Author Topic: The Library (Read 208107 times)

maryz · « **Reply #320 on:** January 21, 2009, 10:40:34 PM »

The Library

Our library cafe is open 24/7, the welcome mat always out.
Do come in from the cold and join us.

We look forward to hearing from you, about you and the books you are enjoying (or not) right now.

Let the book talk begin here!

Everyone is welcome!

Maryz: Thanks, nlhome. I passed that link on to my friend who is immediate past chairman of our Library Board.

BooksAdmin · « **Reply #321 on:** January 22, 2009, 08:48:26 AM »

Traude has opened a continuing discussion of The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott ~ Towers of Silence

It is listed under the General category
http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=41.0

The plans are to continue with volume three - Towers of Silence - where the discussion left off at the old site.

Babi · « **Reply #322 on:** January 22, 2009, 08:54:28 AM »

I think personnel is the biggest budget item in most businesses. Which, no doubt, is another reason why library volunteers are so needed and appreciated.

PEDLN, I had forgotten about the pictures 'on loan'. I enjoyed that feature, as it allowed me to enjoy some excellent prints for a few weeks at a time. We had some paintings of our own, of course, including one from a great aunt who ws the only artist our family ever produced, as far as I know. I remember my favorite 'loan' print was "Nude Descending a Staircase". A beautiful thing, altho' with the way the image flowed, it always looked to me like a nun descending a staircase.

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #323 on:** January 22, 2009, 10:41:09 AM »

I know, PEDLIN, I am in the minority when I say that libraries should be about "books." My library has all the items you mentioned.

But books should always be their main focus and in these times of economic crises, when libraries might be impacted, what better focus could they have? We need to impress upon our young people the need to READ.

Steph · « **Reply #324 on:** January 22, 2009, 12:46:48 PM »

I always marvel at the different things you can accomplish in a library. When I was actively doing research, I could ask the darndest questions in the Boston Public Library and they always had a source.. Films, microfiche, real newspapers, on and on. When people say they dont go, I always think " How sad". because they are for sure missing a lot.

Robby · « **Reply #325 on:** January 23, 2009, 07:02:44 AM »

When I was preparing my doctoral dissertation, I needed (without getting into the technical explanation) a source which contained information about every single topic which existed in the world. And I needed a system to measure that.

I still remember that snowy day as I walked across a field near Syracuse, my mind trying to find that elusive source, when it hit me. The library of course! And the measuring system I used was the Dewey Decimal system.

Robby

Steph · « **Reply #326 on:** January 23, 2009, 07:51:42 AM »

I agree Robbie, but since I did a lot of genealogical research, I remember that there is another method in research libraries. I cannot remember the name, but it works well with a limited amount of subjects.. No fiction or that sort of thing at all of course.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #327 on:** January 24, 2009, 03:04:38 PM »

Since the music discussions are not back up yet on seniornet, i tho't i'd mention this here...............I am a LOVER of music, almost any kind and while looking up a popular composer i came on this site. BBC radio - YES BBC - imagine that, because they are doing documentaries on American pop music. I have enjoyed the 50 years of Motown songs and discussions and i just listened to an interview w/ Bruce Springstein which was on the air at the moment at "Radio2, which is BBC on the air. I don't know if radio2 is all music - except for the news at the half-hours - but it has been all music, from the last 50 years in America, for the two hours that i've been listening...........what a treasure trove. As you can see you can check out many songs by using the links.............enjoy..............jean

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/bridgeovertroubledwater.shtml

catbrown · « **Reply #328 on:** January 24, 2009, 05:19:56 PM »

This is my first post in this discussion group, so I'll introduce myself. My name is Cathy Brown; I live in Berkeley CA; and I found this site through our wonderful Ginny and her beginning Latin class.

Since I'm very late to the party, I have a question. Has there been any discussion of Mary Renault's books in the past? I'm currently rereading "The Last of the Wine" for the umpteenth time and it occurs to me how great it would be as a book for discussion. Ditto for "The King Must Die" and my absolute favorite "The Persian Boy."

PatH · « **Reply #329 on:** January 24, 2009, 06:21:43 PM »

Hi, Cathy, welcome! I hope you'll stop by here often. I envy you living in Berkeley, which I came to love while my daughter and SIL were living there. You're only "late to the party" in one sense, knowing past history. Everyone is friends here from the moment they step in the door.

Steph · « **Reply #330 on:** January 25, 2009, 09:21:01 AM »

I dont remember if we ever discussed Renault, but I have read and reread all of hers. A very interesting writer indeed.
I just finished "The Pages in Between" by Erin Einhorn. Interesting indeed. It is non fiction. The writers mother was a baby in Poland when WWII started. Her father placed her with a polish family and paid them to take care of her during the war. Her parents were sent to a concentrationi camp and the Mother died. She was cared for and lovingly raised by a Polish family. Then after the war, was reclaimed by her Father and eventually ended up in the US.. Married and produced two children. Erin, her daughter wanted to find out more about the polish family.. And then amazing things happened. Loved it, but dont think I would like to live in Poland.

Babi · « **Reply #331 on:** January 25, 2009, 10:47:11 AM »

"Pages In Between" sounds like an interesting story, STEPH. Could you copy your post into the "Non-Fiction" site? I'm sure they would appreciate it.

Steph · « **Reply #332 on:** January 26, 2009, 07:52:56 AM »

Babi, I will try and remember to go on Non fiction and doing a post. Copying, now thats a different kettle of fish altogether. One of those, I dont ever remember how things. I can be a sort of techie, but sometimes I simply throw in the towell.

Babi · « **Reply #333 on:** January 26, 2009, 10:37:07 AM »

Any way it gets there is great, STEPH. I always take the easy route. Highlight what I want, right click the mouse, click on copy, then go to wherever I want to put it, right-click again, and 'paste'. I can't do high-tech either.

Steph · « **Reply #334 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:51:58 AM »

Now to remember those simple instructions.. Sigh.. This has been a hectic sort of day or two. Got yet another call from a credit card company. Some one actually had a card that had our numbers on it. used it in Witchita, Ks..to buy gift cards. Didnt work, but the credit card company were trying to figure out how it got stolen. Never used on the web.. Used very very rarely actually..This is the second incident in the past 60 days. The first was in Germany when we used our FMA card to pay the incidental bill on the river boat. Since the only time it was used overseas was then, we were able to say that there was no question it happened when we used it to pay. They nipped it in the bud, but in the first 24 hours, it was also used in Brooklyn,NY and they got 5000.00 in 1000. increments. Totally illegal and had to be done with someone in the banks help, We are not out in either case, but the new cards and all of the stuff is a mess.. So.. reading hasnt been high in my lists.

jane · « **Reply #335 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:53:52 AM »

Wow...Steph...and I wonder how the credit card companies keep up with this sort of massive fraud.

I continue to think using credit cards where you hand them to people who disappear with them is where much of the fraud takes place. They can make as many copies of the receipt or copy the numbers and the "magic number" on the back..and they have it all.

If people can doctor and make fraudently passports, etc. and counterfeit money, making fraudently credit cards with other people's numbers on it can't be that hard.

jane

Judy Laird · « **Reply #336 on:** January 27, 2009, 02:17:02 PM »

I had credit card problems when I got home from Georgia. I was gone 2 weeks so Sat I went up to the Wall Mart Super store which is like going to DisneyLand for me. I spent about 350.00 and my credit card was turned down. I SCREAMED THIS CAN'T BE SO. I paid with another credit card. When I got home i had like 6 e-mails from The Bank of America fraud group.
I said I don't know who those people are I bought nothing I SCREAMEAD.We talked for a while and he said your sure and a light came on before I left for my trip I was reading about acai berry and here on the internet there was a big deal about it. It said do you want a free sample 2 bottles just pay the postage

OPRAH'S FAVLORITE. Although I can do with out Oprah I thought such a deal and never gave it another thought. Well I didn't read all the pages and if you didn't say you didn't want any more you were on their authomatic list. Beware free samples. They took it off and I thought I was all done. Dammed of they didn't do it again. I closed down the account..Called American Express and USAA and got their cards. I will never buy anything that says free sample (Oprahs Favorite) again.
I am afuly olld to have to be learning these type lessons now. hehe

PatH · « **Reply #337 on:** January 27, 2009, 08:33:49 PM »

I heard on the radio today that we just lost John Updike. For some reason I was totally out of sympathy with him and could never get very far in the books I tried, but he was a superb writer, and highly thought of by almost everyone. It's a loss.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #338 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:06:51 PM »

John Updike didn't treat his women characters very well...........i was suprised that he was only 76, for some reason i tho't of him as much older than i am..........he's only 9 yrs older..........i tried to read his books twice and didn't like them very well, either..............jean

mabel1015j · « **Reply #339 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:16:22 PM »

I thought someone had put up a link in here to "seniors and friends" but i just looked and couldn't find it.........if someone has it would you post it?..............jean

JoanP · « **Reply #340 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:20:02 PM »

I saw an interview he did not so long ago. Apparently he was quite a religious or spiritual man - though he was famous for writing steamy scenes of adultery in the suburbs. He seemed quite an uncomplicated man in the interview - in a complicated way.

Quote

"One thing that's given me courage in writing," says Updike, "has been this belief that the truth, what is actual, must be faced and is somehow holy. That is, what exists is holy and God knows what exists; He can't be shocked, and he can't be surprised" (Plath, ed., 203). He says, "My books are all meant to be moral debates with the reader" in which the fundamental concern is to get the reader to ask the question, "What is goodness?" John Updike

from John Updike and Religion

PatH · « **Reply #341 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:23:16 PM »

This gets you to the discussion index, which is what you probably want. You have to scroll down a bit to get beyond the chat box at the top of the page,

http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?action=forum

maryz · « **Reply #342 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:27:15 PM »

Plus on Seniors & Friends, you can click on the "-" (minus) sign on the Chat Box, and it will collapse down (if you don't want it).

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #343 on:** January 27, 2009, 11:00:43 PM »

just a note to let you know AnnaFair and I have opened the Poetry Page here on SeniorLearn - on the first of each month we will be establishing a focus poet or type of poetry for the month - come on over and visit us - http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=176.0

We also have a poetry page on Senior and Friends that has no monthly focus - more of a chat room about poetry that includes poems.

Frybabe · « **Reply #344 on:** January 28, 2009, 12:33:45 AM »

Joan, that is an interesting quote from Mr. Updike. I remember reading a short story or two along with some Cheever way back when. I think they were part of English class, but it may have been that I ran across them in The New Yorker. Can't remember them of course, just the writers names. I have never read any of his novels (or other Cheever works, for that matter). I might just have to remedy that situation. His question "What is goodness?" sound very Platonic doesn't it?

ginny · « **Reply #345 on:** January 28, 2009, 07:12:10 AM »

Updike was definitely a powerful writer, he wrote the Rabbit Run series which has got to be the most depressing bunch of books I ever read. You are caught up immediately with the story and the people but suddenly about 3/4ths of the way thru, you realize everything looks sour to you, hopeless almost, you have become cynical and depressed, nothing looks right and it actually takes a while to realize it's the power of the book, it's not you!! He's a brilliant writer, it really takes hold.

Put it down and hope returns... Supposedly the last one was on his own life, I wish I could get to it, through the others. It's interesting to hear he was a religious man, Pearson, hopefully it ended with a positive note, but one tires in the early books of waking up jaded, depressed, and cynical.

That bit about his debate with the reader on "what is goodness" is very provocative. Sometime when I'm feeling VERY up, (after all a lot of time has passed since I read the first Rabbit), I may try again to see if I feel the same way.

I didn't about Revolutionary Road. I wish Richard Yates were alive today to see his work lauded in the new film or what they have made of his work anyway. That was a great book discussion we had in the Book Club Online many years ago.

Great stories here, sorry for the credit card snafus! What a mess. (Judy one way or another that juice is going to kill you, but we've had this discussion). hahahaa I wonder too about them taking off the card, Pedln, I've also heard that when doing transactions in person you should never allow them to do the imprint thing, either, only electronically in your sight.

Steph · « **Reply #346 on:** January 28, 2009, 08:02:59 AM »

Whenyou pay in a American restaurant with a card, they disappear with it.. In Europe, they bring a machine to a table. But since my younger son is involved in investigation of credit card fraud just now, I talked to him. He says there is a gadget that fits into the palm of your hand and you can simply hold the card and swipe the information. Whenever people invent something neat,, someone else finds a way to turn it crooked. Amazing to me.
Judy, I have sympathy, I once clicked on a site that promised a gift card for Target. About 20 pages later, I realized that all they really wanted was more and more information, that I wasnt giving them. I still however get spam from that one time and that was well over a year ago.

Babi · « **Reply #347 on:** January 28, 2009, 10:14:08 AM »

JUDY, I had a similar experience with Readers' Digest, in receiving things I never ordered and getting billed for them. I had ordered a year's subscription to the magazine, and first thing I knew I was receiving hardback books from their book club as well. I returned a couple of them as unodered merchandise, but they kept coming, along with the bills.
I finally wrote them a letter, telling them I had not ordered any books and had no intention of paying for them. I further reminded them that I was not obliged to return unordered merchandise, and that in future I would not. If they continued to send me books, I would consider them free gifts and act accordingly. Well, that stopped the books. Needless to say, I never subscribed to their magazine again, either.

Deems · « **Reply #348 on:** January 28, 2009, 10:59:13 AM »

Ouch, very unpleasant credit card stories. Sorry to all involved. I lost my wallet temporarily back in the summer--left it in a restroom (don't ask). Everything was in there--credit cards, license and all manner of information about me. I called the credit card people, and stores, and canceled all of them. I went to DMV and got a new license early the next morning. Then I got a phone call from a lovely woman who had seen the wallet, taken it home with her to protect it. She didn't think it would be safe to turn in to the manager of Panera. Her husband and young son (I expect he was learning a lesson) returned the wallet an hour or so later--to my house. Everything was in it, including money. So for a while there I had duplicates of everything. Funny thing--I was most happy about getting the wallet itself back, a cheapo one I picked up in Maine but with a lovely mixed set of material covering it, lots of pockets and a zipper. And mostly I was impressed by the goodness of people.

One other incident that happened recently. I started getting US magazine every week. I never asked for it. And after a couple of looks, I didn't read it. After about 8 weeks I got a bill. I sent the bill back explaining that I had not subscribed to the magazine, that I didn't want it and wasn't planning to pay for it--ever. The magazine came one more week and then stopped.

John Updike--I once took a course in grad school devoted to Updike and Mailer. We read all the books they had published at the time. The subtitle of the course was "an author with style in search of a subject and an author with many subjects in search of a style." If anyone wants some good Updike, read the early short stories and his prose. He wrote some wonderful articles and book reviews. He died, by the way, of lung cancer. Back in the day most writers (and journalists) smoked and smoked a lot. A lot of people, including me, smoked. Sometimes I still miss it.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #349 on:** January 28, 2009, 12:54:59 PM »

Pat and Mary - thanks for the link and info............i had tried the address www.seniorsandfriends.org but it kept telling me it was not available, so i've put your link on my "favorites" page..............jean

Judy Laird · « **Reply #350 on:** January 28, 2009, 01:30:17 PM »

AH Ginny this was not yellowroot tea but Acai Berry.
I am very sad to announce that my street side yellow tea was not
on the road to Pine Mountain this year. Broke my heart. hehe

ANNIE · « **Reply #351 on:** January 28, 2009, 03:22:45 PM »

Ah, yes, Judy! They were probably arrested and are rotting in some jail in Georgia! You can buy Acai Berry in the grocery store in the organic section. They all still have way too much sugar in them for me.

About John Updike, I too found his books depressing and truly boring. We carried them in our book store and most of the ones that were delivered to us, were on "reserves" for men in the community. Never a woman that I can recall.

I liked John Cheever's short stories so might try Updike's sometime. I first read Cheever in the New Yorker magazine.

straudetwo · « **Reply #352 on:** January 29, 2009, 12:17:38 AM »

Welcome, catbrown.
Re your mention of Mary Renault. We discussed The King Must Die in August of 2007 in the Books of the former Seniornet and I was the DL. Prior to that we had a lively discussion of Edith Hamilton's Mythology and someone there suggested that "King" was a logical followup. The author had an interesting life.

On one of my visits to California when my daughter lived in the Bay area, she took me to Berkeley. It was love at first sight - an epiphany really The very atmosphere made me comfortable as if I had been there before. And I would have been very happy to stay on ...

A friend of mine, a foreign language teacher, had her email account stolen a week ago. All her contacts were lost. She was afraid of what might happen and informed all of her friends and associates of the theft. Nothing untoward has happened - so far. Knock on wood.
To lose my wallet or indeed my pocket book is apparently a serious subconscious worry of mine because I am haunted by periodic dreams (nightmares, really) of just that. Grrrrr

Couples was my first experience of John Updike (in 1968 or 1969). Frankly, the book made me uncomfortable, it acatually shocked me though I am certainly no Puritan. After all, twenty-odd years earlier I had read "Lady Chatterley's Lover", for heaven's sake!
There was something unpleasant for me about "Couples", and I felt a whiff of that again years later when I saw the movie adaptation of "The Witches of Eastwick". The theme seems to have stayed with Updike: Knopf published a sequel to it late last year. I read the review.

I tried one of the Rabbit books, the second volume I think it was, but did not manage to "connect".

Steph · « **Reply #353 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:11:50 AM »

I just found that our local library wants to try a used book sale.. So, went rummaging and have two bags to drop off today. It will be the end of February, so hopefully lots of people in the community will help.

maryz · « **Reply #354 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:28:37 AM »

Goodness, Steph, our library has been having book sales for years. We've had two a year for a long time, and are talking about having a third. We also sell used books through an on-site shop at the downtown library, and through amazon and al libris. I guess your library is a small one.

Babi · « **Reply #355 on:** January 29, 2009, 09:24:07 AM »

STRAUDE, I put a lot of study into dreams, and found studying my own very helpful, so I have a suggestion for you. When that nightmare of losing your purse/wallet recurs, go over the events of the day before. You may find a common thread that triggers that particular dream.

jane · « **Reply #356 on:** January 29, 2009, 10:38:31 AM »

Our public library, in a town of 5200, also has twice yearly used book sales. {The last one raised $900.00 in this small town. Prices are cheap...25¢ for a paperback, 50¢ for a hardcover, and then "discounts" on the last day of the sale...whole bag for a couple dollars, etc. }

They get those which have been weeded from the library as well as donations...hardcover and paperbacks, children's books, cookbooks (very BIG sellers), games, etc. The Friends of the Library run it..[because otherwise the $$ would go to the city's general fund, not the Library] and they then buy things for the Library...esp. the Children's room. They've paid for a loft that the kids love, new shelving there, the summer children's program's guest speakers/attractions, food for the summer program, prizes for the reading summer program, etc.

EvelynMC · « **Reply #357 on:** January 29, 2009, 12:39:21 PM »

About two weeks ago, I got the CD of "The Hour I First Believed" by Wally Lamb from the library. It is 25 hours long.

Well, I started listening to it. The reader is very, very good and gives you a "you are there" feeling.

It is a compelling story and had me spellbound.

Then I started having trouble sleeping and became more and more depressed. The more I listened, the more depressed I became.

So, after about 12-13 hours, I simply stopped listening and returned it to the library.

That's the first time, this feeling from a book has ever happened to me. As I said, the story is compelling. But this woman's post traumatic stress syndrome and the repercussions to all the families involved were too much for me.

So, I understand how Ginny felt about Updike's writing.

Evelyn

catbrown · « **Reply #358 on:** January 29, 2009, 01:31:08 PM »

You can add me to the list of the non-Updike-fans. I just find myself profoundly uninterested in his characters and his universe. Judging by the various reponses here, I suspect he had many more male admirers than female. Each his/ her own ... . Hmmm.

Except of course, that I avidly read some sci fi and fantasy that is generally considered the preserve of teen-age boys, hate the genre of film I call "female-bonding" (an example is "Joy Luck Club"), but then, just to be contrary, I adore "Sex and the City" and, to keep it literary in the library, I also adore Georgette Heyer. But, then add Patrick O'Brien's naval adventures to my "adore" list and things get even more confused. I could go on, but my point is that we are all very complicated beings in the way we respond to art of any kind and our gender is only one part of it.

Any thoughts?

Frybabe · « **Reply #359 on:** January 29, 2009, 01:41:43 PM »

Is there anyone who does actually like Updike's books? And why? Just curious since most who have read them seem to dislike them.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 208107 times)