Author Topic: The Library (Read 2316198 times)

LarryHanna · « **Reply #10360 on:** January 05, 2013, 12:47:59 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!

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It was announced this week that our county library system will have a $1 million dollar reduction in their materials budget this year. the system consists of 15 different library locations and all are heavily used so this will be quite a blow to them in terms of new materials and books available. They have been facing severe budget cuts for the last few years and have cut the hours of operation at all of the locations. We have wonderful libraries and also a wonderful park system here as we are a very large county here in the Atlanta area. Are any of your libraries facing such reductions?

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #10361 on:** January 05, 2013, 02:44:00 PM »

We've had those for about the past three/four years; however, this year's budget adds a wee bit of money in. But not near enough to recoup the losses of the previous years. We've lost staff, money for new books, periodicals, altered operating times. I feel for all of us whose libraries are suffering!

JeanneP · « **Reply #10362 on:** January 05, 2013, 02:44:58 PM »

Babi.

Now one can still use the Title of "Sir" and be a American Citizen. Remember they still address "Sir Anthony Hopkins" and I believe he did get citizenship year 2000 Same with Lawrance Olivia. Now I could be wrong. Will have to Google it.

Now,like myself and daughter we are citizens of both UK and USA now.

Most do it as it gives them the right to VOTE and run for a Political office. (Not president or Vice Pres.)

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #10363 on:** January 05, 2013, 03:25:37 PM »

Hi all,

I know this is supposed to be about books, and I promise to be quiet after this, but I just have to share with you the news that my elder daughter Anna has just today been offered a place to read Music at Cambridge University. We are so thrilled - I think I am more excited than she is!

Rosemary

maryz · « **Reply #10364 on:** January 05, 2013, 03:46:17 PM »

Congratulations to your Anna! That's quite an honor, and I know you're so proud.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #10365 on:** January 05, 2013, 04:20:15 PM »

rosemarykaye, congrats to Anna!

Jeanne sorry I said "Sir" Richard Haliburton. Not knowing he was american, and no reason to be Sir. My bad! I believe I had him confused with an explorer with similar, not the same, name.

JoanK · « **Reply #10366 on:** January 05, 2013, 04:52:57 PM »

Rosemary: thats wonderful!!!! Of course we want to hear your great news. Please feel free to share! We all do.

jane · « **Reply #10367 on:** January 05, 2013, 05:01:21 PM »

Congratulations to Anna!!

Our small town library suffered huge $$ decreases the last 5 years, though it seems to be holding steady now. Our problem is that the politicians here simply do not value libraries. The County Supervisors 8 or so years ago publicly acknowledged they'd never been in the library and said that the statistics sent to them couldn't possibly be right...that that many people simply didn't go to a library. Now, talk to them about a dump truck or a road grader and they're all "atwitter" with excitement. BAH!

MaryPage · « **Reply #10368 on:** January 05, 2013, 05:40:57 PM »

This is a vivid example of why I have always felt women should be running this world instead of men. For one thing, there are MORE OF US, and on the basis of mathematics only, we should be. For another, we have an entirely different set of values from what the men hold dear. If women were running the world, would CEOs leave a company in disgrace with 8 milliion dollar gold parachutes? I think not. Would sports figures be earning multi-million dollar per year contracts and teachers be on Poverty Street? I think not. Would libraries and school lunch programs and Head Start programs and music and art be the first things cut out of budgets? I think not. I think women would cut out trips abroad and conventions all over the country and limos and award ceremonies with fancy medals and trophies and stuff and parades and all the glittery stuff before they stopped seeing to it that all school children got at least one meal per day in their empty tummies. That all needy school children at least got introduced to what a book is by being read to in Head Start. Oh, I could go on and on and on. For your sakes, I'll get off the box now.
But one more thing: 53% of citizens voting in the last election were women. Now 20 of the 100 Senators are women. We are all the way up to 20% there, and have not yet had the vote for a full century (1920)! And there are 78 female Representatives in the House. We are not doing as well there, but progress is being made. 78 out of 435 comes to not quite 18%. Yet our sex makes up 53% of those who vote! And counting all female persons with U.S. citizenship, we make up 51% of the population. We're getting there. We will get there! I won't live to see it, but we shall overcome. One day.

ginny · « **Reply #10369 on:** January 05, 2013, 06:14:05 PM »

Rosemary, how exciting! Many many congratulations to Anna, that's fabulous!!!

I know you are over the moon!!! And we rejoice with you all!

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #10370 on:** January 05, 2013, 06:20:30 PM »

Wonderful wonderful for you daughter - how proud when our children do well and get these amazing opportunities - fireworks for sure over Edinburgh during her graduation party.

I thought "Sir" Richard Haliburton was from Nova Scotia and wrote several books about his adventurous travels. He was published if it is the same one in the 1930s.

http://www.amazon.com/THE-GLORIOUS-ADVENTURE-Richard-Haliburton/dp/B000INDLKA/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&qid=1357427170&sr=8-28&keywords=Richard+Haliburton.

Frybabe · « **Reply #10371 on:** January 05, 2013, 06:22:58 PM »

Oh Rosemarykaye, how very exciting. Congratulations to Anna.

JeanneP · « **Reply #10372 on:** January 05, 2013, 06:43:47 PM »

Rosemary.

Getting a place in Music there I know is hard. You have the right to be very proud. My congratulations to Anna also. She must really be excited.

CallieOK · « **Reply #10373 on:** January 05, 2013, 07:38:22 PM »

Rosemary, Heartiest congratulations to your Anna. Having a granddaughter majoring in Musical Theater has given me new appreciation for the audition experience. What a wonderful accomplishment for your daughter.

nlhome · « **Reply #10374 on:** January 05, 2013, 07:44:56 PM »

Wow, Rosemary, how great for your daughter.

Our library, this year, is holding its own, but mostly because employees are paying much more for their insurance and other benefits. Next year may be a different story.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #10375 on:** January 05, 2013, 08:06:27 PM »

Congratulations to Annie, Proud Mama.

We are about to have the first woman mayor. There has never been more than one woman at a time on our five person council. These same councils have wasted two decades and millions of dollars trying to design and build a new library. They literally spent almost $4 million on design and designers. The first design cost less then $1 million, 15 yrs ago, but they didn't get a contract out in time. They lost more money that would have come from the state, but they didn't get their acts together in time to get the grants. One f the problems is we have been forever a largely one party community. Over the last 40 yrs there have been only 3 minority (Democratic) members of the town council. It's idiocy!

Steph · « **Reply #10376 on:** January 06, 2013, 06:30:15 AM »

book clubs are tricky. I like ours because I can go or not,,I figure I am too old to read stuff I am not interested in.

jane · « **Reply #10377 on:** January 06, 2013, 08:50:37 AM »

Quote from: Steph on January 06, 2013, 06:30:15 AM

book clubs are tricky. I like ours because I can go or not,,I figure I am too old to read stuff I am not interested in.

Hallelujah and amen! I spent 58 or so years of my life mostly having to read or
discuss books picked out by schools, college committees, curriculum committees, etc. There wasn't much time left over for discovering new authors and reading to just relax and enjoy. Retirement gave me that. If something doesn't grab me in the first 25 [or less] pages, I'm on to something which does.

My Retirement Motto, in part, is that life is too short to spend reading books that don't appeal, going to "required/expected to be there each time" meetings with groups, or using paper napkins.

maryz · « **Reply #10378 on:** January 06, 2013, 09:04:52 AM »

Steph and jane - AMEN!!!!! (I use cloth napkins, too!)

ginny · « **Reply #10379 on:** January 06, 2013, 09:29:29 AM »

Speaking of books which "grab" one, and tricky, here's one. For Christmas, after I had talked about Gone Girl, a good friend gave it to me! After reading Tome's opinion of it, I shared that over our Christmas lunch, whereupon she began to make strange faces and finally said, well it's your Christmas present actually (nicely wrapped and handed over, talk about awkward moments) but they might give me a refund at B&N. hahaaa

So I didn't pay for it. I also can't put it down. I love it (but note how far I am, 120 pages out of 400+. She writes splendidly. In fact I actually stopped after about 60 pages and reread it from the beginning, over.

HOWEVER, and here's the caveat: my friend is also reading it. She's way ahead of me, she's up in the 300's. Gets up in the middle of the night to read it. Up to this point she's been wildly enthusiastic, we both agree we've never read anything like it. Yes there's some potty mouth (once) and the B word, (from a madman), and she said she just hit something yesterday that she could have done without, but so far there's not been anything remotely like some of the ones I've read and it's not pornographic, so far.

But my friend is now suddenly reserved in enthusiasm. Very. Past page 300 she now is very guarded, something has happened, and all she'll say is just wait. Half way thru she still was obsessed with it, around page 200 or so, she said she saw nothing objectionable. Now she's silent.

In my reading on page 120 there are disturbing notes coming in, also. Lots of foreshadowing and inconsistencies. You can't help but notice little clues. She says some of them are red herrings. The thing is delicious NOW but you have the feeling (in fact last night I deliberately did not read it for this reason ) that something is coming in the night that you don't want to encounter.

Stephen King said it was one of his best reads of 2012. I can see why.

The plot: a man's wife has disappeared. We get his POV and then hers in a diary. They alternate. It's fascinating. You cling to everything he says, and then everything she says, looking for answers. They have different takes on the same event. Who is the accurate one? Who dun it? And you make your own assumptions of what happened. Then surprising twists occur, and you're back to square one. Cozy it isn't.

I have to say that up to page 120 I love the book. HOWEVER something quite nasty is coming, I can tell.

The plot is now taking on very similar tones of being like Patricia Highsmith's novels. It reminds me somewhat of the Ripley novels.

I have to say tho, that no matter what happens next (and no please don't spoil it, don't tell me what amazon says and ruin it), I'm too far invested in it now to have the plot revealed. ...I KNOW who did it...hahaha, or I think I do, if something was done, from the clues....but I have to say that,.....oh man, I just this minute realized what really is going to happen, I can't wait to find out...

ANYWAY (that's the kind of book it is)....I am grateful to the author for providing night after night of tremendous carefully plotted and beautifully written reading pleasure (so far). I light a huge fire at night, and turn off anything electronic and read well into the night, and the writing is really excellent. It's been a long time since I had that pleasure.

What's coming? Something is slouching forward like T.S. Eliot said...I am not sure I can take it because I trust Tome's judgment, so I'm watching, but I can't put it down, and it's been a wonderful pleasure.

The best thing would be to read it simultaneously with somebody else and argue over the plot, and guess what happened, but lacking that, you can argue with yourself.

________________________________

I did finish, and was disappointed in the The Testament...Grisham (it's an earlier book) lost his way in this one I think, or maybe Patchett's jungle was more clearly defined. Anyway, it seemed like in places he didn't know where to go or how to finish it and I almost didn't.

Babi · « **Reply #10380 on:** January 06, 2013, 10:37:53 AM »

Didn't know that, JEANNE. In the USA, if it hasn't changed, one cannot keep U.S.
citizenship if taking up citizenship in another country. But that may no longer
be true. (Since you're googling it, I'll let you bring us both up-to-date.)

ROSEMARY, don't you dare stop sharing such news with us! I was quite thrilled to
hear the good news about Anna. Tell her your bookie friends are applauding, too.

This, too, is off-topic, but I came across it in the news this morning, and thought
it very well said. From the Pope: "Anyone who lives and proclaims the faith of the Church is on many points out of step with the prevalent way of thinking," he said. "The approval of the prevailing wisdom, however, is not the criterion to which we submit."

marjifay · « **Reply #10381 on:** January 06, 2013, 11:12:16 AM »

What does it mean "to read music" at the university?

I'm sure it's wonderful, but I'm not sure what that means.

Marj

marjifay · « **Reply #10382 on:** January 06, 2013, 11:20:24 AM »

Having read Gone Girl (and really liked it), i can understand, Ginny, why your friend's enthusiasm waned at the end. But it may not wane for you, as different people expect different endings. I thought it was a fascinating book.

Marge

PatH · « **Reply #10383 on:** January 06, 2013, 11:40:44 AM »

"To read" is British for "to study", so that means that Anna has been accepted as a student in this prestigious program.

Congratulations, Rosemarykaye and Anna!

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #10384 on:** January 06, 2013, 01:27:16 PM »

Thank you all for your lovely messages and support for Anna. We've been researching the college that made the offer (as it wasn't her first choice college and she's never actually been inside this one) - it's one of the modern ones, so no 15th century architecture or anything, but it looks really friendly, with a great social life, and it has beautiful grounds. I'm sure she'll love it.

Jane and Steph, I couldn't agree more about book groups. I'm afraid I'm about to ditch the one at our library - I had high hopes for it, but it's turned into yet another 'here are 2 books, go away and read them' arrangement, and that's just not what I wanted. I start to find it such a burden, and it's something I can do without - I've got hundreds of books that I'm actually interested in waiting to be read and I resent wasting my time on ones that have been dumped on me. I really hope the group works for others, but it's not what I had discussed with the librarian, and although I don't want to be rude, I'm not going to stick at it just to avoid offending anyone.

Rosemary

PatH · « **Reply #10385 on:** January 06, 2013, 02:48:58 PM »

Rosemary, if you stick with it you might end up offending someone by falling asleep or getting grumpy. Better to quit.

The one f2f book club I belong to is good, but it's a specialty item--science fiction and fantasy. People suggest titles, we vote by email, and the top vote-getters become the roster for the next 6 months or so. I've been glad to read most of the selections, and the group is large enough that it doesn't matter if not everyone shows up. The discussions are pretty lively.

JeanneP · « **Reply #10386 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:01:01 PM »

I have often wondered when it comes to Book Clubs. (specially in libraries). I have never stayed with them. Take a book, everyone reads it and them come and they discuss it. Doesn't make sense. Some people read slow,some fast. Some like certain subjects, others different.

My thought would be. You meet. Each tell a little about the book they are reading. Give a good idea what it is about. That would then give people a choice of what they want to read. Would have a pick of stories. Then next meeting could talk about the books, what they liked about it or didn't like. Good way of knowing about books and writers.

Had I suggested they would most probably have chucked me out out of the club anyway. Most probably just thought me Snobby

MaryPage · « **Reply #10387 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:18:06 PM »

I have tried so many book clubs in different places, and so many book discussions, and I find I just flat out don't fit in. For one thing, I hate totally dissecting a book and "what the author meant." I have hooted at authors who have checked out such groups and then said: "I had no idea I meant the things I am supposed to have meant!"

I like the pace here, where you can tell me you read a book and liked it or did not like it. I like to know if my peers found a book interesting, wonderful, or objectionable. I like to hear about books you have loved and authors you follow. From your conversation here I have discovered books and writers I may have missed otherwise. Thank you.

In my grandfather's day, we were still using read for study here in America; or at least in my native Virginia. Family papers refer to said grandfather going to "read" medicine at the Medical College of Virginia and other relatives going to such and such a place to "read" law. Actually, Grandfather Mason read medicine with a practising doctor before he attended the medical college. That was a requirement, apparently.

CallieOK · « **Reply #10388 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:32:06 PM »

I never enjoyed "Literature" classes because I didn't like analyzing "the deeper meaning" of anything and usually disagreed with what everyone else thought, anyway. I still don't understand why some so-called "classical" authors are considered so wonderful.

A couple of years ago, I was invited to join a Book Club that is limited to 12 members. Once a year, a committee of two volunteers meets with a local bookstore owner and chooses 12 books to be circulated through the group during the next 12 months. Suggestions are welcome, of course.

At an annual meeting after the books are purchased, the members meet to 1) each pay 1/12th of the total purchase price, 2) get the book with which each will start the new year, 3) draw to see which of the previously read books each gets to keep and 4), of course, enjoy refreshments and conversation - some of which is about the books we've all read....or not. Nobody finished one of the selections last year and I think it went to the Friends of the Library Sale because nobody wanted it to keep.
Someone's computer worked out the rotation schedule before I joined. A copy is taped inside the cover of each choice so we know which book we'll have each month.

I think this group began with some mothers whose children went to the same elementary school so it's been in existence for - oh, probably - 25 years. I enjoy it.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #10389 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:37:07 PM »

Jeanne - that is exactly what I suggested! I think it would work so well, and would be such a refreshing change. As you say, then everyone could read their own choice of books and share their reading experiences. We would all come away with new ideas. Our librarian - who is extremely nice - agreed, then when the time came, we sat down at the table and in came someone with 2 boxes of books, saying 'here are your books for this month'. Several times since then she has said that she knows it's not what we discussed, but 'it's what people want'. Well, that's fine - but it's not what I want.

Rosemary

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #10390 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:46:57 PM »

And in college lit classes my most unfavorite thing was "compare and contrast". That always blew my mind. LOL

Jonathan · « **Reply #10391 on:** January 06, 2013, 05:20:36 PM »

Ginny, you're so good at it. That is the most glorious puff I have ever read. I'm on my way out to look for Gone Girl. I've already instructed my contractor to install a huge fireplace. Read by firelight, flickering shadows on the wall to match the dance of the plot!!! I'm also well into Andrew Wilson's bio of Patricia Highsmith. Now there was a life of dark shadows.

Jane, paper napkins can be very useful. I have a file of them brought back from banquets, parties and tete-a-tetes. Scribbled on them are all kinds of comments, plans, diagrams, and secrets of the heart. For an author with a bit of imagination they might even serve as a springboard to a fantastic story in a bizarre new genre. Would they look more attractive packed and left in shoe boxes?

jane · « **Reply #10392 on:** January 06, 2013, 05:47:08 PM »

Jonathan...what would be left in shoe boxes? I use my cloth napkins. Throw them in the wash and they're good to go the next time and have some substance to them.

One of my "dislikes" is the flimsy, abrasive, shredding of paper napkins. I've also never had luck using them for notepads. I guess I'm too intense when I'm doodling/writing on paper napkins...same flimsy thing...darn pen point just goes right through the ugly things.

PatH · « **Reply #10393 on:** January 06, 2013, 06:07:53 PM »

Jonathan, you could write a novel consisting of replicas of paper napkins with their doodles and comments, with maybe a bit of fill-in. Maybe especially good for a spy story. Did you ever run across Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock? It's a strange story about a man's correspondence with a woman, designer of postage stamps in the South Seas, who he is sure he hasn't met. It's told with letters and postcards, all reproduced, some detachable or removable from their envelopes. I can imagine the howls of the printer faced with this thing.

Jane, I'm with you on napkins. I have a large stack of cloth napkins in many colors that don't need ironing, so there is very little work in using them. Eco-friendly, too, come to think of it.

JeanneP · « **Reply #10394 on:** January 06, 2013, 07:11:13 PM »

I have never thought about this before. Do men have Book Clubs? I know quite a few who use to read. (Before TV got so popular with all the sports). Never heard of a club. I think women just like to have a place to Chat also).

I have known and sat in other clubs. Crochet, Knitting. cooking (my favourite). Bowling was another one I loved. We had more fun in these it seemed.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #10395 on:** January 06, 2013, 07:18:52 PM »

Online there are several popular Book blogs written by men - I would think more young men have been to college and continue to read although, there are many older men in the libraries - they do not seem to center their social activity around reading clubs - where as most of us changed our group meeting life after children - not many of us for instance go to a sports bar to enjoy a game when we have children at home nor do we join kayaking groups - some continue to play softball or golf in groups but again they usually pick it back up after the children are able to get themselves to piano, soccer, ballet etc.

PatH · « **Reply #10396 on:** January 06, 2013, 08:00:48 PM »

I haven't heard of a male book club; my sci-fi book club is at least a quarter men, which is less than you would expect, given the preponderance of male sci-fi fans. Most of the clubs seem to have only a few men. JoanK, you're the sociologist; why is this so?

We have an interesting mix; I'm the oldest by at least ten years, but the young people treat me seriously, and, very important, don't try to censor their language for me. There are other older people of both sexes, and a lot of young people. Some of the gorgeous young women are the keenest--some of them write, and are critical of technique, all of them are hugely knowledgeable about the genre. The young ones aren't scientists, but many of us older ones are.

JoanK · « **Reply #10397 on:** January 06, 2013, 08:25:53 PM »

" JoanK, you're the sociologist; why is this so?"

I have no idea. It presumably has to do with the different ways men and women socialize. One study found that, while women make friends throughout life, men make friends in college, but many make no friends afterward, except family. They use shared activities (e.g bowling, etc) instead.

Or maybe women like to talk over and analyze what they do more than men.

salan · « **Reply #10398 on:** January 07, 2013, 05:50:56 AM »

My ftf book club has been meeting since April of 1998. 5 of us are original members. We meet once a month at 10 a.m. in the library. We have 12 members and are in our 60's to 90's with most of us being around 70. It is open to all ages and sex, but we have never had any men members. We had a young man attend once, but he never returned......go figure! Occasionally we have younger people attend, but most younger people have jobs and we meet at 10 a.m. We have a planning meeting once a year in August. Everyone brings suggestions for books they would like us to read & discuss and we choose 10 titles for the upcoming year (we don't meet in December & August is our planning month. The meeting lasts 1 1/2 hrs and you can come early or stay late & discuss other books we are reading. We try to choose a variety of books, mainly focusing on fiction. We usually have 10 or 12 members attending. I really enjoy it.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #10399 on:** January 07, 2013, 06:14:52 AM »

JoanK.. Hmm, I thought of my husband and his friends and he would have fit into the study. His fraternity brothers were friends for life, but when married, our friends came from hobbies we shared. Mostly sailing,kayaking, etc
Gone Girl.. Hmm, I will look for it in my swap club.. I am not sure how I feel about books that Stephen King likes. I am not into horror or deep anger.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2316198 times)