Author Topic: The Library (Read 2079883 times)

PatH · « **Reply #19640 on:** January 05, 2019, 10:36:53 PM »

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

PatH · « **Reply #19641 on:** January 05, 2019, 10:38:07 PM »

I read it years ago, thought of it immediately when you posted, and googled to find it online. There were a lot of Mark Twain books in the house when I was growing up, and I read most of them.

Frybabe · « **Reply #19642 on:** January 06, 2019, 07:22:59 AM »

As much as I liked westerns and adventure and the like when I was young, I never read any of Cooper's works. Twain, on the other hand, I have, including his short stories.

My morning "reading" this morning consisted of the graphiti on a train rolling through LaGrange. Imagine my surprise to find that someone had painted SPQR on one of the cars. Well, my guess is that the painter got it off one of his video war games. I can only hope that some of these video games turn a few young players heads towards the study of history.

In between my scifi borrow, I've been reading White Rose, Black Forest. It is an okay read, but I do wish the two main characters would stop with the almost constant self doubt and indecision internal soliloquies.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19643 on:** January 06, 2019, 02:51:33 PM »

Are you enjoying White Rose and Black Forest Frybabe - had not realized that Black Forest was the Black Forest till I started to read and I had no idea the meaning behind the colors in the Nazi flag or that during the beginning of Hitler's reign, met with such hope that white roses were everywhere as the symbol of hope. I'm finding it quite a page turner till now I'm to the part where the family history from the time she was a child and Hitler came into power. Of course had to look up Heinrich Heine. Found a free copy of his work for the Kindle.

The disappearing of school teachers I was familiar with - my Grandmother came over for a visit with a relative when they first arrived in 1938. It was late summer just a week before school was to start and I was going into the first grade. A mother and child who was a 3rd grader and therefore, to me meant she was wise and powerful and god like. Here she was instructing me never to ask a question of the teacher. Wide eyed I listened as she continued that I should never talk to the teacher and never take to school anything other than the school book. Her Dad was a teacher and one day he never came home. A neighbor told them they took him and her mother went to the authorities to find him and as soon as she came home she immediately packed up a few things and they quickly left. She never went into how they got out of Germany and to America but they were staying with my Grandmother for several weeks and then with one of my Grandmother's sisters.

That first year of school I was ill so much that between the start of school and Christmas I was in class for a total of 2 weeks so I was taken out of school, just in time since then I came down with Scarlett Fever - which then meant the house was quarantined for a couple of months with a sign on the front door and my father would sneak in the backdoor once a week with groceries and see my mom - needless to say I did not keep up with what happened to this mother and daughter except the following summer I overheard my Grandmother talking to Mom - do not remember the entire conversation - something about they were given housing paid by the government and my grandmother was annoyed saying something about them taking advantage - something about, after all that she and Aunt Tessie did for them - probably because neither my Grandmother or Aunt Tessie owned a house -

My grandmother at the time rented a one bedroom apartment upstairs in a 2 family house and Aunt Tessie lived with her oldest daughter, cousin Kitty who had a young son, so it was a tight squeeze adding two more - I think Grandma probably felt they gave all they had and would have continued to help her get on her feet and here she ends up, the shame of all shame in the 30s, taking anything that was a handout much less from the government and she ends up with a house for herself and her daughter.

Anyhow with this in my family history the book has me hooked - except my gut says from here on it will be more about the cat and mouse over trust between these two characters - obviously from my childhood experience and what we are reading, trust was in very short supply in Nazi Germany.

Found my Hygge book and evidently part of a cozy winter is to have lots and lots of candles lit in the evening all over the house and so, what to put where my holiday centerpiece and the advent wreath were located is solved - I have a platter of candles - all sizes, some votive in clear glass, fat ones and tall slender ones, all white. Was going to surround with fresh Rosemary till I realized how quickly Rosemary dries - a good way to start a house fire and so just candles.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19644 on:** January 07, 2019, 03:57:13 AM »

Up to the start of chapter nine - his writing has flattened out - good and a cut above many but not drop dead wonderful - the first chapters were real page turners but her story is told in two parts that we have heard similar details time and time again with different names and cities - it looks like chapter 9 will go into his story - at last we have out of the way that he decided to trust her and say who he is - the writer has another book written during WWII involving Auschwitz and taking the money that the Jews brought with them - in both books he seems to have found a small nugget of information that is not a full blown part of the WWII story and bring these nuggets to life. His writing style reminds me of the books I've read by David Liss - again, a notch above but not wonderful, glorious.

PatH · « **Reply #19645 on:** January 07, 2019, 02:02:16 PM »

Tomereader, you're way ahead of me in the AOCs; I've only read four. One I've been meaning to read for ages is Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. Maybe I'll dig it out and try it.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #19646 on:** January 07, 2019, 04:11:23 PM »

I’m reading Sara Donati’s The Gilded Hour which is a novel about two women doctors in NYC at the beginning of the 19th century. I’m only 100 pages in, but it is good so far. She touches on immigrants, children orphaned by the epidemics, the response of people to them as doctors. Plus the one woman is a mixed-race woman, so she gets the most reaction and introduces herself only by her name. Donati is very good at describing the time and the environment. I’m enjoying it. The only problem I have is it is 760 pages!!! Not easy to read in bed! So it is taking up my daytimes, here and there.

Jean

Frybabe · « **Reply #19647 on:** January 08, 2019, 07:40:31 AM »

Barb, I finished White Rose, Black Forest last night. It was an okay book, but I began skimming over some of the many battles of indecision, etc. that plagued the book. As much as the author tried to instill in the reader a sense of dread, fear, tension and depression, it just didn't work well for me. The ending did not surprise, but then I was prepared for either the ending that was and one that left one survivor. It could have gone either way.

The Battle That Stopped Rome by Peter S. Wells is the one I chose for the non-fiction set in a forest. I'll be starting that later today.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19648 on:** January 09, 2019, 06:10:10 AM »

Yes, I too finished - as a story it was predictable wasn't it - a few surprises like how Vogel met his maker but the entire scenario with Berkel was like reading a script for a Max Linder silent film story. However, for me the story was laid out on pages 158 and 159 - the trust issue and how the author would handle it - I did get caught up in the story and lost the exactness of how the trust was built and want to review but that to me was the story and what hooked me when I read the review - Had no idea of this White Rose connection, so that was new -

I was planning on following this with, A Mighty Fortress: A New History of the German People by Steven Ozment but my curiosity is sky high to learn more about this German writer, Heinrich Heine. Found a bit about him by Googling his name - appears he wrote poetry and novels and was expelled from Prussia in his day, the early part of the nineteenth century and returned writing a novel on the train that had to be rewritten when he escapes back to France. Became more intrigued and where the book does include some of his prose it is the Journey of his life. He is the author of The Harz Journey and Selected Prose that I ordered and it will be here on Friday.

I will probably start my first choice and then when the book arrives on Friday I will see if it meets my self imposed standard of non-fiction - in fact as I am writing this I may just continue with my plan and then in addition for my own satisfaction read about his life from the book - looks like it will be cold tomorrow and than back to rain for a few days and so I my have my Go part Sunday or Monday when there is no rain in the forecast -

Finding this web site https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/websites/FamousTreesOfTexas/Explore_Our_Trees/ that again I had no idea - I knew of Treaty Oak and the Oak on Goose Island but these others - I even had been to McKinney Falls but had no idea there was a famous tree off the trail. I may not get down to McKinney falls however, my plan is to visit these four - I'm assuming there will be some kind of marker telling about them but then I just do not know till I see what is there.

Auction Oaks - In Republic Square - this is a location for a Saturday morning farmers market that I prefer. If the rain blows over by late Friday I may just go down to the market and see the tree while I am shopping.

Treaty Oak - East side of Baylor Avenue, between 5th and 6th - drove by many times and there is an old wooden building that serves coffee that I may park and actually enjoy one of the last of the iconic cafe's in Austin only we never called them a cafe.

Battle Oaks - on 24th street, one block east of Guadalupe - this one is sorta hidden away now since they built another building to the law school and by virtue of some graduate students the tree was saved.

Seiders Oaks - Seiders Springs, park on Shoal Creek, between 34th and 38th - this is located in the middle of a walking path that goes clear down to the lake - and starts up at if the streets all had numbers it would be about 72 street but the streets stop having numbers at 56st. Where I live would be about 65th or maybe 67th -

The one way south at McKinney Falls is Old Baldy when you click on the name of the tree in the website a window pops up telling all about why and what happened that made the tree famous.

ANNIE · « **Reply #19649 on:** January 09, 2019, 06:12:05 PM »

I am reading “At Home in Mitford” by Jan Karon. Isn’t Mitford in a series? Well I’m back on SL with thanks to Ginny and PatH and Barb!
My life has been in a whirlwind since I moved to assisted living and it’s not going to change much for the next month or so. I have to see a dr about an old problem that has cropped up. Seems I need a treatment for the problem. Don’t know how long all this will take so if I’m not here please be patient as I will return.
A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!🤓💕💕💕🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

PatH · « **Reply #19650 on:** January 09, 2019, 07:18:41 PM »

Welcome back, Annie, and good luck in your current issues.

PatH · « **Reply #19651 on:** January 12, 2019, 11:50:42 AM »

I'm still thinking about those book lists. One author I've been meaning to read would fit both on their POC list and neurodiversity--Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe. Oe was already a writer when his first son was born with a skull deformity which produced mental retardation. Oe wrote several books describing coming to terms with this, raising his son at home in a culture unaccepting of such differences, eventually managing to teach him to speak and find a life.

Has anyone read these? I wonder what they're like.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #19652 on:** January 12, 2019, 12:26:45 PM »

I am reading a novel,which I feel might not be everyone's cup o' tea, but I stayed up till 2:00 AM, saying the "just one more chapter" chant. It is Amor Towles "Rules of Civility". My f2f book club has been considering reading it, but there are not enough copies available in the system at any one time to accommodate us. The setting is NYC, basically at the end of 1937. Story line is rather "haves v.
have nots", and some who are trying to become one of the "haves". Wonderful characters, and at times the writing is almost poetic. I am thoroughly enjoying it, and recommend giving it a try!

ginny · « **Reply #19653 on:** January 12, 2019, 02:33:08 PM »

I've got that, Tome and I like him. It's very much the type of thing Dominick Dunne writes, like The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (which was based on fact).

hats · « **Reply #19654 on:** January 12, 2019, 02:36:27 PM »

I missed writing a hello to you earlier, bellamarie. Hope you're not experiencing too much cold weather.
Barb, I love, love your challenge. May I borrow it? I am wanting to try a challenge or two for the year. As always I'm late. Time is growing short. Well, February is drawing near. Another month of winter that will draw us closer to spring. I am reading The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. Lady Slippers are mentioned in one chapter. This Professor teaches classes and also goes out in the field to study his choices for Botany. I know; It's an old book, and we have lost the author to death. I'm sorry not to have appreciated her earlier. I did read her small book titled Unless. It is a very sad subject, but the book didn't make me jump up and down. Perhaps, it's because at the time I was young, with children and may have been working as well.

Waving hello to all.

hats · « **Reply #19655 on:** January 12, 2019, 03:42:14 PM »

Ginny, I remember Dominick Dunne well. I can see his face in my mind so clearly. If I remember correctly, his shelf of books at the Public Libraries were always extensive. I remember the title The Mrs. Grenvilles. I didn't know. It is factual. I would like to read something true and scandalous with a few lies packed in.

For some reason, The American Tragedy by Dreiser comes to mind. Was it also factual? Surely, Dominick Dunne's name is in our History books under the past days of Hollywood.

Tomereader 1, thank you for the Book Riot list. Harder? Just the word spooks me. I hope you have fun reading throughout the year.

bellamarie, I am also a lover of Father Tim and the town of Mitford. That book series is classic in my eyes. Yes, they are simply written, but Henry Thoreau said or wrote that we should cling to simplicity, right? Wish I could remember the quote.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19656 on:** January 13, 2019, 01:58:58 PM »

I cannot believe - had a post that as I went to upload lost the entire post - there is supposed to be an 'F' key to capture what you just lost but for the life of me I cannot remember - tried everything but of course did no save as I wrote - back later - I am not going to try to capture my comments again - just know I was thinking of y'all by way of remarking on your thoughts recently posted. shoot... later...

Jonathan · « **Reply #19657 on:** January 13, 2019, 05:56:36 PM »

Aw, shucks, Barb. I was hoping your next post would be your first impressions of Heine's Harz Journey. He is just the greatest lyrical writer in German literature, poetry or prose.

Rules of Civility is a great read. Almost as good, perhaps better, than the author's Gentlemanin in Moscow. Quite a success in Manhattan.

bellamarie · « **Reply #19658 on:** January 13, 2019, 07:33:44 PM »

PatH., No apology necessary, if anything I thought I was being a bit of a bother. I tend to jump from one book to the next. Luckily, I found two other online book clubs, I think I'll be happy with the pace they go, a book a month.

I just finished The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women, by Kate Moore. I can't wait to begin discussing it with my one book club tomorrow. It was so interesting I read it in just 3 days. It reminded me so much of Girls Of Atomic City.

In 1917, as a war raged across the world, young American women flocked to work, painting watches, clocks, and military dials with a special luminous substance made from radium. It was a fun job, lucrative and glamorous. The girls themselves shone brightly in the dark, covered head to toe in the dust from the paint. ...

Annie, Good to see you drop in. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you begin your treatments. I too am reading At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon. My hubby gifted me the first 7 book series for Christmas. I find it is a bit of a slow read, a simple life in a simple town, which is okay with me, because I do tend to read two or three books at the same time. I've heard nothing but good reviews on the entire series.

Hats, We just got three inches of beautiful snow overnight. I was actually hoping for some. Thank you for thinking of me. Henry Thoreau, indeed has many quotes about "simplicity" so I will enjoy Mitford and Fr. Timothy, and not be in haste to finish these seven books I have.

Jonathan, since you brought our group A Gentleman In Moscow, I will place Rules of Civility on my TBD list. You haven't steered us wrong yet. Tomereader, now isn't that a coincidence you are reading it as well.

Jean, 760 pages, now that would be difficult to hold for long periods of time even during the daytime. It sounds interesting. I sill have not delved into the First Ladies books I purchased you recommended. So many books, so little time.

Barb, Don't you just hate it when you have spent time typing only to lose it?

hats · « **Reply #19659 on:** January 14, 2019, 05:28:42 AM »

bellamarie, I have looked at The Radium Girls...It looks very interesting. Glad you had time to finish it. I'm still reading The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields and a cozy mystery full of coffee. The Stone Diaries might become my all time favorite novel. I've never picked a favorite.

maryz · « **Reply #19660 on:** January 14, 2019, 09:15:28 AM »

Barb, try "Ctr Z" to recover your lost post. Somebody on S&F mentioned that about a month ago. Good luck next time.

ginny · « **Reply #19661 on:** January 14, 2019, 12:15:58 PM »

If the post has been already pasted here but not yet finished, you can recover any post here by right clicking the mouse and selecting Undo. It will restore it.

If the post was made in Word first and was lost in Word the left arrow on the top of the menu is the Undo and it will restore it.

Sorry you lost a post.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19662 on:** January 14, 2019, 03:48:44 PM »

Wow thanks for those tips - OK Ginny I must be doing something incorrectly - because yes, it was typed directly here in one of our windows - now when I hit my mouse by right clicking I do not see undo - OH wait I just clicked again to be sure and this time a different window popped up and yes yes yes there is undo - marvelous.

And MaryZ I'm writing that down on my cheat sheet or rather notebook where I keep all my passwords etc for each link where I'm subscribed. Control or Ctrl along with a z - terrific

I am up to my eyeballs with both new information and lots of tags to ID names and thinking patterns and information I've heard or read about but I've retained just enough to react with, Oh I read that when I was reading about such and so... and so goes the challenges reading these two books - Thank goodness I am reading both simultaneity because one reinforces the other -

At first I was about to give up as I slogged through the first chapter of A New History of the German People A Mighty Fortress, by Steven Ozment - he starts his thesis explaining the major and than splits and minor views of German Historians - they all have IDs like Reformation Historians or Critical Historians, the American notion of collective guilt, on to the Lünder (Land) accounts - those historians that go backward, picking and choosing events and behavior, attempting to place all of German History as to how the German people were the cause to the horrors of the 1930s and 40s and those who start at the beginning with early battles and trade with the Romans before Germania, explaining fully those instances that showed prowess and savagery in war again, leading up to and therefore, explaining the 30s and 40s - and still another group of historians are using fact to look forward into a doable future.

Historians I never heard of are named and categorized along with political parties that go back to Prussia taking on Napoleon. Both books bring up the battle of Teutoburg Forest in the 9th century - as a touchstone in German history that reminds me of how we have certain wars that say much to us like the Revolutionary war, not that the battle of Teutoburg Forest was the beginning and unification of what we call Germany. All these names and political groups are mentioned without any explanation and so to understand what conclusions the author is putting together it requires constant research - thought maybe I should have ordered these books for my kindle but using the sample even Kindle does not explain but half of these titles and sub-groups.

Then I know just enough to be dangerous - reading early the life story of Heinrich Heine and he, not sure who, probably the translator, Ritchie Robertson is saying that Heine was not very Jewish and as a child he attended C - wow almost did it again and thanks Ginny used your undo whew - anyhow Heine attended Catholic schools - and I'm thinking what choice did he have - as far as I knew there were no so called public or Jewish schools much less Jewish Universities - of course had to look it up and yes, Jewish kids were instructed by the local Rabbi but I forgot the number of Universities not attached to a Catholic monastery in the early nineteenth century - Did look it up and evidently Jewish students were only allowed to study Medicine, Law, Philosophy and Theology - Heine did get to take some classes in history and literature while attending the University in Berlin but not at the Universities in either Bonn (his first) or Göttingen.

All this and Jonathan I have not yet read any of his 3 week Harz Journey - In A Mighty Fortress I am only starting to read about Germany in the Middle Ages having renewed my acquaintance from another viewpoint the Franks, Goths, and Lombards, along with folks like Clovis, Arminius and his brother Flavius - the idea of finishing either of these books by Wednesday so I can start fresh on my second reading challenge on Thursday seems remote - and so now I have to figure out a backup plan - do I stop and devour these two books - or keep them going and start on time with the next challenge which is, "Read a Novel followed the second week with non-fiction Involving a creative outlet"

What is really funny - the novel I decided on for my second challenge, back on the 1st and 2nd of January is the first book of a trilogy I downloaded last year on my Kindle about an American sister coming back home to Germany - yep, hahaha, Germany, to help with the failing glassblowing business that makes Christmas tree ornaments. I finally get out of Germany with my non-fiction selection that was recommended here by nilhome Raw Material: Working Wool in the West by Stephany Wilkes.

Well the sun that was shining brightly is behind the thick layer of clouds and tomorrow is rain and so my foray to see the famous trees in Austin will not happen until Wednesday - so that gives me two days - let me see what I can do in two day. I must say the 'history' is becoming less dense since I recognize many of these names and places from back when I was deep into wanting to learn the early history of the Catholic Church and how it spread. And so maybe this will move along now...

And yes, Jonathan I will share my snapshot of Heinrich Heine and his Prose - he sure had his own idea of politics - amazing to read how the chess game of power and politics is repeated in similar fashion over and over through out history - the issues today sound exactly like the issues between the Goths, Franks, Huns and Romans during the 3rd and 4th century with Roman's seeing themselves as the elitists and the others in various degrees of barbarism according to how much Roman education and culture they assumed.

Frybabe · « **Reply #19663 on:** January 14, 2019, 04:41:06 PM »

I haven't gotten in very far with The Battle that Stopped Rome yet. The first part of the chapter I am on now goes over what the ancient writers (none of whom were there, all except one, I think are not contemporary) said about the battle. Seems they had differing takes on it. Also, one of the writers, forget just now who it is, I never heard of before. Will need to look him up soon, before I get out of this chapter. The next part of the chapter will discuss the archeology. I expect everything after this chapter will be more detailed. The book itself is very readable. The author has stated that he will be clearly letting the reader know when he has solid evidence and when he is making "informed guesses".

Now I don't feel so bad, Barb. It looks like both of us is behind on the list.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19664 on:** January 14, 2019, 07:39:41 PM »

We'll do what is best for us frybabe - I only read in a daily something or other I get online about how to stick to a goal and the second suggestion had to do with asking and answering this question - Why is the result of your goal important to you? - My thinking on my year long list as to why...

First the realization - this time loud and clear - I’ve done my usual - overkill - not being able to eliminate choices to what I can accomplish along with, my choices seem to always be a real challenge - the question is, 'now what to do…'

My goal was to explore - explore alternative lifestyles through reading and getting out to places I have not visited, using a system that stretches me with lifestyle ideas, a way forward - I only really retired last late summer and quickly found myself at loose ends with absolutely no reason to get to bed at a reasonable hour, to get out of sweat pants, to even eat properly much less feel invaluable to anyone or further any endeavor - I want a lifestyle of meaningful activities during this next decade or so for my life - What I really need is a book like What Color is Your Parachute for elders who need naps and because arthritis sets in, we're not as physically able as even a year or so ago.

And so... How is reading both these books about Germany and a German writer important to securing my goal to explore how I am going to pursue creating a meaningful life?

Hmm I may not know till after I read the books.

Therefore, what the real question is - what do I mean by the word explore. A quick peruse or looking more deeply and if so, how deep or how many books about a subject or how much goes into explore - I set out two exploration topics a month, in which, with all the new information I will read about or see on my excursions, one exploration could go on for weeks and months.

As always, when reading one book it leads to the next however, if I am going to explore... yes, that is one way to explore but, I will not cover the wide field I've set out for myself by going off on tangents - so now the issue is - do I choose beforehand the second book I will read or do I wait and find that reading the novel the second book rears its head. Because that is what has happened - I chose the history and while reading became acquainted with Heinrich Heinz - Ok if I am exploring hmmm that question just does not help

OK what is done is done - I am not going to abandon either book - the novel I've chosen for the next topic is light fiction and suspect it will be a quick read, so I will take a few more days and finish both of these books - I may at least read the first chapter of the book that according to my plan I should start on Wednesday and since all the books are placed in Germany they will probably support each other - I have chosen a couple of the second books however, for the rest of the topics I will wait till I am reading the novel which will probably suggest to me what to read that will enlighten me further on the topic for those two weeks.

ginny · « **Reply #19665 on:** January 14, 2019, 07:40:30 PM »

I'm enjoying reading self to sleep with Too Much Money, it's a Dominick Dunne which was printed after his death. It's a sequel to People Like Us, so it's quite familiar and I'm enjoying it so far. It seems a bit autobiographical, which the other one was, too.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19666 on:** January 14, 2019, 07:49:50 PM »

He sure gives the 1930s another look doesn't he considering for most of the nation depression was ruling their lives. One thing I always liked about the movies in the 1930s - except for the westerns and even a few of them - the women were strong. I'm thinking being glamorous you had to be strong - do you think?

Frybabe · « **Reply #19667 on:** January 14, 2019, 10:59:55 PM »

Barb, for me, the list is something of a scavenge hunt and a determination to read some of the many books I already have to hand that have gotten set aside and forgotten. And I have lots! Some of those sitting on my shelves must be 40 years old (like Alvin Toffler's Future Shock).

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19668 on:** January 15, 2019, 01:14:29 AM »

aww I like that frybabe - a scavenger hunt through our own bookcase - I can see that - looks like we each have a slightly different reason for our goal - interesting and fun - I bet you will even have a couple of books to choose when filling a topic -

OK onward we go - hope you will fill in a bit about this book you are reading - evidently this battle in the Teutoburg Forest was quite the marker in history for Rome, the Cherusci leaders, the Catholic Church in Rome, and the Greco-Roman cultural advancement. I'm reading it was the beginning of the Northern Tribes honoring women as the 'ruling sex' and the start of tribesmen being armed at all times, including while conducting trade.

Evidently bearing arms became a badge of manhood just as wearing the toga in Rome as a badge of manhood. Someplace on my shelves I have a slim book all about this battle in the forest - I need to find it -

Looked on Amazon and your book even has illustrations - does it include a map of the battle? Sounds like it fits your interest in ancient Roman and Greek history - frybabe is there anything in common with the battle in Teutoburg Forest and what is going on today?

Frybabe · « **Reply #19669 on:** January 15, 2019, 07:34:24 AM »

is there anything in common with the battle in Teutoburg Forest and what is going on today?

Oh, you mean like those in control ignoring signs and warnings, having backstabbing friends and allies, prejudice against those who are different from you, taking advantage of those perceived to be weaker than you, using flimsy excuses to invade the territories of other peoples, etc.

I wonder if the battle between the Ewoks and the Empire Stormtroopers (Star Wars) was inspired by this battle. That battle was also fought in a forest, the Ewoks used low tech weapons and took advantage of terrain they knew well, were equipped for maneuverability and stealth. The Stormtroopers, unfamiliar with the terrain, used high tech weapons that were not very maneuverable in the forest terrain (well, except for that neat air bike or whatever they called it), arrogantly believed in their superiority, and so on.

I'll keep that question in mind as I read. There are a few simple maps, several pages of artifacts, the statue of Arminius and two Ariminius inspired pieces of art.

bellamarie · « **Reply #19670 on:** January 15, 2019, 11:38:47 AM »

hats, I will fore warn you, The Radium Girls is a tough read.

Not sure if you joined in our book discussion of The Girls Of Atomic City, or The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks, but the injustices that were done to the women working on The Manhattan Project during WWII, and Henrietta in the 1950's, collecting her cells without her permission, not informing her of the studies being done with her cells etc., were in my opinion horrific, with no compensation to her or her family. The Radium Girls which takes place in 1917 and following years, not only is as sad as these two other books, but in my opinion even worse because the injustices were done to hundreds if not thousands of young females with knowledge that the "dip, lip and paint" method taught to them to paint the dials with the harmful substance continued even after a lawsuit was won. The descriptions used to let us know how the radium effected these women leaves nothing for the mind to imagine. Some of our book club members were not able to finish the book because it was too sad and horrific to read what these women went through, and how they were lied to. Their trials and triumphs are not for the faint of heart, or weak minded. It is proving to make a great discussion, and I am glad I read it, but... it is staying with me in ways I prefer not remembering.

hats · « **Reply #19671 on:** January 16, 2019, 01:04:13 PM »

Sorry, unable to reply to all these yummy posts. I'm involved with The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. I'm a slow reader. I'm just getting to the part where she marries. I hope she is in love. Not sure, she is thirty years old. Why I question her love is because it's not a normal romance. I don't want to write any more. I could easily give away spoilers. Too keep it short, the book is about a woman's life. Bellamarie, sad falsities or truths in books are always difficult. Like the rest of you, I suppose, I don't turn down a book because of how it affects me emotionally. Believe it or not, it is possible to move forward to another book.

I'm glad you brought up Henrietta Lauck. Reading about the cells and other scientific information did make the truth harder to understand. However, I definitely agree Mrs. Lauck's life involved injustice. I didn't read to the end. It is a book I would like to read again written by another author. Maybe there is not another author.

Ginny, I hope to read The Two Grenvilles one day. On the day you mentioned it, I must have been in a sarcastic mood or some other silly mood. I do not take any scandal lightly. Scandals seem to appear in our news often lately.

Since I like old books as well as new ones, I have The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe checked out from the library. I couldn't help but think of Frybabe. Because the first book mentioned is Crossing To Safety by Wallace Stegner. Is that the title you keep mentioning, Frybabe?
I love the recommendations given. Mabel, gave a Picoult title. I did get the novel. At that time, I did not feel able to handle racism. My book moods change. Just wanted all of you to know I look at all recommendations. I might read them. I might not read them. I'm stuck on my inner feelings and what they tell me in the moment.

Frybabe · « **Reply #19672 on:** January 16, 2019, 03:35:15 PM »

Not me, Hats. I never heard of Crossing to Safety, though I have heard of (but never read) Wallace Stegner.

bellamarie · « **Reply #19673 on:** January 17, 2019, 12:05:05 PM »

It's funny how back when we were reading Henrietta Lacks, I was at my doctor's office mentioning it to him. Well, today I am going to be back at his office with this nasty sinus drainage, cough etc. We are expecting a snow storm starting tomorrow, lasting through Saturday with 4 - 8 inches of snowfall. I decided I better get myself to the doctor today before I get snowed in. I love snow, but I sure don't like the potential of that much making the roads hazardous, and people being snowed in. But then again..... it is winter!

hats, Yes, I too like to move on to another book, especially when the last one I read was so sad. I'll have plenty of time to read in the next few days watching the snow fall!!

My other online book club is going to begin reading Circle of Friends, a novel by the Irish author Maeve Binchy. It is set in Dublin, as well as the fictitious town of Knockglen in rural Ireland during the 1950s. The story centers on a group of university students. A key subplot is the future of the Hogan family business, Hogan's Gentlemen's Outfitters; thrown into turmoil when Benny's father dies. Having been forced to abandon his plan to marry into the business, the efficient but unpleasant Sean Walsh demands a partnership, but Eddie Hogan dies before the deed is signed. Benny reluctantly plans to honour the agreement; however, when she looks more closely at the business accounts, it reveals Sean may not be the model employee he seems.

So off to Ireland I shall go......

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19674 on:** January 17, 2019, 01:27:52 PM »

found this staring at me when I opened this morning and thought he was cute... although probably would want attention just at the most climactic part of the book

Hats something familiar sounding about The Stone Diaries but look in our archives and cannot find that we read it - looked it up on Amazon and my past purchases and again cannot find that I did purchase it but there is still something very familiar about the title of that book - sounds like you are really enjoying it. Oh and Wallace Stegner is such a wonderful writer - his description of nature takes me to another level - thanks for the reminder - I have not read Crossing To Safety but did read a book of his short stories a few years back.

Looks like you, Bellamarie and Annie are deep in Mitford with Father Tim and others like Cynthia Coppersmith, Miss Sadie Baxter and Barnabas. lovely place to be with all this winter weather - where you are having snow we are having cold rain but today is a gift from the sun tra la... I can just imagine the blue sky and sun shining on the snow - wow what a contrast. We've got a wicked cold front pushing in here tomorrow although I doubt we will have snow. Hope you are safe and the repairs done to the water pipes hold so that your basement rooms are not wet.

Ginny after look up to find the books written by Dominick Dunne and seeing his photo seems to me I heard an interview with him on I think a morning show back when they did sit down interviews and without so much current events - he sure has captured a time in history hasn't he although his stories and characters remind me more of 1920s and 30s Hollywood and 5th Ave NY than 1920s and 30s main street - With so many books written about upstairs downstairs life in these large British country houses I'm thinking Dominick Dunne is writing about upstairs American.

Tomereader I have not yet read Rules of Civility but I was so taken with Towles when we read A Gentleman in Moscow that when a used copy showed for only $2 I quick snared it - yes, he is a wonderful writer isn't he - are you getting all this cold rain? After several very dry years in a row complaining about so much rain sounds thankless but oh oh oh and my sinuses cannot take much more of this. As much as I dislike the cold we really need a couple of northers or the insects will take over and carry us away next summer. or we will all become one of Kafka's huge beetle's.

How are you doing frybabe with The Battle that Stopped Rome The more I read in the Heinrich Heine the Harz Journey that it too goes into German history the more I see this battle appears to be central to the German Identification - what they did to the Roman soldiers after the battle was horrific and seeing it through the eyes of 1930s and 40s can justify those historians trying to prove it was in the German Gene but then I had to stop and realize they were not giving examples of how horrific others were to each other - granted by the 9th century Rome was no longer looking down as sport people mauled and eaten by lions but on into the early 15th century we still had England quartering people alive before they started to do them a favor and kill them first and then when you read about the deaths to the Catholic Priests in Ireland, oh oh oh - and so horrific deaths were common -

Frybabe, I did start last night on my Novel for this week - A book Involving a creative outlet and had chosen a book I had downloaded last year - The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning - Two things - I laughed outloud at the irony - it takes place just south of the Harz mountains in the small village of Lichte and the nearby city of Sonneberg where as, Heinrich Heine lived and hiked on the north side of the Harz mountains.

Like White Rose Black Forest the book is written a tad better but neither are near the writing of Amor Towels much less a Wallace Stegner. However, again it is helpful to know some German history and I have to admit that I have shied away from most anything German since WWII except for books that had the German's and Nazi's as one people or that included Nazi's as in The Book Thief. There are so many names and even book titles included in the Introduction to the Harz Journey that I could have months of reading. The intro does say Heinrich Heine was alluding to many political figures and issues of the day in his writing - When I started the actual The Harz Journey within the first few pages he had me laughing out loud as he describes with 9 points his imaginary study of a women's foot in a satire to the writings of K.F.H. Mars (looked him up and he wrote nature books and books about medicine) But talk about opening a can of worms - at least there are recommended German history books written before WWII which will offer another viewpoint.

All I can do is shake my head and realize some things in life happen that you could not plan - Had no idea there was all this richness only because I too fell in the trap of eliminating anything to do with Germany from my reading - and now, out of the clear blue because of accidental choices I'm introduced to a whole new area of history, poetry, stories and philosophy from the world around us.

nlhome · « **Reply #19675 on:** January 17, 2019, 02:35:18 PM »

Hats, because you said you were so deep into The Stone Diaries, I ordered the ebook from my library. I started it yesterday, and it is engrossing. It needs to be read slowly, I think. The descriptions are vivid. I just got past the birth. However, I am not sure I will get any more read. It's a good book, just not what I need right now. The title will remain in my tablet, even after the book disappears, so I can order it again.

I did just finish a book for a reading challenge. I had to read a mystery book written/published in the year of my birth. Well, that's 1948, and so I had my pick of a lot of the classic mystery writers of that 1940's. I read a Nero Wolfe book, but the list of books published in that year had so many good titles, not just mysteries, that I have requested a couple of others. I also had read several on the list that I found.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #19676 on:** January 17, 2019, 02:59:38 PM »

I keep thinking that we read "The Stone Diaries" here in SL several years back. Is the author Carol (somebody?)
I have not been fortunate enough to get a copy of A Gentleman in Moscow, but if it's near as good as Rules of Civility, I probably need to buy it somewhere. In the Appendix, are the actual 110 of "The Young George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation". The old English spelling and grammar makes some of these entirely laughable, but a lot of them would fit right into Emily Post. The last one is truly philosophical: Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Celestial fire Called Conscience. I don't know what else to say about this, but "GET THE BOOK" and enjoy the whole thing!

Frybabe · « **Reply #19677 on:** January 17, 2019, 07:44:19 PM »

Barb, the Battle of Teutoburg Forest was a big boost to the German tribes in their striving to remain an independent people. Arminius, known as Hermann in Germany, is considered a national hero in Germany. He was able to bring many tribes together to fight off the Roman invaders who, naturally. didn't think of themselves as such. Aside from being a major win for them, it was the beginning of the German tribes coming together to begin forming a national identity. It was a big deal for the Romans too. As a result of such a almost unprecedented and humiliating defeat, Augustus pulled back his Legions so that they never again went past the Rhine, he also pulled back or stopped advancing his Legions in other areas as well. He never quite recovered from the shock of losing three of his crack legions and their standards, according to some early historians. There is a lesson here for guarding against arrogance and complacency, I think.

YouTube has a lot of clips and full documentaries on the battle. If you haven't seen any of them and are interest in the subject, it is a quick and dirty way to get acquainted. I honestly don't remember which of the full length documentaries I might have seen, so I can't recommend any one in particular. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=teutoburg+forest+documentary

Let me know what you think of The Glassblower. George and I visited the Steuben Glass Museum in Corning, NY several times in years past, and got to watch some glass blowing in action. I remember someone gave a demo at the Kutztown Fair one year, too. Pretty neat.

ginny · « **Reply #19678 on:** January 17, 2019, 08:00:07 PM »

And trust. There's a big lesson here to be careful whom you trust, too.. (The Teutoberg Forest massacre) happened because the Roman commander, Varrus, trusted the German Arminius, who had been in the Roman auxiliary forces and had Roman citizenship. Varrus, the General, had trusted him and Arminius betrayed him, made up a threat not there and led him into a deadly trap, and essentially made a fool of his trust. Varrus, who was high handed n his treatment of the conquered, continued to believe the German, even though warned by other tribesmen, but in so doing Arminius stopped further Roman expansion into Germany and preserved German freedom. Arminius was killed by his own people in 19 A.D.

Varrus might have taken a page from Caesar in this. Caesar never trusted the Auxiliaries, who were made up of levied tribes.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19679 on:** January 17, 2019, 08:06:40 PM »

Amazing to me is that my father's middle name is Hermann - who knew... or at least I didn't the names in my father's family are all historic - he was Wilhelm Hermann and my grandfather was Frederick Otto and his father, the one who emigrated was a merchant seaman from Hanover - the last name is Lindemann and I am finding a street and a train station as well as a navel captain and a general with the name - wow - time to really do some research

I['m finding the Glassblower to be interesting - evidently there is a small home made way of making dishes, ornaments, vases, perfume bottles, even glass eyes with this at home small flame that in the beginning was nothing more than a kerosene lamp and in the late nineteenth century gas was piped into these home workshops - there was a large town furnace that made the glass and it was cut into straws of glass that were for these home craftsmen. In this one home workshop there are a couple of girls who pain designs and others who wrap silver cut thin into rope that encircled bottles as well as packers - it was all taken to a nearby city where they received more requests through the broker who sold all these objects - Included in this are were lots of toy makers as well. looking up these places on the google map it appears they are still active in these handmade toys and glass objects with Christmas ornaments taking over as the major production. Just getting to the part where I know I read about this years ago but no in a novel where Woolworth comes to town and buys up all the most inexpensive items and brings back to America one of the lead characters in the story, a young women who learns quickly and has quickly outgrown her village including the boy who had been in love with her since they were kids.

It is some of the little things in the story that I am remembering from my childhood including what they eat and how the think about cleanliness and saving a penny by doing it themselves and even down to how the women wear their hair - I too wore my hair in braids wrapped around my head and we did not cut our hair till we were age 16 where as the story does not include cutting their hair and they just continue this hair style. But the constent walking everywhere and walking just to think or get out for a bit - all so familiar.

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