Author Topic: The Library (Read 208111 times)

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #360 on:** January 29, 2009, 01:55:59 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!

Barbara: Evelyn I purchased the book and after the first chapter put it down - the characters are not folks I can get into - the guy is a jerk - it is a thick book and I think I "should" read it but I am not enjoying it - there are other disagreable characters in books but for some reason I just think these are not made likeable - I cannot have compassion for them or something - I keep thinking it is my fault I do not like them and now after reading your post I am thinking maybe it is OK to let this book go by the wayside - too bad since I paid full price and only purchased it on the strength that Wally Lamb was such a friend of SeniorNet Books & Lit

Updike - I like his poetry and essays - prefer the books as movies that are over in 2 hours.

maryz · « **Reply #361 on:** January 29, 2009, 01:56:49 PM »

I've never read any of Updike's books. I added the quote from him in my profile because I liked what it said about artists.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #362 on:** January 29, 2009, 02:18:09 PM »

You have to wonder how Updike got on the best seller's lists..............

.............. and who decides on the "prizes" for writing, there has been more one "prize" book that i've tried to read and ended up ditching!

I so miss our library's book sales. They used to have 2 a year also, but last spring there was a fire in the town hall admin building which is just across the parking lot from the library. So, some of those offices have moved into the library facility and there has been no room for the book sales, so i've been "on the wagon" for three seasons..........i've having w/ drawal! They did put out two book carts that constantly have books for sale on them.........but it's not the same.......................ooooohhhhhh...........jean

maryz · « **Reply #363 on:** January 29, 2009, 02:32:55 PM »

Our library has their book sales in one of the local malls - and they run for about 8 days. Once, I'd love to take more books than I purchase. Right - like THAT's gonna happen.

PatH · « **Reply #364 on:** January 29, 2009, 04:03:10 PM »

I agree with all the reasons the rest of you don't like Updike.

Catbrown, I, too, like Patrick O'Brian--have read the whole series. Have you read C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower stories? They aren't as good as O'Brian, but they are based on the same real life character as Aubrey--Thomas Cochrane. Cochrane was an extremely colorful and daring character, and some of Aubrey's most outlandish exploits are lifted almost intact from real life.

Which sci-fi and fantasy do you like? You never came back to the Sci-Fi discussion to tell us. We like the more masculine stuff too--we're just not talking about it at the moment.

nlhome · « **Reply #365 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:11:43 PM »

Jane, our Friends of the Library does much the same with book sales. They support programs and purchases that are in addition to what our city and county provide. I tend to donate some, buy back more - something wrong with that picture!

jane · « **Reply #366 on:** January 29, 2009, 09:19:59 PM »

Quote

something wrong with that picture!

Not really! You're a good library supporter!

Pat · « **Reply #367 on:** January 30, 2009, 11:16:36 AM »

Public libraries were not included in the 819 billion economic stimulus package passed by the U.S. House.
Call -- write -- or fax your senator -- with this message.

On behalf of the (name of your Library), please add " and public libraries" to S.1, page 396, line 13 to read as follows:
SEC. 1402. State Uses of Funds
(b) Other Government services
For each fiscal year, The Governor may use up to 39% of the State's allocation under section 1301 for public safety and other government services, which may include assistance for elementary and secondary education, public institutions of higher education and public libraries.

By including the words "and public Libraries" to this legislation, libraries would have access to funding that is critical to libraries' continuation of the of the services that our communities so desperately depend on. Many thanks for your consideration of this request.

jane · « **Reply #368 on:** January 30, 2009, 11:21:18 AM »

Thanks, Pat...

Emails on the way!

jane

bellemere · « **Reply #369 on:** January 30, 2009, 02:45:03 PM »

So I am leaving for Mexico next week with the following to last me three weeks:
The Leopard by diLampedusa; The Thirteenth Tale, by Setterfield (my March Book Club choice), The Death of Artemio Cruz (my Mexican choice) and Yo! in Spanish, with dictionary to go along. Also maybe some poetry by Derek Walcott. Plus a couple of New YOrkers to catch up on. Plus "Flowers of the Caribbean" identification book.
That should do it.

PatH · « **Reply #370 on:** January 30, 2009, 03:14:45 PM »

Bellemere, sounds like a great bunch of choices. We read "The Thirteenth Tale" on the old site a while ago, with great enjoyment. I'm starting to reread "The Leopard", which I read and liked many years ago.

Babi · « **Reply #371 on:** January 30, 2009, 05:21:03 PM »

BELLEMERE, with all that reading to do, when are you going to have time to look for those flowers?

Persian · « **Reply #372 on:** January 30, 2009, 08:00:57 PM »

My husband arrived safely from Egypt late last night. Since he is still acclimating to our local EST and went to sleep about 7:15 p.m., I am taking advantage of some free time to reconnect with The Library and the many friends whom I've missed. As I've readied our home for Mohamed's arrival, I've also begun to think about a presentation in March on Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea for our local library. Has anyone read it? I've been invited to discuss Afghan culture with the local Friends of the Library Books Group in one evening and one morning session.

I hope to slip in and out of The Library on a regular basis, interspersed with travel to Washington DC while Mohamed is in the US - he returns to Egypt on Feb. 18th. In March, I'll be preparing to welcome my son (formerly known as "Chaps" in the SN Gratitude Discussion) and his family back to the US in connection with his recent reassignment from Germany to help prepare Army Chaplains at a large base to counsel with their soldiers and help prepare them (and their families) for deployment to Afghanistan in the Spring.

It's really great to have this site operational and to interact again with good friends.

Mahlia

Babi · « **Reply #373 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:39:12 AM »

Be sure to welcome Mohammed home on behalf of all his friends here, Mahlia. I wish he could stay longer.

bellemere · « **Reply #374 on:** January 31, 2009, 09:55:56 AM »

Persian, my Book Club read and enjoyed Three Cups of Tea and started a penny drive among ourselves,sending a small donation to the Central Asia Institute. Currently we are so disheartened by the destruction of over 167 schools in the area by the Taliban. Heartbreaking for the children and families involved. I keepwondering about Mortenson's schools' whether they are among those destroyed.
Such a contrast with our local bright star, Bilqis, who just broke the high school women's basketball scoring record; she wears a head scarf and long sleeved shirt and pants under her ;uniform which bears the number 1. She is first in her class academically too, and wii graduate with a full scholarship to University of Memphis next year' where she will be playing Division 1 Women's basketball And oh, yes, she is all of 5 ft. 3 inches tall. Her career interest is medicine, especially cardiac surgery. Any Memphis people, keep an eye out for her!
How many young women like her are being lost to the world?

catbrown · « **Reply #375 on:** January 31, 2009, 01:51:15 PM »

Quote from: PatH on January 29, 2009, 04:03:10 PM

Catbrown, I, too, like Patrick O'Brian--have read the whole series. Have you read C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower stories? They aren't as good as O'Brian, but they are based on the same real life character as Aubrey--Thomas Cochrane. Cochrane was an extremely colorful and daring character, and some of Aubrey's most outlandish exploits are lifted almost intact from real life.

Which sci-fi and fantasy do you like? You never came back to the Sci-Fi discussion to tell us. We like the more masculine stuff too--we're just not talking about it at the moment.

Pat, thanks for asking. I read Hornblower as a kid and have been meaning to reread one of these days. You're not the only one to recommend them. Meanwhile, I've enjoyed the BBC versions.

As for sci-fi and fantasy, some favorites are: Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Neal Stephenson (particularly his most recent books, with the sad exception of his newest), Susannah Clarke, and Guy Gavriel Kay (his earlier books).

Let's see ... other favorites besides sci-fi or fantasy ... oh, of course, Dorothy Dunnett (many, many obsessive rereads of the Lymond series), early Cecilia Holland, Mary Renault, Iris Murdoch,Trollope, Dickens, Dumas, Sabatini and so on ... and on.

O'Brien makes me think of Bernard Cornwell, who's not a stylist like O'Brien, but captures the spirit of the age in the Sharp series and who can make a battle scene vivid and clear in a way no other writer can. His novel about Waterloo, which consists largely of the battle itself, is a tour de force. Have you read him?

Janice · « **Reply #376 on:** January 31, 2009, 04:58:09 PM »

Wondering if anyone knows what happened to Seniors and Friends?

straudetwo · « **Reply #377 on:** January 31, 2009, 05:18:22 PM »

Janice,
Seniors and Friends is down for maintenance and moving to a new server. It will be back.
Traude

kiwilady · « **Reply #378 on:** January 31, 2009, 05:52:58 PM »

Seniors and friends got too big! They have to get a new server and more bandwidth. It should be up and going in another 12 hours I would think. They said about 24 hours all up.

I am reading foreign authors at the moment.

Carolyn

Persian · « **Reply #379 on:** January 31, 2009, 09:27:40 PM »

BABI - many thanks for your welcome to Mohamed. He is still becoming accustomed to local time, but that hasn't prevented him from tinkering with our computers.

BELLEMERE - I just passed along your comments regarding the collection of pennies for the Central Asia Institute to the Head Librarian at our local branch. Since the books discussion group will undertake to read and discuss Three Cups of Tea in March, I thought they might be interested in following your group's lead. I'll mention it again when I join them for two sessions to discuss Afghan culture.

Indeed, young women like Bilqis are too few, but they DO exist. I've met several in Charlotte, NC, who also enjoy sports and are very adept at excelling in sports, while also keeping their eyes on their future professional goals. When we used to live in Washington, I worked with several families whose daughters were similar to Bilqis in their determination to "help others" via professional commitments. These young woman always serve to remind me that those of us who have already "walked the path" in our earlier professional lives now have an opportunity to support and encourage them as they prepare to take over the reins in their chosen professions.

Steph · « **Reply #380 on:** February 01, 2009, 06:34:29 PM »

Been out of touch since Thursday. My husband managed to collapse at the gym, fall and injure his head. After three days in the hospital, he is home,, all is well, he has a glued forehead and everything else works perfectly, but it was scary for a while. I will be late to the book discussion.
Yes, the library here is a temporary one. They are building a permanent one now. I used to run the used book store and sale in Bedford, Ma, many years ago. I loved it. Got first dibs on all of the stuff coming in..Neat..

maryz · « **Reply #381 on:** February 01, 2009, 07:16:49 PM »

Steph, that's awful! I hope all is well now. Did they find out what caused it?

Deems · « **Reply #382 on:** February 01, 2009, 08:13:45 PM »

Steph--What a scare. It's always frightening when someone collapses. Good to hear that your husband is home. It's good they kept him in the hospital to observe and test. They don't seem to run out of tests these days. My daughter's tennis chum had bleeding in the brain--she's still in the hospital for observation.

pedln · « **Reply #383 on:** February 01, 2009, 09:25:27 PM »

Oh Steph, hope all is well now.

Steph · « **Reply #384 on:** February 02, 2009, 07:41:50 AM »

Tim is 74 and they mostly worried about his heart. But they ran so many tests and he passed all with flyin colors. He would have been home on Saturday, but the hospital ( a small one) manag ed to lose his echo cardio tests that had been done on Friday am.. The doctor would not admit what happened, just kept making excuses for not dismissing him. Even the nurses were on Tims side on that one. They finally ran down the tests Sunday around 11am, read them again and let him go home. He and the cardio are not on speaking terms,not that it matters, since the man was not a choice of ours, but of the hospitalists.
He is just fine. He did not eat anything before he went to the gym, which is a nono and probably had low blood sugar.. thus, the collapse..

Babi · « **Reply #385 on:** February 02, 2009, 09:55:11 AM »

Scary, STEPH. Suggestion, ....stick a couple of granola-type bars in your purse when the two of you go out. Handy for emergencies, if your husband starts flagging.

ginny · « **Reply #386 on:** February 02, 2009, 12:41:15 PM »

That is scary, Stephanie, I am glad he's ok, getting old is definitely not for sissies, you probably had your own angina just hearing about it. Glad he's OK!!

My goddaughter, an omnivorous reader, has sent me Eragon and a Stephanie Meyer, the one with the apple on the cover. I was determined to read a chapter of each for her enthusiasm and found both of them appealing, particularly the Meyer. She writes well, I can remember going to a new school and how it felt and she's spot on. Of course the 4 strange beautiful people in the cafeteria one of whom seems to hate her seem strange and unfortunately I read the back cover so I know what HE is anyway, but I can see why the young people are quite caught up in them. I've seen several mentions of her also here on SeniorLearn. I found it quite interesting and the Eragon (which is a favorite of the prisoners in the PLP) also quite inventive.

Am almost finished the Grisham Appeal, it's something else. I had no idea money could buy so much. Or could. I have a feeling that there must be some truth to it or he would not have written about it.

Some Super Bowl, huh? When Bruce Springsteen came out and said put that guacamole dip down, put the chidken fingers down, and turn up the volume of the TV, I turned mine up so loud my husband left the house for the half time but he never watches them anyway, some game! hahahaaa

Love that E Street Band, yay NJ! I thought he was great, one of the best half times, his 12 minutes flew by and sometimes the 12 minutes are awkward, anybody see him?

Love that Little Stevie Van Zant, they're going to make a movie of the Sopranos, supposedly when David Chase saw him he said, that is the face of NJ. hahahaa

Just joyous. Man sings his own songs triumphantly. I don't always like his politics but I do love his music.

JoanP · « **Reply #387 on:** February 02, 2009, 01:33:50 PM »

So sorry to hear about Tim, Steph. I thought of him when I went to the gym this morning, too late to eat my breakfast. I'm glad he is home and back to normal.

My DIL gave me Eragon - she loves Meyer. Haven't started - it took a while to get through Philip Hencher's Northern Clemency. I know it was a Man Booker finalist, but not sure yet how I feel about it. I just finished - the ending didn't do it for me. I know you shouldn't judge a book by the ending...still thinking about whether I would recommend it to a friend. Did anyone read it?

I really hate to disagree in the face of your enthusiasm, Ginny. I'm a Jersey girl myself- and thought Bruce was just plain awful. I thought he was trying too hard, maybe. The crowd was happy though, I'll say that. Do you think I'm getting old? I'll join W. on the back porch.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #388 on:** February 02, 2009, 01:51:12 PM »

JoanP - You had mentioned in the pre - GLPPPS discussion that you had lived in Caldwell, NJ. and asked if i had visited. I have, of course, breezed by the exit on the Parkway 100's of times, but in the 70's when i was the ExDir of the Burlington Co YWCA, all the directors in NJ met at the Caldwell (?) YWCA. I'm not sure if that was the name of it, but we were in the vacinity.

So there are at least 3 Jerseyites on this site - you, Ginny - who spent some of her young years in Moorestown, where i have lived for the last 30 yrs. - and me. Maybe we can improve NJ's reputation to the rest of the world as we talk about it. I love living in NJ, it's close to everything - PHilly, NYC, Baltimore, WAsh. D.C., the shore (as we call it), the mountains........what else is there? Those poor folk who know Jersey only by driving the turnpike or the parkway have missed it's beauty, it's culture, it's diversity (in every aspect of living). We're not just the corridor between Phila and NYC. And every town i'm familiar w/ has a good, if not great library!

jean

Babi · « **Reply #389 on:** February 03, 2009, 09:00:12 AM »

I also read Eragon, as well as it's sequel, and found them quite enjoyable. I was pleased to find that quality of writing in the YA books.

Steph · « **Reply #390 on:** February 03, 2009, 10:00:49 AM »

The problem with Tim and the gym.. He goes at 5am.. so I am not around to monitor what happens..I get up early and walk dogs, etc and go to the gym at 8am, but he simply will not give up his early time. He loves it when it is not busy. He seems just fine..He has extremely low blood pressure as a normal thing,so did his Mother and grandmother. Those two both lived until their late 90's. So we are now peaceful. I got back to my routine. Today is a WII fit day. I do three gym days and three wii days.. Am determined to get hold of this extra weight, which keeps creeping up.
Have not tried Aragon.. I would guess I have been reluctant since Anne McCaffreys dragons are my dragons. I have always adored hers..
Twilight, Read it and found the alienation quite real. I have the third around somewhere and need to get the second before I read the third. Found the third in a used book store. I also haunt thrift stores. Amazing the books you can find there.

LarryHanna · « **Reply #391 on:** February 03, 2009, 10:20:57 AM »

Ginny, I have to agree with Joan on the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I watched a little of it and it was so loud and blaring that I really couldn't make out what he was saying to singing. I agree, however, that the people there seemed to really be enjoying it. That is just not my kind of music.

Liked the game however.

Steph, glad to read that Tim is doing fine. I think it is much better to have low blood pressure than high blood pressure. I have low blood pressure so hopefully don't have to worry about a stroke.

The other day at the library I picked up a Joseph Wambaugh novel and when I started it realized I had read it not very long ago. I always liked his books and still do.

Do any of you like Vince Flynn books?

mabel1015j · « **Reply #392 on:** February 03, 2009, 01:45:37 PM »

Springstein and the E Street Band are also from New Jersey!!!!!

Janice · « **Reply #393 on:** February 03, 2009, 07:07:34 PM »

Have been unable to get to seniors and friends, has it crashed after the move?

Staz · « **Reply #394 on:** February 03, 2009, 08:02:47 PM »

Can someone give me the name of a book?
It about 3 ladies a christian, a jew, and a muslim who discuss beliefs and become friends.
I appreciate your help.
Thanks

Janice · « **Reply #395 on:** February 03, 2009, 08:08:23 PM »

The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew--Three Women Search for Understanding
by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, Priscilla Warner

Staz · « **Reply #396 on:** February 03, 2009, 08:29:03 PM »

Thanks, Janice. I go to the library tomarrow and will try to pick it up
Staz

JoanP · « **Reply #397 on:** February 03, 2009, 09:02:55 PM »

Jean, Yes, I'm a Jersey girl - Cranford, not Caldwell, though. Still I did not appreciate Bruce's performance at the super bowl half time show. He seemed terribly out of breath - he seemed to be trying too hard to live up to the hype.

Larry, you can join Winston and me on the back porch. I've heard of Joseph Wambaugh and Vince Flynn, but don't go for the thrillers these days. Gee, no thrillers, no Bruce...I am showing my age, aren't I?

mabel1015j · « **Reply #398 on:** February 03, 2009, 09:52:55 PM »

I knew you said Cranford Joan -

- sorry, sorry, sorry, i guess when my mind went to the "YWCA" i remembered the ED from Caldwell and the synapses just slipped.......

...............jean

GinnyAnn · « **Reply #399 on:** February 03, 2009, 11:21:30 PM »

It has been fun reading all the replies

My husband loves Vince Flynn. I think I may have read one of his books, and plan on trying him again.

Just finished Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton. I loved it lightness and the wonderful descriptions of the people that filled the book. She has a way with words that I love. An example:

Quote

It was like being trapped inside a snow globe inside a Hallmark ad inside a Disney movie.

News:

Author Topic: The Library (Read 208111 times)

Staz

Staz