The Library

[BarbStAubrey]

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.

[BarbStAubrey]

Goodness I did not realize Cold Comfort Farm was published in 1932 - Wow - it sure held up didn't it... Lots of memories previewing the list - OH remember the big deal over Payton Place - we loaned it to each other passing it off hidden in brown paper sacks - and to this day have not read Forever Amber - the church was aghast and it was top on all the lists of forbidden reading much less when the movie came out - wow their reaction was big at the time - and then all the books written by Thomas B. Costain - loved his stories.

Didn't read the book but remember well, Marlon Brando in The Young Lions Seems to me I'm remembering The Cardinal did not go down well with the church because it showed the unflattering side of the church. I guess that may have been the beginning of the end - up till then so many books and movies had a Catholic overtone - if not blatantly Catholic beyond anything we could even imagine today and then it stopped. Especially movies, which became more like reality TV showing less fantasy about events and human emotions.

Interesting looking at the list and remembering what I was doing during those years - read hardly any of the books, in fact read only and just about all the Also Published from the starting year through till the middle of the 1930s - the books from the mid30s into the early 40s I read later in the later 40s and read just about everything on the list in the 40s, 50s and 60s - then in the mid 70s I slowed a bit. Starting in the mid 80s reading best sellers was haphazard till almost a dead stop in the 90s, what I called the saccharin years stole the show - things like The Bridges of Madison County and the Christmas Box or the confession of all that went cattywampus in someone's life - that is when I became selective ignoring the so called best sellers - picked up some after 2000 but then after about 2005 or 06 the confessional genre became more personal with sex and books taking swipes at how historical events were handled moved to the forefront.

Read most of what was popular till mid 2000s and since it has been haphazard - found myself reading more for information and history, adding many a foreign author whose work had been translated into English. Do not see many of the Irish authors on the list and for me I think they can write hands down the best stories in the best writing style and use of English - real storytellers. And I love magical realism polished by writers from Mexico, Central and South America.  And finally I really have to question a list that does not include Harry Potter even as an Also Published. Those books were huge at the time.

[ginny]

Happy New Year! I hope this year will be filled with wonderful things for all of us, good health and happiness!

It's also the 8th Day of Christmas.   Every year my neighbors take down  Christmas earlier and earlier, I seem to be the only one  with  yellowing wreaths at the drive, but that's OK..

Love the old counting song, too.

Those are good points on the nature of the "best seller,"  Barbara.  What do you all think of the comments that the quality of fiction in  recent decades has greatly diminished?

Frybabe,  now that you mention it, I'm not sure I saw a lot of Sci Fi  on those lists, was there? I really don't know my Si Fi titles, but I know you like it  and you read a lot of history (also obviously not going to be present). 

Well what New Year's Resolutions has everybody made, if any? Inspired by videos of Ruth Bader Ginsberg at the gym, I   haven't made any resolutions but right before Christmas I started a new regime every other day of trying to do SOMETHING about my upper body strength (core) which seems to be totally lacking. I have done leg exercises every other day since I had a knee issue 2 years ago, to try to keep those muscles in good shape, but  I got a set of 15 minute core strengthening exercises from the internet  and did AT them rather pitifully  the day before yesterday and I felt better (perhaps it's only psychologically) all day  yesterday, so am doing them every other  day. Who on earth can't take 15 minutes to feel better? But we need also not to kill ourselves in the process.

The participants in this demonstration, however,  all appear to be 30 years old and I'm finding two of the push up exercises to be difficult,   so have changed this morning to chair exercises. These look good:

 Seated Chair Exercises, too: https://californiamobility.com/21-chair-exercises-for-seniors-visual-guide/.... I just did the barbell lifts of the 30 year old's  15 minute one, I can do those,  and added these and  I think these might be a better fit right now, it's amazing what a workout you can get in a chair.  Maybe some of you know  of some good low impact upper body core exercises too?


(I did ask my GP to recommend physical therapy and he thought it would not help my stooop/slump, posture/ whatever you want to call it, so I'm doing it on my own, unfortunately I  live way too far from a gym to participate with any regularity.

That all said, I'm currently reading Me by Elton John and enjoying it immensely.   He's got a remarkable writing style. I don't see any "co or ghost author" listed and I think he could make a career as a writer if he ever tires of singing. It's quite interesting, so far (am only about 1/4 of the way through it), he's had quite a life.

What's everybody reading  or resolving for the New Year?

[PatH]

Happy New Year to all.

Ginny, your exercise plans look very good.  I like that they give you difficulty ratings so you know which ones to start with.  It's important to figure out a routine you will actually follow, which means not too burdensome, and something you can fit into your daily schedule.  With strengthening exercises, remember that the coming back to starting position is an important part of the exercise, and should be done as slowly as the lifting part.  And don't give in to the tendency to hold your breath while doing a lift.  (If you count out loud while doing it, you can't hold your breath.)  It takes some weeks to start to see results, and then, all of a sudden, you realize you actually are stronger, and are getting somewhere.

Good luck.

[PatH]

Bellamarie, that list is a real trip down memory lane, but time-consuming.  I'm only about a third of the way through so far.

[BarbStAubrey]

Good luck with your exercise program Ginny - interesting how exercise is still an important goal that we hear about this time of year.

Last New Year I was filled with all sorts of resolutions - this year I have one and I am just determined to clear out this house - it is not clutter it is just things that I seldom or never use and all sorts of small gifts over the years that I never had the heart to get rid of - and things that were important even a few years ago but I never use - on and on - In the process when ever I am embarking on anything my knee jerk is to look up aspects of what I plan on first Google for articles and then Amazon for books. WELL!! I have been laughing my head off - in fact just got off the phone with my son and he agreed it was funny - Do y'all know clearing out your house in your 'golden years' is a big deal thing in Sweden and get this --- it is called The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: there is even a workbook Swedish Death Cleaning Workbook: The 30 Days Challenge to Organize and Simplify Your Life, Declutter Your Home and Keep It Clean with 10 minutes Daily Routines or how about this amazing title SWEDISH DEATH CLEANING FOR BEGINNERS: Master the magical art of decluttering your life and home Including secrets to happiness

I knew about the one written by the Japanese women - something about holding in your hand each item and if it does not 'speak' to you get rid of it - and then a lot of books on de-cluttering and hoarding from American authors but this is the first I have heard it called Death Cleaning. And it is just that, the idea being you clean out so your kids do not have to when you die and you are in control since they will probably just dump it all... and then it goes into how after the house is 'death cleaned' to get your papers in order etc etc - but the concept put so simply as Death Cleaning I think is hysterically funny.

Doubt seriously I can do this house in 30 days but then I get the impression the average Swedish house is not as large as ours however, with their long winters, maybe no storage space but I can't imagine there would not be boxes and baskets and drawers filled with projects to sort through like knitting and embroidery and calligraphy and card making material - on and on and then all those school projects our kids brought home - just my garage alone is packed - shovels and hoes I have not used in years much less all the old paint cans that must now be recycled.

WELL Death Cleaning it is for me this year - I hope to be finished by September - why September I do not know - but there it is... 

[PatH]

Barb, one thing that helps with getting rid of those little gifts, if you take digital photos, is to make a little photo album of them.  It's the sentiment, not the object itself, that's important to one.

Lots of things I have to use every day don't particularly speak to me, and lots of things I should pitch do, so that method wouldn't work for me.

[BarbStAubrey]

Good idea Pat - a friend suggested since a storage unit is way down now in price with the first month free to get one for 6 months and put all the easily moved chairs etc in storage along with a few boxes of books so I have a cleared deck so to speak to get this done - thinking on it - what I may do is start in the garage while the boy next door has not started classes yet I can get his help and then really clean the floor -may try the coke trick - and since I only have one vehicle used the far side to line up chairs etc. because in that I think she is right - to get some of the easy moveables temporarily out of the way.

[PatH]

Good idea too, to shift something like that to give you some clear space.  It feels good, and you can sort more easily.

[nlhome]

Happy New Year. We had a gray Christmas, but we had snow on December 30 and it has lasted, so we at least look like January in Wisconsin.

My son used to make mead, and we have some in our basement. It's not my favorite, but it is drinkable. I prefer wine. He has a lot of honey yet, but he's also the son who lives in Germany now, so that is also in our basement. Apparently, honey keeps very well.

I have been participating in Strong Bodies classes at our hospital (used to be Strong Women), a program for those over 50. I think it is nationwide, but in our state it is coordinated through the University of Wisconsin Extension. It works on core strength, and I have really noticed a difference in many ways.

My resolutions are to continue in Strong Bodies this year. Also to continue drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning, before coffee; to continue hand writing one personal note or letter a week; to continue to make one contact to a public official, elected or appointed, each week. I have a new resolution tracking how certain weather conditions affect my body,  which means I need to create a table and keep track of the barometric pressure and the cloud cover - I think that along with my joints, my eyes work differently as the air pressure changes. Now to see if what I think is what actually happens.

[BarbStAubrey]

Wow nlhome I like your plan to track weather and its affect on your health and body - I too have noticed an affect even how I see and so I think you are really on to something - probably what the old timers took for granted but it will nice to have it confirmed and then to have your own personal reaction tracked will be a boon towards your care.

[bellamarie]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  2020.... as I look back on this past decade, I have to say it has made me very much aware of how my life has been changing into my sixties.  It has made me determined to enjoy each day with a new vigor, and yes, more activity.  Since my kids gave me a Fit bit for my 67th birthday in July, I have walked more than I ever remember.  I set my goal to 5,000 steps a day, and when the fireworks go off telling me I accomplished it, I can't tell you how it motivates me to continue, and go further. 

Ginny, I like the thought of core strengthening.
Barb, I have been cleaning out, and getting rid of things for the past few years.  When I took all my Christmas decorations down today, I packed them differently, so I will use less next year.  I plan to give my other ones away to my daughter.  I know she could use them.
PatH., I like your idea of taking a picture, so you have the gifts to look back on.  I would never have thought of that. 
nlhome, I love your resolutions, is there a reason you want to drink the water first thing in the morning, or is it your way of drinking more water? 

I generally do not make resolutions, because it's like dieting, I begin faithfully and full force the first few days, and then end up giving up by the end of January.  So what I do, is make myself more aware of areas I need to do better in, and attempt in small ways to improve in them.  I am considering joining a gym, I have a few within just a mile or two from my house.  Planet Fitness does not require a contract, which might work best for me.  I also want to go to bed earlier, so I can wake up earlier.  I really don't like sleeping past 7:30 or 8:00 a.m.  My Fit bit has helped me become more aware of my sleeping patterns, letting me know how many hours I actually sleep each night.  I am shocked at how many times during the night it shows I am awake, even if it's just a few minutes.  I was listening to the ladies on The Talk, they were asking when do we see putting ourselves first, and making more time for ourselves.  I am guilty of putting myself last, not taking much "me time" at all.  Since my hubby and I are both retired, it seems like we do everything together, and I never have time to myself.  Maybe I'll try to boost me a little further up the ladder in 2020, taking some time for myself. 
 
As for reading.... I just finished the book The Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand.  I loved the book, but silly me, I read it for my other online book club to begin discussing it at the end of January.  After I finished it, I checked back and realized the moderator had titled our January book "The Winter Solstice" but she actually meant Winter Solstice, by Rosamunde Pilcher.  So now I have to wait on the library's borrow list, to get the correct book. I am actually glad I read the wrong one, because I found Elin Hilderbrand has a series of winter books, so now I plan to read the other three.   
 

[BarbStAubrey]

I loved reading Rosamunde Pilcher - still have most of her books and that will be a big decision if I get rid of them or not - I notice where my cousin is in a really nice retirement home their library is very tiny - it costs with postage but if my daughter comes to visit again this summer I can load a box in her trunk and Cade has friends in Chapel Hill that he regularly visits so he could drop the box off.

anyone needing a boost or some fresh motivation I can heartily recommend you download a copy of Marcos Aurelius' Meditations - I was blown away when I started to read the quotes - there is a Kindle copy for only 49 cents and a few free copies on the web - download and you too could have a copy of these quotes...

• The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts
• The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.
• Concentrate on what you have to do. Fix your eyes on it.
• You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
• When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...
• Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.
• Remember how long thou hast been putting off these things, and how often thou hast received an opportunity from the gods, and yet dost not use it. Thou must now at last perceive of what universe thou art a part, and of what administrator of the universe thy existence is an efflux, and that a limit of time is fixed for thee, which if thou dost not use for clearing away the clouds from thy mind, it will go and thou wilt go, and it will never return.

[nlhome]

Bellamarie, I decided a couple of years ago that I needed to drink more liquids, especially water, and I thought starting the day with a full glass would be a good thing, better for my body than starting with a cup of coffee. I think I feel better because of it. In any case, I just keep renewing that resolution to be sure I do it.

[Frybabe]

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday season.

We will be back discussing the Mabinigion on Monday. In the meantime, I am listening to Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf which is read by George Guidall. Something I mostly missed before are the reference to God rather than the pagan gods. I hadn't picked up on that before, thinking this was strictly an old pagan tale. The battles with Grendel and his mother seemed to go by rather quickly in the story. I am not to the battle with the dragon yet, but since we are reading the Mabinigion and the text dates from early tales of King Arthur, if there is some influence there. Also, our discussion of the origin of the Welsh dragon brings up the possibility that it was adapted from the Roman dragon shields and banners. Could the dragon in Beowulf represent the Welsh? And for that matter, what about the golden cup stolen from the Dragon, another Christian reference to the Challis or coincidence?  Cups and cauldrons seem to have had a special meaning to pagans and Christians alike. I hope some of you will join us in reading the next tale in the Mabinigion.

[bellamarie]

Well, woke up on New Year's Day with a sore throat and some ear pain, so I'm guessing I have the same thing I had last year this time and the year before that, along with my hubby sounding like his annual bronchitis.  So it's off to the doctor's office today for us.  My adult kids and grandkids all have some sickness as well, and I hear urgent care is hours waiting with this stuff going around. I'm just glad we all got through the holidays, and I have all my decorations down and packed away.  I hope you all are feeling well.

nlhome, that's a great idea to begin your day with water.  I generally have a bottled water near me all throughout the day, and keep one on my nightstand.  I quit drinking faucet water after we had algae bloom, a few years back.  I also give my dog bottled water.
Frybabe, I checked into your Mabinigion discussion a few weeks back, and could not get interested in it.  How much longer does this discussion last?   

[ginny]

Nlhome, you, too? I started drinking a glass of water before my normal Diet Pepsi in the morning because of the reaction I was having to the vitamins and BP meds for breakfast   about a year ago, and have done that ever since, but that's the only time I drink water and I need to step that up and get rid of the dementia causing diet drinks.

Bellamarie, I also drink bottled water, Evian,  based on an old report on which bottled water has the most  purity, and that some of them are nothing but municipal water.  However now they are all floating in plastic pieces, we're eating and  turning into  plastic, and I don't want to fool with glass bottles, so ...what can you say?

When we moved here to the farm the well water was supposedly the best anywhere around but I could smell something in it and behold, I finally had a  lab to test for pesticides (and it took a while to get one which would,  40 years ago you had to specify WHICH pesticide or organic type you were looking for) and behold! Methoxychlor, of course in "small traces."  That's the last glass of homemade iced tea or tap water I ever drank. Now we have city water, and well water and I'm drinking plastic compounds, as I don't trust either.

Pat, yes, take it slowly is the key I think. Still doing the apres surgery  (I haven't had knee surgery but I have friends with the exercises) exercises for knees and I think without them I would have been in pretty bad shape, knee wise, the  idea being to build up the muscles around them if I understand it.  I think with me, any type of specific exercise like weights or leg lifts needs to be of short duration because I will do those,  and then build up. If it's too ambitious I won't do them more than once.  I am already seeing a difference, probably imaginary.

Bellamarie, sorry to hear about your illness, am just (finally) getting over what sounds the same, myself, the cough lingers on and on and . I enjoyed my Fitbit so much (one of my face to face students put me on it this past fall) that I gave one to my very fit DIL for  Christmas,  maybe she can show me some of the other features I'm not using.  I had walked 8,598 steps the day before Thanksgiving, I knew there was a reason I was totally exhausted. hahaha  MUCH much MUCH less since then, but  it does inspire one to get up and keep moving.  Apparently I was turning into a couch potato. Lots of fun. I cannot WAIT to hit the airport in March, I have always thought that you walk MILES in airports, I'm about to find out.

Pat should be an expert on that. Have you ever used a step counter in an airport, Pat?

Barbara, love those quotes. I have a favorite Marcus Aurelius quote, too, I'm sure you've all seen it in my signature here in the past but it's perfect for starting any new thing or a new year:

"Forward, as occasion offers. Never look round to see whether any shall note it... Be satisfied with success in even the smallest matter, and think that even such a result is no trifle."

I love that, so encouraging for a beginning effort and so true.  Well back to Hannibal, the  Alps,  Poggio and his finds in the monasteries of Germany in the 1400's, and Elton John, am really enjoying just sitting and reading in the New Year, and besides, it's a deluge out there today.

What's everybody reading?

[BarbStAubrey]

Yep another Ginny - I am just blown away that this kind of wisdom came from anyone that long ago... these quotes are as good or better than so many of the motivational quotes I see today...

[Frybabe]

Another find on Project Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2124 It s a translation with notes of a text written back in 4th century China by Faxian who was looking for the Buddhist Books of Discipline. Short, with notes sometimes as long as the paragraphs or longer.  About Faxian:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Faxian

[PatH]

Ginny, I have a step counter on my phone, and keep track of the daily totals as a sort of gentle challenge, but that won't help you to learn about airports, as I always get a wheelchair.  I know a lot of ways to avoid schlepping my own luggage, though.

However, if it takes a wheelchair pusher 10 minutes of rapid walking to get me from one gate to another for a plane change, you know it's far.

I've NEVER logged 8000 steps in a day.

[Tomereader1]

Quandary: Somehow I always try to get myself a Christmas present each year.  This year I wanted a FitBit. Found one at a special price, had my daughter come over to help me program it.  Well, we spent a good 2 or 3 hours trying to get it set up, only to have a message come up (after all that time) that it was not compatible with my phone (which is a Samsung, but my carrier is TracFone).  I had to take the Fitbit back.  My problem is, I can find an actual e-address where I could email FitBit, or a phone number to call them. (tracfone is notorious for having customer service reps whose grasp of English is limited: I am not knocking any persons who might have English as their 2nd language, but for a technical problem like this, I'd need a bona fide English speaker).  Does anyone here have contact information for Fitbit (since I can seem to find any).

[BarbStAubrey]

Pat I have found the airport chair pushers to be rather rude making in fun of whomever they are pushing to other pushers - hate that - and yes, I always send my luggage Fed Ex - by the time you do tips and other airline expenses it just about covers the cost and then I bring a rather large handbag a few essentials including a change of undies and a T I could use in a pinch as a nightshirt.

Haven't been out of the country in too many years to count but I was down to a soft sided carry on and a cloth shopping bag type carry on that I used as a purse. Did 2 weeks with one change of slacks and one skirt - it was the shoes that weighed me down - I finally wore black waterproof leather tennies and brought just one pair of simple pumps with a low heel that I tucked in the bottom of the big purse

Wow Tomereader - It is just that sort of thing so that this year I've decided to frequent more brick and mortar stores where they are now so helpful since the online shopping has dug into their profits - all this technology is getting beyond me to keep up much less understand the language. I know I loose out because I only have a simple cell phone without apps so I'm missing all these discounts but now your experience is saying the match of product with a cell becomes an issue - whow - I guess marketing is saying not to do a universal connect to all phone. Sheesh...

Your find frybabe reminds me that Amazon monthly free book had one that is supposedly turning history on its ear about the mingling of the east and west having taken place before and during the time of the Greeks so that this mingling the author sees in Greek and Roman stories and philosophy - I chose another book so I forgot the name of this one but from the excerpt his main source of eastern influence appears to be India rather than China however, we read in that Silk Road or we found additional research I am not remembering but it was the early mingling of India and China - I'm remembering in grade school we discussed the possibility that Jesus went to the east, during those years there is no written history of his where-abouts, since there are aspects of eastern thinking incorporated in the Christian religion and in its rituals - the Contemplative order monks are almost like twins to the Taoists. 

Looking forward to getting started again on Monday - I found a used copy of the Cambridge Illustrated History part I of the Middle Ages that they start in 300 something on into 900 something - there is a second that would be the years when most of the stories were put on paper but I wanted more information about the actual time these stories were taking place. The used book is coming from England so it will be the end of the month before it is here - but that is OK - since we took our time we will be reading through till the middle of February.

By the way anyone not wanting to do the entire Mabinogion - each chapter is a separate story so you can easily join us for only a week without having missed anything.

[ginny]

Tomereader, sorry that didn't work for your phone. I looked back through the emails from Fitbit (apparently back on December 2 I earned a Marathon Badge for walking 26 miles and never saw it until now, so thank you for asking for the phone number!), found only a street address and looked it up for you:

Here's the Customer Service Number: (877) 623-4997

More to say later, in haste.

[Dana]

If you just google Fitbit their website is very helpful and has their phone no (maybe same as Ginny's, I'd have to look...)anyway I have called them twice now when I needed some advice and they have answered quickly with a real person(unlike some/most places you phone now that keep you hanging on for ages.....) and also sorted the issues out. 

[bellamarie]

Tomereader,  I had the same problem when I got my Fitbit, on my iphone, but ONLY because my iphone was a dinosaur, 4s which had no capabilities for this device.  I was ready for a new phone since Verizon told me my battery could not be replaced, and it would not hold the charge, along with the fact in 2020 the satellite stations for wifi would no longer work for my outdated iphone.  I bought a Samsung A50 phone and my daughter in law got it all set up for me,  and it works fine on it.  I also put the app on my computer and ipad, so I can access it on them. I wear mine every day, even when I sleep, since as I stated, it tracks my sleeping pattern.  I was at the doctor yesterday, have double ear infections, sinus infection and sore throat.  I mentioned I got a Fitbit for my birthday in July, he said, "Good for you, walking 3 -4 thousand steps a day will lengthen your life."  I told him I set my daily goal at 5,000 steps per day, and when my fireworks go off telling me I reached my goal, it motivates me to walk even more steps.  He was impressed. When the nurse took my blood pressure, I told her I monitor mine on my Fitbit, and she said she wants to get one, she has heard such positive things about them.

I have only hit 10,000 steps once since owning it, that was on vacation walking in Irish Hills and Hidden Lake Gardens.  At my age, I am not about to set an unreachable, unrealistic goal, because it will defeat me, and I'll give up.  This is the first thing that has ever motivated me to keep going, it's been 6 months and I still am loving it.  I hope you figure yours out so you can use it.  Their customer service is terrific!  When a piece broke off the side of my Fitbit changing the band, they replaced it for free without any hassle.
Ginny, I love receiving my badges when I achieve goals on my Fitbit.  It's even more of a motivation to keep going.  My eight year old granddaughter checks my steps when she comes over and compares it to hers.  lolol  One day I had more than her!! 

[Tomereader1]

Thanks Ginny and Dana for the info & phone #.  I will give them a call and see what they say.  I cannot afford a newer phone, or one with a monthly service fee.  I have beaucoup minutes on my Samsung and it texts and Googles, and works good with my Ring Doorbell, so I don't see me upgrading a phone, just to use a Fitbit. Sadly.

[PatH]

What a coincidence, Barb.  I was in the library a week ago and ran across the Cambridge Illustrated History of the Middle Ages while looking for something else.  It looked really good, but I had already accumulated enough books that taking it out would have been a mistake.  I'll get it next time or so.

I definitely want to do the rest of the Mabinogion.  Things have been sort of crazy here, but tomorrow is pretty free, so I should be able to read what's needed.

[PatH]

Frybabe, how did you like Heaney's poetry in his Beowulf translation?  I got it when it first came out, and after reading some, I decided that it was really good poetry, but it wasn't good Beowulf.  The original structure has lines with four strong beats, and a lot of alliteration, similar sounds at the starts of words, but no rhymes.  The alliteration kind of reinforces the beats, and it hits you like a series of hammer blows, strong, crude, and compelling.  Heaney sort of keeps the form, but he can't resist making it a little softer and more beautiful, omitting an occasional accent, using his considerable poetic skill to get what he sees as the best phrase.

I'm probably being picky, but I guess I like my Beowulf raw.

[Frybabe]

Pat, since this is the first I've "read" Beowulf, I can't compare to other versions. I did feel like there was something missing. It was pleasant enough (should Beowulf even be pleasant) but not very satisfying. It did not covey the true emotion and horror you might expect from such a story. I don't think I can fault the narrator for this, and I did like listening to his voice. Also, I was surprised at how fast the story flew by Grendel and his mother which I had expected to be the majority of the tale. The rest of the story was mostly new to me.

The thought occurred to me to check out the origins of the Norse dragon since the tale of Beowulf, although it originated in England, represented the Norse. The tale of Beowulf showed up at or near the end of the Viking Era.  What I came up with, once again, is that the dragon (Draco) myth and emblems originated in the Near/Middle East and spread westward and up into the Northern Germanic and Danish tribes via contact, directly or indirectly, the Romans and their auxiliaries.

On the matter of the second volume of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I decided to return it. Although there is probably more story that I haven't read before later in the book, much of what I read was actually a retelling of some of the same stories in the first volume, but a little easier to follow. Not by much though; keeping who was who straight because of the use of several names for the same people was just as much a trial as in the first volume.

Having finished listening to the lengthy Battlefield Earth, I am now listening to The Buried Book: The Loss and Recovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh by David Damrosch. While the history is interesting, I cannot say that the writing and narration are all that inspiring so far; it's a bit dry. Damrosch is a Literary Historian and is currently the Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature and Chair of the Department of Comparative Literature and founder of the Institute for World Literature at Harvard University. 

[BarbStAubrey]

I'm remembering when we read the Seamus Heaney Beowulf here when it was new in bookstores - I think we were already SeniorLearn but we could have still been SeniorNet - what I mostly remember is how difficult it was to understand what it was all about - I Remember the discussion on the alliteration - not sure I want to read it again to figure it all out - it felt dark without nobility or honor woven into any part of the story. I may look for one of these cliff note type synopsis - interesting since years ago I read a couple of the Norse Saga's and at least felt a sense of might with the elements and the adventure of their lives set in superstition.

[bellamarie]

Just finished reading Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. I absolutely LOVED this story!  I did not want the book to end.  This was my first time ever reading Pilcher, and I will for certain read more of her books.

[BarbStAubrey]

Rosamunde Pilcher's eldest son, Robin is also a writer using a similar story line as his mother - I do not think as prolific as his mother - a good read though - I'm remembering The Long Way Home

[bellamarie]

I love Louise Penny, I  read her book Still Life, loved it!  I'll check out The Long Way Home.

[Frybabe]

I have yet to read Louise Penny. The only book of hers I do have in the house is Still LIfe. I've been spending so much time reading of my Paperwhite or Kindle Fire, that I have been badly neglecting my print books.

I am 2/3 of the way through listening to The Buried Book: The Loss and Recovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh. It is both interesting and disappointing at the same time. There is very little mention of Gilgamesh for the first five and a half chapters. The first three or four chapters were spend on a bio of the guy that found the tablets and how he was pushed aside by the British Assyriologists because he was native born and did not attend British colleges. He he was self-taught by lots of reading and on-the-job training. The next two or three chapters talk about Ashurbanipal who, from his description, suffered from paranoia and anxiety. Finally, in the second half of chapter six, we see a brief description of the library and its destruction.

[Frybabe]

I love finding these little gems in Project Guttenberg. This one is The Roman Index of Forbidden Books. Published in 1909, it's list is rather short. I wonder how many books are on the list today. Mostly, though, the slim volume gives something of a history and rules for applying bans.  http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61165

Regarding the last chapters of The Buried Book: The Loss and Recovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh, it continued along the same vein as the rest of the book. There is some info about the epic itself, but not a whole lot. It ended with paragraphs about Saddam Hussein, who took an interest in restoring the Great Library, and the novels he wrote. Yes, he wrote novels.  If you want a disheartening tale about a self-taught native expert in the ancient Akkadian/Sumerian languages and clay tablets, who was pushed aside because he was neither a British citizen nor had an academic degree, this book will suit.  George Smith is credited with rediscovering the tablets in the British Museum collection. His tale is also told at the end of the book.   

[FlaJean]

I also like Louise Penny’s books although I haven’t read any lately.  The last one I read was The Hangman which took place in Three Pines.  I’ve just recently finished the whole Maisie Dobbs series which is the best series I have ever read.  Jacqueline Winspear is definitely an outstanding and thoughtful writer.  The first book “Maisie Dobbs” was a good foundation for the following books.  I’m hoping she will come out with a new book in 2020.

[Frybabe]

Here are my current reads:

Vindolanda by Adrien Goldsworthy Not bad for a first effort at novels for my favorite historian. I was delighted to find a YouTube program about Hadiran's Wall which included some footage of Vindolanda itself.  A question was asked about where the horses were kept because there didn't appear to be any stables or paddocks at the site. The archaeologist think that the horses were actually kept with the riders in their barracks rooms. If they had to muster quickly, the horses were right there.

Catseye by Andre Norton. Yes, it is a Scifi. Good so far.

The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman, A novel about the mother of the painter Camille Pissarro. Enjoying it very much. This is the first Alice Hoffman I've read.   

[BarbStAubrey]

I started Daughters of the Lake - magical - an American myth set in an inlet off Lake Superior - loving it - not fantasy but full of wonderment as a myth should be...

The story so far is crossing a century - a young women gives birth during a dense fog with no one around to help her - she goes for help and ends up having the baby in the lake - a neighbor concerned brings her homemade pie and holding onto the trees she finally gets the house where the pregnant women is not answering her calls - the back door is wide open

The story crosses back and forth between the century with characters in this century remembering as if they were the characters of the last century bits and pieces of life - one of those stories I don't want to put the book down but i must get to bed...

[nlhome]

Good morning. This is a day to find something pleasant to explore, so I came to this site. I finally checked out the book discussion, interesting. I just skimmed a little bit. I see that the last of it is "Taliesin" which I will have to go back and read. I live about 16 miles from Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin. I always knew the name meant "shining brow" but now I see there is this story and character. (Lots of Welsh in our area)

I am reading a light mystery set in France. Also a book set in my area, "Shotgun Lovesongs," which was recommended to me by my sister. I'm having trouble getting into it, but I understand it is worth reading.

The big project here is a new library project. We have a referendum coming up next month, and I am on the board so must put more energy into that. It is to be a city building, although it serves a much larger area, so the project is expensive for those of us in the city. The big picture is a great advantage to us, of course, but not all people see, or even can see, the big picture. The economy has not been kind to a lot of people, either.

[bellamarie]

nlhome, Our city has been renovating all our public branch libraries in the past few years.  Our downtown library was just completed this past Sept.  It is simply amazing!  I walked into it, and thought I was in another city. 

I am so proud of the modernization they did, with twelve million dollars, in twelve months.

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/toledo-main-library-reopens-after-12-million-renovation/512-de8f67bf-22ea-4c19-9e75-c139201cf266

https://www.toledolibrary.org/construction/mainrenovation

FlaJane, I have never heard of the Maisie Dobbs series.
I bought the Mitford Series, and am slowly reading book one.  Not what I was expecting.

Barb, Your book sounds interesting.  I've been reading books lately, that seem to go back and forth in time, it can keep you on your toes.

Frybabe, The Marriage Of Opposites?  Do tell, let us know how you like it.

I never thought I would ever see the day when I would read more than one book at a time.  Now, I find a book in almost every room, with a bookmark, to show where I left off.  My hubby asked me, how on earth do I even remember what I am reading. I told him, it really only takes a few sentences to remind me of the story.  I began a Winter Reading program, with my local library last week.  You log into the library site, submit the title and date of the book you finished reading, and earn badges, prizes and points, to apply to different restaurants, hotels, etc.  I am hoping to earn a free one night stay at our Maumee Bay State Park Resort.  We go there at least once a year, to stay a couple nights, to enjoy the beauty of the lake, and surroundings.  Wish me luck!