Author Topic: The Library (Read 2084172 times)

BooksAdmin · « **on:** October 12, 2009, 05:07:38 PM »

The Library

Our library cafe is open 24/7, the welcome mat is always out.
Do come in from daily chores and spend some time with us.

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

Let the book talk begin here!

Everyone is welcome!

Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

Frybabe · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2009, 05:30:02 PM »

maryz · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2009, 05:43:04 PM »

Thanks for the new clean pages.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:52:38 PM »

It''s lonely in here. Is there an echo?

marcie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2009, 07:18:12 PM »

bellemere, I found the following essay on "The Paradox of the Grotesque and Grace " about some themes in one of Flannery O'Connors novels. You might be interested: http://www.cord.edu/faculty/steinwan/nv13_pence.htm

marcie · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2009, 07:23:14 PM »

mrssherlock, thanks for the link to the neurologicablog site. It looks very interesting. I had heard about the discovery of the fossil skeleton of "Ardi" in the news. It's great to have more information. Since this year marks the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth, I've noticed quite a few new books on evolution in the library shelves.

winsummm · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2009, 07:36:55 PM »

http://www.bookarmy.com/Authors/Philippa_Gregory_Writer.aspx

Philippa gregory has her doctorate in 18the Century english history and writes very well. I've read three of her books.

claire

Steph · « **Reply #7 on:** October 13, 2009, 08:30:42 AM »

Oh Judy, did not know that the Riding the Bus was also a movie. Must see if I can find it in DVD. I did love the book..Although Rosie oDonnell. Oh well. will try though.

Babi · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2009, 08:31:56 AM »

I'm going to check and see if the Discovry Channel will be repeating that 'Ardi' presentation, JACKIE. I'd like to see that. I can't imagine 'what life could have been like 4.4 million years ago!

ALF43 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2009, 10:54:58 AM »

Steph- she was excellent in that movie, although her voice grates on ones nerves, it becomes acceptable with the character she portrays.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2009, 11:31:53 AM »

Steph nothing I would normaly tape but she nailed that role and did a good job.
Alf is right about her voice but after a while you understand.
Its in re-runs on lifetime chanel and others like it.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2009, 01:25:55 PM »

There was a report on NPR about the terrible state of the physically disabled in Russia. No wheelchair access, people attacked and killed, left alone in hospital corridors as they lay dying. People who have not left their apartments for 10 years because they were in wheelchairs, The government is spending 300M on improvements, seems like a drop in the bucket. Movies continue to give us little bits of life for people on the fringes. I will never forget Dustin Hoffman's Rain Man, helps me understand a little how it must be to live with the autistic. Tourette's syndrome sounds like something for a comedy routine, inappropriate words, vocalizations, etc. I knew a teenager who had it, a darling girl, who would periodically bark like an animal. Not funny ever, but especially for a teen, devastating. As she grew into adulthood the symptoms waned. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourette_syndrome

CallieOK · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2009, 07:44:53 PM »

joangrimes · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2009, 09:16:53 PM »

Well I thought that I posted here about Riding the Bus with my Sister but I cannot find the post. I just said that the movie was shown here where i live last Friday night on the Hallmark Channel.

Joan Grimes

nlhome · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2009, 09:31:06 PM »

So many ideas here, so little time.

Steph · « **Reply #15 on:** October 14, 2009, 07:39:36 AM »

Hmm, I am not a tv person and will have to check out the tv listings to see if the movie pops up here. I do think I understand that Rosie with that voice could have been the sister.
I know that our old neighbor yelled most of the time. He did not seem to be able to understand that his voice was loud. I often wondered if he was deaf. At least a little.

Babi · « **Reply #16 on:** October 14, 2009, 09:21:28 AM »

The problem of talking too loud has developed for me since I lost the last of my hearing. If I speak in a normal voice, I feel as though I'm not speaking at all. It's an eerie feeling; like I'm a ghost. My daughter has a tactful signal, a slight 'patting downward' of her hand, to let me know I'm getting too loud.
I've passed the tip on to my friends at bridge and asked them to do the same (They've been very understanding about speaking distinctly when they bid, so I can read their lips.)

Pat · « **Reply #17 on:** October 14, 2009, 09:50:12 AM »

Quote from: Babi on October 14, 2009, 09:21:28 AM

The problem of talking too loud has developed for me since I lost the last of
my hearing.

My hearing is about nil. Some days I have trouble not being able to hear myself talk. I f I am talking to strangers, I just, bluntly, ask them if I am talking to loud?

bellemere · « **Reply #18 on:** October 14, 2009, 10:25:45 AM »

I wear a hearing aid; my voice sounds loud to me. But the Grumpy Old Man denies that he has any hearing prolem and accuses me of "mumbling" .
My part time retierment career was giving presentations to nurses, college students, Council on Aging, etc. on "Coping With Hearing Loss" . Most people don't realize that loss of hearing is not just loss of volume but loss of frequency sounds, like soft consonants: f, s, etc. that disappear from the beginnings and ends of words. Makes for those inappropriate responses/
"Oh, I dropped something on the floor?" "No , Mother, there's someone at the door" Grandchildren find this hilarious.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #19 on:** October 14, 2009, 11:49:44 AM »

I seem to hear sounds well, so far, but human speech is something else. I can hear the voice making sounds, sometimes, but the words are indistinct. tried one of those things like a cell phone, fits over one ear. Didn't help. I couldn't get it to work at all, it was either way too loud or it produced no sound. Getting older is the pits!

This morning on NPR's Morning Edition occurred an interview about how much has changed for women economicdally in the last 50 years. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113764557 Author Gail Colins, the first woman to be editorial page editor of the NYTimes, has written When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present Since I was born in 1935 this encompasses almost all of my adulthood. Sounds like we could find one or two topics here for a discussion.

bellemere · « **Reply #20 on:** October 14, 2009, 09:18:44 PM »

O, Mrssherlok, that Collins book sounds so interestint. I went to the site and printed out the excerpt. I think I will recommend it to my Book Group, but it certainly has discussion material for an onboard session, also. thanks so much.
It is avaiable on Amazon, used. About eight bucks!

salan · « **Reply #21 on:** October 15, 2009, 07:27:25 AM »

My reading group meets today. This month's book is "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. Have any of you read it? I would be interested in your opinion. It is not a book I would ever have chosen to read and mentally gave it a raspberry when the group selected it--a book narrated by a dog & involving race car driving!! To my surprise, it turned out to be thought provoking and I am looking forward to the discussion. When I first finished the book, I thought it was just "okay", but the more I thought about it the better it became. I find myself thinking about it and mentally quoting it almost daily. One of the great things about reading groups is that you are forced to read books that aren't in your normal realm.

Sally

Steph · « **Reply #22 on:** October 15, 2009, 08:18:20 AM »

I wear hearing aids and have a duplicate of the grumpy old man who insists the world mumbles..But I am way to nosy not to hear. Only problem. very noisy restaurants with a small screamer for a child. Sigh.. I have to take out the aids or get a headache..

Babi · « **Reply #23 on:** October 15, 2009, 08:50:39 AM »

JACKIE, what you have described sounds like the problem that cost me my
remaining 'ear'. The indistinct words probably indicate that this is a
nerve deafness, in which case the hearing aids aren't going to be helpful.
As the auditory nerve deteriorates, less and less 'data' gets through
to the brain. Sorry..but as you can see we have lots of company.

pedln · « **Reply #24 on:** October 15, 2009, 10:03:07 AM »

Yep, I hear you talking, just don't understand the words. My friends are usually helpful, but sometimes people act like your intelligence has gone the way of your ears. I remember last Christmas at DIL's brother's house for dinner. Sitting with folks I didn't know, trying to follow their conversation, and one asks, "What's the weather like in Missouri." Sheesh, I can converse about something besides the weather.

Sally, I had to laugh at your description about the Garth Stein book. I can't think of anything I'd rather less read, but now you've really made me curious.

marcie · « **Reply #25 on:** October 15, 2009, 09:41:57 PM »

Sally, I have a reaction similar to pedln. Your description of the Garth Stein book is very persuasive. It had nothing going for it in terms of interest for you and yet you've given it a fantastic review. :-)

marcie · « **Reply #26 on:** October 15, 2009, 09:44:05 PM »

The mid October issue of BookBytes will be sent out as soon as PatW has power again. She has lost power for this evening and it isn't expected to be back until the early hours of tomorrow, at the earliest. If you are not receiving the Bookbytes news, which is emailed twice a month, and would like to receive it, please email books@seniorlearn.org

Steph · « **Reply #27 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:00:30 AM »

My hearing aid specialists says the inability to process works is hard to overcome. It involves your listening and translating ability. I do that occasionaly , even with the aids.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #28 on:** October 16, 2009, 06:16:00 PM »

Serious students of the Plantagenet/Tudor period of historical fiction will be happy with Philippa Gregory's newest, The White Queen. You may be quicker than I to associate White with The House Of York and The War of the Roses. You'd be right on. Elizabeth Woodville is the queen of the title. While this is fiction, I am understanding much that was obscure before. For instance, The Tudors, of Wales, were players, too. They were on Henry's, Red Rose, side and bitter enemies of Edward of York. Gregory cleverly inserts brief mentions of Richard, Edward's younger brother, as the tale's march proceeds towards its inevitable denouement. Elizabeth is fond of Richard and hates Edward's middle brother, George, whom Warwick is planning to place on Edward's throne. When Warwick brutally beheads Elizabeth's father and one of her brothers, she swears to avenge them. And this is only page one! (Joke)

Babi · « **Reply #29 on:** October 17, 2009, 08:37:37 AM »

A long while back I read a historical novel about Elizabeth Woodville. I don't
recall the title now, but it was very enjoyable and Elizabeth Woodville was
depicted in a very favorable light. I know that the historical events were accurate; I could only hope the personality of the woman was accurate also.

Steph · « **Reply #30 on:** October 17, 2009, 09:28:16 AM »

Reading a fascinating true story of a woman who is a Captain( waiter) at Per See. The Keller restaurant in New York. First woman Captain he had there. Am learning a lot about very high end cooking and restaurants. Just love it.

Babi · « **Reply #31 on:** October 18, 2009, 09:32:01 AM »

In a similar vein, I read and very much enjoyed "You'll Never Nanny in
This Town Again", by Suzanne Hansen. She worked as a nanny in Hollywood. Some names are changed, but most people could probably
figure out who she was referring to. The names she didn't change were those who were genuine, decent sorts who treated their employees like people..even friends. Imagine! I found to my pleasure that that list
included Sally Fields, Debra Winger, and Rhea Perlman & husband Danny
DeVito.
A much better book than I expected when I picked it up. It also deals
with a young and timid girl who has to learn the slow, hard way how to
assert herself.

ginny · « **Reply #32 on:** October 18, 2009, 09:45:19 AM »

haha Babi and I are posting together, takes me so long to write any post, I have definitely heard of that book and with your recommendation, now will look for it, love Nanny books. That one a few years ago with "Grayer" which was made into a movie was really haunting.

I started that, Steph. I am not sure why I gave it up, but I have it, maybe your enthusiasm will propel me back into it, I usually love that type of thing, but in reading, it's always what you are in the mood for.

___________________

Finishing up That Old Cape Magic, I keep stealing glances at Her Fearful Symmetry, by the same author of The Time Traveler's Wife, which I have not read. Starts out with a bang, for sure, and is eerie, apparently takes place somewhat in Highgate Cemetery in London which has been one of my haunts for years, no pun intended, absolutely love it, and have probably met her and did not know it since you can't tour ...one part of it without a guide. I'm really looking forward to it, have any of you read it? It's hard to put down. Starts dramatically, with a death, and everywhere you turn in it you say I'll only read a little bit and find yourself reading chapters.

_______________________

All this talk of Cape Cod has made me want to revisit books dealing with that sort of enclave of the rich ambiance but I can't find my copy of Philistines at the Gate, which deals with another enclave of the privileged, anywhere. I am somewhat surprised to find the author, Gates, has written about many other similar enclaves since, including the Manhattan you only hear about, so I hope to look him up at the library when I return my grandbaby's seriously overdue books this week.

___________________

The Wall Street Journal's Friday Column, Dear Book Lover, had a question from a reader whose book clubs always seemed to deal with "depressing, and sad " books "focusing on the dark side of life."

The reader wanted recommendations which were "uplifting and joyful to read yet also stimulating---something that would satisfy our intellectual needs but also make us feel good about the world."

I assume that reader did not want non fiction, Tracy Kidder's new one immediately springs to mind, about an African refugee who became a doctor in the US, but anyway her recommendations were:

(After explaining that sometimes the good and bad make a harmony, as in a Fine Balance, you'd have to read the original article online, she puts it a lot better) for happy endings she recommends: Let the Great World Spin, Blame., Cutting for Stone, Border Songs, Maynard and Jennica, The Shipping News, Cold Comfort Farm, and the Consolations of Philosophy.

I can't say I've read any of these but I've certainly heard of them. What books would you say could go on this list? I have tried several times to get the humor in the movie Cold Comfort Farm, I love Joanna Lumley but I just can't seem to get thru it.

______________

Have you heard about the Naked Angels' Naked Radio?

A not for profit NY theater company is going to resurrect live radio drama for the "digital age." They started yesterday and Thursday. They provide spooky sound effects for original Halloween themed plays, sketches and musical performances. They do online streaming Thursdays starting this winter, and pod casts.

To learn more go to: http://www.nakedangels.com/

Do you remember the old radio shows? There is a channel on Sirius Radio about books and they have also some live radio shows, all written by the same person, but it's an attempt to bring it back.

I loved those old things. "On, King!", Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, and Johnny Diamond and The Shadow Knows, such fun, and so clever. And of course the best one ever done: Sherlock Holmes with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.

One of the old radio writers , Antony Boucher of the Sherlock Holmes series has an award named for him. They appear to call it the Anthony now but I could have sworn they called it the Boucher and the convention the Boucheron but apparently I was wrong, it's for mystery writing.

______________________

I started Stuart Woods' Lie I think it's called, because I saw it on the shelf, and had not read any Stuart Woods, it's a thriller I guess, possibly based on rumors or fears, about submarines and spies and women, those three things somewhat relentlessly. The Cold War, submarines, spies, somebody trying to take over the world, possibly Russian, and women...submarines, spies, covert operations, and women. That appears to be it. I think it would appeal to men, perhaps? Are any of you reading any Stuart Woods?

I really hate being in limbo, finishing up a book with nothing really compelling and addictive to grab next. And there sits the latest Zafon. And there sits the latest Preston and Childs (they killed off my heroes! In the first pages! That's hard to get over or forgive!) And there sits Her Fearful Symmetry, beckoning....What are you finishing up or starting or really immersed in?

Babi · « **Reply #33 on:** October 18, 2009, 10:20:10 AM »

That phrase "fearful symmetry" set off bells in my head, Ginny. I knew I had read it before. Of course..it's from Blake's "Tiger, Tiger".

maryz · « **Reply #34 on:** October 18, 2009, 11:22:31 AM »

Ginny, years ago, we loved the first two or three Stuart Woods' books, set in Georgia, with the protagonist a rural sheriff. Then he got into a "hero" named "Stone Barrington"

- and all he seems to do is comment on characters' clothes, cars, and sex lives. I don't read him any more.

JoanR · « **Reply #35 on:** October 18, 2009, 12:02:49 PM »

Looking for a funny book? Try "Lucky Jim" - the funniest ever!!

I have "Her Fearful Symmetry" and have been circling it with extreme caution. I have to work up the nerve to read it ! I used to love scary books as a child. Nothing like the good old cold shivers to make reading under the covers with a flashlight a great adventure. Now they do leave me feeling that I have to sleep with the lights on!!

I also have the new Zafon but have been re-reading "Shadow of the Wind" first since the 2 are, I understand, related and I have forgotten too much of "Shadow.." What's happened to my memory anyway - done gone whistlin' down the windy corridors of time!!

Steph · « **Reply #36 on:** October 18, 2009, 03:24:00 PM »

I find books on the restaurant and cooking industry fascinating. I have biographies on Julia.. James Beard and several others. I also have books on people who made cooking their lives. This current one interests me because of the clues on the why and how of minimalist eating. Each of the many many courses at Per Se is two or three bits. Keller feels you should only have a taste of each of his courses. Not sure I understand the reasoning and some of the items sound disgusting to me. But they could be special indeed.
Fearful>>>> hmm, I may try that. Sounds intricate enough to make me concentrate. I always have several books going and just now at least one if quite old. There is a sci-fi fantasy writer called
Spider Robinson and his books are funny and very very far out.. This one is a companion to the Bar at the end of the world..Just really getting into it.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #37 on:** October 18, 2009, 05:19:44 PM »

I've got three quirky ones going at the same time: Big Machineby Victor La Valle http://www.piurl.com/1vu4
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/alan-bradley/sweetness-at-bottom-of-pie.htm
and Dream City by Brendan Short

Sorry, keyboard is dying Bye!

pedln · « **Reply #38 on:** October 18, 2009, 06:33:24 PM »

Stuart Woods! I knew that name was familiar -- sure, Chiefs -- a novel depicting a few decades of rural law enforcement in Georgia. My f2f group read it a few years back. Really good.

I read that Cynthia Crossen article. We discussed A Fine Balance on SeniorNet a few years ago. While it is certainly a worth while book to read, and very well-written, I wouldn't not exactly call it uplifting. And while perhaps there is supposed to be a fine balance between good and bad, the pictures that run through my mind when I think of that book are pretty awful.

Frybabe · « **Reply #39 on:** October 19, 2009, 12:50:16 AM »

Ginny, I just loved the movie The Shipping News but never read the book. Almost bought the book but didn't and then forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me.

I finally picked up Relic but after 18pages it has yet to "grab"me.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2084172 times)