Author Topic: The Library (Read 2086077 times)

bellemere · « **Reply #2520 on:** September 13, 2010, 09:58:17 AM »

The Library

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

We look forward to hearing from you, about you and the books you are enjoying (or not).

Let the book talk begin here!

Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

I hate angry political discussions, too, but in a democracy, there must be political discussion. Only in a totalitarian state are people trained to "never question" authority. There has to be free exchange of ideas, and citizens have a duty to think seriously about political ideas and policies. Or am I wrong? I think we expected our Congress - both the House of Representatives and the Senate to be the forum for civilied debate and enlightenment for the rest of us. That idea has gone down the drain. Where now is there a place to discuss ideas rationally and without personal attacks? It must exist somewhere if we are to remain a democratic society.
I fault the anonymity of the Internet for a lot of the acrimony that accompanies debate today, along with the talk radio and TV "celebrities
who use political talk just the way Hitler did, obscuring facts and raising emotional responses instead.
The subject of religion is more emotional, I think. Only two religions are what are called "triumphalist", that is, that claim to be the one true religion to which all humanity must subscribe eventually: Christianity and Islam. Not Judaism, or Buddihism or the Hindu religions or animism . It is the emphisis on conversion in both of these faiths, the "Us versus Them" mentlity that seems to cause the trouble.
The biography of Pearl Buck that I am reading depicts the futility of the generations of evangelizing missionaries in China: they were either reviled and despised or considered bizarre and ignored. The missionaries scorned just about every aspect of Chinese thought and culture and considered them complete barbarians. Even Pearl a daughter of an ardent missionary , rejected his teacings.
Anywy, the present condition recalls Yeats: "The best lack all conviction, and the worst are full of passionate intensity"

maryz · « **Reply #2521 on:** September 13, 2010, 11:18:32 AM »

{{{{{{{Steph}}}}}}}}

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #2522 on:** September 13, 2010, 12:34:19 PM »

An independent library on the other side of my city has a website for all their activities. They have a monthly book club and the following are three of their selections (all of which have mammoth reserves at my own library, so they must be good):

The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Anyone read any of them?

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2523 on:** September 13, 2010, 12:40:16 PM »

Ohh Steph, can sympathize with you about public prayer. I've only once had it directed at me in public and I also try to ignore what is happening for me and tho't " this is good for them, so I'll just be quiet.". People are bringing their religion into the public sphere so much more than when I was growing up and it is sometimes irritating. I've become very good at " going someplace else" in my head. It must be a difficult reminder for you.

Huuumm, all anger is based on fear?? As I tho't about my recent anger episodes, most having to do w/ someone being an idiot, or treating me as tho i' m an idiot, I guess one could construe that I could be fearful, but that's not at all in my conscious mind.

Bell, which Buck. Bio are you reading?

Jean

mrssherlock · « **Reply #2524 on:** September 13, 2010, 12:40:18 PM »

Thanks to this discussion I've joined Politics and Prose, a Washington DC bookstore, and now receive their mailings. In the current September Events Calendar among the thumbnails is reference to a book by Eliza Griswold: The Tenth Parallel: Where Christianity and Islam Meet. On August 24 Teri Gross interviewed Griswold http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129407295 who spent seven years researching this book. I was astounded at some of her revelations and I will be reading the book, though it might make my blood pressure go up. It describes the deep ties between the organized Evangelical religious movement in the US and Conservative policies. Now I can guess why George W Bush may have acted so precipitously in his invasion of Iraq which has always puzzled me.

marjifay · « **Reply #2525 on:** September 13, 2010, 01:27:20 PM »

Jackie wrote: "Thanks to this discussion I've joined Politics and Prose, a Washington DC bookstore, and now receive their mailings. In the current September Events Calendar among the thumbnails is reference to a book by Eliza Griswold: The Tenth Parallel: Where Christianity and Islam Meet..."

The Politics & Prose Bookstore newsletter is my favorite. I have THE TENTH PARALLEL on my TBR list, right after THE LOOMING TOWER; AL QAEDA AND THE ROAD TO 9/11 by Lawrence Wright. I heard Wright interviewed on CSpan's BookTV this weekend and was so impressed that I moved his book to the top of my TBR list. He worked on this book for several years, interviewing over 600 people in the Arab/Islamic world including close friends of Osama bin Laden. You can watch the interview at BookTV.org.

Another book discussion group I'd hightly recommend is the Constant Reader group, through Goodreads.com. They are a very literate group that discusses books, poetry, films, and other topics. Very friendly group-- no one puts anyone down for their opinions. I've gotten some great reading and movie recommendations there.

Marj

bellemere · « **Reply #2526 on:** September 13, 2010, 04:21:15 PM »

The book I am reading is : Pearl Buck, a Cultural Biography by Peter Conn. A member of this board recommended it, and I am grateful, although I can't remember who it was!
I wish I could pose some questions to our Muslim neighbors. I would like to know if any Islamic scholars have figured out what in the Koran is being twisted and misconstrued by these extremists. to make them believe that it is okay to kill innocents and to commit suicide in the process. The 9/11 bombers were frightening in their complete blind devotion to their faith O, Lord, please give us more doubters.
While suicide today is treated as a result of mental illness, the traditional Catholic teaching was that it was the sin of despair, of rejecting God's gift of life, and salvation.

MaryPage · « **Reply #2527 on:** September 13, 2010, 04:26:40 PM »

Jean/Mabel; when you get angry at someone who treats you like an idiot or acts like one, that is a threat of a sort. Think about it. A. Someone speaks to you or treats you like an idiot. You wonder if you are going to have to put up with this type of treatment all the time and what you did to deserve it and these questions make you fearful and thus angry. B. Someone speaks of things in a very stupid way to you and you wonder if this type of thinking is sweeping the country and if it will prevail and bring down our nation or change it drastically and you become fearful and thus angry.

Me, too!

MrsSherlock, I know about that book and many others on basically the same topic. I own some of them. It is a subject dear to my heart, but, alas, political/religious in subject matter and we cannot discuss it here. Me, I get Apolexy; deed I do!

BelleMere, why do extremist Christians distort the Bible for their own purposes? Think back on the many cults who have done this, and scores have died. There are plenty more groups doing it today.

kiwilady · « **Reply #2528 on:** September 13, 2010, 04:32:11 PM »

If everyone thought like us there would not be any more wars!

My great grandmother was a Quaker. She dressed in the old Quaker tradition. It may be that between Great Grannys faith and my grandfathers political views I developed my philosophy on life which was at the age of 11 and I have never veered from this. My best friend came from a family of Conservatives but she like me was a follower of world affairs from a very young age and she too was firmly grounded in her beliefs at age 11. We had the same views much to her fathers chagrin. We were the odd children out at school because of our thinking. I am an unashamed Pacifist although I would resist should my country be invaded.

One of my biggest disappointments is that I fail to understand how people who proclaim their Christian beliefs very loudly can also proclaim very hateful opinions on politics just as loudly. That is not my idea of New Testament Christianity. I was horrified when the church I used to attend urged the congregation to support a party who discriminated against the weakest of our society and supported the rich. Politics should be kept out of the church. We should vote listening to our individual consciences only.

Carolyn

mrssherlock · « **Reply #2529 on:** September 13, 2010, 05:56:20 PM »

I've never heard, seen or read anything that says it better than The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated.

kiwilady · « **Reply #2530 on:** September 13, 2010, 08:12:38 PM »

Well said!

Carolyn

marjifay · « **Reply #2531 on:** September 13, 2010, 11:57:39 PM »

bellemere said, "The 9/11 bombers were frightening in their complete blind devotion to their faith"

I'll bet it was those 72 virgins each of them was looking forward to.

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #2532 on:** September 14, 2010, 06:09:47 AM »

Marjifay...

Babi · « **Reply #2533 on:** September 14, 2010, 08:54:45 AM »

You'll enjoy the new Perry book, JOANK & STEPH. It is really good.

BELLE, I'm vague on the details, but I believe the fanaticists have their
own 'commentary' on the Qu'ran and use that to indoctrinate their poor
deluded followers. And as someone else here pointed out, people who want to have always been able to pick out and distort their scriptures to suit their own purposes or prejudices.

winsummm · « **Reply #2534 on:** September 14, 2010, 05:18:45 PM »

so much to concider here.

the hawkens book does not suggest atheis, per se, but makes the model for it impossible not to consider it so from that standpoint or MODEL of the universe where almost anything will do. there can be many different universes but our one consideration is of ones that we can inhabit. As kiwi says the planet and the universe are outside of our daily experience whereas the insides of people are not. This is interestomg to me also.. . .part of my double major at ucla.the other one ART.
the newtonian theory or the one we all know where light travels in a straight line and point A really goes straight to point B if that is what we intend, is only the beguinning of the hawkins book. I'm just getting into the part on QUANTUM MECHANICS which is clearly illustrated but is not a single theory in that it means several different things to several different physicians. my understanding being that it, can be interpreted only in that it is NOT NEWTONIAN. confusion is he name of the game from my MODEL or viewpoint.

ALF43 · « **Reply #2535 on:** September 14, 2010, 08:33:28 PM »

Winsumm- I agree with you. I come in here and find all kinds of recommendations. I just ordered Franz'es new novel Freedom. Has anyone read it yet?
Also, I am a Greg Isles fan and have in hand The Devil's Punchbowl. It sounds ominous doesn't it? It claims to be his most electrifying thriller yet, revealing a world of depravity, sex, violence and the corruption of a Southern town. Yikes.

Steph · « **Reply #2536 on:** September 15, 2010, 05:55:42 AM »

I see on my news feed that my old home state, Delaware has had a hue upset in the primary.. Amazing.. I guess I am truly out of step with the majority just now.. I think it boils down to.. he didnt do miracles, therefore lets change yet again. Politics is scary..

jeriron · « **Reply #2537 on:** September 15, 2010, 08:10:28 AM »

he didnt do miracles, therefore lets change yet again. Politics is scary..

It seems to me that the people in this country don't know what they want so they figure if they change it the next thing will be better. So we go back and forth to different parties. And that's why nothing gets done.

Babi · « **Reply #2538 on:** September 15, 2010, 08:28:49 AM »

Quote

"..he didnt do miracles, therefore lets change yet again. Politics is
scary.."

I'd never survive in politics, but I do see that when people are
worried and upset they do tend to want to try somebody new in the
hopes they can do better. Whoever has been in office is blamed for
'getting us into this mess!"
I see Jeiron has just made a similar comment.

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #2539 on:** September 15, 2010, 10:23:31 AM »

I just finished - late last night - The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein A good book, about a family who deals with adversity, if you like that sort of thing. Two people had suggested it to me. The author, who writes well, has written two other novels and a play and also is a documentary filmmaker.

Now to read the other two that the library bookclub is recommending.

kiwilady · « **Reply #2540 on:** September 15, 2010, 03:57:27 PM »

When there is a bad recession whoever takes the reins gets the blame. However I do feel that Obama cannot win no matter what. People in the opposition truly hate him although he has much respect on the World stage. I can't believe some of the hateful posts I have read on message boards on the net. I can't stand our PM but would never dream of vilifying him in the way Obama is being vilified. Its such a shame that politics has become such a dirty business even here nowdays. Its just continual muckracking to score points. Even when the muck is fabricated people believe it.

We have had some political scandals here and a new one seems to arrive every day. I don't know how any work gets done as so much time is spent in our Parliament on these issues. Perhaps thats what Politicians want! It enables them to procrastinate on the important issues to their constituents.

Carolyn

kiwilady · « **Reply #2541 on:** September 15, 2010, 04:03:22 PM »

We have sealed our own fates in this Global economy. Our lust for consumer goods has resulted in huge debt. We want cheap goods so we import them from China and our manufacturing bases close down. Jobs go overseas. We end up with massive debt. A strong economy is based on bricks and morter ( agriculture and manufacturing) now we lean on effectively gambling. ( futures and stocks and investment in finance institutions). In my opinion a surefire road to disaster! (I am perhaps old fashioned but it makes sense to me as an ex mortage broker) China is on track to own us all!

PatH · « **Reply #2542 on:** September 15, 2010, 04:19:16 PM »

Unfortunately, I agree with you.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #2543 on:** September 15, 2010, 06:21:36 PM »

Carolyn: As the Taliban is saying, "Do it our way or we'll kill you" so are the political wackos here saying, "Do it our way or we'll shoot down all you propose". Though the messages are slightly different the aims are the same, go back to the good old days when we ran the world.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2544 on:** September 15, 2010, 11:38:43 PM »

I know some of you are tennis fans. I don't know if they will repeat it, but I would think they will - ESPN did a wonderful hour last night of Martina Navri......whatever, and Chris Evert talking about their friendship, careers, competition, etc. It was very interesting and very entertaining. It was on a series they are calling "30 for 30" I have no idea what that means. If you have seen any of the Iconoclasts series on Sundance, it was presented in a similar way. They were sitting and talking, walking on the beach, jogging. There are lots of clips from their pasts and matches. I recommend it........jean

Frybabe · « **Reply #2545 on:** September 16, 2010, 12:26:54 AM »

My latest acquisitions from the used book store:
Of Making Many Books by Roger Burlingame
Lafayette, A Life by Andreas Latzko (translated from German by E. W. Dickes)
Adrienne, The Life of the Marquise De La Fayette by Andre Maurois (translated by, Gerard
Hopkins)

I just noticed that the Burlingame book is printed on heavy paper that looks an awful lot like my favorite Eaton stationary from way back in my teens. I hope it proves as interesting a read as the paper commands.

winsummm · « **Reply #2546 on:** September 16, 2010, 12:52:59 AM »

about the achievements of the new president in case you haven't noticed see the following site.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/29/obamas-first-100-days-10_n_192603.html

Some of the critics are missing the points and are very loudly proclaiming that NOTHING has happened. Previously they complained that the pres. had too many projects going, too much on his plate. do your own reseach before adding to the melee out there.
it is so much easier to be a critic and a naysayer than to check the internet for actual information. shame shame on you Ali

kiwilady · « **Reply #2547 on:** September 16, 2010, 05:19:57 AM »

I just got back from a concert at my grandaughters school. She is in the orchestra and the choir also performed. It was a 90 minute concert and the kids had to learn quite a few pieces both the choir and the orchestra. The 60 voice choir did a really amazing rendition of California Dreaming and I hope the Principal puts it on U Tube. The orchestra played from Beethoven to the Main Theme from Star Wars. Considering the kids are 9 and 10 years old it was an amazing achievement as not many schools have kids that young in an orchestra.

Cross your fingers for my librarian daughter she had a gruelling 2 and a half hour interview for a childrens Librarian position today Our childrens librarians do a lot of educational work. They do a wiggle and rhyme session for babies which includes exercises and story time for kids which includes songs and movement as well as the story. They also help children with obtaining information for homework and often with the homework itself. Then of course there is the usual work a librarian does in the course of a day. My daughter was told she is one of two final candidates who will now be considered for the position.

Carolyn

Steph · « **Reply #2548 on:** September 16, 2010, 05:50:51 AM »

I will certainly hold onto good thoughts for your Daughter. I would not be a childrens librarian for the world. I love libraries,but am not overfond of some small children.
I have always loved the Westminster dog show on TV and am seriously considering a trip in February(

) to NYC to see it. Found a tour group and am trying to decide. It would be something different for me and that is what I have been looking for.

Babi · « **Reply #2549 on:** September 16, 2010, 08:32:28 AM »

What a splendid idea, KIWI, to combine movement with story and rhyme
for those restless little bodies that simply must move. And best wishes
to your daughter. From what I can see in my volunteer position, being
a children's librarian is the toughest job in the place.

And my applause to those 9 and 10 year old musicians.

MaryPage · « **Reply #2550 on:** September 16, 2010, 09:03:24 AM »

Fingers crossed, Carolyn.

Frybabe · « **Reply #2551 on:** September 16, 2010, 09:14:58 AM »

George and I don't own dogs, but we like to watch the Westminster Dog Show on TV. In 2002, one of our locals (Mechanicsburg, PA) won best of show. I can't believe it has been that long ago already.

maryz · « **Reply #2552 on:** September 16, 2010, 10:00:06 AM »

GO FOR IT!, STEPH!!!

mrssherlock · « **Reply #2553 on:** September 16, 2010, 11:18:25 AM »

Carølyn: You know we are all pulling for your daughter's success. When will she learn if she has the post?

Steph: Go for it. Christopher Guest turned his unique talent to a dog show movie, Best in Show. It is hilarious if you like his humor (I do).

jeriron · « **Reply #2554 on:** September 16, 2010, 11:24:29 AM »

steph

The Westminster dog show is wonderful. Although I have to admit it's been years since I've been there. I remember them giving out lots of samples. Also being able to walk back and watching them groom the dogs.

maryz · « **Reply #2555 on:** September 16, 2010, 11:41:05 AM »

Good luck to your daughter, Carolyn - be sure to let us know.

bellemere · « **Reply #2556 on:** September 16, 2010, 11:43:02 AM »

The New Yorker fiction issue recently featured works by authors under 40. thought I would get some of the books after reading the short stories. I read A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore, and Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris. I would recommend them botu, but I especially enjoyed the Ferris book It felt like a window into the world of our working childen and grandchildrea, with a type of stress and a hectic pace that I don't think our generation ever experienced. Witty irrevernce has always been a favorite of mine and Ferris gets it just right. Anybody else reading the younger newer authors/ What do you think?

kiwilady · « **Reply #2557 on:** September 16, 2010, 03:47:19 PM »

I am not sure when Nicky will know. Sometimes the panel takes more than a week to decide. The best thing about this position is that its a Monday to Friday position whereas now as an adults librarian she has to work Sunday to Thursday.

I have been reading a book and one of the characters says "In this day of self fulfillment and political correctness the idea of community caring and duty has disappeared." I thought that too until the Christchurch earthquakes. However people cared for and helped one another and the Canterbury Uni students organised an army to clean up the liquification ( sludge) covering so many properties. I think there were about 1500 students signed up. They did all the organising on Facebook! They were on the job about 48 hours after the main shock. I was so proud of the kids and it gave me hope for the future.

Talking about dogs and dog shows it reminded me that my wee and very naughty ChiChi is due at the groomer at 9.30am. I better get a move on!

Carolyn

JoanK · « **Reply #2558 on:** September 16, 2010, 03:59:34 PM »

Carolyn: "A strong economy is based on bricks and morter ( agriculture and manufacturing) now we lean on effectively gambling. ( futures and stocks and investment in finance institutions)." Couldn't have said it better!

Go for it Steph, is right. Everything I know, I know from reading mysteries, and I was introduced to dog shows by reading mystery stories with dog shows as background. Now I, too, watch them on TV. Cheered, like many others, when a beagle one, like my Lola.

kiwilady · « **Reply #2559 on:** September 16, 2010, 04:35:57 PM »

You should read "Lauren- an American dog in Paris" Its an oldish book (non fiction) about a wee beagle who won the heart of an American Journalist. Lauren was a rescue taken in by the authors sister. Its a lovely story and lots about Paris too.

Carolyn

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2086077 times)