Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 747935 times)

mrssherlock · « **Reply #240 on:** February 07, 2010, 03:10:42 PM »

This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers.

Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?

Discussion Leader: Judy Laird

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So? Who reads every word of every post?

mabel1015j · « **Reply #241 on:** February 07, 2010, 05:05:56 PM »

Steph, you said I am reading another first novel. This one from a woman who grew up in society in Charleston. Belonged to the Camillia club.. and cotillion and came out.. At this point in the novel, she has moved to Ny and is drinking herself to death.. It is good, but sometimes, you just want to shake her good and hard.

I missed the title and author, would you give them again, that sounds interesting...............jean

Judy Laird · « **Reply #242 on:** February 07, 2010, 05:21:38 PM »

I have now finished Help and Roses both on my Kindle
Now I am not sure what to read next. Maybe I will
start South of Broad, anyway Pat Conroy's new book.
I wonder who is going to win the super bowl??

JoanK · « **Reply #243 on:** February 07, 2010, 09:21:51 PM »

I'm a horrible sports junkie, but I can't get excited about the Super bowl unless my team is in it (the Washington redskins-- don't hold your breath!) It's so hooplahed up!!!

joangrimes · « **Reply #244 on:** February 07, 2010, 10:29:34 PM »

JoanK,

I love football.But it is college football that I love so much. I have never followed a pro football team. Hence I don't usually watch the Super Bowl. I wish I did have a favorite pro team to follow.

Joan Grimes

Steph · « **Reply #245 on:** February 08, 2010, 05:46:26 AM »

First novel I was reading... Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch.. In the end, it wandered. I suspect she will turn out to be a good author, but this one did quite a bit of wandering.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #246 on:** February 08, 2010, 11:58:15 AM »

Thanks Steph......................

I also am a college football fan, especially since my son played at Gettysburg and then coached at colleges from Davidson in NC to Montana State. The atmosphere is just so wonderful, of course, i hate it that we don't get to see half-time shows on tv any more..........altho if they were all as bad as U2 last night, i don't mind.........

.........jean

JoanK · « **Reply #247 on:** February 08, 2010, 03:06:41 PM »

I like college football too, but I am far away from my team (U. Maryl;and). LA is a great college football town (UCLA, USC) but I'm not interested in them.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #248 on:** February 08, 2010, 04:03:21 PM »

Jean I thought that was the Who was U2 there too?

Steph · « **Reply #249 on:** February 09, 2010, 06:01:22 AM »

Definitely the Who..
I am rereading my journals from our travels in the RV.. Since the RV is one of the things I really have to sell, I will have the journals to remember with.

maryz · « **Reply #250 on:** February 09, 2010, 08:31:37 AM »

Tough to do, Steph - but such wonderful times to remember.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #251 on:** February 09, 2010, 11:22:29 AM »

Judy - you're right, it was The Who........see, they were so boring - for me - that i forgot who they were.......LOL......of course, the pain med i'm taking isn't helping my rational processing either............my point still stands, i miss the half-time shows...................jean

Steph · « **Reply #252 on:** February 10, 2010, 06:03:25 AM »

I dont like football, but I used to love the regular marching band shows in the college level.

maryz · « **Reply #253 on:** February 10, 2010, 06:46:15 AM »

I loved the bands, too, Steph - but now all they do is show "talking heads" - yuck!

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #254 on:** February 10, 2010, 11:26:55 AM »

What is so additionally sad about "no marching bands time" on TV, these band members usually have to raise money to make the trip (I presume they do that also in college) and they probably have family members who are not able to make the trip to see them perform. And the #1 reason, the bands work so darn hard. I mean, it's practice, practice, practice to get all the drills right, not to mention the music. I had a high schooler in band, many years ago, and they made a trip to Miami to play at half-time of a dolphins game. Had I not been a chaperone, I would not have been able to see this performance, and no one at home saw it, because they didn't show half time.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #255 on:** February 10, 2010, 12:05:55 PM »

The almighty dollar tramples us once again.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #256 on:** February 10, 2010, 01:47:05 PM »

I spoof a song from "Cabaret": "Money makes the world go awry"!

mrssherlock · « **Reply #257 on:** February 10, 2010, 02:21:55 PM »

Tomereader:

winsummm · « **Reply #258 on:** February 10, 2010, 03:05:10 PM »

I watch figure skating Evan Lyacel gave a new best personal performance that was amazing. . .not just athletic but artistic for a change. won first. on channel 805 UNIVERSAL SPORTS in HD. it's the ladies turn. . .must go.

claire

Steph · « **Reply #259 on:** February 11, 2010, 10:07:24 AM »

I am knee deep in a genealogy report.. Someone from facebook got in touch. I dont mind looking, but the format she used is somewhat confusing.. Sigh.

joangrimes · « **Reply #260 on:** February 12, 2010, 11:08:58 AM »

I find facebook very confusing to navigate.
Joan Grimes

mabel1015j · « **Reply #261 on:** February 12, 2010, 12:50:50 PM »

Joan - and it's (f-bk) worse since they "redesigned" the "homepage." I totally lost my "friends and family" group, have to do it again. ............jean

Judy Laird · « **Reply #262 on:** February 12, 2010, 05:04:04 PM »

I am reading Pat Conroy's latest book and it sure doesn't grab me. I usually love his books but among other things its pretty wordy I think. I will finish it but I hope it gets better.

I go in for a nuculear stress test on Monday and probably will have a couple of stints put in on tuesday. My cardiologist is sure I have some blocked arteries so we shall see.
I have had so many tests lately, its makes me thankful I have insurance.

maryz · « **Reply #263 on:** February 12, 2010, 05:09:21 PM »

Judy, I didn't care for Conroy's Beach Music and Prince of Tides, but I loved South of Broad. It's more like his earlier books, IMO.

Good luck with your tests and procedures next week.

joangrimes · « **Reply #264 on:** February 12, 2010, 05:36:59 PM »

Quote from: Judy Laird on February 12, 2010, 05:04:04 PM

I go in for a nuculear stress test on Monday and probably will have a couple of stints put in on tuesday. My cardiologist is sure I have some blocked arteries so we shall see.
I have had so many tests lately, its makes me thankful I have insurance.

Good luck with the test, Judy.

I am so very tired of doctors , tests, and treatments. Getting old is not for sissies.

Joan Grimes

JoanK · « **Reply #265 on:** February 12, 2010, 06:45:49 PM »

winsummm · « **Reply #266 on:** February 12, 2010, 09:31:48 PM »

doctors: saw min on wed. we agreed on October for the next one usually three or four months, but there isn't anything fixable about me. . .just old is all. I had to argue with his staff though they wanted the four month routine. I won.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #267 on:** February 12, 2010, 11:51:56 PM »

They wanted me to have a colonoscopy and a mamogram. They aren't required after 75 and I'm nearly there so I said "No".

Steph · « **Reply #268 on:** February 13, 2010, 06:01:04 AM »

Hmm,, I got a note that I am due for a colonoscopy.. But first my regular doctor says not until we get the coumadin on an even keel.. and two with my husband dead, I need to find someone willing to take me and wait with me until I can go home. Oh me, I am sure that people will say.. sure,, but since you never know when they are available, this should get interesting.

Babi · « **Reply #269 on:** February 13, 2010, 09:57:42 AM »

That's good news, JACKIE, because I had already decided I wasn't going
to have any more mammograms. I simply can't twist myself into a pretzel anymore to fit into those atrocious machines. They really need to re-design those things.

maryz · « **Reply #270 on:** February 13, 2010, 10:07:52 AM »

On the contrary - I wouldn't miss my annual mammograms - nor would our four daughters. I have had breast cancer, successfully treated with lumpectomy and radiation. It was found on my routine mammogram. I'll be 74 next month and now 5 years cancer-free. Do NOT arbitrarily decide to stop getting mammograms.

winsummm · « **Reply #271 on:** February 13, 2010, 11:23:53 AM »

mammeograms: I stopped getting them at eighty. still do self exams and see doc every four months although I've pushed that up to seven or eight months now. I can't believe I lived this long My sister died of breast cancer age fifty seven. Ithink if I were going to I would have by now since it run in families.

claire

winsummm · « **Reply #272 on:** February 13, 2010, 11:31:33 AM »

steph transportation to and from hospitals can be done here by their system or a county system or another special medical system here for a small amount. you might check into it. transportation wise II can still drive on this license for another years although my vision makes it questionable and there are cabs too if you can spend money. I know it's a whole new world. I still drive but I did get interviewed by ACCESS the county bus for us oldies and could use it. It's just easier to use the little red Nissan truck or not make unnecessary appointments when I think I can. I hate hospitals and some tests have to happen their . . . . so they DON'T.

Claire

winsummm · « **Reply #273 on:** February 13, 2010, 11:40:38 AM »

Poetry: do you remember the POETRY CHALLANGE. That's how I met Jan Sand. His poetry is a combination of philosophy, politics, and very beautiful and often funny. He lives in Helsinki and we are still in touch only now he gets up in the small hours and goes to feed his DUCKS. We all submitted our own and it was fun. That's how I met Zinnia too. There is room for that but it should be separate I think.

I'm not usually a poet fan but Edna stVincet Millet captured me a few years back. how to spell that? even spell check doesn't know.

claire

winsummm · « **Reply #274 on:** February 13, 2010, 11:58:57 AM »

that isn't the poet I mean. I mean NANCY MILFORD her book is called SAVAGE BEAUTY. I looked to see how to spell EDNA ETC. AND FOUND I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE RIGHT NAME. so much for poetry and me.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #275 on:** February 13, 2010, 12:58:11 PM »

Judy - good luck on the test and if you have to have stents.......i had 3 put in 4 yrs ago and have been fine ever since, getting stress tests every yr.............. But my cardiologist wants me to have 2 more ultrasounds on carotid and aortic arteries................i'm susupicious that they're just a money maker since it's done at his Heart Center, but what can we do? My GP does nothing these days but refer us to specialists or for tests............hhhuuummm.........it's a puzzlement................jean

marcie · « **Reply #276 on:** February 13, 2010, 02:59:18 PM »

Good luck on your tests, Judy. I believe that the stents are the procedure that President Clinton just had.

FYI, everyone, If you go to the PBS website at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/index.html#giveaway in the middle of the page, one of the blurbs let's you click to sign up for a giveaway of a set of Jane Austen DVDs. When you complete the form you can either sign up for the email newsletter that announces upcoming PBS programs or just enter the contest.

PBS is going to show an adaptation of John Buchan's The 39 Steps on Masterpiece Classic on February 28. Read more about it at http://www.seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/39steps/39steps.html

Written in the depth of World War I by British public servant John Buchan (later to become Governor General
of Canada), The 39 Steps was eagerly read by soldiers in the trenches, and since then has been adapted several
times for screen, most famously by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935. (A stage adaptation of Hitchcock’s 39 Steps is
currently on Broadway).

To make this experience even more enjoyable, PBS is offering our SeniorLearn readers a free copy of the book but for the postage. These free copies will be available to the first ten people who post a request in our PBS discussion at http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=1023.msg59466#msg59466 or who email JoanP at jonkie@verizon.net. Don't miss this one! We'll be talking about both the book and the TV show.

Steph · « **Reply #277 on:** February 14, 2010, 06:05:45 AM »

Go Judy, you and the ex pres.. Stents are in this year.

Babi · « **Reply #278 on:** February 14, 2010, 10:13:53 AM »

CLAIRE, you probably had trouble finding the right spelling because the
last name is Millay. Edna St.Vincent Millay.

I also had a breast cancer, but it turned out to be a 'ductal carcinoma'
(found only in the breast) and 'in situ' as well. The latter means it
was encapsulated and could not spread. I've had regular mammograms
since then, over five years ago, with no problem found. However, I
it was only with great difficulty and discomfort that I could get into all the positions the technician required. Another year and I know I will
not be able to manage it at all.

winsummm · « **Reply #279 on:** February 14, 2010, 10:33:10 AM »

darn it mammeogrames hurt. nuff said. all that pressure to compress the breast and they don't always do the job either. More attention to womens health requirements has been a long term issue.

claire

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 747935 times)