Author Topic: The Library (Read 2084113 times)

bellamarie · « **Reply #20160 on:** June 22, 2019, 01:24:59 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.

Frybabe, The book Educated, was a huge disappointment for me. Self inflicted tragedies, that a family could have and should have prevented, made me very annoyed as I read, one after another. I wouldn't mind a mini discussion on it. It's all the rave, as the book to read at the present time.

Ginny, I agree, I really don't think the title suited the story.

Jonathan, Have we lost you to your celebrating your Toronto Raptors victory?

Jonathan · « **Reply #20161 on:** June 23, 2019, 03:41:05 PM »

I've been feeling poorly lately, but not poorly enough to prevent me from coming in here to read all your posts.

Congratulations, Ginny. Your mini has raised book discussion to a new level. It's amazing to read what you all are finding in Remains of the Day. Let's continue in this new style.

I don't know what to make of your 'second thoughts on Educated'. Or of Bellamarie's 'huge disappointment'. I find it very impressive. I've read it twice. It's a great memoir. Without comparing it in any way, I believe it's in a class with Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Ann Frank's Diary, Samuel Butler's Way of All Flesh, or Sofia Tolstoy's Diaries.

Educated seems so right as a title. So honest. Given a difficult life such dignity. Turned it into a bestseller!

bellamarie · « **Reply #20162 on:** June 23, 2019, 06:57:41 PM »

Oh Jonathan, I am so sorry you have not been feeling well. I do hope you get better soon.

Wow! I am impressed with your comparisons of Educated to these other books. It would make a good mini discussion.

ginny · « **Reply #20163 on:** June 23, 2019, 07:44:13 PM »

Yes, I yield to your persuasive statements, we'll do Educated as a Mini on July 19, I've downloaded it from Kindle.

Jonathan, I wondered where you were and am sorry you have not been well. And thank you for saying you enjoyed the Mini discussion! I'm really pleased with the response and the outcome, and think, for me doing one , anyway, it's the way of the future and totally fun. It would not suit every book, however, but I think it's a new and fun option for this long hot summer.

So we'll begin on July 19, and we already have the first "Index card," or question submitted by our group: it's the one Jonathan said way back there that caused us to do the discussion in the first place: he gave his opinion on why she wrote the book and anybody who reads it will have their own idea, including me.

Get well soon, Jonathan, you were missed. Hopefully we can have the pleasure of your company in July, restored again to your former self.

Jonathan · « **Reply #20164 on:** June 24, 2019, 04:40:26 PM »

Ginny, I'm feeling better already for having read the splendid posts in the mini discussion of the Ishiguro book. My opinions about Educated weren't meant to change your mind about discussing it. I had accepted it as cancelled. It could be too close to home for many readers. Unless a Mr. Farraday comes along to get one out of the house. I was never sure about the 'remains'. Is it what is yet to come, or what has been left behind?

Happy reading, everybody.

PatH · « **Reply #20165 on:** June 24, 2019, 05:08:25 PM »

Jonathan, I think the remains are what's left of the day, i.e. of Stevens' life.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20166 on:** June 24, 2019, 05:13:36 PM »

Yes, Jonathan, I see remains as PatH., sees it, what's left of Stevens days. The book was a reflection of what has passed, and he is deciding on what is left.

ginny · « **Reply #20167 on:** June 24, 2019, 08:32:08 PM »

Jonathan, you are such a hoot, always the provocateur!

It's no wonder you were assigned to...was it walk the plank, no I believe it was the Crow's Nest in our reading of the Ancient Mariner and I see you have not changed one whit.

You've had me speculating over whose remains they are ever since I read that. hahaha
Or if you push it a little, WHAT they are. Or WHERE they are. Mercy.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20168 on:** June 25, 2019, 10:45:53 PM »

Ginny, I am looking forward to discussing Educated. Have you read Where The Crawdads Sing? I read Crawdads first and found it to be amazing! Then shortly after I read, Educated. I LOVED Crawdads, was very frustrated with Educated. Will expand later in our discussion, why this was so.

My one online book club is beginning our discussion on Crawdads, and I am finding I am getting the two books mixed up. They both have similar themes, so I need to really concentrate, and have book in hand, to keep me on track. So, I will go out and buy both books tomorrow, since I had borrowed them from my library.

ginny · « **Reply #20169 on:** June 27, 2019, 07:01:22 AM »

Well that’s dedication!

No I haven’t read the crawdad book. I really had not heard of it until you mentioned it here, but I looked it up and there appears to be a lot of talk about it. It’s historical fiction?

For some reason I tend not to read fiction about the South. I don’t know why —I do live in South Carolina.

Equally unfortunately Educated is not fiction. I guess you could say it’s stranger than fiction.

It’s going to be a very interesting discussion. I just read Bill Gates’s review of it, and he strongly endorses it.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20170 on:** June 27, 2019, 11:50:12 AM »

Ginny, Crawdads, is a book I think you would appreciate, even though it is fiction, and takes place in the south.

Nature enthusiasts will also enjoy this book, as Kya’s love of the nature around her is conveyed through detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna, a reflection of the author’s background as a former wildlife scientist.

The compelling imagery is descriptive in the right places and sparse when it serves the story better instead. The book has a strong sense of place, transporting you to a different life where you can smell the salty air and sink your feet into the muddy grounds outside the seaside village.
https://the-bibliofile.com/where-the-crawdads-sing/

It has been ALL the rave, and my other online book club is reading/discussing it, so I had to read it. You would be shocked how Crawdads and Educated, have similar threads/themes running through them.

I'm not a big fan of Bill Gates, but since you mentioned him, I thought you might like this interview he had with Tara Westover.

https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Educated

ginny · « **Reply #20171 on:** July 05, 2019, 10:16:08 AM »

I'm back from my conference and hope everybody had a nice 4th of July? The fireworks were really something on TV, weren't they? Those waterfalls off the Brooklyn Bridge were incredible, I always tape the Macy's fireworks to watch later on. Thanks to Jane for putting up our website 4th heading as well.

Thank you, Bellamarie, for that write up on the crawdads book, it does look interesting, you make a good case.

I'm currently reading Diarmaid MacCullouch's Thomas Cromwell, and I admit it's in preparation for the 3rd book in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall series coming out next spring. It's wonderful and full of fascinating facts. I''m currently at the point where there are literally thousands of documents written to him but none in what you might call his "outbox," documents he wrote, and why that might be.

When we did the mini discussion of The Remains of the Day, the word BANTERING came up, and I was startled to see it pop up again last night on Netflix in a documentary series I've been watching called Travels With My Father, in which episode son Jack somehow is to teach Buddhist monks for the day in their English studies and introduced all sorts of unseemly words, and the first word of them (the least offensive) was BANTERING and how to do it. It would appear that bantering is as inappropriate for a Buddhist monk as it was the staid English butler in Remains.

This Travels With My Father is quite addicting, it's now a two series documentary from Britain about a son and his father trying to bond by taking a trip overseas. It's fascinating to watch. "Daddy" (Michael Whitehall) was 76 when the series started in 2017, and his son Jack was 26.

It's really something, and as it evolves it becomes almost...you'd have to watch it, but I found my own opinion of "Daddy" and son changing as the series progressed, and I think in and of itself there are a lot of truths about fathers and sons or parents and children being shown in it. (I am also very certain I am never going to go to Cambodia, as a result of the series, though.)

"Daddy" likes to wear suits and stay in nice hotels (check). Son (Jack Whitehall) is a comedian by profession, very engaging, and likes to youthfully and gleefully push the boundaries in places to stay, in experiences, in dress, in food, and in behavior. So it depends on who is choosing the itinerary for the day as to what the experiences are. Once you get over the initial shock at the difference in the two men, something else takes over, it's quite....interesting and poignant in places. You tend to emphasize with this one one minute and that one the other.

And as I've been lucky enough to travel in the past with both my grown sons separately I can now see actually how kind they really were, it's kind of a study in ageing and...all sorts of things, actually. Very interesting.

Have any of you seen it?

They've written a book together, I thought I might see if I can get it.

What's everybody reading and doing these extremely HOT summer days?

nlhome · « **Reply #20172 on:** July 05, 2019, 10:27:51 PM »

I've been reading a number of books on my tablets, because they work best on the deck, especially at dusk. We light the citronella lanterns and sit out there reading until the fireflies distract us. It's been hot, but by evening it's pleasant. I am reading the latest Ian Rankin, In a House of Lies. Also, a hardcopy of A Cotswold Ordeal by Rebecca Tope. Thea is a widow who house-sits for people. This is the second in the series. I just picked it up at the library because the whole series (except the first) was new on the shelves. So far I'm finding Thea to be a bit annoying and the plot a bit contrived, but I did do some research on the Cotswold area, especially the restoration of canals, which apparently plays a part in the murder. We'll see....

Frybabe · « **Reply #20173 on:** July 06, 2019, 06:40:48 AM »

I just started reading River of Stars by Guy Cavriel Kay, set in 12th century China, and close to finishing No Middle Ground by Caleb and Luke Sky (I kid you not) Wachter, which features mostly one space battle right after another. While a bit overly ambitious in the battle department, it does feature some interesting incidents, like using a football like game called Smashball to train Marine recruits. Neil DeGrasse Tyson's Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military is waiting in the wings. Still part way through listening to Carthage Must be Destroyed by Richard Miles.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20174 on:** July 06, 2019, 11:45:07 AM »

Ginny welcome back! We sure had a dry spell in here without you.

I haven't had time to read in the past week or so, been so busy preparing for the 4th of July swim/cook-out at our house this year, and day caring our two youngest grandchildren. With them spending the night so often, I can barely keep up on the daily news. They are on vacation this coming week, so I hope to grab a beach book, and relax.

nlhome, sitting out on the deck reading by lanterns, sounds divine! My grandchildren were running all about trying to catch fireflies on the 4th of July. Zoey managed to get one in the jar, but of course I let it go.

As a child did you ever remove the light from a firefly, and place it on your finger for a ring? Something I never knew back then:

Does it hurt a firefly to remove it's light?

yes. the fireflies light is an important part of the fireflies body and removing it will not kill it instantly but it will disable the insect from flying and walking. there is also a chance of pulling the fireflies stomach organ out with the light however the stomach is to small to see with the naked eye.

it will hurt and eventually kill the firefly if you remove the light from its abdomen
https://www.answers.com/Q/Does_it_hurt_a_firefly_to_remove_it%27s_light

Frybabe, you sure have stuck to your book reading challenge this year. Good for you!

I found this interview of the author of Where the Crawdads Sing, and was amazed at Delia Owens love for nature. I could never live as isolated like she does.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/delia-owens-on-where-the-crawdads-sing/?fbclid=IwAR1qWShXSXDSXiTjo_jK_fxPFtkYsFWLtmTDKpN9FNwX0C2buYr6R2A7xTQ

PatH · « **Reply #20175 on:** July 06, 2019, 12:40:00 PM »

Bellamarie, I never heard of using a firefly's light for a ring. It's hardly surprising it kills the firefly. We would sometimes put the ones we caught in a jar to make a lantern, but we always released them again.

That's a good interview with Owens. I think of myself as being somewhat solitary, but nothing like that.

PatH · « **Reply #20176 on:** July 06, 2019, 01:00:16 PM »

Frybabe, Kay has been on my must-get-around-to-reading list for a long time. Maybe your example will make me actually get around to it.

I've been too busy lately to read more than pretty light stuff, and now I'm in Portland again, this time for a family wedding. I'm rereading a book I read years ago, Her Majesty's Spymaster, by Stephen Budiansky, a description of Queen Elizabeth I's espionage, run by Sir Francis Walsingham.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20177 on:** July 06, 2019, 05:53:21 PM »

Oh, I bet that is interesting as all get-out, PatH.

This is the second book by Kay for me. The first was Ysabel, which is set in Aix-en-Provence and involves a pair of teens who unnerved by a series of flash-backs from centuries ago (think Romans vs. Celts and Druid magic) and eventually being transported back. I really enjoyed it and this one is shaping up to be just as interesting. To date he has written 13 novels and one book of poetry. I hope to read more. How about that I do like some fantasy novels.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20178 on:** July 07, 2019, 08:20:59 AM »

Ginny, I just ran across James J. O'Donnell and his books. His latest is The War for Gaul, the newest in translations of Caesar's Gaulic Wars. I'd say, from this review, his spin is a bit different than other translations. http://blog.press.princeton.edu/2019/04/25/james-j-odonnell-on-the-war-for-gaul/

What I need is yet another book on the Roman Empire, but I am investigating his The Ruin of the Roman Empire too. Readers give him some very mixed reviews (some declare it his work revisionist history), and he does seem quite opinionated.

ginny · « **Reply #20179 on:** July 07, 2019, 08:43:35 AM »

Thank you, Bellamarie, it is good to be back.

I hate to say it, Frybabe, but that's the norm now. Awful, isn't it? It's fashionable to say exactly what he's saying, to drip with scorn and ridicule, to show you're in the "know" and can interpret the "inside" facts which is ridiculous. It's revisionism and deconstruction at its worst. Read Wyke for an absolute smear campaign. These people will pass, and long after they have been forgotten, Caesar will still be read.

In the age of true scholarship of the classics, the mid to late 1800's, those people actually READ all the works, translated them themselves, and were (think Mommsen) total Caesar fans. Mommsen who won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his Roman History was so moved by the death of Caesar that he could not write about it, think of that. The poet Macaulay, when stationed in India read all of Cicero's works, all 1002 long involved documents, not once, not twice, but three times, and he was not a scholar. That was typical of the time.

I truly believe (and hope) that all the dissonance and awfulness we're going through in our current times will lead to another Renaissance, an understanding and appreciation of Caesar, and I hope I live to see Caesar reinstated as he was in the middle ages to his rightful place. What he did in that work transformed the Commentary for all time. You have to read Cicero to truly see what Caesar did in his writing. I know it will happen, I just may not live to see it, but that doesn't matter.

Everything you all are reading is so different, and they all sound so interesting! It's inspired me to look at some new (to me) books.

Last night I made the mistake of watching one episode, or so I thought, of season 2 of The Crown and of course got hooked, and had to binge watch them all. What a stinker that Antony Armstrong Jones was, huh? That is such a good series. I hear the Queen likes it. I think it has actually helped her public image, her approval rating seems very high now, as it should. The Jackie Kennedy thing was interesting, too. I've got the companion book to the series, it goes into some background detail, which is very interesting, as well.

And then of course there's ESPN +, which, for a nominal fee to join, allows you to stream those sports events (like Argentina vs Chile last night) which you might otherwise miss...and it's on the iphone or computer (and if I were smart enough to have a Smart TV it would be on there, too). And you can replay them any time should you miss one. That red card Messi got yesterday, only the 2nd in his career was SO unbelievable, and ESPN + allows you to see it live. Unbelievable!

And I don't know if you've all noticed but there's a new season of Doc Martin running and it's really good, on PBS, and now all we need is Father Brown's 7th season, shown in the UK in January of 2019, when will it EVER come here!

Frybabe · « **Reply #20180 on:** July 07, 2019, 12:39:17 PM »

Thanks, Ginny, I am afraid that some of the "Classicists" and other, even noted Historians, seem to had succumbed to the urge to rewrite history. Pity the students who unknowingly go into a class taught by a revisionist. It's probably similar to how I felt when I took a computer programming class long ago, only to discover part way through that I was learning that particular professor's own version of the language rather than the base language itself. That was back when I didn't know just how malleable a computer programming language can be. As for today, it just amazes me how people are so ready to can twist and blow things all out of proportion to what was actually said. Well, there are a lot of people who, like me, who are not particularly articulate. Here is something to ponder. George told me once upon a time that it isn't what I say that matters but how he interprets it. Mostly, I think, he was pointing out that I was not very precise with my wording. Hah! Even speaking the same language, people still don't always understand each other. Amazing! Back to O'Donnell, he is on my avoid list.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20181 on:** July 07, 2019, 03:12:44 PM »

Ginny, Oh dear, you struck a cord with me, I just got off the phone with my Direct TV and Buckeye Cable companies, trying to get better service and lower rates.

Grrr..... I made the mistake of watching a preview of the show Southern Charm. Next thing I know, I am on my computer till the wee hours of the morning, binge watching from Season 1 - 6, so I could catch up to Season 7, which was about to begin. Ughhh... next thing I know, I am getting a notice from my cable company ( who supplies my data ) letting me know, I have gone over my allowed data for the month. I was confused, because I have never "streamed" before this. Long story, short, I was talked into being charged $30 more a month for unlimited "streaming."

So, after learning more about "streaming" I realized, I have never streamed before, and probably will never again, for $30 extra a month. After talking with both Direct TV, and Buckeye Cable, I found Direct TV is willing to give me an additional offer of $5 less a month, to keep me as a customer. Buckeye Cable was offering me a deal to switch, that would have been $50 more a month. Of course it would be better service, and more data, and channels, in that cost. I just sat here shaking my head, thinking, just how much am I willing to pay for more, and more, and more, hours of watching TV, or streaming. Final decision.... take the $5 less a month, stay with Direct TV, and don't stream!

I watched the series The Crown when it began back in 2016. I loved it!! It shows Queen Elizabeth in a much more loving and caring image, than what we have been given, since Prince Charles married Diana.

Frybabe, is it possible you could use a larger font in your posts, for us eye challenged readers? I have glasses for reading, but certain small sizes, and fonts, really do cause havoc on my eyes.

That's a good laugh for the day, reading what George said about how he interprets, what you say.

I can't tell you how many times, I have said one thing, and someone interprets it differently. Trying to convince them it is not at all what they interpreted, can only lead to more "banter." I'm beginning to really like the word "banter."

Frybabe · « **Reply #20182 on:** July 08, 2019, 06:29:51 AM »

Bellamarie, I upped my posts (unless I forget) to 12pt weeks ago. It is actually larger than the font sizes I see from most of the other posts, including yours and Ginny's, which is 10pt size. I am using the default font which looks like it might be Verdana. Maybe a color change would be better?

This is 11pt, how I see yours
This is 14pt, the next size up from what I am using

ginny · « **Reply #20183 on:** July 08, 2019, 08:08:49 AM »

I think Jane can advise on this better than I can, I've written to ask, but I don't see any different fonts or sizes, I have mine all set on comic sans ms 12 and that's what I see, no matter who posts, I did this on each of the browsers (Firefox, Explorer, Chrome) I use to come in here. So I only see what's comfortable for me, and to be honest, it really looks like this one is set to 14. Nice and big. Everybody is the same to me.

I will discuss with our technical staff whether or not it's feasible to make the entire site a particular font or size but, if one has set one's browser to use the fonts one wants and to ignore fonts on each individual site one visits (and they are all different) and substitute one's own, which is what I've done, it won't make any difference what fonts or size are used. I am sure I am not explaining that well, and have written Jane so that when she is able, she might help.

ginny · « **Reply #20184 on:** July 08, 2019, 08:45:36 AM »

Bellamarie, I admit I am sort of unable to follow your discussion there about the costs of Data and Streaming, but I don't have your setup, we have DISH and there is no limit to what we can watch.

I did not know that the program Southern Charm (UGGG) was available on streaming, I thought Streaming was for live events as they happen that you can't get otherwise, (in other words none of the DISH channels available to us cover the Copa America games I wanted to see), but obviously I am not correct. I am not technically up on the terms, either, but streaming sports events of all kinds is what ESPN+ does. I don't think they do movies, but who knows?

I agree, I would not spend one penny to see Thomas Ravenel do anything.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20185 on:** July 08, 2019, 09:24:25 AM »

That is interesting, Ginny. I was originally using the default settings, but changed just the font size to 12pt. Everybody else's posts usually come up pretty much with the same setting. I do not see your Comic Sans. I've been changing the settings in the post each time, since I can't find a way to set the default to what I want in the account settings. I use Firefox up on the laptop and Chromium (not Chrome) on my Linux machine. I'll have to take a look at my browser settings.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20186 on:** July 08, 2019, 10:37:09 AM »

Frybabe, Yes, you are correct, it is indeed the "Font Face" that is smaller. I just practiced on different fonts, with the same size, and this is what I found:

Using the same size 14 pt, but different fonts:

1. Courier Different "fonts" the same size, can look smaller or larger even with same "size".

2. Arial Different "fonts" the same size, can look smaller or larger even with same "size".

3. Verdana Different "fonts" the same size, can look smaller or larger even with same "size".

4. Times New Roman Different "fonts" the same size, can look smaller or larger even with same "size".

5. Georgia Different "fonts" the same size, can look smaller or larger even with same "size".

6. Trebuchet Different "fonts" the same size, can look smaller or larger even with same "size".

7. Comic Sans Ms Different "fonts" the same size, can look smaller or larger even with same "size".

Frybabe, That is interesting, because I have been using 14 pt Verdana as my default, as long as I can remember. I usually never change the size or font, unless I what to pronounce something. You are seeing mine at 11 pt, when I am seeing mine at 14 pt. Oh well, as long as we can still read, we will just leave it as is. It could be the different in Firefox, Chromium and Chrome. I use Chrome.

Ginny, you made me laugh,

Quote

I agree, I would not spend one penny to see Thomas Ravenel do anything.

As you already may know, Ravenel is facing charges of assault, against their Nanny. He already spent some time in prison for drugs. I couldn't believe he actually ran against Lindsey Grahm, and thought he could win. Oh how the mighty, fall. His Dad, a former senator must be so ashamed of what his son has done to their family name.

Streaming can be done with sports, shows, music, movies, videos, etc., anything that comes from the internet, into any of your devices. It's a stream of data coming in through wifi, hence "streaming".

There is usually always some kind of charge for that capability. You would be paying it in the package you have with DISH. It allows you to use a certain amount o DATA per month. If you have unlimited, then you are paying for unlimited. I have 100 GB per month, which is why I got charged for using over that limited amount. I've learned a lot about it, since I had to make decisions on if I wanted to pay more for unlimited. When they checked my prior bills, they said I have never even gotten close to using my 100 GB, so binge watching Southern Charm put me over. I guess it's a good thing, because now I know all about something, I had no idea of before this. I chose to stay with the 100 GB, now that I understand this, and know I should never go over again, rather than pay for unlimited which was $30.00 more per month.

You may want to check your DISH bill, and see what your charges are for "streaming data" and see if you need unlimited, and if it's more than you want to pay, versus a limited package deal.

I hate paying my Verizon, Buckeye Cable and Direct TV bill every month, because it seems like I have bought into needing these things in my life, which are so costly. I am trying to get lower costs, and they are good at getting you to higher costs, thinking you need this or that. Ughh.... I did get Direct TV to offer me a lower rate to keep me as a customer. Now I have to haggle with Verizon. I already have the lowest pkg with Cable for my wifi. Believe it or not, they ALL will give you discounts to keep you. With Direct TV, I went from paying over $100.00 a month to paying $37.00 a month, for the exact same package. Cable lowered me $20 less a month.

PatH · « **Reply #20187 on:** July 08, 2019, 12:41:14 PM »

10 point

12point

14point

not set

PatH · « **Reply #20188 on:** July 08, 2019, 12:42:45 PM »

Are my posts readable? I don't see an easy way to change them in Safari.

jane · « **Reply #20189 on:** July 08, 2019, 04:35:42 PM »

This should be a size 14. You can set it by clicking on font size in the options above the reply box.
THEN, be sure to type between the [ size=14pt] and the closing tag [/ size]

This is size 12 verdana

This is size 12 comic sans ms.

You can choose both font face and size in the options at the top of the reply box. JUST be sure to type between the open and close tags.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20190 on:** July 08, 2019, 04:44:16 PM »

I do that Jane, but I was using 12pt, one up from what I see in the other posts. I was confused at Bellamarie's request because I was seeing hers, and others, at 10pt, although she is using 14pt.

jane · « **Reply #20191 on:** July 08, 2019, 04:49:20 PM »

Fry...I don't know why, but her post is not in14 pt. It appears to be in the default. She may not have used the tags needed to make it 14pt.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20192 on:** July 08, 2019, 04:57:56 PM »

I would like it a whole lot if I could set the font face and size and it stayed there unless I change it. Is everyone seeing this in 14pt? I generally leave the font face at default, whichever that one is; I just assumed it uses Arial for default.

jane · « **Reply #20193 on:** July 08, 2019, 05:22:01 PM »

I see it large, so assume that's 14 pt.

Jonathan · « **Reply #20194 on:** July 08, 2019, 06:05:21 PM »

Gone fishing. With Izaak Walton. My idea of streaming. Has a movie ever been made of his book The Compleat Angler? Does anyone know? Very relaxing. Charlie Lamb was so enthusiastic about the book he recommended it to his friend Coleridge in these words:

'It breathes the very spirit of innocence, purity, and simplicity of heart;...it would sweeten a man's temper at any time to read it; it would Christianise every angry, discordant passion; pray make yourself acquainted with it.' ) (Introduction)

Thanks, Bellamarie, for the link to the Bill Gates interview with Tara Westover. It was his scholarship that sent her to Cambridge to complete her education.

Perhaps one might think that The Angler doesn't have enough drama for a movie. The sport has tons of it. Why, just baiting the hook brings on shivers...for some.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20195 on:** July 09, 2019, 12:36:41 AM »

Everyone's posts are looking like they are 14 pt, accept Frybabe's which look 12 pt. Even when I read my own posts they look like 14 pts, so it has to be the browser you are using that is not making it appear 14 pt. It's not a big deal.

Jonathan, I have to ask if you ever finished Anna Karenina? Never heard your thoughts on the ending.

Well, I went to Barnes and Noble today to buy the book Educated, since my library has at least a 50+ people on the wait list. They wanted $23 on sale for the book. I did not think it was worth paying that much, when I know I would never read it again. So when the discussion begins, I may purchase and download the ebook, for a couple of dollars.

ginny · « **Reply #20196 on:** July 09, 2019, 12:50:27 PM »

A very good interview here on PBS with Tara Westover who wrote Educated, which may surprise some people. I'll also put it in the Mini Discussion beginning July 19.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvYg_gp0JPchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvYg_gp0JPc

PatH · « **Reply #20197 on:** July 09, 2019, 02:33:53 PM »

Ginny, how would you advise a non-Latin reader to approach Caesar? Start by reading a translation of the Gallic Wars?

bellamarie · « **Reply #20198 on:** July 09, 2019, 04:02:20 PM »

Ginny, that interview with Tara, was interesting, she looks so young. People had great questions to ask her. I am thinking this is going to turn out to be more than a "mini" discussion. This book is loaded with so much for us to discuss. Do you plan on doing the index card again, or will you post some questions at the top? I can tell you, it IS the book everyone is reading and wants to read. Ten days, and counting down....

ginny · « **Reply #20199 on:** July 09, 2019, 07:56:10 PM »

Pat, to be honest, I'd read Book I of the Gallic Wars in Latin, even if I did not know the language. And here's how:

There's a program to learn Latin called Mango, it's one of their 60 languages, but it uses the Gallic War to do it!!! And talks the reader through it and explains things, gives background, and history, etc., and it's fun. A lot of fun.

It's a shame to read a translation without any background or understanding of what went on. (That's essentially why there is so much negativity now). So with Mango, which is free at most public libraries, if one has a card, and can be done online or in an ipad or iphone but it's not free there, and it not only helps, you get the thrill of reading it in the original (for which there is no substitute) but it pronounces and allows you feedback as well, as it records your own voice as well.

It's got background, grammar, explanations, and is a lot of fun.

I made a video of it for my face to face classes but it's sideways and is not really helpful, but they loved it.

And on top of all of that you're really doing something good for your brain, as endless studies have shown, learning a new language is one of the best ways to fire up the old synapses in the brain, which do keep developing, they now find, until age 97 (the oldest age tested). And unfortunately they find crossword puzzles don't do it.

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