get into. Very disappointing. Do you suppose that's because we lived in Puerto Rico for 10 years.

I've read "In Country" and seen the movie. The main character reminded me of so many young women at our high school -- perfectly decent girls, but without a thought for tomorrow. Just kind of floating in life. I could just picture her walking down the hall. (Paducah is about 1 1/2 hrs. from here.) Another Mason you might enjoy is "Feather Crowns" about a rural Kentucky woman who gave birth to quintuplets in 1900.

I'm going to put "The Photograph" on my to read list. Why is the name Penelope Lively so familiar. What else has she written?

Those of you who are Anne Rivers Siddons fans are going to love this new book.....I am all most finished and of course it is one of those which I wish was about 2000 pages long......wonderful characters, descriptions of southern food, weather, and set in and around Charleston........ My kind of book for a little light reading.....I loved that the main characters were once young and growing older with all the problems and joys that age can bring.......

Tigerlilly please tell me the name of it. Maybe I missed it in a earliler post????

Judy....the name of the Siddons book is "Islands"

Thanks Tigerlilly I will get that book today before the sun sets as Dr Phil would say hehe

I'm still reading Bodies of Lies by Iris Johansen. It's okay. I still prefer The Package by Nicklas Maddox and Nea Williams so far out of the books that I've read lately.

Fawney I still haven't got the package yet, somehow there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. It seems the older I get the busier I am I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. Oh well I guess its better than being sick and needing someone to look after me. We have gotten a care giver for my Mother ffor 4 days a week for four hours. I believe she is a gift from God. It takes so much pressure off my sister and myself.

Tried to find the book "The Package" by Nicklas Maddox on the computer from my Library. I can't find it anyplace. Is that the right spelling. I follow some suggestions of books to read from what people in here recommend. Works good for me. Read some great ones lately

JeanneP

I have finally gotten around to reading some books that had been on my To Be Reads Shelves.

The Beach House by James Patterson & Peter De Jonge. It was a very good fast read.

To the Nines by Janet Evanovich. 80 pages into it and loving it.

Both books are excellent reads.

Jeanne: Here's the entry at Barnes and Noble for The Package by Maddox:

The Package by N. Maddox:

Strange how I can't bring it up for my library. It usualy shows new books soon as out. I don't buy them anymore. I read at least 3 a week and costing me to much. Our library great If they don't have a book the get it from one of the other libraries within a few day. Just put a addition on costing millions. kept it matching other part of building which is over 100 years old.

JeanneP

Maybe they missed ordering it or it was out of stock or whatever, Jeanne.

jane

Hi JeanneP,

The book is also on amazon.com as The Package by Nicklas Maddox and Nea Williams. And I saw a couple of reviews on both of these sites (Barnes & Noble and Amazon)

I'm sure your library is late in receiving it. But I have to say that it is a good book. I enjoyed it a lot.

Hello Judy,

I understand about the time passing. It seems as if the day goes by much faster now that when I was younger. Maybe that's why I don't get a lot of things done either (smile).

Started reading 'Calendar Girls' the other day. I know it's not fiction, but thought it might be a good read since they made a movie out of it. I was disappointed. Thought it seemed much like a VERY long Christmas letter from a boring relative.

Can you tell me is Islands and also the Package in Paper Back???

Judy: Barnes and Noble link is to the paperback...but still $19.95!

Islands was just published April 2004 so paperback won't be out for some months, I'd guess. Here are links to both:

Package

Islands

jane

Thanks Jane I think their is something screwy there I have all of Siddons books and the paper back's have never been 19.95 that would be hard cover price in my world. If I have time tommorow I will stop at a B&N and check it out. I a not paying 19.95 for a paper back.

Judy: The Package is the paperback...often referred to at this price point as "soft cover" rather than "paperback"...LOL

The Siddons one is hardcover...it was just published in April 2004 according to the blurb above.

I just finished "Islands" and liked it very much as I did all of her books......Not in paperback.....how about your library?

I stopped at the library today and checked out the 'new book' shelves. Much to my happy surprise, I found a copy of the Siddon's book 'Islands'. Haven't started it yet, but the summary on the book jacket makes it look very promising.

If Island has not been released as of yet why is there a $10.00 discount already? Was it released before and this is a updated copy?

I went to the Anne Rivers Siddons official website. It said 'Islands' was her latest book and went up for sale on April 6. I've noticed that all the book sellers are offering it with a $10 discount. Seems odd, doesn't it?

No, K8ie, I think it's a marketing ploy to get her book sold. B&N often has a discount on books on the best seller list, etc. and sometimes that's 20% off or more. It may be that the cost of books is getting so high that many people just aren't buying anymore. That's just a guess on my part. I don't buy many books because of their cost, so I use my local library.

jane

I don't know about that Jane. Usually on the release of a book the retailer want full value and then when the book stops selling they offer the discount. But this book retails for I believe $24.00. I don't care if it's paperback or hardback that's entirely too much for a book.

I'll pay $19.95 if I believe the book is worth it, but not $24.00.

My library had the book in for me withing three days. Just started to read it. Saves me $20 plus dollars.

JeanneP

Finished reading 'Islands' yesterday. It was very good, but I kept feeling like I'd heard this story before somehow. Today I'll begin one of Tracy Chevalier's books...either The Virgin Blue or Falling Angels. Both came on Thursday from the main library branch. It felt like Christmas!

I am in the middle of Lorna Landvik's..."Angry Housewives eating Bon-Bons" What fun.. I have read almost every single book of hers and recommend them. They are funny and sad and true..What more can you ask.

It's going on my list, Stephanie.

Stepanie....I read the Angry House wives book sometime back and liked it very, very much.......Am now reading a new novel by Kay Gibbons ....Divining Women......a quick and interesting read........ I have read all of her books and liked each one....... This last one has a character in it that I cannot imagine any woman allowing herself to be in however which make the book less interesting for me....losts of good thoughts about females and how the view and feel things........

I h ave Kaye Gibbons on my list of authors to read. Dont think I have read anything of hers and have heard she is good. Lorna has written several books that I loved.. Notably Patty Janes house of Curl and The Tall Pine Polka. She writes about the midwest and since I am a born and bred Easterner I find it quite interesting.

The Tall Pine Polka is an excellent read.

Just finished the Kaye Gibbons book.....it was lovely.....I changed my mind....beautifully written.......

I am having problems with picking out books to read. I rad peoples suggestions here and then I go to the mysteries or some other folder and some of them sound so good. My list is so long I will never get to them all. Soooooooooo many books to choose from. Its sunny here which means yard work not reading.

Judy, I was just at my library and found a couple of really good books. I am already reading a new collection of short stories by Joyce Carol Oates. But the birds are singing, the tulips are open, and the weeds are getting away one me....outside calls. We have early vegetables (peas, radishes, onions, lettuce) up already, and more to plant. Too early for setting out flowers.

Happy gardening. Time to read when the sun sets and you need to put your feet up?

N

I am an avid gardner but still find time to read! Usually read in the morning , the early hours between 5 and 8 a.m.......leaves me lots of time to garden too.....then again in the evening if I don't fall asleep with the book on my chest.........

I have a frozen shoulder, so have turned all garden matters over to my better half. Aside from housework and physical therapy (and at-home exercises), I've been reading. I have been disappointed with The Virgin Blue, though I'm continuing to plow my way through it. Wish Tracy Chevalier had expanded the medieval story instead of weaving a modern day story between chapters.

Happy Mothers Day to all you Mothers. I finished The Mulberry Tree by J. Deveraux and enjoyed it. A very different story love, mystery, and a little murder something for everyone. haha I have a problem lately when reading a book and it has a lot of characters I can't keep everyone straight, don't think it could be old age do you ????

Big day off to the Westin for brunch with youngest daughter, then over to my MOthers to drop off some flowers, then back to Bellevue to dinner with number 2 son. ONe DIL dropped off a hanging basket and number one son is dropping by things. So far 5 out of 6 and not expecting the 6th so thats pretty good odds.

I also read 'The Mulberry Tree' by Deveraux. Enjoyed it very much.

My better half took me to a play, last night, and brunch this morning to celebrate Mother's Day. Got phone calls from the kids, both living out of state. The 'fur kids' took me for a walk, and were kind enough not to complain when I had had enough. LOL

Judy--I have that problem with character names when there are a lot of them too. And this is when I am teaching.

I keep an index card in the book. When a character is introduced, I jot down a brief description and the first appearance page number. You'd be surprised how well this works, and it doesn't take any time.

Deems that is probably the best idea I have heard in a long time. I read in bed but I think I could still manage it. Thanks

It was a great Mothers Day. I even had a grandaughter call from Arizona.

JUDY: I also enjoyed Mulberry Bush. I like Jude Deveraux a lot.

DEEMS: Thanks for the hint of using an index card to keep track of characters. A great idea. I am always going back and forth in my book to find someone I know was mentioned before and just don't remember the exact context. That index card could even be used as a bookmark. Of course I have tons of bookmarks.

WOW! Have I been gone THAT bloody long that i've just noticed this fabulous new heading above? It's grand. I just love it and particularly the URL to the New York Times List. Great job by someone.

Deems, that is a good idea, and especially good if you're reading about a different culture where the names can sometimes be difficult to pronounce, let alone keep separate. Like the Botswana series by McCall Smith, or some of the Russian novels.

I think I met a new friend today -- Laura Miller, who writes The Last Word column for the NY Times book section. This week's was "Divorce that Book," talking about when to stop reading a book you don't like. Some folks are VERY discriminating.

An earlier column was about first-person plural narratives -"We the Characters." Has anyone read Our Kind by I don't remember? It's about a group of aging Northeastern women who thought they had no alternatives to marriage, motherhood, etc.

Shoot, Pedln, that's what most women of my acquaintance thought of as a life goal back in 1949. Marriage, children, and managing a household. Women engaged otherwise were considered "unfortunate."

Howzat

Alf as usual it was our great Pat W. who designed the new heading. It is really great isn't it.

Pedln: Thanks for the infor about that column by Miller. I found it online...if you're registered at the NYT (free) you can read it still online...but don't wait too long...it goes into their archives and then there's a charge.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/books/review/09MCOLL.html

I loved the column...hmmm...probably because I agree with the premise 100%! I don't have time to spend on books that don't grab me and I'm impatient...needs to be in first 5 pages or it's history.

jane

I've heard of Our Kind and may have even read it. If you are interested in the time period (through the 50s and into the early 60s) when women saw their future as marriage, children, family, by all means rent "Mona Lisa Smile" starring Julia Roberts. It's about is about a young art teacher who goes to Wellesley. It's very good. If you get the DVD, the extra material is also very good, explaining the research they did to get the time period right.

PAT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Must look for OUr Kind. She is talking about my generation and I do remember the feelings too well. Am working on Lovely Bones. A decidedly odd book, but I am enjoying it.

Thanks, Deems, I've added MLS to my netflix que.

That one WAS an odd book, but better than I'd expected considering its subject.

Lovely Bones. I think there was a discussion on this already. Have to check archives. I finished it and am still not quite sure how I feel about it.

Stephanie--Do check the archives. We read The Lovely Bones about a year ago.

Link to:

"The Lovely Bones ~ Alice Sebold ~ Book Club Online"

Well, aren't we current! Pedln pointed out to me and I just checked to see for myself - the NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERs link in the heading here to find that Karen Fowler's "Jane Austen Book Club" is indeed NUMBER 15 on the hardcover list! The book has just been published, and I'm surprised that it has "arrived" so soon. Oh, don't get me wrong, it's a fascinating book, wonderfully written. I just didn't realize that the title would generate such interest.

In case you were not aware - Karen Fowler's book is our Book Club Online selection for June. We'd love to have you join us - we're right here and have already ordered extra chairs for this one.The Jane Austen Book Club

I am reading Jodi Pinoult's Keeping Faith . Has anyone read this story about a 7 year old who during a traumatic parental divorce gets a new, imaginary friend? Her friend AKA, "my guard, is God. God, it seems to Faith is a female! Interesting reading and fun.

Alf that sounds like a good book I can hardly say I will add it to my list its so looooooooong.

I think either you or I should have gone with Ginny I swear I don't know how she gets around. If we would have been there one of us would have got an invitation to tea from the Queen wouldn't we??????

I have got stuck on mysteries lately I finished Black River by G.M. Ford and enjoyed it much especially since he writes about this area and so I am familiar with the places he talks about.

Finished Final Target by Iris Johansen it was good.

I sent out a e-mail seeing if the people who participated in the PBS Altz discussion would like to see a new one where we could discuss Altz and Dementia and read some books about getting on in years, but no response, excuse me one that I still have to e-mail. I guess the interest isn't there but the PBS discussion was fun.

I am now into the 6th chapter of Pompeii. I love historical fiction and it is so interesting. I love the story line, has any one read it here yet?

I know Ginny will be leading this discussion in July (I think it is.) It should prove very interesting. It's a quick read and brings back so much information that I learned so long ago.

Fawney I bombed out again. I love to go to B&N but rarely do because I rarely pay full price for a book hehe My best DIL gave me a 50.00 gift card and also a Barbara Delinsky hard cover book for Mothers day. I returned the hard cover got more and my card and had a great time. Didn't spend it all though.

In the middle of my spree I thought oh Tawney said The Package but I couldn't remember the author DUH..... So I asked and the lady said would you like to hear about it it and she started to read the blurb on her computer and I thought I was going to have to spend the night she went on so long. Then she says "we don't have it though" I guess its allright she looked like she was about 12 as most people do to me these days.

I bought one book that looked interesting its The Newsboys Lodging-House by Jon Boorstin. Its about a man who goes into New York City in the 1870's looking for street urchins. Something about it told me I would enjoy it. I always like to buy something cool for when Iam traveling, never mind all the books on my PDA.

I went to look at my book store today for the Package and no luck. Next I went to Boarders Books a place I do not enjoy and couldn't find it, by now it is an obsession so I came h ome and ordered it from Amazon.

WHERE IS EVERYONE???????????????????????

Currently I am reading Lee Child's Enemy. It is an excellent read. It is a new book set in the beginning of 1990. The Berlin Wall was coming down and some in the US military were starting to think about down-sizing.

Hi Ginny Ann I guess that makes 2 of us. I am sure everyone is busy with Memorial Day plans. Pretty unpreditable weather here.

We are in the middle of a big move. Today I will be breaking down the coamputer and will be offlline until at least Thursday. Changing ISP as well. Just finished The Mother In Law Diaries.. Sort of fun in a weird sort of way.

Someone asked what else Penelope Lively had written besides “The Photograph”. I have read “According to Mark” and “Moon Tiger”. She has also written “City of the Mind”, “Cleopatra's sister”, “Heat wave”, “Judgment day”, “Next to nature, art”, “Passing on”, “Perfect happiness”, “The road to Lichfield”, “Spiderweb”, and Treasures of time” plus short stories and children’s stories. Busy lady!

While on vacation, I read “I Love You Like a Tomato” by Marie Giordano. In her first work of adult fiction, she portrays a Sicilian girl who immigrated to the Twin Cities with her mother and small brother after WWII. She spends her life trying to find some mystical way to protect her asthmatic brother by repetitions and the Evil Eye while trying to learn how to be a clown. She is very intense, and yet the story has a certain humor in it also. I ended up sympathizing with her and liking her.

“The Package” by Nicklas Maddox and Nea Williams is not yet in my library, JeanneP, but will keep looking since you were able to finally get a copy.


This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers. Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?