Author Topic: The Library (Read 303808 times)

Steph · « **Reply #440 on:** February 10, 2009, 08:16:05 AM »

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!

The new kindle speaks to you?? Do they mean it reads the book to you? That could be useful on our long rv trips..

Babi · « **Reply #441 on:** February 10, 2009, 08:43:58 AM »

Rats! My library has some of Dan Simmons books, but they are his 'horror' works, not the SciFi. I'll have to look elsewhere.

maryz · « **Reply #442 on:** February 10, 2009, 09:22:01 AM »

I've just ordered my Kindle2. It says the estimated delivery is 2 March. This is supposedly my birthday present, so the timing is about right.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #443 on:** February 10, 2009, 05:16:25 PM »

If I buy the second edition of Kindle that is coming out can I down load my books from my Zire 71 onto the Kindle??

Judy Laird · « **Reply #444 on:** February 10, 2009, 06:03:10 PM »

I called my guru and he says it will read out loud to you and you can put games on it. Sounds like I will get one. I love my zire 71 but its not working right and they don't make them anymore nor do they fix them.

He also says that the books on my Zire can be moved over to the Kindle

joangrimes · « **Reply #445 on:** February 10, 2009, 06:38:45 PM »

My Kindle stopped working today. I called them and they are replacing it. I will have the new one tomorrow and must return the one that is not working.

Joan G

maryz · « **Reply #446 on:** February 10, 2009, 07:18:42 PM »

Great service, Joan!

patcook · « **Reply #447 on:** February 10, 2009, 07:59:41 PM »

Please allow me to introduce myself after reading all of the SeniorLearn book discussions, I have to jump in. My name is Pat Cook and I retired a year ago from CA public education all the way from teacher to principal to working with new teachers at San Diego State. I am LOVING retirement because I finally have time to read what I want and now have 3 books going at once all the time

. I lead 2 book clubs - The Bookies which has 15 members and we are in our 10th year and The Renegades, an offshoot of 5 member who like to read MORE. We have such fun!

Just a few replies to what I have been reading here in your wonderful Library section of Senior Learning. At our last Bookies meeting one of our member brought her Kindle that she had received from her husband for Christmas. We had discussed the Kindle at our last Renegade meeting and agreed that we didn't think we would like not having an actual book in our hands. After her demo, we were more receptive to it because it had a cover like a book and felt like book. One feature we particularly liked was the ability to enlarge the font and of course, we are all about to be run out of our house by all of our books. Anyway, 3 of us including myself ordered one the following week and were delighted to learn that we were going to receive an updated Kindle 2! They are scheduled to be shipped the 24th of this month; we are so excited. I am happy to know that it will read to me when I am in the car. With daughters in NM, OH and PA, I am on the road a lot and have relied on audio books on my IPOD; now I can use the Kindle!

AND, I loved The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. I picked it up at B&N right after it came out at 50% off having read all of his other books. This, to me, was his best; I read it in less than a week - couldn't put it down. Being a teacher and having a daughter who lived in Highland Ranch, CO during Columbine gave me two reasons for being drawn into the story. My daughter actually worked with Eric's mother when the shooting occurred. I think Wally wrote a credible fictional account of the incident with enough factual info to make one feel like you were there. His account of teachers living with the horror was extremely sensitive and realistic. While I was a high school principal, we dealt with a favored teacher's suicide and it is something that haunts you for a long, long time.

Sorry to go on and on! I promise not to occupy so much space in the future, but one last thing - even as a CA girl, I LOVED Bruce's performance at the Super Bowl so well, I downloaded his Working on a Dream CD which I am listening to as I type. It is excellent, and I, too, have it at a volume that drives my husband to his shop outside

.

Love your discussion, and I hope you will allow me to keep in touch. Pat

PatH · « **Reply #448 on:** February 10, 2009, 10:11:00 PM »

Hi, Pat Cook, welcome! It's always nice to see new friends joining us. What are you reading with the Bookies and the Renegades?

As you have seen, in addition to this general discussion and the current specific book discussion, there are Mystery, Science Fiction, Fiction, Non-Fiction, etc departments. Something for everyone. But we're pretty casual about what gets talked about where.

Come in and chat whenever you feel like it.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #449 on:** February 10, 2009, 11:58:05 PM »

Glad you found us Pat and hope you do continue posting - interesting that you saw Wally Lamb's book with different eyes - it is always heartening to hear how folks react differently to an author's work. And P.S. love your long chatty post - hope you share with us more of your reading and life experiences.

Steph · « **Reply #450 on:** February 11, 2009, 07:59:11 AM »

Pat.. Welcome to the group. I am glad to hear about Wallys latest. I want to read it and will get it as soon as I can get the basket to read down to a manageable level.. Hmm. maybe before that actually. I never get the basket down to where I can see basket.
I really must look into the kindle.. I use cassette audio books in the gym and walking and they are getting harder and harder to find. The CD type make me lose my place, since the player I have returns you to the beginning each time you start it and I cant make it stop.

ALF43 · « **Reply #451 on:** February 11, 2009, 09:58:59 AM »

Pat Cook welcome to Senior learn.org. We are delighted to have you join us.
Please feel free to encourage your friends and family to join our discussions. We are an eclectic group of readers and love to share opinions and thoughts about our "chosen" book. We will be reading Classics, fiction, non-fiction, bios, or anything that seems to garner our attention.

Please feel free to ask any questions or voice any concerns. We would love to share our space with you.

Welcome.

Babi · « **Reply #452 on:** February 11, 2009, 10:02:39 AM »

I greatly enjoyed your post, PAT COOK. And your comments on Wally Lamb's new book encourage me to give it a try. Some who have read it found it painful and depressing, so I had decided to pass it up. As Barb says, it is always helpful to learn of different reactions to a book.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #453 on:** February 11, 2009, 12:25:20 PM »

Pat Cook, another welcome! Don't be embarassed by your "long post" it's great when we get a deeper understanding of some of our members. Come in often! We look forward to it!

patcook · « **Reply #454 on:** February 11, 2009, 05:32:16 PM »

THANK YOU ALL for your welcome! I have been reading posts from the more specific groups, but I have a hard time reading books in sections. When one group selected The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society, I got the book and read it all in 3 days. I love reading all their comments but I have read serveral books since then so I feel unable to contribute. I just stumbled into this more general discussion group and LIKE it so count on be being in contact - especially with your beautiful welcome!!!

Our Bookies are reading The Reader this month which I found well written deep "read" - one of those books that you have to read every word. 3 of us finished it in just a couple of days just prior to the movie coming to our area, Brawley CA in the Imperial Valley on the Mexican border. So, we went to see it together and had a great time comparing it to the book - favorable, I must say. Our Renegades read Revolutionary Road last month and did the same thing - saw the movie and compared it to the book. As a reading teacher, I managed to convince most of my students that the book is always better and it was the case 90% of the time then, but I find them doing a much better job of representing the book these days. Before that we read Things Fall Apart which none of us particularly enjoyed so we had one of AP English teachers from our local high school who teaches it to his seniors come and talk to us. WOW, what a difference it made to his reasons for appreciating the book and the author. Now we are going to read the other 2 in the series! Our Renegades group likes to read books from lists like the must reads for all going to college and the Times 100 best novels, etc. hence Things Fall Apart. This month we are reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, a super ghost story written in the '50s and A Prayer for Owen Meany which I am finding good but long and drawn out. So, I read half of it and have put it aside to read a short memoir entitled Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg about his daughter going mad at 15, and then I'll go back and finish Owen. Have a beautiful evening, all!!! Pat

ANNIE · « **Reply #455 on:** February 12, 2009, 08:34:04 AM »

Welcome, Pat Cook. We are so glad to have new voices on SeniorLearn. Do not worry about long posts as some of us like to that also.
I am leaving this message for all who know that my husband is struggling with congestive heart failure and the challenge is becoming a true heartbreak for both of us. So, I searched on web and found out what research was being done and we have checked out several things like stem cell implanting and these pumps plus something called a "C-clamp" but this pump seems to be the only device that they would offer Ralph.

So, we went to the heart clinic yesterday and met two delightful couples. Both husbands had received a heart pump and were very satisfied with them. In fact, their enthusiasm was unbelievably infectious. One had had his since April 2008 and the other, in November of '08. They were both hearty and happy and thankful to be alive. They were promised at least another two years of feeling much better. No one mentioned, what happens after the two years. I am still leery of this but feeling more inclined to listening to the drs and nurses while they show us what it possible for Ralph. I believe the next step will be for them to run the pre-surgical tests to make sure Ralph is absolutely qualified to have this device implanted. Then, if the tests go well, we will have a decision to make.
Thanks for all your good thoughts and prayers. They do help, believe me!

Steph · « **Reply #456 on:** February 12, 2009, 08:48:15 AM »

Thats exciting news. I had never heard of a heart pump. We have a dear friend with congestive heart failure, but he has a good many other things wrong with him as well. However I will email him and tell him he might want to check out heart pumps..

Babi · « **Reply #457 on:** February 13, 2009, 08:49:13 AM »

PATCOOK, if I read a book in advance of a discussion (depends on when I can get it from the library), I make notes and save the notes. Then, when the discussion begins, all I have to do is be careful not to get ahead of the others. I try to use my notes just as I felt when I first read that section. As for "The Guernsey Literary etc.", I think you find the posts ample ground for joining in the discussion. Come have a look.
I remember reading "A Prayer for Owen Meany", and felt pretty much the same way about it.

ADOANNIE, I do hope things go well for you and Ralph. Two years of 'feeling much better' could be such a blessing at our age.

ANNIE · « **Reply #458 on:** February 13, 2009, 09:52:23 AM »

Steph,
Tell your friend to "Google" LVADs and a lot of sites will be offered. The one that we are considering is made by Thoratec. There are about 4 or 5 different and patients have to be evaluated for these. I hope your friend can find one available in his/her area.

Steph · « **Reply #459 on:** February 13, 2009, 07:39:10 PM »

He lives in Charlotte,NC and is currently in the hospital yet again. He simply cannot stableize, but I will keep this for when he is feeling better. Getting ready to go down to our older sons tomorrow. We have out of town relatives coming and we will meet at our Tims on Sunday for a big family get together.

pedln · « **Reply #460 on:** February 13, 2009, 07:48:22 PM »

Pat Cook, welcome. We're delighted that you're here, and I so enjoyed your comments about all the things you have been involved in. Do come join us at GLPPPS. We'll be into 3/4 of the book by Sunday and I'm sure you'd find much to comment on without giving the last part away. One of our English teachers at the high school where I was librarian introduced me to A Prayer for Owen Meany and it is my favorite of Irving's books. Have you seen Simon Birch, the film based on the book?

Ann, you and Ralph are very much in my thoughts and prayers.

Steph · « **Reply #461 on:** February 14, 2009, 11:19:53 AM »

I like the author, but Owen Meany was my least favorite of his books. Still some of his books made excellent movies.

patcook · « **Reply #462 on:** February 14, 2009, 08:25:28 PM »

Babi & pedln,
I have been reading Guernsey discussion daily and have learned sooooo much! I love where the talk leads you! I've read C. Lamb essays and ordered a couple of movies from Netflix that are mentioned, etc. I just feel that I may give something away by having finished the book! I am hoping we read Hedgehog book next which I just ordered from Amazon. I do want to join a discussion by reading section by section. I guess that is why I like The Library where I can ramble on about everything I am reading.
Steph, which J. Irving books have you liked best? I listened to The World According to Garp - I download audio books to my IPOD to listen to while I walk, and it was okay. I guess my favorite so far was The Cider House Rules.
I just started The Forgotten Man! WOW! What parallels to today's economic challenges! There are references to Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis in the first or second chapter. I have not read it so I went online to check it out and was happy to find it on Project Gutenenberg. Has anyone read The Forgotten Man? Scary, uh???
Adoannie, I, too, hope this day of LOVE finds your Ralph's Heartbeating stongly in anticipation of a possible new answer to his problems. Happy VD all! Pat

patcook · « **Reply #463 on:** February 14, 2009, 08:45:50 PM »

pedln,
Forgot to add that I have added Simon Birch to my Netflix Queue. Thank you for the link; I had not heard of it (it has 5 stars). I'll let the other Renegades about it. Pat

ANNIE · « **Reply #464 on:** February 15, 2009, 10:20:41 AM »

Steph,
Here is a link for the LVADs being offered at Duke University. Please take or send it to your friend now. There is no time to waste when one has CHF. He may never feel better enough for you to give this to him. CHF is a chronic disease and very often patients just don't get better. So, please send it to him now.

http://cardio.surgery.duke.edu/modules/div_sgy_cardio_lvad/index.php?id=1

And this one:

http://cardio.surgery.duke.edu/wysiwyg/downloads/4305-LVAD_Mailer_03.pdf

JoanP · « **Reply #465 on:** February 15, 2009, 01:23:17 PM »

Annie, here's hoping that Ralph passes all his tests and is eligible for the heart pump. It sounds so good and must have been reassuring to talk to those who already have one. Prayers will continue. We love your Ralph!

Pat Cook, it is good to know that you didn't get overwhelmed in Guernsey - that you are following along with the other three lurkers (that we know of) just waiting to come in with your thoughts next week, our final week.

In March we turn our attention to Abe Lincoln - Doris Kearns Goodwin's remarkable work, Team of Rivals - a long book, but a page turner that reads like fiction. You might want to stop in to the pre-discussion going on right now.

In April...on April Fool's day, we begin the discussion of Muriel Barbery's delightful novel, The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Glad you have your book for that already, Pat. You are prepared. Just don't read it straight through so you will have to sit out the month with buttoned lip.

That is so difficult to do - and there is a lot to talk to before the conclusion!

Persian · « **Reply #466 on:** February 15, 2009, 09:32:14 PM »

Hello Friends - I'm taking a short break from getting my husband ready to travel back to Egypt on Wednesday to resume his university teaching duties after a much too short Spring break.

ANN - best wishes and many prayers for your husband and you as you both address his health needs.

PATCOOK - your mention of San Diego State brought back good memories of delightful (and talented) academic friends. I'm a native Californian, but retired from the University of Maryland, and was lucky enough to host several colleagues from State at College Park, MD before moving along to US govt. service and tours abroad. As you've already noted, you'll continue to find many new and interesting friends in the SeniorLearn discussions

patcook · « **Reply #467 on:** February 16, 2009, 12:12:33 AM »

Joan P., I LOVE the "lurker" label!! That is exactly what I feel like, and I'm not sure I have the patience to take part in such an intensive month long dialog about one book. I have way to may books in my bedside stack to take a month on one, but I do like eavesdropping when I have a chance - especially to benefit from the wonderful links posted! So, I will probably continue to LURK

.
It's great to see so many of you in so many different discussion groups. I'm dying to jump into the Fiction and mystery group. Do I need to reintroduce myself in each - not a problem, I just need to know the protocol???
Persian, I am absolutely blessed to have experienced public education from K through post graduate! I have treasured friends at all levels, and living in relatively isolated area of CA allows me to remain in contact with so many of them, including former students. I connected with 3 last night at a Valentine's Day dinner at our Stockman's Club and today at Walmart I ran into 3 former students who are now teaching in the school where I was Principal. FUN! Where is State at College Park, Persian? My daughter lived in Crofton, MD for 5 years and I visited often.

\\

Babi · « **Reply #468 on:** February 16, 2009, 09:01:38 AM »

Don't die, PAT. Jump right in to the mystery and fiction groups. They'll be delighted to have a new contributor. Most of them will have probably 'met' you in other forums.
Depending on the book, some have taken longer than a month for discussion. People find so much to say about a really good book, and a really good book offers many ideas to consider. As I said elsewhere, if I can't keep a book for a month, I make notes into a computer document, and refer to it for the discussion.

Steph · « **Reply #469 on:** February 16, 2009, 01:33:22 PM »

Thanks, I copied the two www addresses and sent them to his wife. He is in icu and not doing well at all. She says if and and when the complications from diabetes and kidney failure subside, she will ask his doctors. Just now he know nothing..
I liked Cider House Rules the best as a movie.. and a book too. Still his books tend to be different each one.
Was at a family dinner all weekend, greeting an ex sister in law and husband. I love her dearly and she and I have been close for over 45 years.. She has been remarried for 20.. Poor Jim, he inherited an in law family and is really good about it. Our sons adore their Aunt Key..

Persian · « **Reply #470 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:13:42 PM »

Sorry PAT - I was rushed while writing my former post and meant to refer to friends from San Diego State whom I hosted at the University of Maryland, College Park (the central campus for the UM System), while they were attending a professional conference in Washington DC (about 9 miles from my former home in Maryland). You will laugh, but I learned to skateboard a million years ago in Crofton, MD, where one of my best friends lived at the time. Her son and daughter ran along side while I tried to balance. Finally got the hang of it and the kids cheered!

Babi · « **Reply #471 on:** February 17, 2009, 09:09:18 AM »

A weekend-long family dinner, STEPH? Oh, my. That must have been have been a stupendous orgy of food!

Steph · « **Reply #472 on:** February 17, 2009, 09:16:07 AM »

Actually one way or another, people seemed to just finish one meal, when another would begin.. We had promised my s-i-l a meal for all of us to enjoy visiting ( at our sons house), also a breakfast in a really really neat place called the Broken Egg.. then the younger son had a lunch place she just had to see. She is such a favorite of all of us and we so seldom get to see her. So.. yeah, I didnt, but people seemed to be eating all weekend. Knowing I would get on myu WII this morning made me cautious about what I ate.. Darned things keeps me honest.

Pat · « **Reply #473 on:** February 17, 2009, 10:35:57 AM »

Happy Birthday !
Adoannie

ginny · « **Reply #474 on:** February 17, 2009, 01:05:01 PM »

Oh Happy Birthday, Ann! I hope you have a wonderful day!

EvelynMC · « **Reply #475 on:** February 17, 2009, 06:37:24 PM »

Happy Birthday, Ann.

Hope your husband is doing better.

Evelyn

Steph · « **Reply #476 on:** February 18, 2009, 07:58:46 AM »

Happy Birthday or the day after to Annie. I hope your husband is doing well. As we grow older, it seems that we lose people from our childhood or earlier lives. We just heard from an old business friend who now has stage 3 lung cancer, does not want to do chemo or radiate, etc. Just live out his life.. He is visiting a lot of old friends and tells us that he will be down in Florida in a few weeks. He and his wife will come and spend a few days with us. He was always good company and I am sure it will be bittersweet.

Babi · « **Reply #477 on:** February 18, 2009, 09:12:33 AM »

STEPH, your last post gave me pause. I'm sure I would find it both painful, and a treasured memory, to spend a few last days with an old friend that I knew was dying. It is hard to accept the decision not to fight back, but perhaps that is one of the privileges of growing old. One has already had many good years.
I knew a lady who made this kind of decision, but she was only in her mid-years. Fortunately for my own peace of mind, I did not know her well, though I participated with others in her care. We respected her decision, but I cannot say that, in her case, I though it an understandable choice.

Steph · « **Reply #478 on:** February 19, 2009, 08:18:26 AM »

Oh Babi, I know where you are coming from. My impulse is to fight always. I watched my Mother fight for three long years.. She had good and bad, but she fought to the bitter end. But our friend is a quiet human being and I think he is just tired. He is also in his mid 80's, which may help his decision.

juliak · « **Reply #479 on:** February 19, 2009, 11:10:06 AM »

Thanks for the welcome. I, too, am a Kindle reader! Just love it. Recently finished two of Marilynne Robinson's books - "Gilead" and "Home". Now I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and President Obama's The Audacity of Hope. I like being able to send my books back to Amazon where they are put in my very own library - to reread whenever I might choose.
Owen Meany has been mentioned - I remember liking it very much - maybe something to reread.
Alexander McCall Smith is another of my favorite authors - recently read "The World According to Bertie", another good read.

As for Kindle 2, I'm not sure I want to be read to, but it surely is a nice feature.

JuliaK

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 303808 times)