The Library

[mabel1015j]

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

Just an fyi - History International is showing Henry VIII's buildings.....jean

[Babi]

 I've never heard the name before either, PEDLN, but I have to agree with her that
we're on the road to disaster. I am simply trusting in the fact that we have been
on that road before, and managed to turn away from it in time. Mankind does seem to
stop short of suicide and opt for survival.  People are more aware of these dangers
now, and countermeasures have been growing in strength and popularity ever since.
More and more health-conscious people out there.
  Is it enough? God only knows.
 

[mabel1015j]

This another fyi, i'm putting it here because i think you are all students at heart. This is a site that tells you about free college courses from colleges all over the country. Click on the "tag" link and then pick whatever topic you are interested in.

http://www.ocwfinder.org/

jean

[Tomereader1]

I just finished my first Ivan Doig novel, The Whistling Season. I was certainly intrigued by the character, Paul, who was swept away by learning Latin.  There were several Latin phrases in the book, most were translated, but it was terrific fun to see if I could gather meaning from some of them (not having taken Latin in school).  I really don't see how SL's Latin students manage so well!  That is a difficult language.  

Anyway, I recommend this book.

[Gumtree]

Tomereader : It's because we have such a good teacher 

[Steph]

Back from my babysitting weekend.. Never realized that their pug barks about 20 out of 24 hours.. O
Whew.
Amazing.. Since the trial, I feel as if someone rolled a stone off my chest.. I am dreading Saturday,, since that is the day of his death, but more and more, I realized that there was no Tim in that body lying in the ICU, just a primitive reaction who needed help to breathe, and all else.. Strange. I just really am willing to face that.

[mabel1015j]

So glad to hear you say that, Steph, sounds like you may be healing a little......

I'm doing some research online today, so I've got another tidbit of info to pass along...afterall, i am a born teacher, so i am genetically programmed to share information .........BTW, ocw on the other website i posted stands for "open course ware", meaning open college courses for free.

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/

is a site with access to over one million free online books. The manager of the site says

" I have harvested metadata provided without restriction by Hathi Trust on over 1 million freely readable online volumes they have in their digital collections.  Today I have made it   browsable and searchable on The Online Books Page.  Not only does this let users search  across lots of books digitized by Google, Microsoft, and various other projects large and small,  but it also provides new ways of exploring the Hathi collection not previously possible, such as  browsing through subject maps of the collection.  (See, for instance, how you can explore  various battles and campaigns of the American revolution, with both Hathi and non-Hathi  titles.)  My announcement on The Online Books Page has more details about the new Hathi  books, and the new “extended shelves” that will eventually include additional collections as  well."

There is also a blog on the site where this a discussion about the books, what's new,  etc.

I'm in hog heaven - as if i don't have enough books available two blocks up the street in my bricks and mortor library!!?!...........Jean

[mabel1015j]

Some of you had talked recently about liking to read children's books. Here is a list of free online books that were written by women and got the Newberry Prize. If someone had already posted it, i apologize for not remembering that.

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/_collections/newbery/newbery.html

jean

[ginny]

Gee this is an exciting place today!  Tome, I had never heard of that book, and it sounds fun, must have, am making a list  as we speak of all these great suggestions! I love coming in here!

And you are right, all credit to our incredible Latin students here who made history last year in winning so many gold medals as seniors.  Awww, Gum, thank you, right back at you!

Mabel (Jean) thank you for those great free courses, I'm still trying to struggle with the lecturer from Yale on
Roman Africa, there must be SOME way to watch that straight thru. I thought I had it but now it's in spurts again and she is SO good...

I've come in somewhat sheepfaced to admit what I've been reading. You'll all laugh. First I read and enjoyed Gunn's Rules by Tim Gunn, he of the fashion show, he's really got cred tho and apparently is well thought of.

Then I read Palace Diaries by Sarah Goodall which is absolutely hilarious and what with the new movie out on King George, Elizabeth's father, with Colin Firth, being nominated by popular appeal anyway for a billion Oscars, everybody in the cast is up it seems with the movie, it would make a funny accompaniment. It's about...it's hard to say what it's about, what  it's like to work in St. James' Palace and for Prince Charles, whom this writer absolutely loves beyond measure, so it's not a tell all book in that sense of the word, but it's eye opening anyway.

Certainly you will never write another letter to Prince Charles (he never sees them) again. But every writer gets an answer.

Now I'm reading Life by Keith Richards, yes THAT book. He's a wonderful story teller, he's a bad boy but he makes it look funny and charming.  He's.....I don't know what he is,  but he's funny.  I know there was a co writer but he's funny.

Nothing like an I Touch and Keith Richards to make the doctor's waits go fast. hahahahaa

I think Dick Van Dyke has one coming out also, he was recently on NPR and he's as smart and sharp as a whip, what must he be now? 80? Sharp.

And now the Booker Prize, do they call it the Mann Booker? Has started awarding prizes to books which should have gotten it but didn't? Have you heard about this?

I had picked it up on the Bargain Table at B&N, (buy two, get one free),  it's called Troubles by J. G Farrell.

LONDON — A tragicomic historical novel about the relationship between Britain and Ireland won literature's prestigious Booker Prize on Wednesday, four decades after missing out because of a scheduling quirk.

J.G. Farrell's "Troubles" was awarded the "lost" Booker Prize for works published in 1970, a year when no prize was handed out. Set in 1919, the novel is about an English army officer ensconced in a crumbling Irish hotel, scarcely aware of the war for independence breaking out around him.

Farrell was chosen over five other finalists: Patrick White's "The Vivisector," Mary Renault's "Fire From Heaven," Nina Bawden's "The Birds on the Trees," Shirley Hazzard's "The Bay of Noon" and Muriel Spark's "The Driver's Seat."

Farrell, who drowned while fishing on the Irish coast in 1979, also won the Booker in 1973 for "The Siege of Krishnapur." Those two novels – along with a later book, "The Singapore Grip" – form a trilogy exploring the end of the British Empire.

His brother, Richard Farrell, accepted the prize on his behalf Wednesday. "This is a bittersweet moment to me," he said. "He really thought that 'Troubles' was his best work."

Television news anchor Katie Derham, one of three judges who chose the finalists, said the prize should bring a new generation of readers to the author, whose reputation has faded since his death at 44.

"He was this great talent whose life was cut short," she said. "I think at the time he was building up into someone we would all have heard of and studied at school."

The shortlist was selected by a jury whose members were all born "in or around" 1970. The winner was decided by public vote on the Booker website. Organizers said Farrell's book had 38 percent of the votes, more than double the support of any other title.

Of the shortlisted authors, only Bawden and Hazzard are still alive, but all the books remain in print.

I had never heard of him or it or their awarding this award, but I like the idea, a lot.

[rosemarykaye]

That Newberry prize site is amazing - you can actually read the books and see the beautiful illustrations on-line!  Thank you so much for telling us about it (Jean or Mabel?)

Rosemary

[marcie]

Yes, thank you very much for those links, jean!

[Steph]

Prince Charles did an interview and will be on TV sometime this week.. I think Wednesday. The snip I saw looked good..
I love free ebooks.. Found a really neat one the other day.. Now to figure out why myIPAD lets me read the Amazon books when I dont have wifi, but the Ebook site does not.. Not really downloaded?? or some other trick. I had been reading a book on ebook and could not finish it at my sons. He has wifi, but every time I got hooked on, I got kicked off.. No idea why and of course he was off in Ct. so could not ask.

[Babi]

 JEAN, that is a great site. Of course, you had my attention with the word 'free'.
I'm saving it for further perusal.
  I like the idea of that award, too, GINNY. In retrospect, there were quite a few
books that won prizes but were promptly forgotten, while classics that remain popular
for generations didn't make any of the lists.

[pedln]

I loved the Newbery women site, Jean.  Seeing all those names really brought back memories.  I hope today's children are still reading those titles.  They're timeless.

Steph, my understanding of the e-book is that you need the wi-fi only for downloading, and once it's on your machine, it stays.  At least that's the way it works with the Kindle.  Right now I have the wi-fi turned off, but can still read the books.

[Steph]

Yes, on the kindle you are correct, but it seems that the ebook on the ipad application does not function that way.. Very annoying..

[ginny]

I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing, but I have an ITouch, the small one, and the books on it read whether or not you're online. If they only worked with WiFi I'd be dead as I don't have it here. I don't know if it's an IPadTouch or an IPodTouch but it's an ITouch, is that the same thing?

If it is, I go in thru the Apps and their bookstore, it sets up a bookshelf and library on the main page.  I also downloaded Kindle free, but use mostly their bookstore, where I'm reading Life now.

[ALF43]

I've spent the last two Saturday mornings at Barnes & Noble here in Ocala.  They have a kid- oops- young man who is teaching how to navigate thru the Nook.  He's very knowledgable, patient and accommodating to all of us.  I'm leaning toward the Nook / WiFi.  I don't really think that I will need the 2 G which allows you to have WiFi anywhere, even in the closet he says.    I really like the idea that you can borrow books from the library for 2 weeks on it and that you can lend a book for 2 weeks out of your archives.  I waiting for the price war that is certain to show up next week.

[Steph]

Ginny, it is a straight IPAD,  the touch is IPOD.. I will try again on the ebook when I am not at home to see how or why it was not working properly. I could read my Amazon books with no wifi,, but not the Laura Lippman that I got free through the ebook..And that of course is the one I had been reading.
Amazing.. Yesterday I picked up the paper and saw a headline about a fatal accident and started to read and realized it was my accident. My oldest has been appearing before city council, county administrators, reporters, states attornies.. A reporter did a very nice article about the whole thing and the 1000. fine for killing another human being. He also discovered the man had four tickets in 5 years for running stop signs and red lights and another 5 for speeding.. Whew..

[jeriron]

ALF

Before you buy the NOOK check with your Library to see if they are doing it and also just how many books are available for it if they do.

[maryz]

Steph, that is amazing.  And congrats to your son for keeping the facts before the powers-that-be and the public, to try to get some of these folks off the streets.

[rosemarykaye]

Yes, what a fantastic son you have.

Rosemary

[ALF43]

jeriron- We have a very large library in this county but strangely enough they do NOT allow rentals to the Nook.  The next county above us which is half our size does allow us in Marion County to register by email and they will allow you to borrow.  I don't understand how they can that as I am not a resident of that county.

[marjifay]

Well, here it is, only November 18, and I just heard the first commercial urging us to buy something, set to the tune of Jingle Bells.  Scrooge that I am, I never look forward to Christmas.  One month of nothing but bad TV Christmas programs, Christmas songs over and over on the radio. Wouldn't mind if the Chrismas season were just a few days or even a week, but a whole month is too much.  Bah, humbug.  Be glad when January gets here.

Marj

[mabel1015j]

I listen to Christmas music all year round , .......other then that i agree with you, Marjifay....... ...........until Christmas Eve, then, when the family is all together, listening to my husband's wonderful bass voice at the Christmas eve service, then home to our house to nosh, open gifts and laugh, it's the best night of the year........jean 

[salan]

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  I love the sights, sounds, and smells!  I watch all the sentimental Christmas movies and laugh and cry and travel back in time when life was full of innocence and wonder.  I love all the decorations and hoopla.  My daughter is the same.  We are definitely Christmas people.
Sally

[Steph]

I am not quite sure how I feel about Christmas. Last year, I was too numb to have it register. I just sat and the world swirled without me. I think this year will be easier, but still , he was the Christmas lover.. He had a beautiful baritone, but was tone deaf and loved Christmas carols.. I smile when I remember his joy at singing anyway. He loved opera and had two cds of Bjorling and the Pavarotta singing christmas music.. Played of course at full tilt for the entire week before Christmas.

[Babi]

 Once my children were too old to come piling out of bed at the crack of dawn,  I began to
delight in still waking them early (not at the crack of dawn, tho.!) with a lively recording of
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by a mariachi band.  I cannot remember the name of the band
just now; it will no doubt come to mind after I sign off.

[FlaJean]

My mother lived with us for years and just loved Christmas.  The love just spilled over to us all.  Now that she is gone and the children have married and moved  states away, it just doesn't feel the same.

[JoanP]

Steph, those are the memories that will get you through...

Babi  = was it Herb Albert?

Flajean, we are having a HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE here on SeniorLearn beginning on Dec. 1.  ~ a place to share alll those memories of Christmas past - music, stories, recipes...the works!

[marjifay]

Babi said, " Once my children were too old to come piling out of bed at the crack of dawn,  I began to
delight in still waking them early (not at the crack of dawn, tho.!) with a lively recording of
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by a mariachi band."

Now that song I'd like to hear!  LOL.  Thanks.  I'll look for it.

Marj

[kiwilady]

Christmas has never been the same since my husband passed on. He was like a big kid at Christmas. It seems like just another day to me now.

Carolyn

[Steph]

The mariachi band sounds great. I do wonder if it was Herb Alpert.. or possibly Perez Prado ( Now theres a name from my misbegotten youth).

[serenesheila]

I am another Christmas person!  My 48 y/o daughter is living with me this year.  My husband died 22 years ago.  Since his dearth, I have been making new traditions.  STEPH, the year he died, 4 days prior to Thanksgiving, friends took turns spending the night with me, so that I wouldn't be alone.  They also put up a tree for me.  The following year, it was just me.  I continued to buiy, wrap gifts and put up a smaller tree.  All of my grandchildren were young, and my focus was on them.  For years my son and his wife held the Christmas festivities.

This year, the grandchildren are all grown up.  My son and his family live in Ohio.  I have gone to their home, and spent the next year with my daughter.  This year I do not feel up to spending the holidays in Ohio.  But, the holiday spirit has set in.  I no longer put up a large tree.  This year I ordered a small, prelit tree from QVC.  I plan to put bows on it.  Am not sure where to put it, because of Oliver, my cat.  Tonight, I ordered a hanging basket of prelit greens.  I have a great room in my home, and will hang it between my living room, and my fireplace room.  We will be able to see it from everywhere in the front of the house.

For the first time, I am only sending checks.  But, I have bought gifts for my daughter.  I did all of my shoppig on QVC, and Amazon.  Her main prize is a copy of "Black's Law Dictionary.  Since she hasn't been able to find employment, she decidedto
to go to law school.  She is really enjoying the classes.  I am very grateful that I am able to help her.                                   

Sheila


 to 

[Babi]

YES!!, JoanP.  That was it, Herb Alpert.  That will help you find it, MARJ.  It may
be hard to find now, tho'.  That's been a long while back.

 That is something to be grateful for, SHEILA, being able to help.  If my son didn't help us, Valerie and I would have a very hard time making ends meet.  Ah, well, ..I gave freely when I had
it to give. I guess I can be grateful now to receive.

[PatH]

Babi, you earned it and deserve it and that's what families are for.

[Frybabe]

I am just beside myself. I found a B&N gift card that hasn't been used yet. AHhhhhhhh! How did THAT happen? Sooooo many books to choose from to add to my TBR pile. Of course, I could go for one of those lovely bookend sets. I like the cats and the brass bears the best.

[jane]

Frybabe...WooHoo....a surprise gift certificate.  Enjoy!!

I was just at B&N this morning to get on the list for the color Nook...coming to the location nearest me on Dec. 3.  Soooo...Santa will be bringing me my present early.   

They were pretty busy...and lots of games and toys, it looked like, as I've heard they're adding everywhere. 

[marcie]

Reminder: Lennon Naked will be broadcast tomorrow evening on many station. Join our discussion at http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=1922.0

[Steph]

As much as I love and use Amazon,, the B&N here is really done nicely this year. Lots of other gift types. I got myself a carry bag just because I loved it so much. But I also got all sorts of stuff for the whole family. I am enjoying buying some things this year.. The granddaughter and d-i-ls are fun. My sons are harder.. But still I am enjoying it. I think I will look for our small articifical tree.. I also have a tiny little lit up tree that we used in the rv front window.. I will see if th at will work on my front porch to remind me of all of our joy in our rv. I think even my collection of Santa from all over the world will come out.. I need Christmas spirit and the idea of decorating is starting to be appealing.

[Babi]

 Good for you, STEPH!  Glad to hear it.  I plan to try and get my decorating done right after
Thanksgiving, so I can enjoy it longer.  Shopping gets harder and harder, tho'.