As some of us age and our surrounding space may shrink or we may just want to clean out our bookshelves once in a while, what are the books you will never let go? Your old friends? The one you shake your head and put back on the shelf?

I've got some "keepers,"

a volume of Edna Ferber, including So Big, Giant, Cimarron, Show Boat,

House of Earth by Pearl Buck, her trilogy of The Good Earth series,

Richard Yates's Revolutionary Road,

Herman Wouk's Marjorie Morningstar,

Penelope Fitzgerald's The Golden Child

James Michener's The Fires of Spring,

Sinclair Lewis's Arrowsmith,

Lewis Sinclair's The Jungle,

Williwm Bligh's A Voyage to the South Seas,

Chaim Potok's The Chosen,

Dominick Dunne's The Two Mrs. Grenvilles,
and ...(have to stop somewhere)

Thomas Hoving's King of the Confessors.

Those I need to keep.

How about you??

ginny

I have a collection that includes nearly all of the English Victorian-age (some before, some after)novels--George Eliot,Jane Austen,a lot of Trollope, including the Palliser novels. I hope to reread some of them some day, but it makes me feel secure just knowing they are there because I am so fond of them.

Then there is the series of Lanny Budd novels by Upton Sinclair (12 or 13). I have loved those for years. Have read them at least twice, and hope to do so again.

Also, the Strangers & Brothers series by C.P. Snow and A Dance to the Music of Time series by Anthony Powell which I bought after listening to them on books on tape. And the Forsyte Saga novels bought after the series on Masterpiece Theatre.

Then, everything by Robertson Davies--novels, essays, short stories, articles, etc. Couldn't bear to part with those.

And a whole slew of novels by women authors (from the early English to reasonably modern American) that were published by Virago press (part of Penguin). I haven't read all of them, yet, but you just don't see them in the stores any more. And most of them you probably wouldn't have heard of but they are very interesting.

And that's not to mention some non-fiction that I wouldn't be parted from--until that decision is taken from my hands.

Ginny--

I didn't keep The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, but I watch it every time it shows up on the Lifetime channel, also the other Dominick Dunne novels that have been filmed, including the one about a murder case much like the one Ethel Kennedy's cousin is involved in. I've read all of his books, but didn't like the one he did about OJ.

When circumstances forced me to almost totally deconstruct (that's the new term, is it not) my library, I kept all of Jane Austin, all of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series. I would have saved more fiction but I was collecting much of it in The Library of America and I wanted to pass that whole group on to my grandson intact. Some few other books I saved were my best cook books, and a few books on religion and some history I haven't read yet. .........elizabeth

My cookbooks Especially my Fanny Farmers 1990 Revision. My Bible, my Dictionaries and my Atlas. That is about all I would travel with as I could always get Novels and also any Non-fiction I wanted in Libraries I think. When I sold my big house and settled down in apartments then the mobil home I had to get my kids to take all the books I had at that time and much of that old collection is still in the kids homes. I would have liked to hang on to some of them but just could not. Books are so heavy they cost millions to ship or move and unless you are in a permanent home it is not practical to collect large libraries. Faith

Ginny, I keep all of my classics because these I can read over and over again. So, I have kept my novels authored by Dickens, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters and Edith Wharton. I won't give these away.

We have a wonderful used bookstore so, I have a lot of the Michener books. I won't get rid of those either. I want to get back to him, but I have not had time. The first book I read by him was 'The Source.' I read that one a long time ago.

Ginny, I have one Pearl Buck on my shelf. It is The Good Earth. I can't let that go either. I have read a few of her other books, but I don't own them. I love Pearl Buck and would love to read 'My Several Worlds.' I think it is her life story.

I have tons of literature books, like anthologies. I can't get rid of those either. I don't hold on to my romances or mysteries. Something has to go. Although I try, I can't keep everything.

My keepers are:

The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck Christy, Catherine Marshall (my number one favorite book matter of fact when I finished reading it all I wanted to do was hug it - crazy!?) Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton Sharyn McCrumb's books (she's a wonderful storyteller about the appalachia) James Steele (a Kentucky writer) F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tender Is The Night and The Great Gatsby) William Faulkner (Intruder in the Dust) Willa Cather (O Pioneers and many more of her books) Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter (great book) Gone With The Wind

My little Penguin Shakespeare's. Those will never go. Anything else is fair game I guess.
Charlie

Jane Austen; Chaim Potok's My Name is Asher Lev (better than The Chosen, I think); Robert Frost; Shakespeare; My collection of Cook's Illustrated magazines; Spider Robinson's Callahan series; Connie Willis' The Doomsday Book; Spoon River Anthology; John McPhee (anything); Thomas Perry's The Big Island(?).

Oh, what a wonderful topic! I'd have to look through my closet to remind myself of all my "keepers" but off the top of my head I'd say anything by Helen and Scott Nearing ("Living the Good Life" most of all), "Chop Wood, Carry Water," all of my weaving books, and Encyclopedia Mysteriosa (an encyclopedia of mystery books, authors, and topics!).

Barbara

I still have some of my children's books - No, not for my grandkids, but for me. We just finished packing and shipping 35 boxes of books to Egypt for my husband'university students. We've done that for years and are always on the lookout at Book Sales (fortunately a lot of them in our area). And each year, I caution my husband while he is packing, DO NOT TOUCH MY BOOKS. A few years ago, I shopped several boxes of books to China during a visitng professorship. Since I arrived before classes began, I unpacked one of the boxes and sat down to read some of my OWN books in the dept. library.

I'd always keep my reference books (my "tools of the trade"), but for pleasure, I'd retain the books I keep returning to about various periods and events in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia (especially those by Badshah Khan and Mahatma Ghandi; contemporary Arab, Persian and Turkish women writers) and the classics of my youth in America. Two weeks ago, I was talking to my grandaughter on the phone and said "I think I can, I think I can." She interrupted and said "WAIT, I'll get my book." I heard her telling her father, "I can't talk to you right now. Gram's going to read to me before I go to bed."

Thanks for the reminder about childhood books. Certainly I will need all the AA Milne books!

Yes, and I will loan them to grandchildren... But they must be returned.

My grandkids know that when they remove a book, they put a gold sticker in its place, swear in blood (really strawberry jello!) to be returned ,and the punishment for not doing so is the cancellation of their ice cream subscription!

Hi Everyone: All you great booklovers & keepers. I don't think I could part with hardly any of my books. I have 500+ books.Each one is like a part of me. I love just being around books. We Have to drive to Minnesota every 3 or 4 weeks so I can stock up on books. There aren't any bookstores, large ones, by us.I really wish somewhere near us they would build a BIG book store so we don't have to drive so far. I love Barnes and Noble, Borders second. I'd like to see one of them built near us, like next door. I think this will be an interesting place to chat about all our books. Be back tomorrow night. Leann

Can hardly post here, getting rid of my books gives me the jitters...guess I'm not at all ready. I've begun decorating with them, a casual pile here and there and there. A silver tray on this stack, a vase on that stack, etc, etc., etc. Now I'm quoting from "The King and I." It's the thought of giving up my books, I'm cracking under the stress!

Leann: Where have you been? Come on in and enjoy a book with us. We'll be starting a "chick" book soon entitle Back When We Were Grownups. Come visit us .here

Paige, you are making me smile because I feel the same way about getting rid of my books. Impossible to do. Once, long ago, I did get rid of a whole bunch, and ended up months and even years later looking for copies of the books because I missed them.

If I had to choose just one book to keep, I would be frozen into place amongst stacks of books unable to decide which one it would be.

Nellie, soooo glad I made you smile, these are hard days to make someone smile.

Give up my books? I'm with Leann and Paige. How can I choose? What a wonderful problem, deciding which books have lasting importance in my life.

First to stay are my "how-to survive" books, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl; The Journal of a Disappointed Man by W.N.P. Barbellion; Slack Jaw by Jim Knipfel (which is definitely a dark survival book); The New Science of Giambattista Vico; Personal Pleasures by Rose Macaulay; How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton.

If I had to fit the 'important-to-me' books in a suitcase, I would take my survival books and, of course, Shakespeare. Am I permitted a second suitcase for my Homer, Dickinson, Yeats, Frost, Joyce, Chekhov, Conrad, Cather?

Can I have a third and fourth suitcase?

-- Marvelle

Choose... I am not good at choosing as far as books go. I always have a list that I am working on, another list of books I want to buy if I see them and a third list of authors that I will buy anything I havent read of theirs. So I am so far into keeping them all, it is pathetic.. If I was allowed a suitcase only, I might try for the 7 volumes by the Durants for the joy of history. Then probably some Charles Dickens to keep me busy enjoying London.. Then some detective stuff. Maybe Dick Francis ( all of them). I know ,,,could not lift the suitcase.. See what happens

I feel like so many of you who cannot bear to choose, but I've had to do it anyway each time I moved...which has been far too often, under standards of sanity.

During the dividing process for piles of to-take and to-give-away, I would pause for varying lengths of time for each book, or there would be no pause at all, I already knew. Those at the top of the no-pause-at-all for packing were the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin 20-book series, Writing Women's Lives by Carolyn Heilbrun, the psychology of women textbooks, gender issues textbooks, one nasty advanced statistics textbook, library of America books of writings of Jefferson, Twain, Franklin, Thoreau, Dickensen, 8 books of private papers, letters, diaries of Virginia Woolf and most of her fiction, 5 books of my mentor Lucia Gilbert, Herman Wouk's Marjorie Morningstar and Heidi.

I keep the stat book as a trophy. In a statistics class, each of us was given a problem to work out by hand that would take most of the semester...which is how long it took before there were computers to do it in a few seconds. The professor knew that we'd gain an understanding of a different sort if we saw each step of the process. We were to imagine that we were testing the safety of a medicine.

For a few weeks at the first of the semester, I was certain that I could not do a semester long math problem. That textbook had two-page long equations. I would look at them and feel sick. It was a horrible time and that self doubt nearly did me in. I did finish the problem, with help from lots of sources, and with other moments of thinking it couldn't be done. When it was over, several of us celebrated like mad. When a group of us graduated a year later, we talked of the prior celebration and knew that we'd had a two-part graduation. I hate that book.

Ha, Betty! You earned the right to keep that statistics book. I had a choice between statistics and calculus and chose the former as the lesser of two evils. I never could get interested in abstract numbers, etc. etc. when it's so much more fun, and to my mind it's more profitable, to read a novel. We can invest so much of ourselves into a project that we keep mementos of the experience to remind us of what we went through & what we can accomplish. The statistics book honors one part of your life and your hard-won triumph.

I figured out why I thought of packing a suitcase in this problem of what books to keep. I can't bear to give away or sell any books, and rather then make them move, I'd move. Sneak out in the middle of the night, as it were, so they wouldn't miss me. Doesn't make sense, I know, but there you have it.

I've moved often -- too much -- and have always & reluctantly given away many books. With this last move a box of carefully selected books-to-keep was stolen. One loss was my grandfather's childhood copy of "Black Beauty," now tattered being well-read & well-loved by both grandfather and myself. I also lost a little Victorian copy of "The Scarlet Letter" with gilt edges, red silk ribbon and dark red sateen covered boards. It was known as a traveling book, presaging paperbacks, and it fit in the palm of my hand. The loss of these two books and the others was very hard to bear since I'd already given away so many wonderful books.

Luckily, the front leaf of "Black Beauty," signed by grandfather as a boy -- shaky, scrawling, endearingly his own writing -- well, this front leaf was loose and I decided at the last moment to keep it with me in a carryall when I traveled. So I lost the book but have the signed leaf. After much searching I found another copy of "Black Beauty" of the same age and wear. I slipped in the front leaf, and voila! my grandfather has returned. I am still looking for a similar copy of "The Scarlet Letter."

This is a long way to say why I find it difficult to choose which books stay and which go, and why I would sneak out in the middle of the night with the chosen few in suitcases. But I would never let those suitcases out of sight. Funny how dear books become to one. I guess you have to be a little bit crazy (I do at least) if you're crazy for books.

-- Marvelle

Get rid of Books!!!, Crazy, Crazy.

I am too busy scheming ways to lay hands on MORE books. I have a few thousand books. I have bags of room in my house. We can still move around most of the rooms. Room under the beds for more books. Why should I get rid on a book. I Read to my daughter from the time she could understand and she grew up with a love for books. She is trying to pass that on to her children. My collection of books will go to the Grand children, perhaps after my daughter has had them for a while. My wife can mess with just about anything of mine but she knows to leave my books alone. A book is too good of a friend to turn it out into the cold especially if I am not sure where it will wind up.

Tiger Tom.. How neat. I think you have expressed how many of us feel. I know from all of my moving, I have had to give away thousands and thousands of books. Imagine what it was like when I had the used book store. I wanted everyone to read the books and bring them back..

If I don’t LOVE a book, I have no problem giving it away. Unfortunately, when I really, really, really DO love a book, I can’t help giving it away, no matter how much I want to keep it.

The books I want to own forever are ones I’ve read at least a couple times, purchased at least a couple times and want to read again. Invariably, I find myself giving them away - as a precious gift beyond price - to my friends. I so much want other people to share in my devotion to my particular favorites. To join my private “cult” so to speak.

Then I need to go search out and buy another copy to keep, which of course I’ll soon give away. This has happened so many times with Truman Capote’s “The Grass Harp” and with John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” I don’t even want to mention how many times I’ve given away and repurchased Huckleberry Finn and Peter Pan and To Kill a Mockingbird. I must have spent hundreds of dollars replacing those. May they never go out of print!

Getting books back has always been a problem. Today, I only loan a book to someone who I KNOW will return it or lives so close and has no chance to move that I can camp on his/her doorstep until the book is safely back on my bookshelf.

Ever been looking at someone's collection and noticed the number of bookplates that had a name that was not the person whose collection you were looking. SOME of those may have been come by through purchase at Used book stores or Library Sales. BUT, that is a person to whom I will NOT loan a book. I once read that a book should be passed along. When I was young I believed that. Now I just recommend that book and feel that if anyone wants to read it they either buy it or check it out of the Library. I am not mean, I just have many books that cannot be replaced or are such favorites that I don't want to risk losing them. I may insult a friend by refusing to lend a book. I can always get another Human friend, but my Book Friends many times cannot be replaced. I Keep ALL of my books. I also return books that my friend across the street keeps urging upon me.

Judy, that's exactly what happens to me. The books I most love HAVE to be given away. Some loaned, sure, but most just given. The tiny book The New Psychology of Women (new in 70s, updated in 80s, by Jean Baker Miller) plus Heilbrun's Writing A Woman's Life.....I'll bet I've purchased 10 of each, or more, because I keep giving away my copy. The same with Toni Morrison's Beloved and Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own. A few year's ago, a good friend in Berkeley confessed in a Christmas card that after she had given Heilbrun's book to someone, she realized that it wasn't hers to give away, that she had borrowed it from me....and when she asked for the book back, HER friend said she had just mailed it to a sister! I wrote back that I loved knowing that it was being read and not to bother chasing it down.

betty

Boy, are you my kind of people! My books not only remain in my home, but travel with me around the world. I loan a few (and make SURE I retrieve them), give some outright as gifts (and promptly replace them for myself). My friends and family know better than to ask to borrow a book without a definite time period for returning it. I've asked several friends to return my books and they looked blank for a moment and then said "Oh, yeah, it's around here somehwere." They're still my friends, but they don'y borrow my books anymore. Fortunately, I'm near a wonderful used book store and my make good use of it. My husband buys books by the dozens to ship to his students in Egypt. Now the Manager teases him and asks "how many shleves of books do you want to buy this time." Books and chocolate and I'm a happy woman!

Haha Persian, that is correct! I've long said "just give me a loaf of bread, a glass of good wine, a block of good cheese and a good book, to boot, and I would be a happy woman."

I had several customers in the book store who would take all of a certain book that I got. I simply always save them since the customers gave each copy to various friends. As one said, I wont lend.. but I do give. I loved the thought and for a few books that rang a strong chord, I get all of the copies that I see.

Years ago when I did a tour in China as a visiting professor, we had a slight emergency and had to evacuate our apartment building in the middle of the night. All the other foreign instructors carried their Day Planners with them. I carried my ONE copy of The Collected Works of Shakespeare on the theory that I knew what I was doing for the rest of the month, but I didn't know if I could replace my Shakespeare.

Mahlia.. I loved the thought. You were right of course. Although I must confess in times of crisis,, I grab my pictures. My need for visible reminders of my hostages to fortune is always surprising to me.

Aha, maybe it is only a crisis which could FORCE us to choose our keepers (books, of course).

Here's a crisis:

Your seaside home is flooding and soon will slip into the ocean. Each household member -- human & animal -- has left for higher, drier ground. All mementos and treasures have been rescued except for the books. Only you remain but the water laps at your feet. You have an hour, more or less, to pack books before you too have to escape. Which books would you take?

(Rule 1: You can't go down with the ship, so to speak -- which would be my initial desire. Rule 2: No, a helicopter may not be called in to lift your house or books to dry land. Rule 3: The cavalry will not come. Rule 4: You have to choose & take away the books by yourself in that hour. Rule 5: You can -- and probably should -- have a nervous breakdown AFTERWARDS. But you must make choices now.)

Which books?

-- Marvelle

I would take my several copies of the Holy Qur'an (some very old), several copies in various languages of the Holy Bible, and several copies of the Torah. I'd stuff my passport inside the waistband of my jeans, stick matches into the tied ends of a long wool scarf around my neck, the cash that I always keep in my house inside my left boot and an 8" throwing knife into the strap that is specially made for it inside my right boot and boogie out the door or window. Since I've already had to do this scene TWICE, I know that I can carry these books (either in my arms or tied in my scarf like a backpack)and still get myself out in an emergency situation.

When I moved from a 14 room house to a 3 room house I found I had to give up most of my books. The hardest one to give away was an old Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. I was so crippled at the time I couldn't even lift it. It is now living with a friend. When possible I shall drive the 900 miles to retrieve it. I really miss that one.

Fortunately I was able to keep my cook books, garden books, volumes of poetry, Bibles and writings of many saints. And I love my atlases.

I'm happy to volunteer in a small library twice a week. When new books come in it feels like Christmas. Luckily I don't need to own most books I love. But I do Need my library.

As for loaning books, I always cover mine with aluminum foil before it leaves my house. Less likely to get lost in the borrower's home; simply more visible.

Hey Stephanie, I wonder if I was one of those customers you saved multiple copies of books for!

Marvelle, what an amazing scenerio you’ve set up. After considering for a while, I hate to admit it, but in such a precarious situation I doubt I’d be thinking about books at all. I’d be more inclined to grab a life jacket and a cell phone!

Now, Persian, what’s with the throwing knife and the matches? Are you a survivalist type person? Is somebody after you?

I have a treasured unabridged dictionary too, Sheila. I rescued it from the trash in our government office. I can’t believe they were throwing it away. Unfortunately, since it’s a State office, even the trash is Official State Property, so I can’t personally own the dictionary, and when I retire I’ll have to abandon it. Then they’ll probably throw it away again, along with a beautiful antique roll-up map of the state that’s hanging on my office wall (also rescued from the trash). What a waste.

I can definitely see the need for the knife and matches. Who knows if we are obliged to leave our homes but what we might have no shelter. Most of the books I have could be replaced even the Bible unless of course it becomes illegal to have one.

Marvelle9.

In England some years ago there was a radio program
titled "Desert Island Discs." The idea of the program was that the "Guest", usually a celebraty, would select five (5) discs which he would take with him/her to a Desert Island. the moderator would play the guests selections, which was another reason for the program. Along withe the Discs, the guest could choose three (3) books to take along. The moderator wuld always say that an Encyclopedia and a Bible would be on the island already. The choices of books were certainly interesting. Your post #34 sound someting like the Desert Island program. Oh, by the way
the moderator told the guest that he/she would be stranded on the Island for the rest of the person's life. that made the choices of both the music and the books more compeling. Mahlia, you are going to convince people that you are NOT a nice lady who loves chocolate and Grandkids. Mind, I am no sure I would want to run into you in a dark alley (kidding)

Mahlia.. Ahh living in third world countries will do you in yet.. or in the depths of some US cities. Books and I have to carry them. That would limit me to paperbacks. That is hard. I have a large genealagocal library and that is a treasure. Many many out of prints, but mostly too heavy to carry. You know I think maybe a compelling saga or two. John Galsworthy "The Forsythe Saga" Dorothy Sayers, Lord Peter series for the English. Marcia Muller, some of her Sharon series, Robert Parker because Spencer always knows what to do. Judge Dee for complicated answers. One or two of my much loved archeology books to remind me of the ancient world. Whew.. I suspect I am already overloaded, but I would want books to remind me of the world that was.

I'm not sure, Louise, how I could approach survival using only matches, books and a throwing knife. Maybe I'm not cut out for that sort of effort. BUT the first book my son ever loved was "Hatchet" - the story of a boy surviving alone in the wilderness with nothing but (you guessed it) a hatchet and the clothes on his back.

I like seniornagles use of 'deconstruct'. This is a word which makes my skin crawl & so it's eminently suitable for the act of deconstructing a library in choosing which books are keepers and which must be adopted out. The problem is finding a suitable family for the books you cannot keep. I've had to solve this problem many times and, like Tiger Tom, I feel that no one can love MY book as much as I do. I am the only one that can give it a proper home.

Having made choices during my last move (what a wrench to leave books behind) and then having a box of keepers stolen, I vowed that I would do everything possible to retain every single book I had. Obviously, the keeper decision is hard for all of us to face. That's why I choose a flooding home scenario. It might be the only type of situation where I would be forced once again to choose.

Even loaning books is perilous. I shudder at the times I've made loans to people, never to see the books again. As soon as a book passes from your hands and into the hands of another, you mutate from being a proud owner into a wistful begger. And I hate having to beg for the return of a book. I need a PLC (Private Library Cop) to take on the distasteful task of retrieving books.

I'll definitely take shellack's trick of wrapping the books in aluminum foil which will keep honest people honest. However, I've come to accept that many loanees never intend to return books.

Since I'm not Moses I cannot part the sea around my home during the crisis flood, so I would choose the "how-to-survive (emotionally)" books I mentioned before, and Shakespeare. I'd add my grandfather's copy of "Black Beauty" and a little book by Peter Kropotkin, "In Conquest of Bread." Does anyone remember this book?

I was reminded of Kropotkin when BarbaraB talked of the Nearings, an interesting couple who were back-to-landers in the 30's. Kropotkin, aka 'the anarchist saint,' was well-read by Scott Nearing, Helen too I'm sure. "The Conquest of Bread" is Kropotin's diagram of a society which practiced equality, to each according to need, and bread labor -- that is, work productively 4 to 5 hours a day & the remainder of the day you are free to pursue your own interests. Bread labor for the Nearings was maple sugar manufacturing & gardening for food. The rest of their day (non-bread labor) consisted of writing and music. It was Kropotkin's dream which the Nearings made a reality.

If I keep thinking of books I'll end up with my whole library except I couldn't carry everything out with me. I think that each book in our respective libraries is special and deciding keeper or non-keeper is a monstrous choice. Sometimes though we have to be that monster.

--Marvelle

According to my dictionary:

Construct: 1. to form by putting together parts; build; devise. 2. a complex image or idea formed from a number of simpler images or ideas. 3. (Geometry) to draw a figure fulfilling certain given conditions. SYN: erect, form, make.

De- used as a prefix: indicates privation, removal, separation, negation, descent, reversal.

I like the construct part. Don't we all make a particular statement with our individual libraries even when not initially intended?

The de- part makes my pulse jump with fear. However, there is a last definition of de- which is 'intensity.' If you absolutely have to take apart your library (wince) you can design the edited library to retain & magnify its essential soul, like Picasso's bull.

Still I'd rather construct then deconstruct, thank you very much.

--Marvelle

Sorry for getting your name wrong. I tried to correct it last night but couldn't get back onto the net. Do I spell your name Sheila K or Shella K or...? I am sorry for the mistake. Bold colored letters turn fuzzy on my TV screen & are hard to read.

-- Marvelle

Marvelle9,

It's spelled with an 'i'. Sheila, as an Australian's word for girl. Thanks for asking.

These vision problems are the pits, aren't they? My own early cataract makes reading very tiring. I used to read 4 to six hours at a time. Now I'm down to about a half hour. Thank God for talking books!

Mahlia, I have a studio apartment so I'm certainly limited for space. It would be easier for me to let go of some of my books if I knew I was sending them on to universities or middle schools where they would be appreciated and read. If appropriate, could you post the addresses where books can be sent. Thanks. Kathleenm

Kathleen M said that it would be easier to let go of books if you know they will be read and appreciated. Maybe that's why I can't resist giving my favorites away so often.

KATHLEEN - we send books to universities where we have taught or where we have colleagues. My first BIG venture with shipping books abroad was to Chongqing University in China, during my visiting professorship there. At that time (but no longer) the Fulbright Scholars program had a shipping grant for books. So that, combined with support from my own former home university, paid for all the shipping charges. The books that we ship to Egypt are those purchased by my husband (an Egyptian professor of literature). We also pay for the shipping charges. WhenI first met him years ago, I was shocked to learn that his dept. did not have a Reading Library. So I began collecting books for that purpose. Then he mentioned that his College did not have a well stocked library and only a few English language books. I began to collect books for the College. On his next trip to the USA, he showed me pictures of the books that have been shipped previously, the students cataloging them in the dept.'s Reading Room and some studying in their small library. That encouraged me to contiue collecting books for these students. Since I'd worked with many of the faculty from Egyptian universities, I began to inquire about books in other institutions. The collection and shipping just expanded. A few weeks ago, when my husband returned to Egypt, he shipped 35 boxes of books. Usually it's more like 60-70, but he was busy with a project at the Library of Congress, so didn't have as much free time to scout out books.

If you have a particular region of the world in which you are interstsed, call the Cultural Attache at an embassy from that region and find out if there are book collection and shipping programs. Or send me an email about the types and numbers of books that you have.

Another suggestion: if there are Literacy Programs (either for youth or adults) in your community, check to see if they would like some of your books. It's not as expensive if you can pass along your books locally.

A good source for westerns and mysteries is the local jails. They do love to read and the jails seldom have a fund for books. I used to donate some each year when I had the store to the county jail. One of the guards was a regular customer and she told me how they are treasured by the inmates.

When I was in the seventh grade I discovered Albert Payson Terhune and "Lad a Dog" through the years I've read all his collie books and given them away so I was happy to get lad a dog for xmas from my daughter, now twenty five bucks a pop. It was the beginning of my lifelong love affair with collies. There's a collie page at my site too which only brushes on the subject. I'll keep this one forever.

Claire

I have so many books in my house I don't even think I could count. I keep the books that I really love in case I want to read them over again. Heres a few I keep Nelson De'Mille Anne Rivers Siddons Belva Plain Nickolas Sparks The Education Of Little Tree Thats just a few.

KATHLEEN M: If you want to give books away to someone you know will want them, stop over at the Book Exchange. Maybe there is something there you want also. You may not be able to give away the book right away, but you know that the person requested the book wants it. The person receiving the book pays postage to the one sending it.

Wow! What a relief to discover so many other people out there with similar book-collecting tendencies to my own! I, too, accumulate a rather alarming number of stacks all over my 800 square foot apartment. The actual living space is diminishing more all the time! I sometimes actually move a stack or two into a closet or somewhere where visitors won't see them when I'm expecting company, to prevent possibly appearing obsessive!

But if I had to choose... well, the Bible, for sure, and then I guess a selection of books reflecting various genres: "84, Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff (a book of correspondence between an American writer and the employees of a British bookstore) is one of my favorite books, something by Jane Austen, a biography (perhaps "Nina's Story", another favorite), a book of art photographs, an anthology including some short fiction, poetry and selections from novels, and the list would go on. Nice "meeting" all of you; I'll enjoy visiting the site and seeing the new posts.

Sheila F.

Sheila another Helene Hanff person. You will be right at home here. Back in the early days we discussed some of her books and I personally have all of them and will keep them forever.

My first "really serious, grown-up book" (I thought, then,) "Anne of Green Gables" given to me by my brother when I was 13. Also, Tillich's "Shakings of the Foundation" Oxford Annotated Bible, a brand new dictionary that I bought myself in 1998, Letters of C.S.Lewis; The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring; Herman Wouk's "The Winds of War" and "War and Rememberance". K Norris's Cloister Walk" and "Amazing Grace". Pilcher's "The Shell Seekers" "The Once and Future King"(by White?) "Without Feathers" by Woody Allen. Just getting warmed up, but have to stop.

The Once and Future King.. That is one of my favorite rereads.. I probbly reread it about every 5th year. It never loses its charm, but I am a sucker for King Arthur

Oh I forgot about that but yes...from the time I was 15 till my youngest was about 2 I read "Gone With The Wind" and "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" by Fox alternatly every summer - that was six readings of "Gone..." and seven of "Trail..." I can't believe I did that - shoot with all the books I want to read and now am worried there isn't time and I read those two over and over - good grief!

I must say though the one I have read over so many times I have lost count and still turn to is, "Ascent on Mount Carmel" and "Dark Night" by St. John of the Cross. I'm still amazed this was written in the sixtenth century. My copy is falling apart and page after page has whole paragraphs underlined.

One of my childhood favorites was the "Adventures of Marco Polo." I recently found a used, but in good condition, copy that I plan on re-reading during the holidays along with my yearly read of "The Christmas Mouse" by Miss Read. I love that homey and heart warming story.

I did not know about "Wind of the Willows" as a child. I found one of the subsequant stories that Wm. Harwood wrote with permission from the family back in the early 90s. Now I have all the Willow books and just love them as I do the Brambly Patch stories.

Brambly Patch though as much for the illustrations as the story. Had a neat party for 5 adult women where we read the Four Season books and they brought up so many stories from our childhood that we shared with each other over Black Forest Cake and various teas. It was a lovely evening.

There is my Grandmother's copy of "Count Van Luckner the Sea Dog" that I read several times. Reading about the Count gave me a view of German civility, manners and gentleman like respect prior to WW2 and the view of German behavior that my grandmother remembered.

Than of course there is my copy of "The Works of Maupassant" and "The Complete Longfellow" and "Shelley's Complete Poetical Works" and my reading bible "An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols."

And my all time favorite book - there is even a childs version available - "Nathanial Bowditch." A young man that taught himself how to read both Latin and French using the bible as his source to understand and translate as well as, self learning math and accounting and inventing the sexton on and on. What a story, what a guy - all with the romance of the sea, adventure, 'can do' attitude, in eightenth century New England.

St. John of the Cross is special to me, too. Just the thought of the books makes my heart skip a beat.

Linda

If the house caught fire, I always thought I'd take two of the poetry anthologies, or an old comfort-read like Margaret Drabble's "Realms of Gold", but recently since my legs conked out, I've realised a time will come when all the books will have to to thinned out to a dustable minimum. Then I recognised the book I liked best was photographs of 'Water Towers' by those two photographers of industrial buildings - Bernd & Hille Becher. I can't think why pictures of old engineering works should have such a gentle spiritual effect, but these pictures with no shadows & no movement - from so many different countries - fill me with wonder.

Hello out there!

Are you all so busy giving away your books that you haven't time to post here?

Aren't any of you buying borrowing or (ahem) "liberating" books? Spending time wondering where you are going to PUT any new books or store the ones you have?

My wife is yelling at me because I have books on the floor of my room. I haven't found any place to put them and I am NOT giving them up.

Be nice to hear from someone or the other in this discussion.

Tiger Tom

I just finished reading Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry. It is one of the best books I have ever read. I will never get rid of the book. And I just bought another by him called A Place on Earth which will be very good also, I am sure.

Linda

Hey,

There is some life in this discussion group.

Linda, Must admit I do not know of either the book or the Author. My misspent youth I guess.

Perish the thought of getting rid of the book or any book. The anticipation of reading some of the many books that I have that I have yet to read is always nice, something to look forward to. If only I could stop buying more books. I can't. Oh well, My Grandson is going to inherit a good start of his collection of books.

Tiger Tom

I am surprised that I have some books that I simply cannot give up.. The type that make no sense to anyone else. They are simply not important books, so to speak,, but instead books that spoke directly to whatever was happening in my life at the time of reading them. I look at them and the past comes vividly alive.. Not just the book, but my feeling when reading the books. Am I odd or does this happen to others?

Of course those books are important, to You, and that is what counts most.

Yes, I too have those same feelings when I pick up a book I have read before. I don't believe that is at all unusual. Just means that the book made an impression that lasts.

That is, I believe what a book should do.

Tiger Tom

I must use books to relate to life. I remember exactly the book I was reading while waiting with my Mother in the hospital during her last days. I would sit and read, while she lay in a light coma. We both seemed peaceful, but dont know if we were or not.

I may be operating under false colors: I have some Paperback books that I will sometimes find in hardback at a Library Sale, used Books store, Garage Sale. When I find the Hardback I will buy it and exchange it for the softcover on my bookshelf. I then give the softback to the Library sale.

I guess I cannot honestly say that "No matter what happens I am keeping this book."

What started me on this was that I noticed I had three copies of the Boswell Bio of Johnson. One was hard back and two were softcover. I gave the two softcovers to the Library Sale.

I have not catalogued my books on the Computer, yet, so I am never sure when I am buying older books if I already have a copy of it.

Anyway, my secret is out. I don't always keep a book.

Tiger Tom

I have moved 15 times - so my books have been culled numerous times - most critical when moving from 2600 square feet to 250 square feet - sent boxes of books to relatives - they had a garage sale - I sent poetry by the pound - only to move on to others - hmmm! maybe thats the way -

Yes literature , with me , conjures up memories - One such was reading the illiad and the Odyssey in 1953 in Balboa Park in San Diego -

One time a Septic tank backed up and got three boxes of books in a rental house -

My reading never kept up with my love of books - always behind - have tried to replace some books - Couldn't believe the cost.

I suppose Shakespeare the Complete Works would go with me - I'm sort of an ambivalent Hamlet and a dumb Lear with shades of Falstaff. So come flood ; Septic tank burst etc. I need my Shakespeare.

Books are a "private cult" not everybody has your same tastes.

I was in Walden books today - it's safer - They just built a Borders in Palm Desert along with Barnes and Noble - When I go into Barnes and Noble I sweat - I feel this urge to grasp onto everything that has left my various libraries over the years. -

I really wanted to keep my 7 volumes of the Century Dictionary 1926 version and my collection of Dickens from the past - but they went with the many moves - I liked to look up the derivation of words and Century was good for that - They gave the word as it was used in various contexts.

My grandfather and grandmother ran a bookstore in Chicago as one of their ventures - My niece has just opened a used book store in Texas - maybe it is genetic and drops in the DNA or blood now and then.

Ol Imp - Boy are you right about going into Barnes and Noble. I always find something to buy there. When it comes time to renew my card at Waldens I'm not going to do it! Instead I joined the Barnes and Noble Membership whatever. It is supposed to save me both in the store and on-line. Less on-line but still a discount. With their deal with SeniorNet I can save and still help out SeniorNet.

You said "Books are a "private cult" not everybody has your same tastes. " and I agree with you on that one. Each of us are a unit unto ourselves. However, we all share some spots on the literary map. :GinnyAnn:

I don't know about you all, but I get sweaty palms whenever I am in a book store. Like Old Imp, I want just about everything in the store.

Just the feel of a book in my hands give me a sense of Pleasure and security. Why, I cannot say. The pleasure comes from holding the book and if I own it, knowing that I own it. I cannot say for wure why I feel the sense of security. Unless it is because I know what the book has to offer, a great deal, that I don't always find elsewhere.:

I have never had a book fail me, betray me, or not be available when I need it. Something that cannot be said of many people I have me over the years.

For me, a book is a friend and companion almost as good as a Dog. Which is why I, at least, will not abondon a book or give it away.

Tiger Tom

Mine consists of many art books all the way from history to how to do and particular coverage of a given artist. If I like a show I go to, I buy the catalogue so it adds up. I had that stolen once by a guy who was housesitting for me and had to start all over.....horrible experience. I keep natural history books, anything on folk spiritualism as I lived with an astrologer and became fast friends with her for a while, anything "classic" that I either haven't read or should read, i.e. the golden bough etc. and a large collection of Louis L'Amour paper back westerns. I keep wondering how it is that he commands so much attention from the first to the last page, brilliant in the suspense area. I love mysteries but only read them once and pass them on to the village exchange, or here or the library or the good will. I love owning books....have many for information on various subjects that interest me. This dates back to before the internet where I couldn't just go to the computer and "search" for infor and needed my own "library". LIght fiction gets the old heave and hoe (romance and boring mysteries once read) but not much else.

Claire PS>>

the same goes for sheet music (piano, and guitar) also all my old SING OUT's from folk days when I collected, sang and taught folk music and guitar. .... I've got too much STUFF.

I borrowed "The Victor Book of the Opera" many years ago from a neighbor - after listening to Lily Pons and associating her colatura voice, with certain roles , I wouldn't release the book - I bought my neighbor a new copy of the book.

Old Imp,

At least you replaced it!

I am still trying to pry loose a book I lent to a Doctor. I have got all sorts of excuses, but no Book.

Hope you have enjoyed and Treasured that book.

Tiger Tom

One thing is for certain - if you give away books to the library or charity shops - within a couple of weeks you'll wish you hadn't. You'll either need one for reference, need another to help with a crossword, someone will ask if they can borrow a copy they know you have. Best thing, is just let them pile up in the corridors....

I put the unfinished ones on the floor of my computer room - A real problem - I tripped over a fat one (Halberstam's "Fifties") the other day - It's a good prompt to get me to finish the book but dangerous to my body and being - The other unfinsished ones are out of my path to the light.

I have books stacked everywhere in my Room. I have one stack of "To Be Read Books" that I have bought, in the last year, which measures a little over five feet in height.

I also have a stack of books, brought to me by a neighbor, that he says "You have to read." Most of them are anti-Clinton, or prove that FDR was responsible for not only Pearl Harbor but WWI.I. Since I don't give a hoot one way or the other about either of those things the books gather dust until a sufficient time goes by and I can return them with some non- committal mutterings. I like my neighbor and, like me he is a book nut, a WWII buff, and a Senior. Anyway, as long as one can cut a path through the books one is all right.

Tiger Tom

bookcases help me with most of my book collection. Not all, mind you but most. I have shelves of books "To Read" and shelves of books "Read." Also, there are shelves of reference type books such as my Elizabethan Renaissance collection, books on writing and business books. :GinnyAnn:

I haven't had time to put anything in order. There are books in most of our rooms, mostly on book shelves, but in no specific order. Some are in a huge box, some on tables. Sounds like a Dr. Seuss tale.

I can find them in a box. I can read them with a fox. I can read them in a chair, I can read them with a pear. Books, my books are everywhere!

Such a hodge-podge! But, most are un-read. Those I read I don't keep unless they are treasures to me. I have some travel books that are keepers. One year I got on a kick reading books about the Equator. I think I went around the world on the Equator 3 times that year. It was a wonderful reading year. Most of those books I have kept.

I've kept another by Pamela Jekel called Natchez. And another by Jewell Parker Rhodes called Bayou or maybe it's by Jekel. Just books I enjoyed reading and are memorable I keep...probably about 4-5% of what I read.

I tend to save more non-fiction than fiction such as some about Mother Teresa or about or by Jane Goodall.

I will put them on the bed. I will stack them on my head. I will store them in a box. I will put them under clocks. My books, my books, I love, I swear. My books, my books are everywhere.

"I will put them on the bed. I will stack them on my head. I will store them in a box. I will put them under clocks. My books, my books, I love, I swear. My books, my books are everywhere." You sure got that right! :GinnyAnn:

Speaking of Mother Teresa: I met her in Calcutta, India and got her to autograph a book about her titled: "We did for Jesus."

I was surprised at how small she was and how strong her handshake. Good firm voice. Spoke English well

I met her in the Consul General's Office in the American Consulate in Calcutta.

It was, as you can guess, quite a thrill.

Needless to say this is one book I am not going to let go. It will be for my Daughter and Grandchildren.

Tiger Tom

This one is not on my head nor under a clock - It has followed me around for some years - I have a marker on page 107 dated 1970'S - now that's only 32 years ago - hmm! talking about Vedic hymns and the Upanishads - The book originally cost $2.95 (paperback) - published by Beacon Press in Boston - originally in 1955 - this was the tenth printing - 1972 - "homo ludens" a study of the play element in culture by johan huizinga. - maybe if I read it , other than bits and pieces I will learn how to be man the player - that was my hope.. ah dreams

I noticed that "Seth Speaks" is precariously balanced behind my yellow rabbit over "The Greek Way" above my computer - Last time we had an earthquake (good shake) some of that stuff came down - and there he lay and Seth did it.

There was a book that came out right before Jan 1 2000 called The Last Day by Glenn Kleier. I read it and really enjoyed it. then I read about the author. He had shown the book to Mother Teresa and she gave her approval. It's really quite a thriller - not something I could even picture her reading, but it is quite a thought-provoking book - especially if read right before 2000 rolled around.

Linda

Hi Everyone! I'm new at SeniorNet and have so far spent hours here just reading and being enthralled by the intelligent discussions---which, I don't know if you realize it, is rare on most internet discussion boards. I think you all have me hooked. Anyhow, about keepers. I keep books for different reasons, some because I re-read them often, some because they just have a chapter or two that I love, some for basic philosophy which I agree with and the words used are so much better than I could ever state, some books that have changed my life, and one (a travel book imported from Germany)that I just LOVE the feel of. It's one of those books that's just the right size, feels solid and heavy, has a silky smooth cover that's a delight to touch, and is bound so well that I think it might be indestructible. I keep dozens of books by my bed because I like to browse, depending on what I feel like reading before going to sleep, and I have a set of books on Haiku poetry that are a treasure because the author's explanation of the Japanese language and the symbolism and how it all translates (or doesn't translate) into English is very thorough. Now let me ask a question. How many of you underline and make marginal notes? Do you feel that is somehow sacriligeous, like I do? Or do you feel free to mark up a book? I still have trouble with doing that and prefer Post-It notes when I want to recall something from a book. Just can't get myself to mar the beautiful pages of a book---unless it's a cheapy paperback that's read for information only. What do you think?

MOUNTAINGAL, what a great post! I like your upbeat attitude, and we sure welcome you to our group. I had to laugh when you wrote about not wanting to mar a book---I'm the same way, ever since I was cracked across the knuckles with a ruler by one of the nuns who taught me "not to dog-ear" a book.

I'm sending you an email, hope to see you around the boards!

Lorrie

Marring books. For me it depends on the book. When I went to college the first time around I got used to highlighting books as a way of studing. I have a tendency to highlight a book rather than mush margin writing. However, I sometimes do that also. If it is a library book, I use post-its as markers so I came return to the passage and either reread it or copy it. I love books and own lots of them. Howver, this doesn't keep me from marking them as I think of them as a tool. The one thing I remember is a teacher, I think it was a nun, showed use how to open a new book.

Mountaingal,

Welcome, a great big hearty WELCOME.

That post of yours was very interesting. Nice to hear about your reasons to keep and love your books.

Marking a book. NEVER. I hate books that have been marked. I cannot say I hate the people who mark in them, but they sure aren't my favorite people.

I remember reading that Harry Golden, the publisher of the Carolina Israelite, said he couldn't read a book without a pencil in his hand. That is something I can't understand. If something in a book strikes me, I will remember it. I don't have to mark the passage.

Woe unto them that borrows a book of mine and marks it. That person will never again be lent a book by me.

Tell us more about yourself, please.

Tiger Tom

I dont mark books, but confess that I adore used books, buy them a lot and am always intrigued when I come upon markings and comments. Somehow they are fun to see how someone else saw the book.

Mountaingal,

I have mentioned you and your post in another forum. Hopefully, you will hear from some of the people in that forum. You sure sounds like just kind of person that will fit in beautifuly on the Senior Net.

Careful though, you may find yourself being charmed into being a Discussion Leader or some other position. You would, of course, be good in those sort of things. I believe that you will like the people here and they will very much like you.

Tiger Tom

All I can say is that it's a pleasure to be here. As for learning more about me, click on my name and I did write a short autobiography for everyone to read. I must admit I'm still ambivalent about marking a book. I would NEVER mark up a borrowed book, and seldom mark up a hard-cover book, but there are a few I've read that have so many highlighter colors in them that I even amaze myself when I go back and take a look. Those are mainly self-help books, though, which I re-read as I progress in my spiritual or artistic path--and what I've found intriguing is that when I re-read those books I may be struck by a totally different passage at the next reading than I was with the first reading. So what I've done is used different markers, yellow for the first reading, a pale green for the second, pale pink for the third, and so on. In retrospect it's sort of an interesting history to show me where I've grown or where I'm still lacking. Anyhow, I'd be delighted to hear from anyone. I love to get e-mails and try to answer all of them---at least in the winter time. I can't guarantee anything when the weather is good because at those times I'm usually out painting and not on the computer. So bear with me and be patient when I disappear for weeks at a time. It's not because I don't like it here anymore---it's just because I'm doing other interesting stuff. I have my first solo painting show coming up in September, and want to have a fabulous, eye-popping, knock-your-socks-off kinda exhibit, which means I will be VERY preoccupied all summer long.

Hey, I envy you your good memory. Mine has never been that great and as I've gotten older it's become even more sluggish, so post-it notes have become a necessity for the likes of me. LOL!

Mountaingal

Short term memory is a bit dicey but the long term holds good. this seems to be common among the older folks.

Drives me nuts sometimes. I cannot remember names of people, places or things but can remember incidents that happened 20 years ago.

Tiger Tom

Noticed you were in the Diplomatic Service. That must have been interesting! Would love to hear you discuss how things have changed and how the view of the world has changed towards the U.S. and how we have changed as far as looking back out at the world. I bet you have some interesting commentary to share. Did you serve in mainly one place? Many places? Which was your favorite? How did you get into that field? Speak any languages? Would you do it all over again in this day and age? Just very curious. I went to high school with a young man who was Italian, born in Ethiopia, spoke seven languages, and to be in the Diplomatic Service was his dream. Wonder if he ever did what he wanted, but have never been able to track him down.

Mountaingal

When I entered the Foreign Service America was well regarded. An american was one step below God in the eyes of many people in many countries.

Being American saved my bacon a time or two. One time was on a road, by myself, facing a small mob of men who thought I was evacuating some Hindu's out of an area to keep them from being killed by Muslims. I was actually evacuating Christians. This was in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) Anyway, being an American changed the tenor of the incident. From threatening to friendly because I was recognized as being American. Had I not been I probably would have ended it all right there.

Now, I would hate to be in that situation anywhere as an American. I wouldn't stand a chance. I served 16 years in various European countries; seven years on the Indian Sub-continent; two years in North Africa and two years in China. Also had about three years in the U.S. plus about two years leave time in the U.S. over the 35 I spent in the F.S.

My favorite place? Denmark. Great people and a lovely country.

No languates, reason. I spoke English all of the time as I worked in the Embassy or Consulate and everyone there spoke English. Trying to learn a foreign language without being able to use it for more than an hour or so a week is impossible. Besides, whenever people found out that you spoke English they refused to speak their own language preferring to practice their English.

I got into the field by sheer chance, I noticed an item in the newspaper saying that the Foreign Service was taking applications for employment. I applied and was accepted and had a 35 year career.

Do it today? Not on your life. I watched over the years as things got more and more dangerous for F.S. personnel and their families. We had some anxious moments in our career: Israeli and Arab war when we were stationed in the Magreb (North Africa) and in India when Indera Ghandi was assisinated by her Sikh guards. Radio Moscow was broadcasting that the CIA was behind the assisination. We were expecting a mob to come over the wall at any time. Also, we were in Islamabad Pakistan right after the burn-out. still dicey. Had to be careful all of the time our big worry was that the American School was about five miles out of town and we had no way of getting out there in time in case of trouble.

If you friend spoke that many languates he probably did get into the State Department but may have ended up as a translator in the U.N.

Now, question for you. Have you looked into the two poetry discussions: one in the Books and Lit and the other in Writing, Language and word play?<P. The reason I asked is the people there might be interested in Haiku and maybe you could tell them something about it.

Tiger Tom

Thanks for telling me about your days in the FS. Sounds like you had an exciting, full and interesting life. Yes, I have been over to the poetry site, also the words and language site to practice my German---in fact, I've been adding my two cents worth in a lot of places with replies from some very lovely people. Even participated in the chat one evening, but it's too fast for me to keep track of what's going on there. It's sorta like being at a cocktail party where everyone talks at once and you're not sure where to direct your attention. I guess I prefer the slow method of these message boards where the conversations can get a bit deeper and more meaningful. LOL.

That's a good description of those chats, Mountain Gal! It's kind of fun once you get used to the scrolling words.

I haven't participated much in chats at Senior Net yet. I'd like to, but I don't know when is a good time to try it. I've stepped in a couple of times but felt out of place.

When is a good time to go? I am on Eastern time.

Linda

I think all of my books by Stephen King. He was once my VERY favorite author, and though my interests have changed I have alot of memories attached to them. It is strange, but as some people attach good memories to certain music or movies, I can attach memories to my books. My lates addition to my Jonathan Kellerman collection, Flesh & Blood..mainly because my husband gave it to me yesterday for my birthday..and he wrote a very nice (though brief) birthday greeting inside) My cookbooks..just because. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn..it is a battered copy I got at a used book sale, but it is one of the first books I ever read more than once, and enjoyed each and every time I read it.

Happy Birthday yesterday, Mamabear!

Another Aquarius, I just had one too, and it was kinda a shocker so have made up my mind to do as many new things this year, in 2002, as I have lived years on this earth, let's see when the end of the year comes if I have done it!

I've got two original The Stand copies by Stephen King, my son gave me the first one (on my birthday!) and it was when it first came out and I thought I lost it! So he gave me anothher one and now I have two and they are not going anywhere, I read somewhere also that they are VERY expensive now, that's about the most expensive modern author's book and edition there is, who knew?

I love a Tree Grows in Brooklyn, that one and Marjorie Morningstar and The Fires of Spring are definite keepers with me, even tho I have not read them over in the last 20 years.

We are delighted to have you in the Books and we hope you stay a long time (you are surrounded by Aquarius Readers) hahahahaha

ginny

Ginny How did I miss your birthday? I am a Gemini, which gets along well with Aquarians and Librans. My youngest was born on Feb. 2. My Mom was born on Feb. 2 and so was one of my good friends. Many of my other friends are Gemini.

Happy
Birthday
Ginny
and
Momabear
:GinnyAnn:

I do mark my own books - My memory is not that good - I have marked in different colors on re-reads (sort of indicates how I have changed) - Strange; some books seem sort of sacred and I don't dare mark them (Golden Bough) - If I am intense about absorbtion I mark and make margin notes - When in college I underlined and made margin notes and at times did a series of 3x5 cards . -Currently if I am going to discuss a book I do underline and mark in margin and have a 5x7 note -

I mark 'em up all I want in any ole' way I feel like. After all, it's my book and I paid for it.

I love to see what others underlined or wrote in margins, too. Sort of like sharing thoughts with someone.

Yes, I used to use those larger index cards, too. Not a bad idea to resurrect that.

Linda

Speaking of keepers.

Any of you remember your first book? How you got it? What hapened to it? Do you by some chance still have it?

Mine was a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales. I can close my eyes and see that book in my mind's eye, clearly. I loved that book. Probably more than any other book I have owned.

It was my first book and one of my first possessions that I could call MINE. I read and re-read it many, many times. Still, It was in mint condition over the years.

I got the book when I was eight years old. My mother gave it away, unbeknownst to me when she did it. I only discovered that she had given it away when I saw in the home of my Aunt. the book had been destroyed. Cover torn off and pages torn out.

I asked my Aunt how the book got to her home, she said: Your Mother gave it to me for my children. Your Mother said that you had told her that you didn't want it anymore.

My mother never asked me, she just gave the book, and two others, away. Why? I don't know.

To this day I wish I had that book back.

Tiger Tom

Well, after the usual collection of "Golden Books" I remember reading the Honey Bunch & Norman and Bobsey Twins Series of books. They were probably my first. Unfortunatly I do not have them. I had them stored at my dad's house. When he sold the house to movce into an apartment, I put all of my books from childhood in a box, and told him would pick them up on my next visit. Unfortunatly, the box got mixed in with some things he was giving to an auction house and I never saw them again. **sigh**

no, I don't remember my first book--I had two older sisters, so it was probably one my parents had gotten for them. I do remember that we had a set of encyclopedia in a lawyers case. From the time I was old enough to open the case, I used to sit and read the encyclopedia where ever it fell open. There were pictures from history in the end pages, with drawings of historical events. I think that was the beginning of my interest in history.

The first stories I remember were read to me from "The Bookhouse Books." Anyone remember them? My favorite story was "The Little Engine That Could." I loved those books but I discovered they were given to my brother long after we were grown. He didn't even like them!!! I was very fortunate to find identical ones at a used booksale and had the pleasure of reading them to my granddaughter when she was younger. I do remember the Honey Bunch books too. When I was around 11 or l2, I remember reading lots of Nancy Drew books.

The first book that I can remember was. "The Wizard of Oz". It was given to me as a gift, on my 5th birthday, by an elderly couple. (parents of my mother's best friend.) Every year after that, they gave me another Oz book, until I was about 11 years old. I still have most of these book, and they are real collectors items now. They are beautifully illustrated by John R. Neill. Unfortunately I don't still have the original "Wizard", but I do have "The Land of Oz", "Osma of Oz", "The Patchwork Girl", "Rinkitink", and "The Lost Princess". I must have read them all dozens of times, because they are very worn and threadbare.

I remember adoring both, "Heidi", and "Tom Sawyer", both of which I still have. I was crazy about all of the Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames books that were available during the l940's, and can still remember some of the plots!

After WWII my mother and father went back to Berlin to see if there was anything at all they could rescue after the building in which we had our home was bombed. There was only one box with a few family photos that a neighbor had rescued, and what I named "The Big Books" after they brought them back to the West. They were huge and heavy books like photo albums and had color prints on various subjects. I remember some. They were Audubon bird prints, a book on botanicals, one on the royal families of Europe, portraits that famous artists had done, and two with color prints of famous museum paintings. They were locked up in my father's desk and I had to ask for them if I wanted to look at them. In fact, it was a real ceremony when he opened the cabinet and handed them to me, one at a time, like precious glass. So I knew without a word ever being said that these were to be treated with the utmost care, and I recall many a rainy afternoon lying on the rug with the Big Books and relishing every single one of them. I think that's where I learned a lot about art, composition, costume, history, and about plants and birds. When we came to America all our household belongings were sold in order to travel light and begin life afresh, and I remember I cried when a perfect stranger carried my "Big Books" away. But life always has compensations, because when we arrived in the town in which we settled in Canada I discovered the LIBRARY, and once I had the English language under my belt I read every single book in the children's section. When I went to check out adult books the librarian knew it was because I'd already read all the other ones, and so she let me have them, even if they were quite racy, like some of the detective novels. My parents never censored anything. I was free to read whatever I wanted to read, see any movie I wanted to see, and they never worried. In fact, my brother and I learned most of our English out of a Sears catalog and comic books. We had a spare room in the attic that was like a small bedroom, and it was filled about 3 feet deep with comic books---all the floor space was filled with them. So on Canadian rainy afternoonds he and I were in that dusty room reading endless comic books. Hahahaha! wish I had some of those now.

question. That one brought up a lot of fond memories. LOL

Mountaingal,

You must have had a very kind and intelligent Librarian: When I was Eight ( and in the third grade the only Library I had access to was the school Library.

I had become interested in Astronomy and tried to check out a beginning book on Astronomy. Couldn't do it. That book and the Other books on Astronomy was considered at least 6th grade level so me being in the third grade was not allowed to check the book out.

I tried sneaking the book off the shelf during lunch and reading it in the back of the Library Room. That worked for a while but I was caught and the book was taken away. I was watched from then on when I came into the Library.

It didn't do me a blind bit of good trying to prove that I understaood the book and the subejct. NO, the Library had it regulations and that was that.

Didn't do any good to appeal to my parents because they were told that the subject was too advanced for my age so they wouldn't buy any Astronomy books for me. I, naturally, had no source of income so I couldn't buy any books.

These days, of course, children have access to anything they want even if they are a little young for the subject.

Tiger Tom

Mountaingal,

I bet those "Big Books" wree wonderful. From your description I can almost see them.

Isn't it a pity the circumstances sometimes forces us to part with some our dearest possessions.

Tiger Tom

life just goes on, is full of changes, and it must be so. Besides I have those books stamped in my memory because I looked at them so often and can still see most of the pictures in my mind's eye. As for your librarian, thank goodness times have changed about that, and thank goodness we had a sort of laissez-faire librarian in our town. I think it's terrible when the mind gets chained to what is "expected" instead of allowing it to roam free, especially in childhood. Only trouble is that today children may have more access to information, but I think an awful lot of what they learn is trivia and nonsense instead of good solid knowledge and truth. Even sex and violence are OK for a child to learn about if taught as they really are instead of teaching it to titillate as our society tends to do, and it's difficult to discern for a child who has access to the internet what is truth and what is not. But in those days my parents allowed me freedom, and I also had the freedom to go to them (especially my dad) and ask about anything I had questions about or didn't understand, and he would give me hypothetical situations and then ask for my opinion on them and be truly interested in what I had to say, guiding me with questions (not rules) when he felt I was "off". He himself was a critical thinker, and because he shared so much with me, I learned how to be a critical thinker also. But that's the first prerequisite a child must have in order to be discerning about what he reads or sees or hears; and oh my---we are so lax about teaching that mandatory basic skill. I think today children have a lot of facts, but no way to connect the dots because they have not been taught to think. Anyway, I hope as soon as you were able to you made up for your strict librarian and followed your dream about astronomy, and are still having fun making up for it.

Mountaingal

Your last post sure hit the nail on the head:

Thinking is not taught or encouraged these days. Children are fed such pap through T.V. and the movies. Damned Commericals are so stupid and so pervasive with nothing to counter them.

I am an armchair type when it comes to Astronomy. I have a number of books and subscribe to the two major Astronomy magazines: Sky and Telescope and Astronomy.

One thing that Astronomy did for me was lead me to Science Fiction. Naturally, when I was reading it anyone who did read Science Fiction was looked on as a bit wierd.

God how I loved it when Star Wars came out. NO more grade Z Science fiction films and T.V. shows. Also Star Trek on T.V. but I believe that it took the Star War Movie to bring it into focus for most people.

I get a kick out of people who jeered at what Science Fiction was predicting now saying that they knew it all along.

You were fortunate to have such an understanding and helpful family, especially your Father. that helps no end to someone when they are growing up.

Tiger Tom

magazine about ways parents are trying to combat all the trivia and bad information their children are getting, but in the process it seems to me they are stunting the growth of their kids. When you eliminate the bad out of life, that also tends to eliminate the good, and they get wrapped in cotton. Parents these days tend to do that in the physical area of life too, trying to protect their kids from getting hurt so much that the child finally feels afraid of everything. Life is tough, and the bumps and bruises kids get are necessary to teach them strength. The way to combat bad information is to teach critical thinking skills, and if the schools won't do it, then the parents have to. Most parents these days, however, are "too busy" and so some parents just wrap their children in coccoons, whether physical or mental, and hope it will go away. I'm so glad I had the dad I had. He was a reader himself, considered a "nerd" by some, but it never took his center of self-respect away no matter what anyone said, and that's what he taught me also. Heck, he was an anglophile in Nazi Germany, so you can imagine how he "did not fit in", was even fired from the symphony orchestra as a violinist and did some prison time when he spoke up against the Nazi regime and Hitler, and was finally forced to make a choice of losing his life or going with the flow. So he went with the flow with as much resistance as he could get away with, and as soon as it was all over he was his outspoken opinionated self again. When I heard all the things that happened to him I decided right there and then that "political correctness" is dangerous, even if well intentioned, and I absolutely refuse to go along with it. I think what I think, have reasons for all my thinking, and will say so openly even when it's against the grain.

The schools today are teaching kids how to brush their teeth instead of reading and writing and thinking, and how to "fit in" instead of having an analytical mind, and shaping them into whatever the current "political correctness is" or training them to "get a job" instead of training them to think and figure it out for themselves----and it's sad, sad, sad.

While this may not have been my first book, it is the first one I can remember and it was decidedly Science Fiction in nature. It was also more of a little comic book or illustrated book since it had pictures on each page with text underneath. And it was in another language -I lived in the Netherlands at the time. Anyways the book was Tom Poes en de Blikken Mannen -which translates into Tom Cat and the Tin Men.

MountainGal, we are talking about education and learning in Curious Minds and I'd love it if you shared your thoughts with us -if you haven't found the discussion already.

My first was probably given to me from my mom. It may have been hers. It was "The Little Match Girl". Remember that story?

And I had a beautifully illustrated "The Wizard of Oz" and a book of Fairy Tales.

Linda

MountainGal,

Kids were wrapped in a cacoon way back when.

In many ways kids were not prepared to go out in the world because they weren't taught that lots of people out there weren't very nice and would take advantage of their lack of sophistication and trust.

I can remember text books teaching that a person who sat a certain way in a chair was "Sly" and "Devious" etc. Not that the person probably have never been taught how to sit in a chair properly. That person who may have sat wrong could be a saint and the person who sat up with hands folded in lap could have been a real stinker. Also, the model used to depict the two people sitting in the chair was the same person. Which negated the lesson that was being taught.

I also remember hearing that "Good Girls didn't," you name it. Well, they did, just not where anyone saw them and they denied if caught.

Same for boys.

Kids may be seeing life in the raw today, but it is much more realistic than what was taught years ago.

At lest that is my opinion.

I would have like to have met your dad. He sounds like my kind of person.

Tiger Tom

Such a wonderful flash of memory. The first books that were important and all mine were " My Friend Flicka" and "Thunderhead". Both horse books and this little farm child was totaly horse crazy. Used to sneak into the barn and try to sleep with my pony. My Mom got the books since I kept saying that I was not interested in the library books, she brought home. I fell in love with reading with them and have never stopped from that day to this She was also a parent who believed you should read anything that you wanted to try. She never censored me, read everything imaginable and left them in the bookcase for me to try. She just said.. If you dont understand something, always ask me first.. And I did..

Stephanie,

I too read My Friend flicka and Thunderhead. Also, the Black Stallion, The Black Stallion Returns, and Black Beauty.

I was Animal Happy I guess.

At lest you didn't try to sneak the pony into the House to sleep in your room. Sleeping in the Barn must have been cold during the Winter.

You, Like Prancer, were lucky. Having such understanding parents that didn't attempt to limit you or hobble your curiosity.

Tiger Tom

What pops into my head about the first book is "Mitty and Mr. Syrup" - It was a fictional account of a family that extracted maple syrup from trees for a living in Vermont -

My acqusition of the book was that it was in a box of used stuff that nobody wanted - so it was different than being a gift from another person.

My step daughter gave me a book "Three Coins in the Birdbath" by Jack Smith - a newspaper writer - That book has stuck around for about 30 years - "Mitty and Mr. Syrup" -?? - That disappeared about 60 years ago.

I did have some early exposure to Bellamy; Wells; Sinclair; Seldes etc. The books were around the house and I would scan portions of them. -

Gee! it sure is a fine line between being a "critical thinker" and being unsure and ambivalent - I guess , at times ,I have spun my wheels in doubt - How can I be a critical thinker and not see the worm in the apple?? Does the constant doubt become self-doubt?? I do like the openess and fresh air of alternative thought processes and alternative ideas but, if too open, where do you land?

Anyone care to take the questions in the last paragraph of Old Imp's post?

Good questions.

Tiger Tom

Reading a book right now called "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci" and there are seven principles to CREATIVE thinking. #4 in the lot is an Italian word called "sfumato" which basically means "going up in smoke" which, defined with regard to thinking, means a willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertaintly. So Old Imp, nothing wrong with being unsure and ambivalent, because that way you leave your thinking open to "out-of-the-ordinary possibilities" and when a conclusion comes along that feels right, you will know.
In our Western society we have an almost religious adoration for certainty, but the truth is that everything is always changing and there is no certainty at all, and once you become totally comfortable with that you can actually enjoy life to the fullest no matter what happens or how much it changes and you can flow with whatever current comes along.
At least that's what I've tried to do with my life--to be open to accept absolutely anything that comes along and to think of negatives and positives as "lessons" that I need to learn in life. I even thought about the title of this particular section "No matter what happens I'm keeping this book". Yes, I have my favorite books and I love them, but ultimately, if I really think about it, I would be willing to let go of them also. I live surrounded by national forest in Northern California and every summer there is the danger of fire when everything gets so dry that it becomes a tinderbox. I've actually had to seriously think about what I would take with me if I had to evacuate--and the conclusion is that I'd take my animals and nothing more---not even the family photographs or my paintings. I've already distributed to my children what pertains to them, and the rest are just material things that don't really matter. My mother and father lost everything they owned several times in their lives, WWII being the first time, and life went on anyway with all the normal ups and downs.

So I keep my thinking open about everything except my very basic spiritual values which are my centered and unique relationship with God (or the universe) and everything else can flow, even time. Sometimes that gets me into trouble with friends because if we plan to meet somewhere I will say, "Well, I'll get there when I get there." The ones who understand that are people who will become best friends. The ones who don't---well, we may be friendly but will never quite see eye to eye. Even when I have an appointment I like to be open to whatever may happen, and that includes negative stuff too, like a flat tire. It's all part of living, and without the dark we wouldn't even recognize there was light. And without ambivalence and openness, we would never see a BRAND NEW idea or way of doing something. I think to have entrenched thinking limits all the possibilities that the world is capable of giving to you. So keep right on doing what you are doing and don't think of it as self-doubt. Think of it as "creativity" and a "joy in what is gonna happen next". Hahahaha! OK, that was the artist in me speaking.

Well, along the same thread of early books from our childhood, I guess the book I no longer have, but miss the most is a book of fairy tales from all over the world that my mom got me once. It was a collections of stories gathered by Danny Kaye...I seem to remember that at the time he was very involved with UNICEF, and the money from the book sale went to that. It was an oversoded book with great illustrations. Unfortunatly, it was also in that box of obbks I mentioned in an earlier post that acidently got taken to auction. I only hope that whoever got it appreciates it. I was azbout 28 when I "lost" that box of children's books..and up till then, I was still, on occasion, bringing that particular book out to re-read a story or two. People speak of comfort food, I guess that was my confort book.

Marie

There probably will be books written about Lay and Fastow - as there were books written about the Muckrakers by Norris and such - and then "The Jungle" by Sinclair - shattering simple images or beliefs - I reach for a constant and "The Golden Bough" by Frasier illucidates a group that worships turtles and their shells - I currently don't include turtles in my worship but heck , who knows.

I guess I have wanted and persued a constant - when I thought I was there - poof - "sfumato" there it went up in smoke - So we want an oil pipeline in Afghanistan - We call it a war on Terrorism - Is it all about wants and needs - So Firestone and GM collude to sell their merchandise and buy up and , put out of business the public transit systems.. it is like a snake of alterior motive - no soft bliss.

When authors ,poets , songwriters are in my comfort zone I like them - when they move out of my comfort zone and change , I get upset - Will my comfort zone alter?? - I don't know.

When I thought about "sfumato" - I saw myself sitting on the sidewalk - very much alone - my life had gone up in smoke - sitting on the sidewalk on Hollywood blvd at 7am in the morning - staring out in space - Same again in Palmdale , CA - mid afternoon , sitting on the sidewalk - poof - life had gone up in smoke - staring .

No constants.

Leonardo Da Vinci - She flew in from Italy , gave me a portrait of Leonardo and told me to get lost out of her life - boy did you hit a "sfumato".

MountainGal: your last post struck me solidly. Have you knowledge about Eastern religions? Are you familiar with Native American thought? One idea I've picked up from them is that there is a balance in the world--and we can't know evil without good, light without dark, etc. That is such a different concept from what I was taught as a child---that good will overcome evil, if we try hard enough. That idea has led us humans down some murky paths. We humans define "good" and then kill anyone who doesn't agree with us...

Tiger,,, Since I lived in Delaware and barns are truly usually warm and cozy, I could sleep there and not freeze.That is if I did not get caught by my Mom..She considered it unsanitary to sleep with my pony. However that is the way I first got to see a foal born and realized what a true miracle life is. I could not deal with a friend who may or may not show up when we said we were doing something. I would consider it as a non committment. I am a great believer in if I commit, I do it..

Stephani,

What I have always hated is a person who will say that they will come to some place or event and don't show up. Later when you ask them why they didn't show they say "I said I MIGHT be there."

I have, on occasion, pointedly said will you or will you not come to whatever. They would either say yes or no. When the one's who said yes were asked later why they didn't show up, I would get the same refrain: "I said I MIGHT be there."

After a time of that I would stop asking that person to do anything.

Tiger Tom

Tiger, Yes I feel like that. I have a good friend who cannot be depended on, so I never ever make plans with her. If we run into each other or something, Fine,, but if not, not.. we email, that way we are not waiting for one another. I am a quaker and have strong emotions about reliability and commitment. Deep within each of us dwells a light that you must pay attention to. For each I am sure it is different.

Never said I wouldn't show up, but I make it clear right from the beginning that if we plan to meet in the afternoon, I am not going to commit to a very specific time. The most I will say is "early afternoon" or "after lunch" or "late afternoon". And I can be counted on to be there. I just prefer not to have my life run by a clock, which is a man-made artificial instrument. That does not mean I can't be counted on and it doesn't mean I lack committment. Also, if the other person feels they have waited too long, they are free to leave with no hard feelings at all. Unless the event we plan to attend is at a very specific time, in which case I will be on time. But when I meet a friend at a museum or we plan on going for a drive, or other non-time sensitive things such as that, I don't feel either of us should be run by a hand on a clock. There are many societies in this world that live like that and understand it and do just as well as our society does. I often laugh when Caucasians get upset at an American Indian Powow, for instance, which often don't start on time because they are on "Indian time" which means it's a time when everything "feels right" for everyone involved. That makes perfect sense to me and no one gets undone and keeps checking their watches or gets anxious. Same with business people in South America. They have a totally different concept of time and being an hour late for something is no big deal. If that's all clearly understood from the very beginning, there's also no reason to get upset. In fact, Tiger and Stephanie, the people who live like that are usually the world's "creative types" and by not seeing them anymore if they don't appear on time you may be missing more than you realize. But to each his own, I guess. Time according to a clock is a very Northern European concept, and isn't necessarily so for the rest of the planet.

I realize there are people who use time as a control tactic. I've had acquantances who agreed to dinner at a certain time and the souffle came out of the oven and they were no where to be found, and that's not fair. They say they will be there at a very specific time, and then show up an hour or two hours late. I don't deal well with that either because it's carelessness or self-involvement.

What I'm talking about is quite different, sort of a free-flowing "general" time with no specific hour, and of course, everyone involved has to be agreeable to that; otherwise it does cause hurt feelings.

One of my best friends and I are the same in that area. We may meet in a restaurant in what both of us agree is "the early afternoon", and whoever gets there first goes ahead and drinks coffee, reads the paper, brings a book, does some sketching, and waits for the other one without any discomfort at all. If for some reason the one waiting feels they've waited long enough, well that's fine, then they leave, but it seldom happens to either one of us. It's like we know what the other is saying without the help of a clock. Besides, my life in general flows very freely with very little that's ever scheduled, and I've been able to do that since I work at home part-time and don't have to be anywhere. I realize life is not like that for many people, and when I was still in the working world it wasn't for me either---and I was ALWAYS on time. Now not being on time is sort of a luxury I allow myself to enjoy, unless a very specific time is agreed upon such as for a doctor's appointment. See what I mean?

I spent a delightful summer studying Native American culture, back in the 70's. It was a thinly disguised "sensitivity training" for us---white folks who taught Native American (Onondaga) students at our high school. The sessions started "On time"---that was when everyone who needed to be there had arrived. And we laughed a lot--I learned a lot of facts and read great material. But the most important lessons was being in a minority situation. There were 7 of us "White people" and about 25 Native American. It was a life-altering experience. I learned to listen before I spoke. I learned to think over a decision overnight before changing directions in a plan. And I saw materialism from a different perspective. "Things are just the way they are supposed to be."

Prancer, Catbird,

Living and working overseas in many cultures and countries I too ran into different ideas about timeliness and the importance of things other than being on time.

I learned that when someone said that he/she would do something it might mean that the person would do that thing when it was convenient for them, not you.

ON the Sub-continent, when someone asked for something to be done it was asked at "Your very earliest possible convience." that left a good deal of latitude and wasn't regarded as pushy. But it also gave a sense that person asking would appreciate that the thing would be done fairly quickly.

Took me a while to adjust. I would be tearing my hair out because something wasn't done when I thought it should be done. My pushing only served to delay. I eventually learned but it took a while and whole handfulls of hair.

I was raised to regard tardiness as rudeness and arrogance. If there was a valid reason, that could be forgiven, but if there was no good reason it meant that the person who was late had no respect or regard for you and that the person was implying that you were of little importance to that person and the person didn't regard your time of any importance.

I would hate people who would ask to go along somewhere and I would tell them I was leaving at a certaint time. I could almost count on getting a call just before I was scheduled to leave saying that the other person ws "running late" and would I wait.

I would get this outrage from the other person when I would tell them that I was leaving on my schedule not his. That if I could be ready on time so could he. Usually it was a ploy, if I would go along with that one time I would go along with it all of the time.

Tiger Tom

Sorry,

My last should have been addressed to Mountaingal and Catbird.

Prancer is a very nice lady I have seen in other folders and discussions who has impressed me very much with her humor and lightheartedness.

Tiger Tom

I think we've talked in the Chatterbox before. Yes, I am familiar with both eastern religions and with Native American culture. I have spent quite a bit of time on the Navajo reservation while my daughter was married to a Navajo. But even though I'm familiar with the way other groups of people think, I still consider myself an ordinary Christian (albeit an unconventional Christian who doesn't adhere to any denomination and has her own idea of christ's role in this universe), and I take those things from other cultures that seem useful to me. Time is one of them, and the way other cultures look at it. However, as I said, it has to be agreed to and understood by everyone involved. I would never let anyone wait for me if I hitched a ride with them and would certainly expect to go on their schedule. But that's also one of the reasons I enjoy living alone, because I really do have the luxury of not worrying about time, and in our society I realize that it is a luxury.
But even when my daughter was married in a traditional Navajo wedding ceremony (which was fascinating!) the guests arrived when "it was time" as you said, which is very difficult for a Caucasian to understand, and there again, I noticed white people checking their watches, getting restless, feeling puzzled and agitated, where the Navajos in the group just went with the flow, conversed and had a good time in the meantime, and when everyone who was supposed to appear had arrived the wedding just proceeded---and it was fascinating.
At a Navajo wedding the closest relatives are also given the opportunity to give advice to the couple that has just been married, and time is of no essence there either. Some give a short speech, and some go on and on and on, and everyone sits respectfully by and listens until the person is finished---and they actually listen, not just "pretend" to listen. No one tries to rush the speaker, or interrupt, and no one except the white people look at their watches and look bored. I found it absolutely wonderful that a speaker could say everything he/she had to say without being rushed to get to the point, as we tend to do. Sometimes the talk lasts long into the night, but in this case the bridegroom's mother put a time limit on it as a consideration for us "white folks". So it's just a different way of looking at things and no one is right or wrong---just different.
Personally I have come to that stage in life where I like to have complete control over my own time, and as long as it's agreed upon and I'm not inconveniencing anyone, I don't see what difference it makes. I have that agreement with several friends, and somehow it always works out. And somehow I also know that when a person allows life to be run by the clock, he/she and I will very likely not hit it off because their whole way of looking at the world is different from mine. Not saying they are wrong either; it's just a preference, just as going shopping is entertainment for some women and I can't abide it, or going to a casino is "exciting" for some people when I don't think so at all; so I don't hang around with women who spend their life shopping, or people who like to spend time in a casino, because both of those things bore me. We all make choices in life, and as I get older I tend to make choices more with my preferences, whereas when I was younger I made choices always with others in mind and put my own wishes on the back burner. Been there, done that, and if possible, don't want to do it that way anymore. LOL

Mountaingal,

NONE of my comments in my post No. 133 are or were directed at you.

I was just relating what had been drilled into me about time and tardiness. Knuckled into my head would be more the term.

My family were strong believers in those sort of things. So I was encouraged to follow in that. Hard to shake what was instilled in a person in the early years. It is almost hardwired.

Strangly, while I was taught to be always on time, I was also taught to forgive those who weren't and to overlook their tardiness. talk about a dichotomy.

Tiger Tom

It's just a discussion with each of us having had different experiences and ways of doing things and different things instilled into us. I know that. I was raised in the same way you were actually---Hahahah! Being German "time" was of the UTMOST importance, and so was being "punctual". I've just done a complete turn-around as I've grown older, mainly to keep from getting ulcers and also for the first time to allow life to "just flow and happen". I don't take anything personally on these boards, but I do think discussions about our various opinions are highly interesting, even if we are at opposite poles, and usually I'm a minority of one anyways, which I don't mind at all. I haven't owned a TV set for over thirty years, seldom listen to radio, have NEVER owned a watch, and so my thinking is just very unusual and even a bit on the eccentric side, since I don't have the usual input that most people have. I know that and I like it that way, and my friends know that, and the ones who tolerate it have been very good to me. LOL.

my German auntie, who could not LIVE without her watch even while she was recovering in the hospital from major surgery. Ever since I was a child she would inspect my wrists and couldn't understand how I could possibly go through the day without knowing what time it is. I used to tell her "auntie, I know ABOUT what time it is by how the light outside looks". That was beyond her. As I got older she tried giving me watches, and I would either outright refuse to take them, in which case she would have her feelings hurt, or I would accept them and then lose them or give them away. You just can't imagine how frustrated she go with me, and how funny I thought she was for being so insistent. I can still tell time (approximately) by how the light looks outside. I'm never very far off. The only exception is when they set the clock forward or backward for an hour. That means I will be totally disoriented for about a week, and then I adjust again and am as good as new. I even have clocks in the house, but I don't care what they do and never look at them. It's really funny to watch visitors when they look at a clock in my place and it's "waaaaaay off" with different clocks giving a different time. Well, I have the clocks only because they were gifts from someone precious, and so I keep them, but I don't care what they say because I KNOW what time it is without having to look. Eccentric? Yeah, I guess so---but if you can't be eccentric in your old age, when can you be? LOL

Mountaingal,

If it works for you, great.

Unfortunately, I worked in a world driven by the clock so I have become used to living by it.

You know, of course, it is hard to buy anything electronic today without a clock in it. Coffemaker Microwave, Vcr, you name it. I have an idea that those items are NOT part of your household.

How do you do a three minute egg?

Tiger Tom

I just bought a new coffeemaker, and it was the SIMPLEST one I could find, just an "ON" button and an "OFF" button. Cheap, and nothing much can go wrong with it. Same with my phone and my VCR; I'm sure it has a timer somewhere, but I never set it and never use it to record anything since there's no TV to record anything from. So I use it only to watch movies which I rent and return. That way my house stays uncluttered. Any appliance I buy has to be simple. Same with a car, but that car is well maintained since I also want it to be dependable. I've had salespeople look at me like I'm from outer space if I say something like, "Nope, that has too many buttons on it for my taste." or, "I want the simplest car around, no fancy gee-gaws please."


The only clutter I have around the house are books and my art supplies, which I will make a lot of sacrifices for that other material objects just don't deserve. Once I even had an apartment with nothing in it but a bed, my easel with my paints and lots of books. No other furniture. I felt so blessedly free. These days I have a regular house with regular furniture, pets and even house plants, and sometimes I long for those gypsy days when I had nothing. I suppose that's also why it wouldn't bother me if everything were lost or stolen. I seem to be totally unattached to material things, and as for antiques----no way. Things have to be new and functional.


As for a three-minute egg, I don't care to be that particular about any food. If it's edible it's good enough for me. I know good cuisine when I eat it and can be VERY critical if I'm paying a lot of money for a dinner and it isn't up to my standards. On the other hand, in every-day life I'm not very fussy and a greasy spoon or an egg cooked any ol' way is fine too. I go through all my possessions once a year also and ruthlessly eliminate whatever hasn't been used in a year or two. That way someone else gets the benefit of the item, I can breathe freely with less clutter, and I don't need to take care of it anymore. Seems I have to do that again this summer because I can feel the burden of "things" weighing me down again. Taking care of material things is very time consuming when there are so many more interesting things to do with my time. LOL.

Mountaingal,

I have heard that we become too attached to our possesions and they come to own us.

I too knew a time when I could get out of town in a few minutes. Had one small bag (Used to be called a "Possible's Bag") that would hold what little I owned. Could pack it and be on my way in a minute and if I was hurried (Husband at the door) I could leave it and replace the contents at the nearest five and dime.

Tiger Tom

MountainGal, I'm rather puzzled by something: how do you watch rented movies on your VCR when you have no TV set?

I have a set, it's just not hooked up to an antenna, and out in the sticks where I live that's the only way I can get any reception. Even my radio listening is limited where I am in sort of a canyon between chains of mountains, and I can get only one religious station, one country/western station, and one rock station, and since I'm not into listening to any of those, I also seldom listen to the radio--just if I need a weather report before traveling, and now that I have the internet it's actually easier to check it out on the net. I suppose I wouldn't even have a TV set at all except that when I had to put my mom into a nursing home I inherited her TV set, along with her cat. But before that I didn't even have an actual set in my home. the reason I have a computer is because I need it for work, otherwise I might not have one of those either, but I must admit I've gotten used to, and like, communicating with the whole planet right at my fingertips.
Actually, I was wondering if someone would ask that question. LOL

So there I was in Gila Bend, AZ - night - my old Dodge Valiant threw a rod after 240,000 miles - no watch - no clock - Well I actually looked up at the stars - found I could guess what time it was by Orion's position in the sky - had a habit of following his belt across the sky - (finally found a guy who put a sleeve in for $20.00 and limped back to CA)

It is difficult for me to even know what my wishes are due to my "back burner" existence - possibly I chose this "burden of things" and stuff - Hence, I cannot flow and let it happen - It is difficult for me to know what is contrived and planned and what just happens.

One of the early group of books that I was trying to become familiar with were Thomas Sam's on radio circuitry - back in the old days we repaired radios - I actually knew what some of those things in there were ,and could replace them - don't even think about anymore - You just throw the whole thing away -

Repairing radios reminded me of how useless some stuff has become. When I was in high school my father forced me to take a class in the "comptometer", those unbelievably cumbersome bookkeeping machines they used to have. I hated every minute of it but he felt it would be a "useful" skill in the big wide world. Ha! After the calculator came out the comptometer went in the garbage. Same with the Telex machine. Remember them? Those cumbersome weird things on which you were expected to type to people around the world and it didn't even have a proper keyboard? When the computer appeared that machine bit the dust too. And a good thing too because that's another machine I absolutely hated. I do remember all the "tubes" in the old radio and TV sets. They would get HOT and would need replacement every once in a while. It's actually amazing how much the world has changed in the last 50 years or so, with some things for the better and others I'm still not so sure about. LOL.

I love it - have this quote pinned up in my hall (I've a Zooey door in my Hall) "We are preening inside our self built mirrored casket."

I have been loving this discussion. It mirrors so many variant viewpoints on time and space and belongings. I am sure that I am prompt for several reasons. One,, my parents believed that this was part of being polite and I was schooled in not being rude by their standards.. And second I owned retail stores for many years. You learn to be very aware of time especially in a mall situation.. You have no outside to help you with daylight, etc and you have a schedule to keep that the mall will punish you financially if you do not uphold their rules.. So time for years was important to me. Now I am retired, but I live a fairly complicated life at certain times of year. Just now I do volunteer taxes for the AARP and so must keep an eye out as to what is happening and when. Doesnt really bother me. I also keep my old habits in that if I want to exercise at the gym, etc, I had to make it an appointment in order to actually get there. That way I would not put it off. I like being in shape and discovered to my surprise, I like exercising. Both natural.. I walk 40 minutes every morning about 6:00AM and the gym, that is usually three days a week for an hour on various weight training machines, stationary bikes and rowing. We also Kayak ( natural) and bike ( natural). All in all exercising for me is great fun. But I still must plan to get in what I want to do.

I'm one of those people who is fifteen minutes early for every appointment -but I can patiently wait for hours, with or without a book.

Some books I will keep as long as I'm able to: all are by Dan Simmons: Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, The Rise of Endymion.

My father ,in his youth, rode and repaired Excelsior (built by Schwinn in the USA) and Henderson motorcycles - At times he raced on tracks in San Diego - Bought another book , "A - Z of Motorcycles" to freshen my memory of the bikes I rode as well as the bikes my father rode - The book does have a picture of the Indian Pony Scout that I used to ride along with the Ariel Red Hunter - I can look at the pictures and Nostalgisize - The book is a keeper .

I guess while casket preening I will think about all the condensers, resistors and tubes that I tested in my early years - will it do what it is supposed to do ? -

Well Indian is making motorcycles again after being gone for 50 years - maybe with a plan of some kind I can board one again.

If they are late -- my mind at work - (paranoia sets in) They don't like me - (a combination of anger and concern sets in) They had an accident - Logic rarely sets in -

Recently I was supposed to meet a friend at 2:30 am at the local Amtrak station - They were late - I contacted Amtrak with my cell phone - They had a bomb threat - stopped four trains for an hour -

The Enron hearings were on TV - poof the TV went off - I mumbled to myself that the cable company didn't want me to see it - So I walked outside and found out that the cable company was hooking me up to broadband at that moment.

Gee ! I make up conspiracies - what a weird head.

Many years ago we were traveling in Mexico - met a person that was broke down - decided to help him fix his car - decided to break bread together and share experiences - nice time .

Since I retired from work again this year, I have decided to not wear a watch - maybe a good sign.

And here is another keeper "Of Time , Work & Leisure" by Sebastian de Grazia - another book about Leisure time - Hmm! according to the book in 1954 I spent .6 hours in the bathroom on a weekday - women spent .9 hours in the bathroom on a weekday ..

Might I change the subject for a moment?

First, note the heading has changed a bit.

Anything you want to say on these questions?

What do you think of the new heading?

Tiger Tom

A grumble:

Mail Book clubs: History. QPBC, and others.

Why do they offer books in their monthly mailings that may be the choice of the month or just one of the books that is being offered; you send for it and get a card from them saying that the book is not in stock and will have to be ordered. It will take four to six weeks for the book to arrive at your address.

Why advertise if they do not have the book. Oh, I know, the answer: They don't want to have an inventory so they just order the books that they have received orders for.

Still, I think that is a crummy way to run a business. I usually drop my membership when this happens.

Tiger Tom

To answer Tigers new query. I do have a book that I always keep near my bed. It is not particularly a well written book or a classic or even a universal book, but it mirrors a time in my life when I was desperately unhappy and seemingly could not break free. I read the book, saw myself and managed to help myself out of a dead end thing. I keep the book and read it occasiionally to remind me how very lucky I was to have found the book.

Stephanie,<P.

Who cares if it is not a classic or even that well
written? As long as it gives you comfort that is the
important thing.

Tiger Tom

Books are interesting in that at certain points in your life, you will be drawn to different types of books. At least I know I have been.

Stephanie you have a good point. As a teenager I loved westerns and sci/fi, now I still like a good sci/fi or a good western, I have broadened my reading scope. Lately I have become hooked on intrigue, romance and mysteries. Thrillers are great escapes. Right now I am looking for a good thriller such as The Lions of Lucerne.

I agree with both of you . Who wrote The Lions of Lucerne gaj?Have you read any of Frank Delaney? The Ametheysts is a good start., maybe i'll see you in books on my bedside table?Happy reading.

Roidininki,

Welcome, to our discussion.

Please stay with us. Tell us a little about yourself if you would. What kind of books do you like and read? What other discussions are you in?

Do you have a Comfort Book?<P.

Nosy aren't I?

Tiger Tom

Roidininki,

Second try. I have been losing postings lately.

Welcome to our discussion.

Please stay with us. Tell us a little about yourself. What kinds of books do you like and read?

Tiger Tom

Brad Thor The Lions of Lucerne. I think it is his first published book. It doesn't read like a first book though.

Frank Delaney is new to me. What has he written?

Just bought "The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawkings and expect to receive, shortly, Benjamin Franklin and his Enemies.

This is from the guy who swore he wasn't going to buy any more books.

Anyone out there?

Tiger Tom

I'm out here lurking, Tiger Tom. You sound like me. I say I'm not going to buy any more books until I read at least one of those I have, but I do (buy) and I'm getting further and further behind. I'll never catch up, but there's such a pleasure in having them, I don't care.

Harper,

So true, so true.

I love books and sometimes just owning them is enough. I buy knowing that I will never read all that I have now much less any that I buy in the future. Still, I get sweaty palms when I go in to a book store.

I am a member of a few book clubs and buy through them too.

Oh well, I guess I could have worse habits or addictions.

Tiger Tom

We're certainly related under the skin, Tiger Tom. I finally resigned from four book clubs because I have no will power at all - and bookstores (if they play the right music - some of them drive me out - what are they thinking?) - one could spend all day. It didn't help to resign from book clubs (one ignored my resignation, and sent me mailings, from which I ordered 6 books), because now I've discovered Amazon and Bookopoly and Half.com. As you say, there are worse addictions.

We here in Cincinnati have been having serious race relations problems - I guess everyone knows that. Anyway, in an effort to ameliorate these problems in a small way, the powers-that-be have suggested that we all read the same book. The book selected was "A Lesson Before Dying". I just finished it today. Powerful book. I don't know if it is powerful enough to solve anything, but a wonderful book.

Harper

Book are an addiction of mine. Even if they had a 12 step program for it, I wouldn't attend the meetings. lol I am like a kid in a candy store when it comes to books.

Have you ever finished a book and realized that you enjoyed it so much that you hugged it to you, and sat there wishing you could tell the author what the words have meant to you?

Catbird: Were you spying on me?! lol
:GinnyAnn:

Harper,

Bookopoly? Never heard of it. tell me more.

Hugged a book. I have kissed them.

I once bought some books from a woman who was cleaning out to move. I got the entire Durant series; Illiad and the Odyssey; and some other books for 10 dollars. I kissed the Durant books as I had wanted them for a long time and could not afford to buy them new. The woman looked at me and said: "I have never seen anyone kiss a book before."

Now THAT is an addiction.

Tiger Tom

Yessssirrreee, nothing wrong with that!!!!! When I was a young woman still dating one of my requirements for a date was that he be totally comfortable in a book store, even to the point of forgetting I was there. I lost interest really quickly if he did not live up to that. These days I can spend hours and hours in a bookstore or in a library and forget all about time, and never see another person in the store until I'm ready to buy whatever I've chosen. It's just me and hundreds of books---a contained wonderful universe! I went into a bookstore the other day and came out with a whole armload. Thank goodness for credit cards!!!

There was a bookstore in Long Beach called "Acres of Books" where I spent many rainy afternoons, and they were not kidding, acres and acres of books with different rooms for different subjects, with high narrow shelves and narrow aisles and thousands upon thousands of fascinating books. I loved walking in and just inhaling the smell of all the books and the dust. One of the customers that used to appear there every once in a while was Ray Bradbury. I was too shy to speak to him, but I sure wanted to. And when there was a threat of Acres of Books being torn town, he was out there picketing to save that little corner of the world with the rest of us.

Yeah, I've hugged books and kissed books - and what I do, if I really love them and there's someone whom I think will love them too, I lend them, and then I mourn them and am totally agitated until I get them back - if I do.

Tiger Tom, I learned about Bookopoly from lurking around here in Seniornet. It's a site where people can buy and sell their books. It's new for me and, being fascinated with what I can buy from Half.com, I haven't tried to buy from Bookopoly yet (although I've visited several times.)

Mountaingal, what a great test for compatibility!

Ginnyann - I wouldn't attend the meetings either. What would life mean if we were cured?

Mountaingal,

That store you described "Acres of Books" sounds like my idea of Heaven on Earth.

Here in the state of Washington, in Seattle, we have a book store that has gained nation wide reknown: "Elliot Bay bookstore." It started as a corner store with a basement coffe and sandwhich shop where one could sit and read their purchases or one of the old books that lined the few shelves in the basement. A real reader friendly place.

It has since grown to encompass and entire city block.

The store has readings by many famous Authors during the week and general get-togethers at other times. The owners cultivate the reading public.

Seattle has quite a number of Bookstores. Not surprising as Washington and especially Seattle is know as a literate area.

I would love the see "Acres of Books."

Bit of trivia: Largest used book store in the world is located in Wales. The store claims to have one or two million books. Don't know if this is true or not.

Haper, I will look into that site.

Buy, yes. Sell, NO. that would be like selling one of my children.

I only lend a book to someone who I am sure will take care of it and return it to me. When I was younger I lost a number of books by lending them. I got some of the darndest excuses why the book couldn't be returned. This would go on until I either gave up or the person moved on.

Mountaingal, good for you. Anyone who doesn't like books is suspect so that was a good test of compatability.

Ginnyanne. I wouldn't attend the meetings either.

Tiger Tom

I did find a man who LOVED books, had hundreds and hundreds of them, wanted to open his own bookstore but knew nothing about running a business and would have been reluctant to sell any of his children from the store (he admitted that). He was super intelligent, handsome, charming, with an IQ that was probably in the genius range. And I think we would have been OK if we had never had children, but he was also a devout Catholic who wanted children and refused any birth control methods. So there we were---him the great bibliophile who did not have a single practical bone in his body, and me the artist who by nature is sort of reclusive and not very practical either--but someone had to be for the sake of the children and so I tried---and it didn't work. We were married for 32 years, and all that time I recall our house being an absolutely chaotic place, with children, dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, pet mice, bills unpaid with utilities shut off (he never noticed!), no schedule, no TV set, only classical music, grass not cut, house not painted, junk all over the place, company coming in and out, great political discussions and philosophical questions solved, piles of books in every corner but no furniture---and children! Hahahaha! just try and raise kids in an environment like that in a crowded small place in the city. It used to drive me nuts! His world was books and almost nothing else. Sometimes I thought he wasn't even aware there was a REAL life out there that wasn't in a book. In that sense we were soul mates, but life takes balance, and that was missing, and our children suffered for it. To this day my daughter is totally estranged from both her parents, and my son described his childhood as "very strange". So one has to be careful what one wishes for because one might just get it. Know what I mean? I'm telling you this FYI, in case you are ever tempted to try it. LOL!

Ooops, Mountaingal - too much of a good thing. Are you going to be in the "Private Demons" discussion group? Your story seems to have a lot in common with Jackson's. I'm sorry things turned out so badly - especially sorry about the children being estranged.

You know what I miss most about my book clubs? The mailings were so much fun to read - I could get totally absorbed reading about the books.

Acres of Books sounds wonderful and the Elliot Bay Bookstore would certainly be worth a trip to Seattle (I always wanted to go there anyway).

In fact, I'm quite contented with life right now, and without all that turmoil I wouldn't be the person I am, so it was necessary. Also, only one of my children is estranged. The son and I get along famously in spite of his "strange" upbringing. So I'm not complaining at all---just reminding everyone that sometimes you do get what you wish for and you may wish you hadn't!


I do miss Acres of Books, and yes, Elliot Bay would be a trip that would be worth it, definitely, but I fear I would max out my credit card since a book store is the ONE place I cannot resist impulse buying-----oh no! there is another place too----any art supply store I visit will have its shelves cleaned by the time I leave there. But other than that I avoid shopping whenever possible. Aaaah, that lovely, lovely smell of books, and the feel of one when it's well bound with good paper for pages. What a treat!

Good, MountainGal - I'm glad I had it wrong. Anyway, as most of us know, children can be estranged for no reason at all.

Mountaingal

When you describe the lovely smell of books and the tactile feel of one that is well bound and has good paper stock, it makes me want to rush out and Max my Credit Card

I have one stack of books I have bought in the last year that is five (5) feet high and I am starting another that right now is probably three quarters of a foot high.

I never need much urging to buy books. Friend that lives across the street keeps bringing me the Edward Hamilton Newspapers, Scholar's Bookshelf cataloges, History book club monthly mailings. I sit and drool over them.

Mountaingal, you are lucky to have another passion that shares your love of books.

Anyone collect Bookplates? How is that done? I know there are a couple of sites on the Net dedicated to that hobby and Antioch Publishers, the biggest publisher of Bookplates has one too.

Tiger Tom

Got my Edward Hamilton today - what a smorgasbord.

Harper, wonder of wonders, So did I. Someone must have sent in my name to be put on the mailing list. Other than that It may have been a mailing list the Hamilton bought. In any case, I have my very own Hamilton, guess I will wear my eyes on it. Damn print is so small but the prices are right.

Tiger Tom

I was out shopping with a friend. Well we saw this sign for Books - up to 80% off So of course we added it to our stops for the day. lol My friend looked for books and then went to two other stores while I looked over the books. She ended up finding another book while waiting for me. Thank goodness the store took credit card payments because I bought some books. When my husband got home from work, I told him about the store. We decided to go a week from Friday!

The store is part of a chain of book stores selling overstocks, special purchases, and closeouts. To find a location near you they have three different web sites. www.book-warehouse.com www.book-market.com wwwfoozles.com
I haven't visited the sites yet so I don't know how much info they have to view. However, the clerk at the store I was at didn't think you could buy over the net.

Tiger Tom - Do you get Daedalus (sp?) mailings? They are as good as Hamilton - sometimes better. Also, found two new interesting sites - Best Book Buys and AddALL. These will search the other sites and find the best price for any book.

GinnyAnn - Thanks for posting the sites - I'm going to check them out.

Harper,

For a while I did get daedalus mailings. but since I didn't find anything that interested me, I never bought from them and I stopped receiving the mailings.

I get mailings on occasion from University's Books mailings. Many Universities. Most of the books are text books for courses. Others are so deep that I couldn't possibly understand them.

I keep getting offers from the Folio Society in London. I wrangled a cataloge from them. Their books are very expensive, nice looking, but expensive.

Then there is Eaton Press and a number of others which want to sell me Leather bound Classics and other types of books at about 50 dollars per plus S&H.

I would LOVE to have Leather bound books but not necessarily those and not at the price offered.

Can't have everything I guess.

Have a good day, It is spitting down Snow where I am

Tiger Tom

Tiger Tom

I've been sort of lurking through these posts and I see there must be another Prancer - oh wait, I see you've corrected that. This sounds like a fun place and I'm going to dilly dally around and learn something about what it takes to dive in. Be forwarned!!

Oh yes books and books and books - in every room, in drawers, in closets - I sell some and then wish I hadn't dear oh dear. I buy and say I will not spend on this or that to make up for the purchase - yes, it is just like a drunk trying to buy one more bottle and not have it affect the budget needs of the household or the overall ability to get done the other priorities in life. - I must say I do have a TV but not the cable - PBS does some wonderful stuff that I would hate to miss -

Some of my favorites are actully children's books that I was going to give to my grands and have not the heart to part with them.

I too would love to own a leather bound book but not by Eaton -

I have a memory that is vague - as a child I remember biting the back of a leather bound book - why I do not know but to this day I can feel the bump in the spine and feel the preasure coming back from the book in my teeth and most of all the scent of that leather is in my memory.

I have never found a leather bound book but I so often shop at Half Price for some of the older titles and authors just to get a clothe covered book. I love it that the book often is inscribed with the name of the giver or receiver including the date and sometimes the occasion. To me that book is so much more precious than the new hardcover from Borders or B&N.

Oh yes and that is the other - I really prefer hardback - I recently purchased from Amazon a book that was $9 less and after shipping but no tax I saved I thought a bit over $7 - Well the book that I saw in Borders was Hardback and the book that arrived from Amazon is soft back - didn't realize they had such an easy return policy and it is too late now.

Barbara

Unless there is a reason for it, I too prefer a hardbound to softcover.

I recently bought a book, Benjamin Franklin and his Enemies, in softbound because it was 16 dollars and the hardbound was 40 dollars. too much of a difference to stand on principal (le)

I cannot bear to part with one of my books. Books have been too much a part of my life. They just mean too much.

I have books everywhere as you do. As long as I can still see the floor then there is room for more.

Harper, I have gone thorugh the Edward Hamilton and found three books that I am going to order. Sigh.

Tiger Tom

Prancer,

Welcome.

There is only one Prancer that I know of no matter who may want to share that handle with you.

Tiger Tom

Lately I have started collecting the Betsy ~ Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. These books aren't for my future grandchildren, they are for me. They bring up such warm memories that I know I will not part from them. I believe that books do not care the age of the reader so why should I?

Tiger Tom

Thanks for the welcome.

I thought I was seeing things - glad there's only one Prancer....bet everyone is! <BG> I hope to get back into a long lost pastime and start to read again. So much to do: so little time.

Ginnyann,

Why should the Kids have all the best books?

I would still be reading some of my old favorites had not my Mother got rid of them when I wasn't looking.

When my daughter was about six or seven I would read to her every night. I enjoyed those kids books as much as she did.

Tiger Tom

Prancer,

We are thankful that there is only one Prancer and that is you. Because any other copy would be such a pale immitation.

Tiger Tom

I Have Begun

First out of the chute: Smokey The Cowhorse by Will James. Children's story or not, I've loved this one.

I also have piles of books around everywhere. Most are small paperbacks, but there are a fair number of hardcovers, and about ten or so beautifully bound leather books from the Franklin Mint's Great Books collection -which I could no longer partake of once I was without work.

I have a hard time getting rid of any of my books -it would be like a mother having to give away one of her children. So I keep them around and reread as I suddenly spot another loved book in a pile or on the shelf.

And I keep adding new ones.

Prancer,

Great. keep us informed on how it is going.

Nellie, join the club of impassioned book owners.

Like you, in a way they are like my children too.

Tiger Tom

YOO HOOO,

Are we all doing spring inventory?

Anyone got any new books? Found any new places to spend all of your coin on Books?

As they say in Baseball: "Let's hear a little chatter in the infield."

Please don't let this discussion die!

Tiger Tom

Hi Tiger Tom and all: Spring inventory.....hmmm.....guess it's time. The sun was bright when I awoke this morning, and the beam came through the bedroom window and hit the wall in the hall at an angle that makes it clear that spring is almost here. The light also illuminated the dust under the bed, and on the books that are in boxes there, because there is nowhere else to put them. I should list some in the exchange---but, I'm keeping "The Poisonwood Bible" !! A friend broke up her house last fall, and offered me any of 20 boxes of books she was orphaning. Of course, I took too many, but who could resist Sharyn McCrumb--almost everything she has written...and P.D. James...and Margaret Atwood...you get the idea!!

Morning Catbird,

You should have rescued all of her books. One day she will come around moaning about her books that she gave away. Had you taken them you would have been able to say; Here, take them back I saved them for you.

I have many books of my neighbor's who in a fit was ready to toss them. He got on a cleaning binge. I took them and a day or two ago he was saying he wished he had not got rid of them. So, I told him they were his to take back when ready. He is putting in new book cases and will take the books back when they are all set up.

Dust, I live in one of the wettest area's in the U.S. Rains constantly, You never saw such dust. I can't believe it. I thought India was dusty.

Have a good morning and day.

Tiger Tom

recently. In going with the theme of spring, I bought a book on hiking trails in my area. Apparently there are hundreds and hundreds of them that I didn't know about. I was going to give that one as a birthday present to a friend, but then decided to keep it and give her something else. Oh Dear, so selfish of me!!! I also bought some more wildflower identification books, and one on astronomy, and another on the weather, and one on identification of dragon flies, and one called "Keeping a Nature Journal" and another one on California conifers. Right now I have elimiated many of the other books from my bedside and have given the newer ones prominence until I've perused them all. I guess you could say that I keep mainly reference books around and some classics. I figure the fiction and biographies and such I can get from the library. Always trying to save money by going to the library, but then I walk into a book store and always spend sooooooooo much more than I meant to.

and when I went to visit the first time I noticed she had a collection of miniature doll furniture, very lovely, but not displayed under glass, and I asked her about dusting them. She said they only need to be dusted once a year, that apparently in her neck of the woods in Wisconsin there wasn't much dust. I told her I could never keep such things out in the open where I lived without going nuts with having to dust. The WEST is just dusty, even in places that are supposedly damp, and even where I am here with all the trees. But then, we do have the desert all along the eastern parts of the state, and that dust apparently likes to wander. I'm just curious, do you have a regular maintenance routine to keep your books dust free? Or do you just let it settle on them? And what about silverfish? I can remember at one point silverfish ruined a whole lot of my ex's books--but then he had them boxed in the garage. However, they were all wrapped in plastic with mothballs in the boxes, and the silverfish still got at them.

Mountaingal,

I dust the books.

No, Haven't checked for silverfish. Now that you have mentioned it, I will have to check them all. that is going to take a while. Oh well, it will be a good excuse to get to know them again. I might even cataloge them.

I don't know about in your area but we get around 120 inches of rain a year. In a really rainy year it will be about 135. that is a LOT of water. Added to that is the humidity rarely drops below 85 percent. How can so much dust exist in such a damp place as this. But it does

Sounds like a nice bunch of books you bought.

Tiger Tom

Yesterday, I went to lunch with a friend, and took the customary books to exchange with her. I needed a bag to put them in, so I grabbed a B&N bag that I thought was full of books I had read. Imagine my surprise when I found it full of stuff I bought several months ago, when I was in a funk AND having a senior moment....so now I have new books to read. I drive myself nuts doing things like that!! Guess it really is time to spring bookclean! (which I WILL do as soon as I finish "A Walk in the Woods"......)

So, Mountaingal and Tiger Tom I understand the way books can sneak into your house and hide.

Catbird,

Sir or Maam as the case may be. Not being nosy it is just that I like to know if I am addressing a male or female. Hope you don't mind my asking.

Yes, that was a wonderful surprise. Could use a few like that myself.

There isn't a chance in the world that books could "sneak" into my house. I would pounce on any book that crossed my threshold. I might miss a few relatives that come through the door but not something important, like a book.

Tiger Tom

Catbird,

Just wondering. doesn't really matter all that much but for some reason I feel better if I know the gender of the person I am conversing with.

I was raised in the old school that one watches his language and actions around a woman, period.

So, knowing, now, won't change what I post here but it will be edited for language and any remarks that I would think uncalled for and you might too.

Personally, I think that is one of the problems of today, people have a poverty of language and can seem to only use the foulest stuff thay think will upset those around them.

I guess some feel there is equality if everyone can use locker room language. I don't. But, I am from another era. There is still things I won't say around a female even if she is using that kind of language.

Read any good books lately?

Tiger Tom

Last evening we went to over to our friend's place to play dominos. Well we played in their living room rather than the in kitchen. Well they have her father's books in that room. My eyes enjoyed roaming over the titles. lol Whenever I find myself in a room with books, I find I am drawn to them like a bee to flower nectar. Not only is it fun to see if they have something I can borrow, but it also tells me a lot about the person. Of course, when friends come into my office/library, they must think I am very eclectic -- so many books on many different subjects and genres.

Catbird,

Don't know. I came from a different era. Things like that weren't done. If a man started using dirty language he would be told to stop by the other men. Dirty jokes were the same.

One could say a Hell or a Damn or things on that level, but never anything more crass or earthy than that.

What men used when alone or in the Locker room was different. Just as language a woman may have used when she was alone with other women was different. But one Didn't or wasn't allowed to use really foul language in public, period.

I think most of us know what really foul language is. We have been forced to hear it on T.V and in the films even in books now.

Sure when I was a High School jerk, like the rest of them, I thought using four letter words made me seem older. I didn't but I wasn't aware of that then.

It is very hard to overcome good early training.

One of the things I am disappointed in is my daugther. She never heard foul language at home but uses it all of the time. I hagve to remind her that I don't like it and I especially don't like hearing it from her. Now that her son is beginning to talk and is picking up words she has suddenly became aware of her language, the language used on T.V and by the boy's father. She is really unhappy when the boy comes up with something out of the blue. So, she is on a campaign to clean up her language The father's language and monitor's the T.V. Nothing on while the boy is up that would contain dirty language. Pleases me no end. I hope it teacher her a lesson that she should have learned a long time ago. BTW she picked up her four letter language in High School and in College.

About the men in your school teacher break room. I think the women should have let the men know in no uncertain terms that they wanted the language to stop and should have threatened to take it to their wives and then to the school board. I imagine the threat of their wives finding out about would have done the trick.

Tiger Tom

When I am calling Youoooo ooyou

Will you answer trueoooo ooyou

That means I am standing here all alone wondering where you are, any of you.

Tiger Tom

BTW,

My apologies to Slim Whitman, Nelson Eddy and Jeannette McDonald.

Tiger Tom

Tiger Tom

I've just been lurking and I love your singing! I like Slim Whitman and his son Byron singing together! Got some of their stuff on video tape somewhere around here.

OK. So now you know that you're not alone in here.

..

I heard yu-o-o-oooooo--o-oh: I remember that song, too. As to the books I am KEEPING, I just finished "A Walk in the Woods", which others read here in SN. After I finished it, I clasped it to my bosom (chest?), and said, "OOHHHHH, I wish I could sit down with a cup of coffee and talk to Bill Bryson." Since I can't, you get the pleasure (grin) of the following comments.

His comments about the environment are tucked in a book which people other than "tree-huggers" will read. Love that when authors sneak up and tap people on the shoulder with info about the loss of birds. Imagine, 50% of the neo-tropical bird population gone since l950. I looked out at my birds and woods, and while it is beautiful, I wondered what it would have been like one hundred years ago.

The ending, where the friends decide that the effort they made should be counted, and they could use the phrase "hiked the AT" when they referred to their journey, was sadly touching. It made me think about my own life and the things I have slowly begun to tick off as "I'll never go there and do that". This is a tough aspect of aging--the realization as one does something that this might be the last time doing this particular thing. Should one fight that feeling and say "I'm still young, I could go climb Mt. Denali if I REALLY wanted to....." or do we quietly accept that our opportunities are dwindling, and it's time to live in the present, and feel satisfied with what we HAVE accomplished?

And he is FUNNY. There are several different types of humor in his book, and my reaction ranged from chuckles to "I am choking with laughter and sitting with my face down in the book trying to recover".

And last, I will remember the description of his feelings as he and the gentle moose made and held eye contact by the lake. That is the reason that we must try to live in a way that will insure the survival of other living things on this planet. We are partly defined by those creatures looking back at us.

Catbird,

To quote Andy Capp:

I am doing less and less things for the first time and more and more things for the last time.

Tiger tom

Sounds like an interesting book, but I do want to comment that making eye contact with an animal is taken as a "threat" by that animal and causes stress. So it's not a good thing no matter what we humans may think. To an animal that is NOT a friendly greeting. Where I live there is a beautiful buck that comes down the hill to feed on my lawn and one day we had that staring contest. As long as I held eye contact with him it was obvious he felt threatened and stood stock-still. I did it deliberately because I wanted to sketch him, but it was only when I released eye contact that he relaxed and finally bounded off. Animals usually interpret direct eye contact as a challenge and a threat, so it's best to watch as though you aren't watching, and only then will they be natural.

Yes, those feelings now of "I'll never go there or do that" have certainly hit me too, but I sort of planned for them. Since I don't have a lot of money or a lot of energy, I knew I would never have the opportunity to see and do all the things I wanted, and so I went about picking a place to live where I felt contented---and then moved there. Thing is that now I feel so contented that when I leave on a shopping trip to the nearest city even for a day, I get homesick and can't wait to come back here. So it must be the right place, and there are no regrets. Personally, I don't care if I ever set foot outside this particular county anymore. There is so much to see and appreciate right here that if I had a hundred lifetimes I couldn't see it all. So the travel bug has come and gone, although it infected me terribly when I was younger. Funny how that goes. I can't even imagine being anywhere now where I wouldn't have easy access to a bathroom, or sanitary food, and there are so many things that I no longer have energy for. But that's where all these wonderful books come in. You can go anywhere in a book and experience vicariously. You can meet all kinds of people in a book and get more insight than if you met them personally. You can follow all kinds of thick and thin plots through the pages of a book, and when you get tired you can take a nap. LOL!

Prancer,

I too like Slim Whitman haven't heard him in years.

I didn't know he was singing with his son.

Many people have said that they don't like Slim's voice. I always have. Hope his son's voice is the same.

Glad everyone likes "Indian Love Call" I first heard it sung by Slim Witman. I later heard Eddy, McDonald sing it. Wasn't so wild about that one.

Prancer thanks for keeping me company.

Tiger Tom

Prancer,

BTW, another Whitman song I liked was titled:

the Lovesong of the Waterfall.

Romantic softie, I am

Tiger Tom

It was sung in that movie that bears my name. LOL. Not a common name these days I would say. Alas, but I never met a mountie, but I couldda played the part when RoseMarie was a wild and untamed 'un. I was sort of sorry to see her get tied up in ribbons and buttons and bows at the end since I liked her much better originally. LOL Oh well, her raging hormones made it necessary I guess.

Mountaingal how did that song Rose Marie go:

Oh Rose, Oh Rose, I love you
I can't stop thinking of you,
No matter where or when I can't forget you
Some times I wish I never met you
and yet if I should lose you
It would mean all the world to me
Off all the queens who ever lived I choose you
to Rule me, my Rose Marie.

Is that right?

That was another of Slim Whitmans Songs I liked. Stuck with me for some reason or the other.

I can remember most of the words to Indian Love Call Too.

Tiger Tom

You got the words almost right and where they weren't, you actually made them better. Now I can say I have been "serenaded" and be telling the truth, even if it was just a virtual serenade. But alas, I'm still looking for the mountie who thinks I might be his queen. It's getting a bit late for him to find me. I wonder if he still has the energy to look. Hahahaha! And when he does find me I'll probably snap my fingers and say " You have taken too long on your quest, so off with your head!" just like the Queen of Hearts. LOL

From "The Devil's Dictionary" by Ambrose Bierce - circa 1911 - my copy 1948 one of those books that I come back to -

Reality, n. The dream of a mad philosopher.

Truth, n. An ingenious compound of desirability and appearance.

Wall Street, n. A symbol of sin for every devil to rebuke.

Language, n. The music with which we charm the serpents guarding another's treasure.

Mountain Gal and Tiger Tom: (and anyone else who wanders in here): I always blink a few times when I am making eye contact so the animal will know I am not a threat.........I blink back when my cat friends blink at me, and we sometimes play peek-a-boo....

What are you reading? Would be interested in your books and your thoughts........Catbird

A Keeper on my shelf is East Along the Equator - non-fiction.

Tiger Tom

The two songs by Slim Whitman and Byron that I have on tape are "If You Love Me Let Me Know" and " Old Paint".

They sing harmony together and either one can take either part. Someone wanted Slim Whitman to start a yodelling school once and he said "I know where it comes from (indicating his chest) but I don't know what makes it 'come from'; it is something that you have or you don't. You just have to develop it if you seem to have that vocal ability. They were being interviewed after their songs.

Hello Catbird: Books anyone is reading? Well, this is a child's story, but I'm reading "Smokey" by Will James. I never get tired of that story and have a lot of laughs at the way the author describes the new colt learning to stand and starting to get along in the strange new world in which he finds himself. (1926)

Good Morning, All

Happy St. Patricks Day.

Among the books I am reading is one of how the Irish were "Transported" to Australia and the U.S. How some escaped Australia and made their way to the U.S. and achieved success and fame. It is in my pile of being read books so the name of it doesn't come to mind.

Prancer, never heard either one nor have I heard Slim and his Son singing together. I recall hearing that Slim Whitman was very popular both in Canada and South Africa. I guess he wasn't "cool" in the U.S. because when I would admit not only listening to his records but to actually liking them I would get these looks and snide remarks. True, Whitman wasn't for everyone but I still think he has/had a beautiful voice.

Catbird, Mountaingal, ever noticed that an animal cannot hold a stare with a human they eventualy look away, even a Tiger. Something about a human that makes an animal uneasy.

Tiger Tom

Thank goodness the eye contacted buck just stood stock still - a visiting friend not knowing any better made eye contact with one of the deer that visits my yard in the evening and the deer raised up on hind legs and with front paws pushed her down ready to prance on top of her till she rolled away and we scooted for the house.

What was that other one that Nelson Eddy was famous for - something Tramp Tramp along the was it the Highway? They are all marching through the woods.

Barbara St. Aubrey

Was it something like Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are coming? Seems to ring a bell, but that's all I can think of.

Ahh I remember now something about Give me some men that are stout hearted men... that is all I can remember.

and that's all I can remember---maybe together, we can get all the lyrics? Something in the back of my mind is hinting about "The Student Prince". Was that song from that musical?

The encounter in "Walk in the Woods" was with a female moose. I think the females are less aggressive, unless they have young with them. That is a "wow" story about the deer raising up to strike. My Dad always warned me to be careful about the deer in my woods, especially the males during rutting season. Maybe I should more carefully monitor the encounters between my cat and the deer. (see "Animals"---"Animal Talk")

Tiger Tom: maybe they have heard from other animals that humans tend to get very aggressive sometimes, and have this powerful killing thing called "gun"??

Barbara, where do you live that you can even be in the yard at the same time a deer is there??? If I move too suddenly near a window or a noise is made (like a car passing by) they usually bolt. I can't imagine how I would be able to be in the yard with them. They seem to think humans are smelly.

I look my dog in the eye and he gives me a kiss.

Hairy: What is "East Along the Equator" about? From the title, I'd guess exploration.....

Ol Imp: "The Devil's Dictionary"---I especially like "Reality--dream of a mad philosopher"!

Tiger Tom: re the Irish transport and immigration: Have you read "Angela's Ashes" (Frank McCourt) and "The Great Hunger" (about the famine of the 1800's)?

here's a laugh on line for you and your kissing dog. Is it Irish? Did it wear a "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" sign today?

Catbird -

We had company over and ate corned beef and cabbage.

Hairy had a piece of leftover pizza. He's an Italian kisser! Didn't even wear anything green. Wore a brown tie (leash) for awhile.

He did join us in a little Turra Lurra Lurra. He loves to sing.

That song: Give me some men, who are stout hearted men,
and I will soon give you ten thousand more.
came from the "Vagabond King"

Catbird, No I have not read either. Perhaps someday. I have sooooooo many books to be read and that are being read and Sooooooo many more that I want to buy. You know the drill.

Tiger Tom

BTW:

The first lines of that song are:

Give me some who are stout hearted men who will fight for a right they adore, Start me with ten who stout hearted men and I will soon give you ten thousand more.

Tiger Tom

Well I just couldn't get that tune out of my head and so I looked it up - Looks like it from the 1928 show made into a movie in 1930 called "New Moon" and Tom had most of the lyrics. Stout Hearted Men

I live in Austin and the trick is to bring out about two cups of corn in the evenings - Calahans Feed sells Deer corn and a salt lick if you want one. Last summer they were leaving their yearlings in my yard during the night while the adults went off foraging. I stayed up all night a couple of nights to watch what would happen when they returned. Lots of either births or others have joined the band in that last month I looked out at about 4: in the morning when I woke, on my way for some water and there were 14 of them in the yard. Usually only about 6 come to eat the corn. Love that they are there but it nixes any gardening.

I saw the "New Moon" in about 1948 in an outdoor theatre in San Diego's Balboa Park - thanks for the lyrics of stout hearted - esp - "turn your dreams to a fact, it's up to you",,

We lived in New Hampshire for a few years just outside of a small town in a big old farmhouse. The deer were truly way too friendly. Right up in my front yard and stood there watching when you went out. But darn it all, they eat anything at all.. There is not a safe flower from them. I finally had to use some keepaway stuff. I had a garden and the animals generally would not give me anything until I really put a serious fence. scarecrow, fakeowl, etc. around, plus marigolds around the outside. Then i got about a quarter of the harvest. I kept no hunting signs always posted and I figure they came because they were safe on our 70 acres. One shot and I had everyone there but the national guard. I raised corgi and they are little red and bounce like a rabbit from the back or a very short deer. NO HUNTERS

Strange,

I heard that song in a Light Operetta titled "The Vagabond King."

Oh well. I guess I had some of the lyrics right. However, it was late at night so I left out a word or two.

Barbara, I noted that the music was written by Sigmund Romburg. a man who wrote a few Operettas. I suspect that the original that this tune was written for was Vagabond King.

Hate to say this but a little plagerism isn't all that unusual in the Musical world.

If you ever have the chance to compare: the Movie version of "My Fair Lady" with Rex Harrison as Henry Higgens; and the movie version of "Pygmalion" with Leslie Howard as Henry Higgens. the two are exact duplicates word for word and much of the action. The only difference, of course, were the Songs added to "My Fair Lady."

I have an idea that there was some heavy lifting done for the "New Moon".

Come to think of it. I saw the movie version of the "Vagabond King" and remember the song being sung by the Tenor. The reason I remember is because the Tenor was crosseyed. great voice.

Tiger Tom Tiger Tom

What a plethora of information about our 1920-30s Opperettas - and our trying to remember is reminding me of that song in GiGi You were wearing blue and Horminie Ginghold says Oh No I was wearing red. I rmember it well.

Music by Rudolf Friml Opened September 21, 1925 at the Casino Theatre Vagabond King Than made into a movie in 1930 (site includes photo of Denis and Jeanette) with (scroll down on site to see synopsis of movie) Denis King and Jeanette MacDonald - remade in 1956 with Director: Michael Curtiz - Cast: Kathryn Grayson, Rita Moreno, Leslie Nielsen, Walter Hampden. List of Songs in Vagabond King

Music by Sigmund Romberg Opened September 19, 1928 at the Imperial Theatre New Moon The movie New Moon (1930) with Lawrence Tibbett and the 1940 remake New Moon with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.

And finally what started all this ROSE MARIE Book and Lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein - Music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart - Imperial Theatre, New York 2 September, 1924. In 1928 the Movie with Joan Crawford, House Peters, Creighton Hale, The 1936 Movie That most of us remember with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. and finally there was a 1954 version with Ann Blyth and Howard Keel, Fernando Lamas, Bert Lahr, Marjorie Main, Joan Taylor And here we go with sound clips done by Ann Blyth that include Indian Love Call - Free to Be Free - Baubles, Bangles and Beads etc.

Words to Indian Love Call

This link explaines the reason we are finding many of the words to the 1920 through 1930 songs no longer on the internet. Rose Marie included - the site includes how to complain Help Protect Your Rights to the Great Works in the Public Domain! by: Dennis S. Karjala: Professor of Law: Arizona State University

If you have Real Player 8.0 you can listne to Neslon Eddy sing clips from Rose Mare.

songs these days, because I still sing it, and in my mind I remember that charming Maurice Chevalier singing it: "I'm so glad that I'm not young anymore!" Ahhh, they don't make men like him anymore either with that easy sort of charm and grace.

Barbara,

Just for the devil of it I was doing a little research on the Vagabond King. You are right it was Rudolph Firml who wrote the original Operreta. I had forgton that it included "Onyl and Rose." As song I used to sing to my Daughter when I was changing her diapers. Being so young she appreciated any singing even the yowling of her dad. She would kick her legs and wave her arms and laught. Anyway, Only a Rose may by Scmaltzy but I like it, Always have.

Tiger Tom

Excuse my last Post. I didn't have time to edit it,
My Wife wanted to use the Phone right away so I had
to get off the SN, NOW.<

I imagine you can make out what I wanted to say and how
the words should have been spelled.

Tiger Tom

HEhehe do we change the title of this discussion to - No Matter What Happens, I'm Keeping This song in my memory! or No Matter What Happens, I'm Keeping This memory of singing to my baby! Or maybe No Matter What Happens, I'm Keeping my wife!

Tom you made going down memory land fun - I can still see in my head scenes from those old black and white movies. Does "Sleepless in Seattle" measure up to the romance of these old films?

Barbara,

This old tiger is a real softie. My Daughter says I am a Marshmallow, who knows.

However, I am with you, those old black and White films were and are better than any of the junk that is being put out today.

I watched "Casablanca" on Turner Claissic Movies, the other night. They have yet to come up with anything to match that one. The Grapes of Wrath. Lots of them.

I guess we should get back to Books. But perhaps once in a while someone might sneak in something about music if they want. Or, Maybe about a book about Music or Composers?

Spring is tromorrow, anyone's weather agree with that?
Mine doesn't.

Tiger Tom

East Along the Equator by Helen Winternitz travels 2,000 miles up the Congo River and through some of the most remote and breathtaking regions of the world. It is a brilliant mix of political jounalism and travel writing..

The journey starts from Kinshasa, east along the equator aboard a dilapidated and overcrowded riverboat replete with hippo hunters, government spies, tough women, whiskey-drinking clerics, and Congo fishermen..

From the geographic center of the continent she and a fellow journalist strike out overland to the Ituri rain forest (home of the oygmies), through the snow-capped Mountains of the Moon, and then down to the volcano-studded savannas of the Great Rift Valley.

They fight tropical fever, the nocturnal screaming of tree hyraxes, and mud holes as deep as cargo trucks, [sounds like the Great Black Swamp of Ohio where early pioneers suffered similarly] but their most serious challenge comes when they are arrested by Mobutu's security police. Their adventure lays bare the heart of Africa - a heart filled not with darkness but with struggle and life.

Love this book!

Another is In Trouble Again by Redmond O'Hanlon. It is a journey in Amazon country.

From the back: To undertake a four-month journey into the bug-ridden rain forest between the Orinoco and the Amazon requires courage and a certain amount of madness. to write about it as O'Hanlon does requires a scientist's precision, a streak of poetry, and a robust sense of the absurd, which is exactly what O'Hanlon brings to the book. At once funny and genuinely terrifying, In Trouble Again takes us into a heart of darkness infested with jaguars, assassin bugs, and piranha, a place where men are driven to murder over a bottle of ketchup, and where the locals - the elusive Yanomami Indians - may be the most violent people on earth.

Love this one even more!

Thanks for the details on the books.......I'm off to B&N!

First full day of Spring.

Robins are wearing their long johns, snow on the ground and the birds are packing up to head south again.

Anyone out there have some REAL spring wether.

Hairy, interesting sounding books. I too would head for B&N except that it is 40 miles away and I have already spent this months book allowance. SIGH.

Tiger Tom

Snowed here this morning.. but bright and sunny now ... 20°

Pat,

BRRRRRRR.

Tiger Tom

upper NY State--expecting many inches of lake effect snow. You can see it coming off the upper Great Lakes on the weather radar. Bet our friends in Ontario are getting piled on, too.....

Catbird

Just lurking. Yes, piled on in Ontario. Not too bad where I am, sort of light blizzarding but around London there was a 25 car pileup in blizzard conditions. Where's spring, again???

what is a "Light Blizzard"? is it like being a tiny bit pregnant? (grin) Stay safe and warm...

Our spring sure looks like winter. Snow, wind, cold. It is 21 degrees F. here in Ohio. This is the time for good books and cozy blankets and hot tea.
My choice of books that I 'need' to keep keeps changing on me. Books that I was keeping are finding their way to the Book Exchange. I have a feeling that I will be offering even more books to the exchange. Who is this woman I am becoming??? I used to hoard my books. Maybe I will know her when I see what is left on my shelf. lol

Catbird

A "light blizzard" is like a sheer curtain. It is blowing fine snow so hard sideways that everything is seen through "a lightlly steamed up window" but you can see through the snow and make out the darkened images beyond. My Lord. Am I confusing you? The old folks had words to describe every type of snow and I think this type was call "the brushaway type"! Haha. No shovels required!

Oh dear, we are having a warm warm spring here in Florida. Yesterday at the spring training baseball game, I got sunburned..Hah... now dont you all want to move here?

Stephanie,

Write one hundred times on the Blackboard:

"I will not rub it in."

Tiger Tom

Tiger Tom: hahaha, she deserved it! I can hear the blackboard and chalk making the scritching sound now.....(((((((grin))))))))))

Stephanie: my sister and her husband just bought a condo in Naples...I plan to visit. Please get out the suntan oil.....

Prancer: my Dad used to look up at the ring around the moon on a cold winter night and say, "Too cold to snow". Obviously, we didn't live near a BIG Lake...My sister lives in Seneca Falls at the head of Cayuga Lake. Some days she has sun when I have blizzard, and sometimes it's vis-versa. Most times I have blizzard.....you really described it well...

I will not rub it in and that is 100 exactly. Went to an antique boat show yesterday.. The things you can do with wood never ceases to amaze me. Books I will not keep.. Am going to post two of them on the book exchange today..Both from book discussions here.

Stephanie,

We will accept that you wrote 100 times because we bellieve you are an Honest person. Anyone who loves books should be honest or at least APPPEAR to be honest.

GIVE UP a book. Stephanie, How COULD you. That would be like giving up a Lemon Meringue Pie. SHUDDER.

Spring is finally here in my area, barely.

Tiger Tom

calendar says spring. Forcast has a winter storm warning of up to 8 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow morning! This weather provides a good time to sit and read a good book with a hot drink at hand and a warm afgan across my lap. As of now I do not plan on watching the Oscars or Basketball. Seeing Kent State loose last night was enough for me.

I was rooting for Kent Stqte, too.

8 inches of snow?? Where?

Linda

Hey,

It is Monday morning, the Sun is shining.

I am getting geared up for the Easter Bunny.

Great weakness of mine is Chocolate Covered Marshmallow.

This is what triggered type II Diabetes in me. I was eating a carton of those Marshmallow Easter Eggs a day.Twelve (12) of them. You realize the sugar content of that many of them. I had been known to eat two (2) cartons a time or two.

This is a very hard time for me. I go to Walmart and see stacks of those Chocoate Marshmallow Eggs and can't buy any. SOOOOOOOBBBBB.

Tiger Tom

has more candy tied to it than Christmas.

We got the snow! In fact we still have a winter warning now because the snow can be mixed with freezing rain! Spring in Ohio always has something to hit us with. lol :GinnyAnn:

You will just have to avoid Walmart until it's all over. But I know what you mean. I have low blood sugar, and I adore sweets, especially chocolate, but it does me in every time. Low blood sugar means that eating sugar triggers too much insulin production and you do the deep dive below normal sugar levels because the insulin is trying to get rid of it and is working overtime, like giving yourself too much insulin. Oh well, it's like my daddy always used to say, "When I was young I couldn't afford the stuff; and now that I can afford it, my doctor says I can't have it." Life is just not fair, is it? Purrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Mountaingal,

Too true, too true, Your daddy was right.
Life isn't fair when it comes to chocolate and other
goodies.

Tiger Tom

There is a book, which will be discussed in May, titled Seabiscuit.

It is about a small bay Horse that had been abused and shunted aside because of its outward appearance: Small, knobby kneed, not typical Race Horse type. It was bought by a man who hired some other men. they looked in side the horse and liked what they saw and believed in it and the Horse. With care, nursing, kindness and love the Horse thrived and as they say the rest is History.

Think about getting the book and joining the discussion.

That little bay horse and the men are my kind. That Horse has taken my Heart or at least the part that is not committed elsewhere.

Tiger Tom

Is this fiction or non?? Do I remember a horse named "Seabiscuit" who won the Derby way back in the 50's??

answered that question--hey, "RIF", and it was right here in the index to "B&L".....duh....

still want to know if my memory is correct about Seabiscuit....my Dad and I would listen to races, and games on the radio....yes, we had no television....

YEP! Lexington was my home during the 50s and early 60s and so the first Saturday in May was one long Party with mint from the garden and glasses frosted from the freezer and all ears tuned to Churchill Downs. He was a long shot winner!

Catbird,

Yes, Seabiscuit was a racehorse that won most of the major races. Cannot remember if she won the Triple Crown or not.

Her big race was between her and War Admiral, the best horse around at the time. It was the most anticipated race of the year and possibly the decade. Seabiscuit won it going away.

One game little Horse.

Barbara, Seabiscuit was a she not a he.

You might, if interested, do a Google search and read a little about the Horse and the Book. MIght get your interest. Quite a story there.

Tiger Tom

You're so right - toss one up for sliding into a history of words - ah so

Seabiscuit won the Derby in 1938..

Pat,<P.

Thanks for the Information.

Tiger Tom

Spring,

It hasn't arrived just yet. Still limping in.

However, that time has: Spring cleaning.

Time to clean Bookselves, dust and clean books. May rearrange some.

My big problem is: I get started and I come across a book that I have read or is a favorite and I have to sit down and read a bit of it. Maybe a book I had intended to start. Whatever, it is like looking in a Dictionary or an encyclopedia, It will be a time before I get to where I was heading.

It is a good thing that my book subjects are arranged alphabetically. Poetry is way down at the end. One book I CANNOT pass by is the Rubaiyat, Translation by Fitzgerald, Illustrations by Edmund Sullivan, My favorite Quatrain is:

I sometimes think that never blows so red The Rose as where some buried Caesar Bled;

That every Hyacinth the Garden wears Dropt in its lap from some once lovely head.

Then, of course, I have to make it by the collected poems of Emily Dickenson.

Tiger Tom

Tom, I have exactly the same problem: I start dusting books and rearranging them and before I know it, I'm reading. A pleasant way to work though!

I have a method to how I arrange the books on my shelves. It works for me, but visitors to my 'office' probably don't understand it. lol
All of the fiction books that I haven't read are placed together according to genre. Nonfiction is arranged by topic, such as The Elizabethan Renaissance. I usually can find the book I am looking for, but I am not sure anyone else could. lol

ah, yes, spring....oh, no, cleaning.....My arrangement is as follows on 3 twelve foot shelves, with a shelf below:

on the shelf--paperbacks,'cause they are short and small enough to stand up there

next shelf up: anything under 12 inches, but too tall for bottom shelf

next up: special books that I don't want the cats to get near

next up: stuff on its side, waiting for my attention.

Bookends consist of favorite fiction author piled so that other books can rest on them...

throughout the house: piles and piles of read and half-read, and new and loans from friends..again, really special ones in an old lawyer's bookcase that was in my father childhood home..

and yes, I start to clean and end up online at Seniornet, or nose down in a book......dust to dust, I always say.

Catbird,

I like that "Nose down in a book." YUP.

Fun to go through my books when giving them the Spring dusting and cleaning. I found old friends and some I had forgotten I owned and had, at one time, intended to read, "right away."

I find many, many with book marks of one kind or another in them. I am afraid to check the book marks for fear of what I will find. I often would take whatever was at hand at the moment for a book mark. I have an idea that if I start to check I will find some things I have been missing and looking for or that my wife has been looking for.

In another discussion group I told them how my Daughter had taken out what I had used as a book mark and put in her Christmas wish list. She was about eight or nine at the time. I didn't open that book again for over twenty years and she was a grown woman. I called her immediately and told her I was sorry and that I hoped that she didn't think her dad didn't love her because he did not receive anything on her list.

Whatever, Dust, Dust, wipe wipe.

Tiger Tom

Yes, looking through the books is like finding a lot of old friends. I like the analogy. I have some in a huge box that I haven't read yet and I hate having them in a box that is so hard to get at. I want to look at them and see them. I really need to do some cleaning and re-arranging so I can get to them. I miss them! And these will be new friends once I "nose into them".

Funny about a book. It is inanimate but a far truer friend cannot be found. Always there when you want it. Always ready to console, to encourage, to lift. All the things that a friend, a real friend should be and do.

Hairy, Hope you find the time and space to release your books from the box and have them where you can see them, take them down and hold them.

HAPPY EASTER everyone in case you will be visiting relatives or friends this weekend and can't get on the SN

Tiger Tom

"Hairy, Hope you find the time and space to release your books from the box and have them where you can see them, take them down and hold them."

YES!!!! They need holding. Poor babies. I like to let my hand touch the cover, fingers trailing over the title. I do the same after reading an especially moving piece of writing within the book while my lips are going, "Mmmmmmm".

I bought a copy of "The Memoirs of a Survivor" (Doris Lessing-1974) in a used book store. The long lost bookmark was one from a bookstore, with ads for new books. This particular ad was for a new book called, "Passages" by Gail Sheehy. I find it whimsical---now that I've passed through all those crisis, I get the ad back again. The Lessing book seems unread.....probably its owner abandoned it to go read "Passages" and never returned...

I clean bookshelves, but like the rest of you end up reading and forgetting to dust. I have a bookcase full of unread and getting to books and a large wicker basket in the living room to pick and choose from. I suspect I will never get them all read, but I give it the best try I can. I love some of Doris Lessing. She does some odd books however periodically.

Catbird,

Funny what you will find in a used book that you buy at a used book store or at a library sale.

I found a sales slip from a book store in London, foyles booksellers. I have since contacted them and have bought a few books and have had a very nice correspondence with one woman who worked there and now another who has taken her place since she has moved on.

I keep hoping I will find a large denomination currency or a winning Lottery ticket someone forgot. No such luck.

Tiger Tom

Our local University Women's group is having a used book sale next weekend. May be I will be able to find a few to donate and make room for some new ones. A favorite non-fiction of late is Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach. I am into it at least twice a week. Another author I won't part with is Alexandra Stoddard. She is such an elegant lady.

Pineneedle

Pineneedle,

Welcome to our discussion group.

Your handle would suggest that you might live in the Pacific Northwest, maybe even Washington State. Correct?

Not being nosy but are you Female or Male. It makes it a bit easier to know the gender of the person I am addressing. Old habit, been raised to be careful of my language around a lady.

Again, Welcome, hope you stay with us.

Tiger Tom

Pineneedle,

I have not seen you in any of the other discussions I inhabit. Are you new or is it just that we don't have the same interests?

Not familiar with the two Authors you cited. It may be that the others who pop in to this dicussion now and again will be more familiar with them.

Hope that you find some good buys at the book sale.

Tiger Tom

Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach.I don't plan on parting with my copy either, Pineneedle. A good friend loves the work of Alexandra Stoddard. I couldn't get into the one she lent to me.

Other books I plan on keeping are those by Thomas Moore. His insight into the loss of soul helps me understand myself better. His first book is Care of the Soul. Moore doesn't write self-help books, but informative non-fiction. I find that I can only read his work in meal size amounts, so I digest what he has said before going onto the next reading.

Welcome Pineneedle - Oh yes - lovely - Simple Abundance so inspirational and a force to help us through each day and Alexandra Stoddard - I fianlly parted with some of her books to my daughter and daughter-in-law. Her garden/flower book was I thought filled with especially beautiful photograhy.

Tigar Tom these authors are probably not visited by your average guy.

Tiger Tom, your story about the bookseller in London reminds me of "84 Charing Cross Road." Are you familiar with it?

Paige,

Yes, but only the Movie which I liked very much and wish I could get a copy of it.

I should read the book someday.

Welcome to our discussion.

Tiger Tom

Tiger Tom, thank you for the welcome to the discussion. I have only seen the movie also...one of my all time favorites.

letters give so much insight into the personalities, much more so than a movie every could, but this movie was one of the better ones. Of course, I'm prejudiced because I love Anne Bancroft. Perfect castin that was, to my way of thinkings. It's a short book, a couple of hours reading, but lovely.

Hello TigerTom ,have just called in here on my way from mystery corner,this is so amazing, i am actually sitting in an internet cafe in Charing Cross road London![message from Paige on the 30th]Should i popalong and see what is at 84 now i wonder?Agree with you on the use of foul language ,is bad enough to hear men but last evening in here i had to speak to a pretty girl, American i'm afraid ,actually reading out an e.mail aloud to her friend across the way in full graphic detail! It was so awful i had to say" excuse me i just don't want to listen to you and i am trying to work" She had the decency to say "sorry" but did i succeed in making her feel bad?Do young men find this language attractive or do they identify the user as ...... well i don't have to spell it out?

Oh dear roidininki - I can imagine how uncomfortable you were - and it would have been so nice if she had used some manners - but I would like to bet she was trying to shock and be noticed and was not feeling as easy about not being on home turf and so rather than being quietly polite her nervious energy took over and she acted like so many freshmen in college who do the same thing when they are not feeling like they fit in - sort of put there chin out and be rude - crazy, maddening, impolite even nasty I know but, it seems to fit a generation that is not going to allow themselves to go un-noticed.

Roidininki,

Sorry that you were exposed to and had to bear such Rudness. Unforgiveable.

I spent two years in London and loved it (1965-67) Been to Charring Cross a few times, Tube Station mostly.

I wonder if there ever was a book store at 84 Charring Cross.

I am in contact with Foyles Booksellers in London which is located at (or used to be according to the sales slip I found in a book) at 119-125 Charing Cross Road London WC2

Perhaps that was the book store that was used as the model for the one in the book?

Anyway. do stay with our little discussion group.

Tiger Tom

Hey, Bears and bunnies,

It is Spring! Everybody out of Hibernation.

Lets look alive. Show the world that you are back among us after a long Winter's sleep.

Tiger Tom

I am here, but just barely. Getting ready to go to Amsterdam late in the month and finishing up with the AARP tax aide program keeps me on my toes. I read but in spurts.

did somebody mention taxes?? Yikes, it's April.....thanks for the reminder....

I finished John Grisham's "Painted House" last night. It was a hugger! Took 15 minutes for me to stop cuddling it to my chest, and get the lump out of my throat, and dry my moist eyes....

MUST get off the net and do something in the real world.....

Stephanie,

Say Hello to Amsterdam for me. Do go to the Royal Museum (Can't remember how it is spelled in Dutch) and look at all the Vermeers they have especailly the "Milk Maid" probably my favorite of Vermeer's paintings. Also, Rembrant's "Family on Holy Night." That Museum was always my first stop in Amsterdam.

Catbird, Havn't done your taxes yet? Don't let them go too long.

Glad you liked the book. Look at how much fun you are going to have on the second reading when you will find things you missed on the first.

The Net has become the REAL world for many. but I know what you mean. Just that there are so many grumps out in the real world and so many nice people here on the SN

Tiger Tom

Ah, Life.

Manfully I put my right hand up (and my left hand behind my back with fingers crossed) and swore that I would buy no more books. I swore off them, forever, or until the urge was too strong which ever came first.

So, today, I get a notice that the Library Book Sale is in a few weeks. Then I get a card in the mail from Waldens that is good for five (5) dollars towards a book.

I know from past experience that I can go to Waldens and find a book for a little under five dollars so in essence I will get a free book.

Free is one thing that I cannot resist. So it is off to Waldens I go skipping merrily along thinking of the book I will buy and trying to forget my pledge.

Mind, after Walden's and the Library Book Sale I promise to renew my pledge.

Tiger Tom

I received a gift certificate in December for a bookstore. So, I gathered my courage, and went to the Dreaded Mall, which I HATE...

Parked, went in, browzed, and piled my arms full....oh , what fun....

Went to cash register with my pile of books, and guess what? My lovely gift certificate was for another book store....so, out came the credit card...

They said, "you can put them back if you want to..." After all that fun picking them out, and lugging them around, and bending to see titles on the lowest shelf--while twisting to read sideways....

NO NO NO! I'll take them, thank you....I did (((GRIN))) at myself..!!!

Catbird,

Of course you couldn't put the books back. Once you picked them out they became yours. It would be like giving a pooch back to the Pound after you had it home for a week.

Hope you had just as much fun when you used the Gift certificate at the correct Bookstore.

Tiger Tom

Oh yes I think when I have chosen allllllll the books I will sort through over coffee and only take a few - ha - I am lucky if I can part with one or two - and then the on-line amazon - ohhhh - at least I only fill up a basket and hold off only buying part of the basket at time.

I must say though of all the on-line sites the only one that delivers within days and to my door left on my front porch if I am not at home is amazon.

I have tried B&N several time and Powell's (I loved their airport store in Portland so much that I would arrive early to fly home just to visit their store - my youngest and his family lived in Portland for nearly 3 years) - Daedelus - discount books - you name it - they all disappointed me so with either lost books or weeks till delivery arrived or they used UPS who wouldn't deliver and I had to go clear across town to pick up the package - ah - I sing the praises of Amazon.com -

I even ordered some CDs that were defective and without a problem sent me a new set before I had to return the old set. The only other book store on-line that was a joy was Waterstones in London - haven't used them though since they have London amazon.com servicing their customers.

oh dear me, there are more than Barnes and Noble?? I just started to order there about 2 weeks ago-- (saves a lot of bending and twisting)----have been amazed and very pleased at the service. Some delivery is UPS (brown truck) and some is USPS (right into my mailbox).

I did this only after a good friend said she had done all her shopping in December over the net.....up to that point, I was really hesitant about putting my little secret numbers out into cyberspace...

I don't dare go to another book site.....

I was in our forum for "non-fiction", and someone mentioned Michael Moore's 'Stupid White Men", and noted that it is a best seller.....WELL, no wonder, it was prominently displayed in the B&N website, and I bought it.....I never would have known about it. THAT is how 'best sellers' are made!

I love Amazon. I have endless problems with B&N, so just wont use it any more. But the real book stores to walk into.. I love used ones, that of course is why I owned one.. I do love the feel of books that others have read.. You can spot the love and attention. Plus.. when you find a new author, you can race around and find the old stuff and watch them grown into their writing.

Catbird said,"I was in our forum for "non-fiction", and someone mentioned Michael Moore's 'Stupid White Men", and noted that it is a best seller.....WELL, no wonder, it was prominently displayed in the B&N website, and I bought it.....I never would have known about it. THAT is how 'best sellers' are made!"

Linda

All,

What I HATE about buying from anything but a book store is that I will order something and get a card back saying that the book is not in stock. It will either be back ordered or my order will be cancelled.

I have ordered books that were the Selection of the Month and have had that happen. I send the response cards right back within a day of receving the monthly ordering package from the book club.

I have also had that happen with Hamilton's and Scholars Bookshelf.

BN online did the same thing.

So, Bookstores are the way to go for me. If they have the book fine, I buy it and walk out. No back ordering or cancellation of orders.

Tiger Tom

I love the thrill of walking into a bookstore. At Barnes and Noble there is always the smell of coffee from Starbucks at the same time and I wonder if life gets any better!!

Paige,

One thing that one can do in a bookstore that cannot be done on-line or in a Book club, etc. is BROWSE.

Pick up a book, leaf through it. Feel it in your hand; see the Book; its binding and paper stock. Read a page or two.

Or in the case of Brick and Mortar Barnes and Noble stores, find an easy chair and sit down with a pile of books and read for an hour or two.

Just going through the book cases and the different subject matter. Looking at the Bargain Books. SMELLING the Books. BROWSING, love it.

Tiger Tom

Barnes & Noble have been very good for me. They have continued to offer free shipping when a buyer buys two or more books. There is a brick and mortar store about 30 minutes from me. But even with the store that close, I still order on-line for some books. Browsing is hard on line, but I usually know something about the book before ordering it. I've had the book out from the library or seen it someplace else. If I am not sure about a book I wait until I can hold it in my hands and leaf through it.

To All,

Just thought I would mention:

There is a site Bestbookbuys.com that will search and get you the best price in a book that you want. Friend of mine got a book he had been looking for at a price of 9.95 and the book was selling for 26 Dollars elsewhere. Fact he found two books at roughly the same bargain.

You can buy either a new edition or a used copy.

If the book you want is a little older they will try to find it for you.

Tiger Tom

Now thats an interesting site.. Will bookmark it..Thanks ..

Here is another one ADDALL this is set up for postage to Texas so be sure when you search you set it up for your area.

http://www.addall.com/New/compare.cgi?dispCurr=USD&id=345777&isbn=0940450275&location=10000&thetime=20020408165817&author=&title=&state=TX

Barbara,

Thanks for the Clickable. I will check the site out as soon as I feel comfortable about breaking my oath not to buy any more books.

Tiger Tom

Come my Children you will hear Why you all should be here In the discussion you (should) hold dear Why am I saying this without cheer Cause it is Lonely in here.

Tiger Tom

All,

With my excuses to the poets in the SN

Also, should have put line breaks in there.

Sorry, but I hope you get the drift.

Tiger Tom

Let me try that again

Come my children and you will hear
Why you should all be here
In the discussion you (should) hold dear
Why am I saying this without cheer
Cause it is lonely in here

Tiger Tom

Care For A Lurker

To keep you company.

I'm never going to part with "Seabiscuit". I read that as a young person, didn't get the best out of it then, but I sure do now!

Hope someone else comes in with a little more company.

Good poem, BTW.

Prancer,

Thank you for keeping me company.

I too liked Seabiscuit although I have only just finished reading it. Never read it before.

Anyone else here?

Tiger Tom

I float in and out, but always read. Have not read any books recently that I will keep no matter what. These are my trade in books and some new stuff that I know I will never read again. I listen to audio tapes as well and never keep them either. My bookshelves downstairs are loaded with must keep forever books. I have all of Betty McDonalds stuff. Not a great writer, but one that always struck a funny chord with me. I reread her about every third year.

All,

Well, I broke my pledge.

I am with Oscar Wilde, " I can resist anything but temptation."

I got an offer from History Book Club to rejoin. Usual, three books for one dollar each and another for 4.99 plus a ferocious S&H.

Didn't last long did I.

Tiger Tom

Nope -- and I was in halfprice books - bought more than I sold - hhhahhh - But I am so excited - I found Pinsky's translation of Dante for which he received the Pulitzer for only $9 and a hardback of Dylan Thomas poems for only $4.95

Barbara,

They are all in league with one another to get us buying more books.

Oh well, I could have other vices, like collecting string or rubber bands.

Tiger Tom

All,

HAVE YOU HUGGED A BOOK TODAY?

Books Need love too.

Tiger tom

Well Kids,

We don't seem to have a Barn Burner for a subject. Cannot seem to generate much discussion.

I was wondering if the focus of this discussion can be changed and maybe the title of it.

Anyone have a suggestion or two? I am certainly open to anything you may come up with.

Tiger Tom

Calm Tiger - we are always with you in spirit - we just do not always have new words - its OK - there is grass to mow now and groceries to get and walks to take and fireplaces to clean-out and screens to wash and fans tø unwrap and hose bibs need new washers and gutters need cleaning and gardens planted and fawns admired and birds to watch -- it is finally spring!

books I was thrilled to get rid of, or books I was happy to burn, or books that are such a waste of time that the trash was too good for them, or books I gladly returned UNREAD.


I have several nominations. Almost all the "romance" books I've ever read, I mean these modern ones that are here today and gone tomorrow, usually not well written with a dumb plot, or a plot that runs by formula--not worth the paper they are printed on.

I tried reading one recently about something called "Indigo Children" which was a piece of tripe. Some couple picked up on a characteristic that has ALWAYS been part of the childhood of at least 20% of children who were ever born, and convoluted that into some sort of "new breed" of children who will save the world. They really are not different from the way children have always been, just more mouthy. I couldn't stomach it and returned it to the friend who is all into this with a thanks, but no thanks!

I finally sat down a couple of years ago and read "Mein Kampf" by Adolf Hitler. What a piece of garbage that one was, but since before WWII every young couple that was being married received it as a wedding gift from the German state instead of a Bible (my parents), I thought I should finally read it. I never knew anyone who actually read that book, and maybe if they had they would have recognized the danger earlier. But talk about junk and sloppy thinking! Absolute and total garbage!!!!!

OK, do we have more nominations? Not every book deserves to be read, and not every book deserves a hug.

spring cleaning I need to do around here, and that includes ridding myself of books that don't deserve any love at all and actually need to be destroyed because they have NO redeeming social value and just contaminate the planet. LOL. I feel so sorry for the trees that gave their lives for such unworthy causes.

Mountaingal,

I was thinking of something more positive.

You are right, lots of junk out there that gets printed. Lots of trees get cut down for that junk.

Mein Kampf. One thing that book did was to make Hitler rich. (along with the royalties he got for having his image on the German Stamps during his Reign) He got a Royalty on every book sold.

I often wonder what happened to that money and where he had it stashed.

I hate romance novels - never read them, but I can quote you the last page almost word for word just by reading the title - or not. Anyway, my daughter reads them by the carload - and this is a very intelligent, educated person. I guess she needs major escapism (works 60-70 hours a week or more in a very responsible job). When she has finished with them she gives them to me and I take them to Half Price and sell them. One time I took them in and said, "These are not mine," (intellectual snob that I am) and the appraiser said, "That's what you all say".

I'll tell you one very popular book that I read, but really had to "slog" through. Cold Mountain. I loved Angela's Ashes, but my daughters couldn't get through the first few pages. Anybody read Neil Gaiman just for fun?

Haven't read Neil Gaiman but have a couple on my shelf - waiting.

How about "Books I Would Like to Have Thrown Across the Room"?

Here's my nomination for books to throw: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. I tried to read it and I tried to listen to it. What a terrific waste of time. Maybe it's a cultural thing.

How about books that have been ruined by making them into a movie? My vote would go to City of Joy. I'm certainly glad I read the book before the movie came out. Loved the book. I'm editing - I know you can't ruin a book by making a movie of it. Pity the poor person who only sees the movie, though.

Now I can relate to books ruined by making into a movie.. Why oh why does Hollywood think they can improve on a truly wonderful book. Then again what sort of ego do some of the stars have to change totally the focus of a book, because they want to be a character BUT they dont want to die or be bad or anything detrimental.. Sigh.. I do wish that authors would try harder to maintain control. But the money is probably way tempting.

Well,

You all want to talk about Books that should not have been made into movies and Books that were made into good movies, there were a few.

Look what hollywood has done to the Bible or some of the characters in it.

How about what Hollywood does to insult your intelligence:

Gladiator was a fairly good movie but was shot full of holes. I could start at the beginning and give a whole laundry list of things that put me off.

Same thing with Jurrasic Park. Fairly good movie but lousy with things that made me cringe.

Tiger Tom

even if Tiger wanted something more positive. Well, I did see "City of Joy" and liked the movie, but I never read the book, so now I guess I will have to read the book too.
Actually, to be fair though, I think we need to remember that writing and movie-making are two completely different arts and they have to use different ways of expression. In a book an author can really get into the mind of a character; in a movie which is visual, we often have to guess at what is going on with the character by the action, so it has to be different. I read both the book of "The Horse Whisperer" and saw the movie, and I liked both of them for different reasons. T'is true that the characters had so much more depth and the plot was not as simplistic, but a movie can't get that detailed or it would never sell tickets.
Also, I don't know if you realize it, but movies are usually tested by a test audience, and the endings are often changed to appeal to the majority. That's what happened to the Australian movie "The Piano". The first time I saw it I knew there was something wrong with the ending, but couldn't figure it out. Well, later I read that the original movie actually ended with the heroine dying at the "hands of her piano" (too long to explain), but the audience totally rejected that ending, and so they had to come up with a happier ending to sell tickets. So not all of it is the fault of Hollywood. Some of it is the fault of the audiences who have no discernment and want things to end happily even when they weren't meant to.
Anyhow, now I MUST read "City of Joy". If someone can tell me the author, I would appreciate it a whole lot. The part of the doctor in the movie was not well developed at all even though that was the character that had the most potential for good development, so I wonder what the book did with him.

is the one called something like "All I Need to Know about Life I Learned in Kindergarten". In fact, I think a lot of these "list" books and contrived wisdome books could easily be dumped without the world ever missing them.


And that reminds me of something else. Years ago I read that popular "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" thing, and frankly, I thought it was silly and a total waste of time. I never did get the point, and still don't get the point. If someone would be kind enough to explain it to me, maybe I'll change my mind. LOL.

Now they've made a movie of The Shipping News. Too bad. I read the book years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Don't think I'll see the movie.

Another really good book that was made into an abysmal movie - The Talented Mr Ripley.

Mountaingal,

I was thinking more in terms of what abominations Hollywood has come out with that were once good books.

Not a few authors have refused to be associated with some of the movies made of their books.

Sometimes the only connection of the movie to the book will be the title.

You are right, Hollywood looks at the bottom line and nothing else. Certainly the Author of the book is never considered unless the author is hired to do the screenplay and even then the author has no control of the final script. After all, Hollywood has paid for the rights to the book, it is theirs.

I guess that is why some people say that if one has read the book then don't see the movie.

Tiger Tom

Mountaingal - the author of City of Joy is Dominique Lapierre. Happy reading. ('cept it's not a happy book)

I think I read somewhere that J K Rowling made sure that she had some control of the story when Harry Potter was filmed. And it stayed close to the book - which was some feat. I love Harry Potter.

Well, I think The Wizard of Oz was true to the book and a wonderful movie as well. It probably dwarfs the book, in fact. Ah well,in 1938 they knew how to do things well!

decisons about casting and was given the opportunity to pick the characters as she imagined they would look. But Tiger, you are right, Hollywood just buys the rights to the book and then it becomes theirs to do with as they wish. It has driven authors such as Sinclair Lewis and Ernest Hemmingway to distraction and to drink because they were often so upset with what the studios did to their books.


What I find interesting is that these days, even though all of this is fairly new in the courts, and artist such as me automatically retains copyrights to his/her art work, even though a buyer buys it. But that merely means the buyer has rights to the original, not the copyrights, which are retained by the artist. So a buyer of one of my paintings may not make a copy of it with the intention of selling to make money off my work. However, of course you have to be able to catch someone doing that and then you have to have the money to go to court. But copyrights are a whole new ballgame these days in our courts, and it will be interesting to see how all that eventually ends up since with the computer it's also very, very difficult to control.


Thanks for the author's name Harper. The movie was not happy either, but it was life-affirming. I will pick up the book next time I'm in the library.

I am searching for a new focus for this discussion.

Something a bit more stimulating than the one we now have.

Would discussing Mythology interest anyone?

Archaeology?

The worst book you have ever read?

Anything?

HELP

Tiger Tom

Why do we read?

That is something I would enjoy examining and reading about others' reactions to the question.

I like Why do we read? It has always been on of my puzzles.Why and what.. that is.

Gaj, Izak, Stephanie,

"Why do we Read" it is.

Who wants to start it out?

I will see about having the name of the discussion changed.

Thanks,

Tiger Tom

Before the discussion changes, I have to throw in my two cents worth, on a couple of terrible movies, that started out as GOOD books!.

Start with, Bonfire of the Vanities. A great and entertaining book by Tom Wolfe, but a horrible movie starring, Tom Hanks. Probably the only bad movie Hanks, has ever made.

One of my fovorite books of all time is, The Prince of Tides, by Pat Conroy. The movie was not good - the entire story was changed around to focus on the psychiatrist, (Barbra Streisand), instead of the mother. Another book of Conroy's, The Great Santini, was actually made into a very good movie, starring Robert Duval. It stayed true to the story.

The Shipping News. For the first time ever, I liked a movie BETTER than the book! Not that I didn't like the book - I liked it very much. But in the movie, they softened the characters just enough to make them more believable. Some of the main characters in the book were just a bit too bizarre or, "off the wall", for me to believe. I thought Kevin Spacey, did a great job, as did all the others.

Books I would like to throw into the nearest dumpster - the one that comes to mind is, Scarlett. It was supposed to be a sequel to, "Gone With the Wind". LOL! I should have know better, but I bought the darned thing! Stands out as one of the worst pieces of junk I have ever had the misfortune to try to read. (I never finished it!)

Marilyne,

Thanks for your input.

What do you think of the new disussion topic?

You for it or agin it?

Hope you will join us. I think that it is a good topic.

Tiger Tom

Shoot Tom why I like to read - the more I thought the less I could share - it started when I was so young - in fact before I could read - my home was not a house filled with books but for some reason when my mother brought me to a Library at age six and introduced me to stacks of books that could be borrowed, I was enthralled with the look of all those thick spines jammed togther on shelves and was so annoyed that I had to read first, read the thin little insiped children’s books.

That first day with the sun rays on this large mahogany desk, the quiet punctuated by the sound of the stamping of books and the all important card placed in the paper pocket inside the cover, the smell of all those books - I was enchanted. I wanted to read a 'real' book so badly and was so disappointed when my mother only had time to read one of the three books that were kept high on a shelf in my house before we had to return them to the library.

So this time when I was left at the library as Mom did her twice a month shopping in the square, I would skim the book to see if I could read it and any word I didn't know I asked the librarian. Hurry, hurry before mom returned I chose my three books, carried them home myself and convinced her I would take very good care of them and made covers for them out of old brown paper.

This plan went on til it was cold, holiday time and the usual librarian was not there. When I went to ask this young blond libararian the words she made a big deal out of it - I had to say it and spell it and use it in a sentence. Well my mohter would be back - what was she doing - I would never be able to choose my three books this way and I had to finish these children's books before I could read a 'real' book.

Well from than on I never asked again what a word was and as I read I made up a word for the one I didn't know. Soon I learned the word was not only repeated but in a few sentences because of the other words you could figure out what the word was - tra la - The only problem was pronouncing folks names - well to this day I do not know the names of most of the characters in many of the classics I finally started to read at the end of second grade, the 'real' books that although were in the children's section, they had a wide spine and a decent story. This habit led me through War and Peace in the eigth grade and many a literary classic. I used to say in my head when I got to a certain name - Oh he is the one that smokes the pipe or has the red hair or fought with a pistol or whatever characteristic identified the character other than this name that I could not read.

So why do I like to read - God knows and he never told me why.

Much as I enjoy TV and movies...I like the way books allow me to use my imagination a bit more. I also like to be able to take my time getting through a particularly good story..and if there is a section I do not understand, I can always re-read it. I am one who is unsure if I could ever get into reading the new e-books. I like the feeling of holding the book, seeing the pages..and actually turning the pages. And if I went to an ebook..what would I do with my collection of bookmarks? The only genre I have been unable to get into reading is Science Fiction. I would rather watch a good Sci Fi story than read it.

Barbara, Mamabear,

We are well and truely Launched.

Have arranged for a new title and perhaps an illustration.

Any Suggestions for an illustration?

What about a heading? I have some thoughts on that but would welcome any input before I talk to the powers that be.

Tiger Tom

There is something so relaxing about coming home from work, sitting down and going far away and into others lives. Nothing does that so well as a good, good book.

When I was younger, it was curiosity. I loved Jack London - read every one, I think. didn't know what I was reading sometimes but I enjoyed them anyway.

Remember his short story "To Build A Fire"? That's a classic!

Reading and sharing/trading books with friends was fun, too (Nancy Drew - The Bobbsey Twins)

I guess I could say for sure that I read to relax, to be transported to another place and time and I read to learn new things. And I read to be entertained (by a funny author, for example).

What is that quote...Do you read to get away or do you get away to read?

I have been puzzling over when and why I read. I honestly do not remember not being able to read. My Mother knew I could by age 4, bhut at that time , it was frowned upon by the teacher if you knew in advance of the 1st grade.. So she simply said.. "Dont tell", so I didnt. Why,, oh me, I am still thinking on that one.. Possibly the different worlds that open. I love authors who can present you with a whole and different world than mine. Someetimes it is a world, that I would never want to be in, but at other times,, Oh to be there.Sometimes it presents a view of life that I do not share, but I find fun to read about. I will be leaving for a week.. Going to Amsterdam and the Floriad, but will be back.

I can't remember when I learned to read either. Somehow I think once we have learned to decode the letters we can't remember not being able to decode them. lol

I remember visiting our small town library as a child. They had this divider between the children's section and the adult section and I wanted to be on the adult side not the children's side!

One of my favorite series of books from my childhood are the Betsy ~ Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. As an 8th grader I remember asking one of the boys about his favorite Science Fiction books and then devoring them.

One of the reasons I read fiction is to take myself away from whatever is happening in my life. I have learned that I cannot read non-fiction before going to sleep because it gets my mind working rather than putting me into rest mode. Fiction takes me out of myself and non-fiction puts me into myself.

I can't remember learning to read nor can I remember owning any books as a child, but when I was ten, we moved out of Nooo York City to a small town with a one-room library and my life has been heavenly ever since. The first books I took out were all the Oz books, and the librarian, bless her, let us take out any "adult" books we wanted.

Come join Tiger Tom in his new venture;

Why Do We Read


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I don't really know except that my father was a bookworm, and the picture in my mind of him is just about ALWAYS with his face behind a book, a magazine or a newspaper. Sometimes he would read things out loud to my mother, and I recall learning stuff from that. I can't remember having to learn the alphabet; it was more a matter of learning to read by osmosis, because of his love of reading, I think. Anyhow, since we still lived in Germany at the time, I do recall going into kindergarten already knowing how to read. But it was after the war and books were almost nonexistent, especially for children, except for our schoolbooks; but those were actually interesting school books with reproductions of woodcuts by Albrecht Duerer and "real" stories by "real" authors out of German literature. They picked the simplest stories, poems and songs out of the culture and those were out textbooks; so we not only learned to read, but we learned history, geology, weather, the natural sciences, the arts, all right from the very beginning along with reading.


I can actually remember being extremely and terminally bored to death by the "Dick and Jane" stuff we had in Canadian schools when we moved there. So instead my brother and I read comic books, and they helped us to learn English. We had a dusty room on the second floor of the house that was stacked from floor to ceiling with comic books, and we'd spend rainy days in there and read. We loved them!


Then when I discovered the library in our small town, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I read every book in the children's section, and when I was done with those the librarian allowed me to go into the grown-up section and select books at will. She wasn't supposed to do that, but she knew I'd read everything suitable for my age and beyond that. I recall reading a detective novel called "Little Jade Lady" that was pretty racy for a kid my age, a detective novel with one of those famous detective types that I can't recall. My father always had a lot of books around too, but they were mostly in German, so I kept up with both languages.


And here's the really strange thing, I loved reading so much---and still do---that when we went on family outings in the car I read every sign just to be reading. Anything would do, but my favorites were the "Burma Shave" signs. Remember them? Recently I ran across a whole list of those on the net, and they brought back such fond memories of our family car trips. After a while we kids got to the point where we made up our own Burma Shave slogans, and we'd giggle endlessly because they were so outrageous. Mom and dad always giggled right along, but their English wasn't good enough to always understand, and that made us giggle even more. LOL.

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