Author Topic: The Library (Read 2085277 times)

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1560 on:** May 02, 2010, 04:01:15 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!

Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

Jackie - where are you in Virgin Earth and how are you liking it? I'm about 2/3rds of the way thru and enjoying it immensely........jean

mrssherlock · « **Reply #1561 on:** May 02, 2010, 04:53:11 PM »

Mabel: I may be farther along than you. Have you come to the place where a second expedition to the Isle of Rue is being discussed? It is a troubling story in some ways, how a man can so completely submit himself to a "master" does not sit comfortably with me. I like John and his wife and son. I liked Cecil. The parts mof the narrative where john is actively involved with his plants makes all the difference in my feelings for him. What do you like best about the story?

pedln · « **Reply #1562 on:** May 02, 2010, 05:54:07 PM »

Callie, my son's three chidren have all found the theatre to be a wonderful outlet. The oldest, when she was in high school got involved with the production end, and was student producer her senior year. Her younger brother got involved in set, sound, and especially lighting, and is student technical director his senior year. Now the youngest, 16, is involved in the singing and dancing, and has had minor parts in her high school musical and in a community theatre. Now she's so excited because she's going to vocal arts and operetta camp at Interlochen, MI for six weeks this summer.

Babi · « **Reply #1563 on:** May 03, 2010, 08:40:51 AM »

'Virgin Earth' sounds vaguely familiar, but I may be confusing it with an old TV series. JEAN, can
you tell me a bit about the book. I have read some Philippa Gregory; I don't want to pick up
another book and find I've already read it.

Steph · « **Reply #1564 on:** May 03, 2010, 09:42:01 AM »

Oh,, my worst nightmare, an empty TBR stack..

JoanR · « **Reply #1565 on:** May 03, 2010, 10:12:08 AM »

An empty TBR stack can't happen here - my books will outlive me for sure!! Too, too many!!! I'd be in a peck of trouble if we ever have to move!

Have just started reading "This Book Is Overdue" by Marilyn Johnson. It's of special interest, of course, to anyone who has ever been involved in libraries, but it should be enjoyable to all readers. I retired so many years ago that I'm really ignorant of a lot of the new sources of information and of some of the new services available. Also there's a lot of humor in the book. Rock on, library folk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1566 on:** May 03, 2010, 01:18:23 PM »

An EMPTY TBR stack!?!?! What the heck is that!?!?! LOL................like Joan, that will never happen here, you folks just keep expanding my list w/ your suggestions - AND i LOVE it................altho i am sometimes frustrated at the library when i can't decide which one to look for.

I always read my library books first since they have a return date, but i always have the books i've bo't at book sells in my home stacks, so even if i couldn't get to the library, i'd have something to read.

Babi - Earthly Joys is the first of Gregory's series on the Tradescant's. The first book is the story of John Tradescant, the Elder, who is the gardener to the king of England. It talks a lot about the various plants and trees he scavenged Europe for and has an interesting personal story about his family and the king's "family." Virgin Earth is a continuation about his son, also John, who goes to Virginia to look for plants and his relationship w/ the Powhatan Indians and his family in England during the Cromwell/King Charles wars.

Gregory obviously does a lot of research into the time periods and writes very, very well, IMO. I was just thinking about that last night as i started to read one of Grafton's myteries. I've only read 2 of them before and i knew that there was something that put me off of those, sev'l yrs ago................i knew immediately - she describes EVERYTHING! While reading Virgin Earth as a juxtaposition, i realized that Gregory, even tho writing big/long books, doesn't waste words. EAch word is right and useful.

If you like historical fiction, or just a well-written story, i think you will like this two, if you haven't read them before................jean

Frybabe · « **Reply #1567 on:** May 03, 2010, 01:40:39 PM »

Empty TBR? Impossible. As it stands now I fear my TBR will out last me.

PatH · « **Reply #1568 on:** May 03, 2010, 01:46:15 PM »

My whole house is my TBR pile.

pedln · « **Reply #1569 on:** May 03, 2010, 03:45:54 PM »

JoanR, thanks for the heads up on The Book is Overdue. Here’s an NYT review that tells a bit more about it. My library has it. I’m thrilled, and looking forward to reading it soon.

The Book is Overdue

Steph · « **Reply #1570 on:** May 04, 2010, 06:14:15 AM »

Ah, but it sounds like TBR is our greatest gift.. Do you think how funny this discussion would be to a non reader??

Babi · « **Reply #1571 on:** May 04, 2010, 08:35:05 AM »

Thanks, JEAN. I'm finding so little lately that I really enjoy that I'm
getting rather desperate. Unlike so many of you, my 'tbr' books are the
library and I seem to be hard to satisfy these days.

Interesting thought, STEPH. But then, how would a non-reader find their
way here in the first place?

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1572 on:** May 04, 2010, 11:32:58 AM »

Pedln - thanks for that reveiw..............do any of you know how the Dewey Decimal and/or the Lib of Congress systems got started? I learned the DD system first, as my town and hi schl libraries both used it. The LoC system seems so difficult to me and doesn't make as much sense as the DDS. Is it more complicated because it is cataloging many more different kinds of items?............................jean

JoanP · « **Reply #1573 on:** May 04, 2010, 12:12:02 PM »

I've been reading your posts very carefully, searching your TBR piles - hoping to find something of general interest for our July and August book discussions.

Is there anything that you have read that would lend itself to a month-long discussion? One that you would like to share with a group? Even if you passed on Anne Tyler's "Noah's Compass" there is an excellent discussion on retirement - and memory loss going on right now. You are welcome to drop in at any time.
And AS Byatt's "Possession" is sure to please in June.

Is there anything you've always wanted to really delve into in June or July?
It has been suggested we stay away from newly published books for economical reasons. Is Marilyn Johnson's "The Book is Overdue" a new book?

We need to hear from you! Please post any of your ideas in the
Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

and we promise to consider them.

pedln · « **Reply #1574 on:** May 04, 2010, 06:20:03 PM »

Jean, I probably should know how the Dewey Decimal system started, and I may have learned that once upon a time, but no longer remember the specifics, other than that it was Melville Dewey who devised the system of putting books on the same subject together.

As for the Library of Congress cataloging, when I was working on my library science degree in the early seventies many universities had recently or were in the process of converting from DD to LC. The classic story at that time was that the one library that was NOT converting was the University of Illinois because it was deemed too large to attempt such a costly process. Whether they have since then, I don’t know. I did take a course in LC cataloging, but since I never needed it in the high school where I worked, I have forgotten much of it. Jane could probably explain it better, but LC allows for more specific cataloging than the DD. More detailed information. Primarily used by large academic systems. There may be some public libraries also, that use it, but even large libraries like the Seattle or New York Public Library use DD. Our local university here still uses DD, but other universities in their consortium use LC.

JoanR · « **Reply #1575 on:** May 04, 2010, 08:23:43 PM »

JoanP - I'm afraid that Marilyn Johnson's book, "The Book Is Overdue" is a new book. I've decided that I must have it for myself so I've ordered a copy but won't return the library copy until it comes!
A terrific book for all us accumulators and lovers of books is Susan Hill's "Howard's End Is On the Landing". I see that Amazon has a paperback that you can pre-order, I don't know how I got my hard-cover edition - probably from England in some round-about way - from Amazon even!! Anyhow it came to me!
The Amazon entry & review is here:

http://www.amazon.com/Howards-End-Landing-Year-Reading/dp/1846682665/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273017639&sr=1-1

There was some talk of discussing "Three Junes" by Julia Glass a while ago but it didn't happen. I thought that was a really good book and would love to re-read it.

"I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith is a book that will capture the reader. One of my favorites - light but wonderful. Reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/I-Capture-Castle-Dodie-Smith/dp/031231616X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273018272&sr=1-1

Carlos Zafon who wrote "Shadow of the Wind" (Did you all discuss that? I would love to) has a new book "The Angel's Game" which I saw Ginny mention but don't know if she has read yet. I have it but it is on my TBR mountain!

JoanR · « **Reply #1576 on:** May 04, 2010, 08:32:54 PM »

My post got so long that it began to jump around and act in a strange manner!! I wanted to say that I had planned to read the Iliad this summer to go along with Latin ( which also has a summer study group) although the Aeneid would be more appropriate. I just think that I would like the Iliad better. Between all the returnees to the old homestead and all that study, I might find it hard to participate in a discussion (even in my usual silent way - which does not mean that I'm not a huge appreciator!)

By the way, "Noah's Compass" turned up on our library shelves today and I grabbed it so I'm playing catch-up with you all in that discussion.

jane · « **Reply #1577 on:** May 04, 2010, 08:47:35 PM »

Jean...

Pedln gave you the important information on Dewey vs LC that I'm familiar with. I got my Library Science graduate degree at the U of Illinois, and the information Pedln gave is accurate. Their collection of some ten million volumes was, when I was there, still the Dewey system.

After graduation I worked as a university reference librarian at the Univ. of Iowa and they used the LC system. It was confusing to me at first, but as Pedln says it allows for much more specific cataloging without a call number that's a gazillion numerals long...as can happen with DD. Once you get used to the system, though, though, it's as easy to use.

jane

Steph · « **Reply #1578 on:** May 05, 2010, 05:59:30 AM »

Genealogical and specific research libraries use the LC.. It allows for fairly specific places to look and find what you want. I like it for research.
I capture the Castle. I loved that book. Must have read it several times.. She is a good author and mostly wrote childrens books, I believe.
I keep trying to get into the Anne Tyler discussion, but recently time is my enemy.. I have not read the current Tyler, but have read most of her books at one point or another.
How about a discussion of a favorite author who has written a series perhaps.. We could address changes over the years with the series or if we feel that it became tired..
I know she is not serious enough for a month discussion, but Janet Evanovich and Dana Stabenow have both written series that are fascinating. The characters grew,, she added in different people.. All in all, both of the ladies write interesting series.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1579 on:** May 05, 2010, 02:05:20 PM »

Jackie - i've got about 30 pages left to read in Virgin Earth. What i like most about it is that the characters are so human and she develops their personalities so i understand their motivations. I don't always agree w/ their motivations, but i understand them from the characters' perspective. I also like the history. Being from Scotch-Irish/Calvinist stock and having read some books about the supporters of Bonny Prince Charlie coming to live in the Applachians - what is that woman's name who wrote those fiction accounts? - I was interested in the picture she gives of young Charles!?! And, of course, i liked the descriptions of the plants.

Reading the story, tho, bro't out my frustration of men having to fulfill their egos by going to war, challenging others for their land, assuming that people who live in a different way are inferior to them. I think the American Indian story is the most despicable in our history. I just can't understand how the Europeans could have treated them so badly and imagined themselves to be so superior that destorying the Native Americans was perfectly acceptable behavior.................of course, i'm looking back from a different ethical and moral perspective and i have never felt superior to anyone just because they lived, prayed, dressed, ate or danced differently than i did. I am far from being an idealogue of any kind. So, the word "heathen" isn't even in my vocabulary. Also, i've never had a loved one tortured by anyone, so who knows how i would feel about the group that would do that. But then, that's a chicken or egg thing isn't it? Who was first the most cruel - Europeans or NAm's, or was it simultaneous - is it just the nature of man?

I found both Earthly Joys and Virgin Earth fascinating - altho i didn't read either one of them compulsively - they were not books i couldn't put down............it took me about a month to read each one.

Yes, i was infuriated at John, the Elder considering going back to war w/ the Duke of Buckingham, and at John the Younger going off to Virginia!?! But, obviously, that was more acceptable in the time period................I'm soooo glad, for so many reasons that i live in the 20/21st centuries, in the USA..........................jean

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #1580 on:** May 05, 2010, 06:22:45 PM »

A treat today! I brought home from B&N three books. They all look so very good, but I bet I know which one everyone would choose to read first:

THIS TIME TOGETHER by Carol Burnett
FORDLANDIA: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City by Greg Grandin
GAME CHANGE by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

JoanP · « **Reply #1581 on:** May 05, 2010, 07:29:10 PM »

Ella, I'm reading GAME CHANGE right now. I think you'll love it!

JoanR, when the screen starts "jumping all around" like that, remember the little blue compatability button to the right of the browser line - do you see it up there? The thing to remember though - you can't press it if you are in the middle of a post - or you'll lose your post. Save the work first - and THEN switch to the compatability mode.

CallieOK · « **Reply #1582 on:** May 05, 2010, 07:53:18 PM »

I just finished GAME CHANGE. I thought it was well written. I'll be interested in learning what others thought.

Octavia · « **Reply #1583 on:** May 06, 2010, 04:37:46 AM »

I've just finished The Book of Rapture by Nikki Gemmell. Wow, what a powerful book. The book cover says it's 'searing, provocative and unputdownable' and that's exactly what it is. I read it in one evening, luckily there's only 268 pages, and was gripped to the last page.
I haven't met a Nikki Gemmell book that I didn't enjoy.

Steph · « **Reply #1584 on:** May 06, 2010, 05:54:02 AM »

Nikki Gemmell.. Not an author I have heard of. Tell me about her.

JoanP · « **Reply #1585 on:** May 06, 2010, 08:25:39 AM »

The titles mentioned here are now up for discussion in the Suggestion Box . We'll be voting in a few weeks for the July and August indepth discussions.

A few questions about discussing series- I haven't ever read any by the popular Evanovich. My DIL loves her Not sure how to go about this. We'd need specific titles. Both are quite prolific. How would we narrow down the list? How many would we read in this time frame? To discuss a series would one have to have read the entire series?

Even without Anne Tyler's Noah's Compass in hand, I think you would be interested in the discussion in the way participants are enjoying retirement - described by one as a "gift of time."

Anne Tyler's main character, Liam Pennywell is recovering from a head injury suffered when attacked by an intruder the first night in his new apartment. He is unable to remember the event, though there is evidence that he fought off his assailant. He becomes obsessed with regaining his memory, though others including a neurologist) tell him that it is unlikely he will remember the traumatic event. If you've ever experienced memory loss, it would be helpful for us to better understand what it is like to want to remember something that everyone else is telling you to forget.

Octavia · « **Reply #1586 on:** May 06, 2010, 08:02:31 PM »

Steph, Nikki Gemmell is an Aussie expat writer. An American critic called her "one of the few truly original voices to emerge in a long time." Lyrical is used a lot.
Copped a huge amount of publicity for "The Bride Stripped Bare', but Shiver, Cleave and Lovesong are great reads.
Such a contrast. Shiver is set in Antarctica(she lost her fiancee there I think) and Cleave in the bone melting heat of the Centre.
Rapture is about a woman scientist(mother of three) who develops the ultimate WMD and
'It will challenge your beliefs about science, about children, about marriage and trust'(quote).
The chapters are very short and urgent? and that drives the suspense of this book.
Nikki said she had a new baby and couldn't write for long periods

.
http://www.nikkigemmell.com

I'm curious about the assorted Corgi? Girls, boys, or a mixture?

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1587 on:** May 06, 2010, 09:51:29 PM »

Has anybody read "A Place Called Freedom" by Ken Follett, what did you think? I'm just starting it and it sounds interesting................... jean

Steph · « **Reply #1588 on:** May 07, 2010, 05:47:18 AM »

Just now I have two corgi.. both altered. A 13 year old r/w male named Dexter and a probably around 10 altered female named Gracie. They are both rescues. I also do some corgi rescue.. mostly helping with transports and pulls to foster.. I cannot foster myself since I live in a community where two is the limit..
Will look up Nikki , since the books sound interesting.
Traumatic amnesia.. I know about that. I have it from the car accident.

Babi · « **Reply #1589 on:** May 07, 2010, 09:07:11 AM »

I find it hard to imagine a mother developing a weapon of mass destruction. Narrow-minded
of me, no doubt, but really...

Frybabe · « **Reply #1590 on:** May 07, 2010, 02:03:34 PM »

Looks like I will be spending more time with you bunch. I just got laid off from work. Maybe I should change my name now that I don't work for Fry anymore.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #1591 on:** May 07, 2010, 02:07:42 PM »

Are Gemmell's books an interconnected series? My library has only 2, Alice Springs AKA Cleave, and The Bride Stripped Bare.

Babi: You must see humankind in very flattering terms. In one sense, maternity is a simple biological exercise which can end with no apparent change in the bearer of the young once their task reaches its natural conclusion. Alas, we all know too well how its development can alter an individual who is subject to extreme stresses during its development both pre- and post-birth. An alternate explanation, the scientist whose solution to an experiment has the unintended consequence of data leading to a WMD. I know I can rely on you to see more in a premise than occurs to me so I'm always eager to read your posts.

maryz · « **Reply #1592 on:** May 07, 2010, 02:34:33 PM »

Oh, Frybabe - I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope all will turn out for the best - and you can make lemonade out of this lemon.

PatH · « **Reply #1593 on:** May 07, 2010, 05:42:05 PM »

Oh, dear, Frybabe, that's a bummer. And you're not alone; it's happened to a number of good people I know. Maybe you should change your name to Friedbabe.

pedln · « **Reply #1594 on:** May 07, 2010, 05:50:54 PM »

Well, shoot, Frybabe. That is a bummer. Is that that big electronics chain? A pox on them. I'm sure they lost one of their best.

Octavia · « **Reply #1595 on:** May 07, 2010, 05:51:51 PM »

That's bad luck, Frybabe. Involuntary retirement.

Mrssherlock the books aren't connected. Not sure if you'd want to read The Bride Stripped Bare, there's quite a lot of sex. She originally published it as 'anonymous', but she was sprung.
I think she said she didn't want to hurt her husband, as she drew on her own past experiences.
I read a review that described the book as 'wonderfully sensuous and witty in its construction'.

Babi, I always think of Myra Hindley,the Moors murderers in the UK, who tortured and killed those poor little kids, as an example of what sickening things women can do.

I like that your dogs are rescue dogs Steph. Dogs get a raw deal sometimes.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #1596 on:** May 07, 2010, 06:23:55 PM »

Oh, Fry, I didn't see your post. It may well be time for you to retire. My retirement was involuntarily. When my landlord gave me notice to move so her buddy could have the house I decided to retire. Prices were so high in San Jose I decided to move to Oregon where my sister, also retired, lived. It's been a struggle since I didn't know that my adult, single children would move in and as neither one is employed, well, I don't have to spell it out. But I'm not a bit sorry to be here and we three have grown closer, we take care of each other.

ginny · « **Reply #1597 on:** May 07, 2010, 07:39:00 PM »

Margie, I am so sorry, but that just means that there's something much better for you coming up!!!

AND you can spend more time as you say with us here, our gain already.

marcie · « **Reply #1598 on:** May 07, 2010, 07:47:27 PM »

I'm sorry, Frybabe (I've often wondered about your name!). We're lucky to have more of your time here but too bad for you and for Frys.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1599 on:** May 07, 2010, 09:22:04 PM »

Ginny - More time for Latin

Yes, losing my job is both my worst nightmare and my happiest moment in recent history.

Unlike a lot of my fellow unemployeds, I do not believe on sitting on my duff until the unemployment benefits run out. The big bummer is I am so used to wearing jeans, teeshirts and sneakers to work - nice and comfy; I no longer have a decent outfit to wear for interviews. A shopping tour is in order. Hmmmm, I wonder if the local B&N or Border's are hiring. Hmmmmmmmmm!

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2085277 times)