Author Topic: The Library (Read 2298729 times)

LarryHanna · « **Reply #11040 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:50:52 AM »

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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Steph, not all the crooks are in jail! The bankers get to write the rules and laws anymore and I have to wonder how many of our representatives ever even bother to read what they are voting on, much less understanding what the law says. I am shocked that we now have laws passed that are literally thousands of pages long that require more thousands of pages of regulations to implement. It is sheer madness. (I will get off my soapbox now.)

MaryPage · « **Reply #11041 on:** April 18, 2013, 01:32:22 PM »

Larry, this ancient cynic thinks our representatives (well, they DON'T represent me, but they're supposed to!) know perfectly well what the bankers need them to know: that is, that the money in their pockets from said bankers is just great for the extra fine home and the vacations in Greece, etc. Vote the way the bankers ask you to and give the wife that sweet little Jag she's been yearning for!

Steph · « **Reply #11042 on:** April 19, 2013, 06:04:28 AM »

Growing up in a teeny state and knowing many of ourlocal politicians, I used to respect them. Many of them were and are fine people.. Joe Biden is a truly nice man who suffers from foot in mouth problems. His first wife was a true joy.. Now inFlorida and before that Massachusetts, I lost all respect for them. Our government needs reform, but the lobbyist rule the day and we will not get it.

MaryPage · « **Reply #11043 on:** April 19, 2013, 10:01:22 AM »

We have colossal hubris to point fingers and complain about corruption in the capitals of nations dotted around this world, but we do not look right here at our own congress in Washington and the legislatures in our state capitals.
Blows my mind, it does!
For thousands of years of human history, the story has been "follow the money."
Still true. So sad a portrait of who we are.

Steph · « **Reply #11044 on:** April 20, 2013, 05:57:56 AM »

Some of our problems stem from politicians firm belief that they are way too important. Just try Washington Airport when congress gets out..They need to understand they are the servants, not the masters. Our original constitution was written by doers, who had real jobs and politics was there because it must be, but they all wanted to get back to their everyday life. We need term limits on all, not just the President. Of course in Florida, we did term limits and all that happens is that the good old boys get each other state jobs when they term out.. Stupid, but true.

MaryPage · « **Reply #11045 on:** April 20, 2013, 02:35:07 PM »

So what are you reading? I just finished LAST NIGHT AT THE LOBSTER and have started THE SNOW CHILD ( the one by Eowyn Ivey, which is based upon others by the same name and/or with the same or similar theme). I must say, Stewart O'Nan is one of the most talented writers I have ever read. For one thing, you don't sense any of the effort so many writers show these days. Yes, he is really, really good.
That being said, the story is not my thing. With so little time left to me, I prefer to read things which give me pleasure and make my heart happy.
So far, I am not so sure about the Ivey book.
I do not care much for even a bit of fantasy.
But I will finish it, and give my verdict.

JoanK · « **Reply #11046 on:** April 20, 2013, 02:48:16 PM »

I remember reading "the Names of the Dead" by O'Nan about the Vietnam war. very well written, but again, not a book to make your heart happy.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11047 on:** April 21, 2013, 01:30:13 AM »

Not been here in a few days - more than a few days but then it has been almost more than I can manage - yes, somehow my email was breached - I was supposed to change my password but it is complicated - son-in-law still has my computer and is building a new one that I know they were entering all my info from the old one - using this ancient laptop and if I changed my email password then it was going to screw up the computer in SC - but it got worse and AT&T got in on the act - not sure if it is fixed or what but someone hacked in to my computer and even hacked into my internet service - still not sure if it is cured or not but hopefully it will all be taken care of - at this point it is believe it or not a minimal concern -

My good friend who tuned 94 last month is having a difficult time - her three children are all out of town and the two in Texas take turns coming every other weekend - there are a few of us who are filling in during the week and it is hard to see someone go downhill in just a few months with mood swings and falling so often requiring staples each time. Thank goodness there are close by neighbors who so far seem to be Johnny on the spot - the stress and loss of the friend we knew is wearing.

Steph · « **Reply #11048 on:** April 21, 2013, 06:06:29 AM »

I love Stewart O'Nan.. Have read most of his books. I would guess they are not cheerful, but I love the writing and can feel for his people.. Lobster was my introduction and have gone on to most of his stuff.. The one where the womans husband goes to jail and her life while he is there is strong in so many different ways.. Amazing.

MaryPage · « **Reply #11049 on:** April 21, 2013, 11:35:54 AM »

Am gratified you find him a great writer, as do I. Yet, his books are not soothing and consoling, which is what I need these days. I have two more of his on my shelves: Wish You Were Here and Emily Alone. It will be a while now before I pick them up to read.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #11050 on:** April 21, 2013, 12:47:45 PM »

MaryPage, don't feel that Wish you Were Here and Emily, Alone will be "downers". As most of O'Nan's books do, they tell tales of "real people" who have "real ordinary problems". I discovered him with Last Night at the Lobster, which I loved, and then read his Emily books.
I have all the rest of his ouevre (sp?) to read yet. But when I get to them, they will be "good reading".

CallieOK · « **Reply #11051 on:** April 21, 2013, 02:56:18 PM »

I didn't care for "Last Night At The Lobster" but thoroughly enjoyed "Wish You Were Here" and "Emily Alone" (same characters - more or less a "continued story").

MaryPage · « **Reply #11052 on:** April 21, 2013, 06:39:06 PM »

I thought Last Night At The Lobster showed what a truly gifted writer he is, but it was a terrible downer to me to read of the lives each and every person in it was living. Gives me the shivers. I will readily admit mine has been a privileged life from the git go. Never rich, but always comfortable. These people are so desperate and their lives and surroundings so shabby. I do not disdain them, and would help them if I could. I just do not need to spend my spare time, when I want to read for entertainment and to feel lifted up by whatever I have read, being dragged into imagining the drab and dreary and rather hopeless world they inhabit.

Steph · « **Reply #11053 on:** April 22, 2013, 05:52:41 AM »

I would guess that a good deal of my liking of him is the settings. I spent 10 years in New England and he truly loves the people and settings.. Western Massachusetts is a little world of its own.

maryz · « **Reply #11054 on:** April 23, 2013, 10:47:24 AM »

I've just gotten Edward Rutherfurd's latest, Paris. I had preordered it, and got the notice this morning that it was on the e-reader.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #11055 on:** April 23, 2013, 01:52:26 PM »

Thought I would post this message here, too. I posted it on the Fiction board.

For mabel1015j (and all of us women and inveterate readers): A must read is "The End of Your Life Book Club" by Will Schwalbe. His mother is an assertive woman who has done things with her life, for others, that simply boggle the mind. But at the same time she is a caring and sensitive person to everyone she meets. It is heart-rending as she battles her pancreatic cancer, but never loses her spirit, her kindness, thoughtfulness. As she and her son, Will, travel this road together, through their two-person "book club", they form a bond that, although it existed previously, is changed, deepened, as he learns more about her through the books they read together. Mary Anne Schwalbe, a woman for all seasons, exhibiting bravery above and beyond the call of duty. I would urge you to read this. In a six page Appendix, Will lists all the books and writers that appeared in this glorious book, and we should be thankful if we have read just a few of them.

PatH · « **Reply #11056 on:** April 23, 2013, 05:41:45 PM »

I see we have just lost E. L. Konigsburg. She wrote delightful children's books, including From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler about two children secretly hiding out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art while they try to solve a mystery, and About the B'nai Bagels about a Little League ball team.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11057 on:** April 23, 2013, 08:21:01 PM »

finished reading Winter's Bone: A Novel by Daniel Woodrell. OH my what a writer - every sentence is like a piece of poetry - it is a rough story of living poorer than poor in the Ozarks with a way of life that reminds you of Erskine Caldwell but the writing is so wonderful - lite butter dripping off an ear of corn - now I an anxious to read a few more of his books. evidently he is an overlooked great novelist in America.
http://www.amazon.com/Winters-Bone-Daniel-Woodrell/dp/0316066419/

I've started She Wore Only White by Dorthe Binkert - so far it captures the imagination - She is dressed in an elegant white evening gown when she enters a ship, sailing for America - there is a by-stander and fellow passenger who tells the story and who notices and 'gossips' how the other passengers relate to each other and react to the woman in white.
http://www.amazon.com/Wore-Only-White-D%C3%B6rthe-Binkert/dp/1612182917/

maryz · « **Reply #11058 on:** April 23, 2013, 09:26:29 PM »

Barb, Was the movie, Winter's Bone, taken from that book? It was a really dark movie.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11059 on:** April 23, 2013, 09:35:42 PM »

I do not know the movie so I do not know - the story line is rough - a young girl essentially responsible for her two younger brothers and a mother who has sever Alzheimer - living in a cabin in the mountains - the father is a criminal as most of the men and they come from a long line of family that they say they can trace back to before Europe was more than a bunch of tribes. - a family group regardless of near relationship is brutal to another family both men and women and yet standing after being brutalized is esteemed - the girls father put the cabin up for bond and does not show - they are at the mercy of living in a cave that was the first home of the family generations before when they first arrived in the area unless she finds the father. Turns out he is dead and through the grapevine which is very active the women who earlier brutalized her help her locate his body to show proof of his death so she can hang onto the cabin with her future outlined in her head to join the army where she can get an education and earn what it takes to care for her brothers and mother.

It is the writing that is so glorious - the story is secondary to the writing - so what happens is just and excuse to write the most wonderful poetic sentences I have ever read in a piece of fiction. He describes nature in these mountains, the sky, the trees the weather - even describing the brutality of the people is a piece of poetic art.

maryz · « **Reply #11060 on:** April 23, 2013, 11:13:56 PM »

That's the story, Barb. You might want to get it to watch, if you liked the story. It was nominated for a number of awards.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/?ref_=sr_2

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11061 on:** April 23, 2013, 11:36:44 PM »

Thanks but think not - the story was OK it was the way he expressed himself that I was bowled over with. Rather not ruin that by a movie that cannot duplicate without sounding off the wall fay.

Steph · « **Reply #11062 on:** April 24, 2013, 06:14:48 AM »

I thinkI will put off Winters Bone.. Sounds a bit down down down to me just now. Way too tired just now for anything but short funny stuff.

marjifay · « **Reply #11063 on:** April 24, 2013, 10:42:44 AM »

Haven't read the book, Winter's Bone, but the movie was very good.

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #11064 on:** April 25, 2013, 05:33:01 AM »

Today the charity comes to pick up my donations of furniture, etc and tomorrow the movers.. I am now so tired, that when I sit down, I automatically fall asleep..Then of course I cannot sleep at night.Boo.. Took the dogs to see their new house yesterday. My younger male Duncan is very thrilled. My back porch overlooks a golf course and the cart path is just past my line.. Lots of people going back and forth and when he bounced and looked, some of them waved at him and called out to him.. Gracie loves the atrium.. Lots of sunbeam spots to snooze.. We will be happy there.

MaryPage · « **Reply #11065 on:** April 25, 2013, 06:43:19 AM »

I feel very happy about your move, Steph. I understand your needing to be near family. That is the very reason I am where I am. It would be lovely if you could live in Carolina year round, but that is just not to be. Moving is so very stressful, but you are coping beautifully and the fatigue will dissipate in a couple of weeks. Blessings on your new home!

Frybabe · « **Reply #11066 on:** April 25, 2013, 06:55:07 AM »

A new digital library site: http://dp.la/

I am about to explore it.

Frybabe · « **Reply #11067 on:** April 25, 2013, 07:13:07 AM »

Okay, the new site I mentioned looks like it is mostly photographic/film archives and exhibitions from libraries and museums. Lots of material. Check out the time line. I found my birth year and explored the photos, news clippings, death certificates, etc.

JoanP · « **Reply #11068 on:** April 25, 2013, 03:21:39 PM »

We've sent Judy a card from all of us at SeniorLearn. If you would like to have her address to send her a personal note, email me and will send it on to you. Difficult time for Judy.

Frybabe · « **Reply #11069 on:** April 25, 2013, 09:16:12 PM »

Thanks JoanP.

Found this on BBC this morning. Thought you would be interested.

"The curious tale of the stolen books" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22249700

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11070 on:** April 25, 2013, 10:45:25 PM »

so much better to look at these ladies who are aging in style than the awful photos of the aged used as advertizement on my computer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22013245

Frybabe · « **Reply #11071 on:** April 26, 2013, 06:53:07 AM »

Yes, I saw that. I was curious about her art so I went and found her website. I don't remember seeing her on PBS.
http://www.ilonaandfriends.com/#

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11072 on:** April 26, 2013, 02:13:28 PM »

Here is the link to Ari Cohen's Advanced Style - I like Advanced instead of elderly or even senior has now become a word loaded with folks on walkers - bless their hearts but we are not all on walkers. There is a large percentage of us that except for a week here and that still enjoy an upright functioning body -

http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/p/the-advanced-style-documenatry-film-page.html

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11073 on:** April 26, 2013, 02:21:57 PM »

Scroll down and look at the 94 year old mother of one of these older daughters - I realize when I am 94 my daughter will be 73 - http://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.com/2011/10/your-faces-through-ages_12.html

And Ruth was my hero - in 2011 she was 100 and these are the photos of how she dressed - she made sure she went out everyday and she did pilates - there are more links to her from the thumbprints on the bottom

http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/2011/11/life-and-style-tips-from-100-year-old.html

mabel1015j · « **Reply #11074 on:** April 27, 2013, 10:14:47 AM »

Thanks Barbara, they were great!

Steph · « **Reply #11075 on:** April 30, 2013, 06:30:32 AM »

In the house... exhausted... but had both settlements, buy and sell.. orientation by the new community of 55+.. All sorts of minor type things, so will probably spend some of my time today simply on the phone ( I hate phones),but still trying to fit 3000 square feet into 1800.. interesting is the kindest word I can think of and I donated an enormous amount of furniture, etc to a charity. Too many pictures and they are my treasure.Sigh..Will have to rotate them, I think.

JoanP · « **Reply #11076 on:** April 30, 2013, 06:42:05 AM »

Welcome "home" Steph! The hardest part is behind you.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #11077 on:** April 30, 2013, 07:49:51 AM »

Welcome to your new home Steph - you will need a lot of sleeping to get over all of that (at least I always do...)

We had the same problem with too many pictures when we moved to this house, and yes we rotate them - although now I have actually gone off some of them, so we may just reduce the stock eventually.

Put your feet up and relax!

Rosemary

maryz · « **Reply #11078 on:** April 30, 2013, 08:48:17 AM »

OMG, Steph! I hadn't even thought of what I'll have to do with all our art when we downsize. Fortunately, our girls and grands are standing around like vultures waiting for us to let them have their choices. But we'll have to decide what we really must keep. I am glad you're "in", even though getting stuff organized and put where you want it will keep you occupied for some time. Try to enjoy your new digs while you're coping. {{{{{Steph}}}}}

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11079 on:** April 30, 2013, 04:00:38 PM »

It is exhausting isn't it - and like Maryz I never thought of the art - my big concern are my books because I am going to have to do what you have done - I am starting to organize them and plan on selling back to Amazon some of the ones that I do not value as much as others but my art work - not that is a different story. hmm

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2298729 times)