Author Topic: The Library (Read 2297503 times)

Steph · « **Reply #11200 on:** May 27, 2013, 08:39:20 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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I love Kent Haruf and have read two of his books and look forward to reading Benediction. He makes his small town so very real.

pedln · « **Reply #11201 on:** May 28, 2013, 10:06:16 AM »

Now that you've met Book Gorilla -- see what these daily deals do for authors . . .

Daily deals propel older e-books

LarryHanna · « **Reply #11202 on:** May 28, 2013, 10:44:15 AM »

pedln, very interesting article and I have wondered about things mentioned in the article.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #11203 on:** May 28, 2013, 12:03:37 PM »

Very good article, gave me two new places to check out eBooks. I have found a couple of very good authors from my free ebook mysteries.

JeanneP · « **Reply #11204 on:** May 28, 2013, 10:44:32 PM »

Tonight going to start reading Ian McEwan's. On Chesil Beach. Not read any of his for awhile.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #11205 on:** May 28, 2013, 11:41:59 PM »

Is anyone reviewing the books before they are suggested as the deal of the day?

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11206 on:** May 29, 2013, 04:35:32 AM »

Just finished Tapestry of Fortunes: A Novel by Elizabeth Berg - this is the first I have read one of her books and she sure has a lot of them - I enjoyed it - very up to the minute with some of her references and so the book will be dated in another year.

Her good friend dies - she is at loose ends - sells everything lickety split and moves into an old comfortable house with 3 women - they have varied life stories each needing healing and so off they go on a road trip to take care of their past relationships - - not sappy - some happenings are trite and expected but by and large I am glad I read the book - for a prolific writer that evidently is not a deep story teller it was a nice read.

I also finished up Old World/New World: Bridging Cultural Differences: Britain, France, Germany and the U.S. by Craig Storti - fascinating and after 3 generations I saw so much of my own values from Germany and France still alive where as my children seem to be more Americanized - interesting - it helped me see how at times we do not understand each other. I am sure it is because I grew up near or saw often Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents who lived keeping many of the old ways where as my kids saw their grandparents once a year.

In a couple of hours I finished reading Small Change Little Things Make a Big Difference -2004 by Susan and Larry Terkel - some new ideas but mostly what we have heard before and more Christian philosophy than I thought when I ordered the book. Boought it for a penny and had I paid more I would have felt I over paid.

Steph · « **Reply #11207 on:** May 29, 2013, 07:59:12 AM »

I have read Elizabeth Berg in small doses. Not a bad writer, but predictable.
Now.. some months ago, I read a book on being deaf and really had problems with her attitude. Could not remember what I had done with the book and someone here asked about it. I found it in my books I brought to Franklin ( ah the joys of absent mindedness). Katherine Bouton... "Shouting wont Help".. So I think it was Pedlin, but not sure.. that is the book. Still found her way too self conscious about her deafness.. Wow..The cochlear implants are seriously expensive.

jane · « **Reply #11208 on:** May 29, 2013, 09:00:15 AM »

Mabel...are you talking about the deals offered on Kindle's Daily Deal or the Book Gorilla? I personally think they're titles that they're trying to jump start...for a new author or for a series by an author. I read that very informative article that someone linked to here that shows how sales can jump with the .99 or free offers. For decent new authors of series, it's a way to get people to buy the additional titles.

I've started reading the one and two star reviews, not the 4 and 5 star ones. If the ones and twos mention things that drive me batty about a new book, I pass..even if it's free.

JoanP · « **Reply #11209 on:** May 29, 2013, 10:23:37 AM »

Sally, I just received word from my library that Kent Haruf's Benediction is now on hold for me and I plan to pick it up today. We can have our own little book club here and talk about it maybe? I'm looking forward to reading of some of the characters from his two earlier books in this trilogy.

JoanP · « **Reply #11210 on:** May 29, 2013, 10:23:47 AM »

ps Have you heard of Karen Joy Fowler's new book? - We're All Completely Beside Ourselves. This is the first book she's had published since The Jane Book Club, which we enjoyed here. She participated in that discussion with us...even met with a group of us for tea in Washington when she came through on a book tour.

This is a departure from Jane Austin...as the link to today's Washington Post article says - you never know what to expect of her. This one sounds like fun... I'd love to consider us doing her book here if there is interest - even asking her to participate again. What do you think?

Steph · « **Reply #11211 on:** May 30, 2013, 08:44:26 AM »

I will read the new Haruf, but not quite yet. I would think that the whole three book trilogy might be fun to discuss..??

pedln · « **Reply #11212 on:** May 30, 2013, 12:51:17 PM »

Quote

This one sounds like fun...

-- Karen Joy Fowler

I don't know about "fun," JoanP. The bare bones description turned me off -- youngest daughter a chimp -- but the rest of the review made it sound very intriguing. There's some serious stuff going on there and apparently a lot of depth. One wonders what's going on with this family, and I know I'll investigate further. That was a good review.

JoanP · « **Reply #11213 on:** May 30, 2013, 12:59:00 PM »

I just got a notice from my library that Fowler's book is waiting for me. I beat the rush apparently - after that huge review (with pictures) in the Washington Post. You're right, Pat...there's more to it than "fun" - I'm at a loss for another word.

Steph - I haven't started Benediction, but I would love to have us read/discuss this trilogy together - in the fall.

JoanK · « **Reply #11214 on:** May 30, 2013, 03:43:08 PM »

jOANP: you will be our pioneer. Let us know if you think it would make a good discussion book. I still remember our earlier discussion with her with pleasure. She's probably too famous for us now.

salan · « **Reply #11215 on:** May 30, 2013, 04:01:21 PM »

I've started Haruf's Benediction. It's starting out good. I would love to discuss it with you, JoanP., either personally or as a possible trilogy in the fall.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #11216 on:** May 31, 2013, 08:18:12 AM »

I would guess we should maybe put the trilogy into the suggestions??

JoanP · « **Reply #11217 on:** May 31, 2013, 10:54:04 AM »

Noted...thanks, Steph!

JeanneP · « **Reply #11218 on:** May 31, 2013, 08:48:09 PM »

I just started reading A week In Winter" by Maeve Binchy. Doesn't have a date written in it. Think maybe her last one which I heard was finished by a ghost Writer. I have read most of her books over the years. If this is a older one I must have missed it. Didn't she pass away just a year ago?.

Steph · « **Reply #11219 on:** June 01, 2013, 08:44:18 AM »

Yes Binchy died a year or so ago. Cannot remember what the title of her last one was..

JoanP · « **Reply #11220 on:** June 01, 2013, 12:00:02 PM »

Hop on over to the discussion of Eleanor Abbott's Book of Funny Smells - and Everything - just opened this morning the discussion of the first of ten short stories scheduled for June and July...

We need to spread the word about these delightful stories. We've included links to the stories so you can read them online. Y'all come!

CubFan · « **Reply #11221 on:** June 01, 2013, 06:55:53 PM »

A Week in Winter is her latest and final book.

Mary

Steph · « **Reply #11222 on:** June 02, 2013, 07:59:58 AM »

Just not a short story fan at all.

serenesheila · « **Reply #11223 on:** June 02, 2013, 07:59:37 PM »

Me, too, STEPH! If I am enjoying a story, it frustrates, to have it end too soon.

Sheila

salan · « **Reply #11224 on:** June 03, 2013, 06:30:24 AM »

I am giving the short story discussion a "try". I, too, am not a fan of short stories. They never seem to go "anywhere" and they end too soon (if they are any good, if not; just a waste of time!)
One year my ftf book club decided to do one month of short stories. We all decided that we didn't care for that genre.
Sally

Frybabe · « **Reply #11225 on:** June 03, 2013, 06:43:23 AM »

I went through a phase of short story readings from such authors as Mark Twain, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, and Isaac Asimov. I still read a few now and again. I was much more into essays when I was in high school, but haven't read much of them either in a long time.

Steph · « **Reply #11226 on:** June 03, 2013, 08:40:45 AM »

The only short stories I seem to like is the one from acontinuing character , that fills out the character in some particular way. I mean ones from a series.. There are a couple of sci fi series that use short stories to fill in on a particular problem etc.

JoanP · « **Reply #11227 on:** June 03, 2013, 09:27:59 AM »

I can understand what you are saying about so many short stories. Either they end too soon and you wanted to hear more about the characters - or the author doesn't have enough time or space to fully develop a character to the point you can identify with or care about him/her.

I'm finding what we're doing here in June's Book Club Online is quite fascinating. First of all, we are reading stories by recognized masters of short stories - from different historical eras. Interesting because the social and economic position of women develops as we move from the 19th century stories of Eleanor Abbot, Guy de Maupassant, Kate Chopin this week - and progress through time to modern day writers like Annie Proulx and Alice Munro. I think you might actually enjoy this, even though you are not big fans of short stories.

nlhome · « **Reply #11228 on:** June 03, 2013, 12:52:13 PM »

I love short stories for the reason that a good author can make his/her point, present the plot and/or character, in a limited number of words. Nice for bed time reading. Also good for certain story lines or characters. I enjoy story anthologies, because I can pick and choose which to read.

JoanK · « **Reply #11229 on:** June 03, 2013, 04:28:51 PM »

Short stories are a good way to start reading an author whose long works you may find intimidating. Tolstoy, Mann, Henry James, James Joyce all wrote great short stories.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11230 on:** June 03, 2013, 05:14:55 PM »

I used to look forward each month to many of the women's magazines that sometimes I had delivered but often found they were on the stands before I received my copy so I would anxiously look for the newest issue and one of the features of those magazines were the short stories - Good Housekeeping was the best for a short story where as the Ladies Home Companion and the Ladies Home Journal often had a serial where a novel was broken into parts. Have no idea the title or the author but I still remember reading one about a women making preserves in her new all white kitchen and it was only at the very end of the story she was described as a black lady - during the 50's this story was able to shock - reminded me of The Lottery only about race and our expectation of how we live because of race.

I do not like all short stories but then I do not like all novels but I did get Grisham's book of short stories Ford Country and really enjoyed that and a couple of years ago we had a very successful discussion of short stories led by Malryn who taught at the Navel Academy - for the life of me I cannot remember the name of that book - all I remember is the cover was bright pink and we discussed one story after another during the summer months.

I've just picked up again, Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin - started it and it is such a huge tome that I had other books I wanted to quick finish and now I am back again - what a writer - evidently he has a number of books to his credit - this one starts in the early days of New York City when the horse was transportation - so far the story follows a young man who like Moses in the Bullrushs was set afloat in an improvised float by his parents who were denied entry at Ellis Isle and while waiting for their ship to sail they set their baby afloat - can you imagine - he is now in his twenties and has led quite a life that gives us a picture of life in the mid Nineteenth century in NYC. But again, this is quite a writer - love reading a story written by a writer who can wow you.

JoanP · « **Reply #11231 on:** June 03, 2013, 06:11:07 PM »

Barb....just passing through and need to say that the discussion of short stories to which you are referring, was lead by Maryal - Mary Alice Howland. She was the US Naval Academy professor. Malryn was a participant, but not a Seniornet or Seniorlearn DIscussion leader. Easy to confuse the two names - which was why Maryal later changed her name here to Deems.

Funny that you remember the color of the book cover, but not the name of the collection. Was it one of the Best American short story collections for a given year?

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11232 on:** June 03, 2013, 07:46:06 PM »

aha - thanks I forgot she changed to Deems because I know there were others as well and we confused the two online names constantly although two folks who were as different from each other as night and day - I thought the author was something like Pendgust or something like that - been looking in both our archives and the books I purchased at Amazon but I vaguely remember I was not going to participate and at the last minute changed my mind and ran up to the Arboretum to purchase the book at Borders - but trying to sort through my books to find it is a monster task just now - trying gradually to sort and sell back to Amazon some of this library in boxes and paper sacks too many for the shelves.

Steph · « **Reply #11233 on:** June 04, 2013, 08:10:27 AM »

I remember Deems.. Guess I did not know she had changed her name before that. Today back in central Florida, the Lake County Commissioners are meeting and having a workshop.Topic? taking our wonderful public libary system and turning it into a private company .. I am up in North Carolina, but many of my friends are all up there waiting and trying to show the commissioners by sheer numbers that noone is in favor of this.. I honestly do not understand the commissioners. other than the one who brought this up is trulyambitious and I think trying to use this to show the tea party people he can save money.. Sigh.. stupid stupid stupid.

JoanP · « **Reply #11234 on:** June 04, 2013, 08:51:38 AM »

A quick note to let you know that though we are starting a three-day discussion of de Maupassant's short story, "The Necklace" ( HERE) -

- We will leave Eleanor Abbott's "Book of Funny Smells" open for further comment.

maryz · « **Reply #11235 on:** June 04, 2013, 10:11:49 AM »

A "private" public library! Incredible!

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #11236 on:** June 04, 2013, 11:42:15 AM »

Our government is trying to turn every single public service into a private company. Their attack on the health service is truly unforgivable, and as for libraries - they have no concept of their value because they all come from backgrounds where you just bought what you wanted or had it provided at your exclusive school.

We are rapidly turning into a country where money is the only thing that matters. As someone whose grandparents lived in poverty and faced a never-ending struggle to survive, and whose parents gained access to education almost entirely via the public library system, I will never be able to forget what this government has done to public services.

Right, off soapbox now....

Rosemary

JeanneP · « **Reply #11237 on:** June 04, 2013, 12:10:13 PM »

Rosemary. Over here they are following right behind UK . Lots of gov. Things going private. And now the health system really changing. Private companies taking over the billings for hospitals.doctors etc. I just made one emergency trip and got bills from 4 different companies. 2 being clear across country even though the man doing the XRay right here.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11238 on:** June 04, 2013, 02:18:11 PM »

Yes, I went to a Doctor two years ago who was specializing in medicare patients - not only was there filthy lab in the back that was a private lab and they way I was sent back I thought an extension of his office but then I got bills from a company in Virgina including some tests I never took - I saw him for less than 10 minutes and the rest of the time I was tested, checked, asked questions but 3 separate nurses one being male. Never went back and to top it off when I did go to another Doctor whose fees were higher I learned his diagnoses was all wrong -

Going to a Doctor now is a conveyor belt of services because the more services they can charge the system the more profit for them - in one way I understand since the system takes their ability to get more than bargain store profit that is not in keeping with their expensive education and legally a doctor cannot just ignore medicare - if you are on medicare a Doctor by law has to use it - what a mess - just be pretty darn sick before you use a Doctor unless your family doctor who you have known for years and years is still in practice - I find that most of us past the age of 70 no longer have a Doctor we knew still practicing - they are retiring left and right.

JoanK · « **Reply #11239 on:** June 04, 2013, 04:29:32 PM »

Turning the libraries private is a TERRIBLE idea. My father grew up in a poor household where he had no access to books, and a poor education system, and he lived at the public library.

A new inequality: in my grandchildren's schooling, the teacher clearly depends on the kids having access to a computer at home. For those who don't, they depend on the library computers to do their homework

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2297503 times)