Author Topic: The Library (Read 2084324 times)

ALF43 · « **Reply #320 on:** November 26, 2009, 11:54:47 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!

Everyone is welcome!

Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

Belle, I know right where you're located now. My one grandson goes to the University of VT and my kids and grands all ski in the Berkshires. Hold and love little GT (George Tony) as much as you can. the next time you see him he'll be teething.

I love the conductor story and cracked up over that one. I was raised in a RR town so appreciate the humor of that story.

MAY BLESSINGS REIGN AT YOUR TABLE TODAY!! I LOVE YOU ALL.

Babi · « **Reply #321 on:** November 27, 2009, 09:06:45 AM »

Oh, I love 'wee Geordie', BELLE. Do you think the parents would mind if
you called him that?
I'm impressed that so many people in the coach knew Alcott wasn't
born in Hartford. I have no idea where she was born, and didn't know
where Twain or Stowe were born either. In fact, offhand, I can't think
of any author whose birthplace I know. A huge void in my trivia bits.

bellemere · « **Reply #322 on:** November 27, 2009, 04:13:41 PM »

Louisa May Alcott's house,or at least her father Bronson's house is in Concord, Mass. Just down the road from Nathaniel Hawthorne and across town from Ralph Waldo Emerson. People can visit the house, called Orchard House. Louisa was a spinster lady and lived most of her life there. She did leave to be a nurse during the Civil War, for a brief period, but got sick with the kidney disease that eventually took her life. There has been a resurgence of interest in her in the past couple of years, and in her father, "March". PBS is going to have a special about her life sometime in the next few weeks. My love of books started with "Little Women." I can still recite the opening: "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. " If I have a spiritual mother, it's Jo.
Don't know much about Harriet. Saw her brother's house Henry Ward Beecher , in Brooklyn Heights, New York
Mark Twain's house gets regular visits; big and full of stuff.

Octavia · « **Reply #323 on:** November 27, 2009, 06:52:35 PM »

Is there anyone who didn't read Little Women when they were growing up I wonder?
I haven't been here for so long that I feel like a total stranger, but I've just done an awful lot of catch up reading.
Yesterday, I brought home Penelope Lively's new book The Family Album from the Library and I've just been sitting here touching the cover and smelling the brand new pages. I love her books so much, I want to wait awhile before I start-delaying my gratification! to make it last as long as possible. On the cover it says about the house in the book "it keeps its counsel, it does not bear witness to the Sturm und Drang, to the raised voices and the tears, nor to the laughter, the exuberance, the expectations."
Sturm and Drang, I'm just guessing - humdrum,drudgery maybe? I'm afraid I don't know. Can someone help me out please?

Regarding names, George could become the new favourite. Listening to the radio I heard that here in Australia, Jack is the most popular name. My brand new grandson Lachlan is in the Top Ten too. Radio said if you want an unusual name pick John.

JoanP · « **Reply #324 on:** November 27, 2009, 08:13:21 PM »

Octavia, a thought-provoking post.. do you find that John is an unusual name in Australia? Now you have me thinking of the recent births here - though there are a few Johns, certainly not as common as they once were. There are many Aidans, though. Lachlan is quite different - I like that too. what do you call him?

I really enjoy Penelope Lively too ---- another "house" book? Have you read "A House Divided"? I like the idea that "a house keeps its counsel, it does not bear witness to the Sturm und Drang, to the raised voices and the tears, nor to the laughter, the exuberance, the expectations."
Not sure if I completely agree though. Maybe it is true for new tenants. We've lived in this house for 33 years - raised four boys here. I still hear their laughter, remember the exuberance...and yes, the raised voices too.

sturm= storm. I think drang is stress. The house does not bear witness to the stormy and stressful times that went on there...

Hope you are enjoying the holidays~ it was good hearing from you. I'll look for Penelope Lively's new book.

serenesheila · « **Reply #325 on:** November 27, 2009, 08:36:00 PM »

Ahhhh, my Aunt gave me a copy of "Little Women", on my 12th birthday. I loved it. Jo was my favorite character. I read the book, several times. I named my daughter, Jo Ellyn, after Jo. Talking about this book, brings me many lovely memories.

Sheila

bellemere · « **Reply #326 on:** November 27, 2009, 09:30:13 PM »

My son is John Anthony, named for his uncle, a 22 year old US Marine lieutenant, killed on Iwo Jima. I guess John is so common it fell out of favor, but is maybe ready for a revival Aiden and all Gaelic names have been big, many Ians,Devins, Caitlins, Seans and Sheilas.
My nephew's new baby girl is Teagan. Teagan Grace. Ever heard that one?
At Orchard House, you can see where Louisa's younger sister Anna, the precursor of Amy, was allowed to draw all over her bedroom walls; the little dreawings are fading but still ther. Some of the play costumes they used are there, too, and Louisa's desk in the attic.
What was the secret of the spell of Little Women? does it still hold for 12 year olds? The Broadway play had a short run, but it was good. the scen where Beth tells Jo not to be sad when she dies is still the biggest tear jerker in literature. Even the movie didn't mess that up; that director Ang Lee is wonderful, and Little Women is not even in her native culture.
My other coming of age book. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn failed to make a hit with any of my granddaughters. They all latched on to Harry Potter.

JoanK · « **Reply #327 on:** November 27, 2009, 09:47:34 PM »

I certainly read "Little Women", and read all the sequels. Who doesn't love "Jo". The only movie I've seen is the one with Katherine Hepbern -- she's the perfect Jo. But marred by the zany cotumes.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #328 on:** November 27, 2009, 09:58:19 PM »

Wasn't the young Elizabeth Taylor in LW? Yes! Here it is: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041594/

mabel1015j · « **Reply #329 on:** November 28, 2009, 12:54:36 AM »

Wow, Sheila, we have a JoEllyn also. We spelled it that way because i also knew a Joellynn who pronounced it Joel - lynn and when we named our dgt we said if we spell it w/ the 'y' she could decide how she wants to pronouce it, but of course, by the time she was old enough to make that decision JoEllyn had stuck. I'm not a big fan of nicknames - my theory is "if you want to call him Nick name him Nick, not Nickolas," etc, but JoEllyn was so petite and feminine and cute when she was little that she became Joey. Only our immediate family and her husband ever called her that and now her cousins call her Jo, she was and has been JoEllyn to everybody else.

Belle, we also have a Teagan in the family but it's a male. His sister's name is Alannah and his brother's name is Colton. As you said all good Gaelic names. And i like the use of the term "Gaelic." My son Stephen - always called "Stephen" by his mother - coached at St Mary's College in Calif and they are "the Gaels." ..........jean

Gumtree · « **Reply #330 on:** November 28, 2009, 12:57:12 AM »

Octavia - Hello - Can that really be you? I know it is. So good to see you again. Are you still in Rocky. Obviously you have survived the floods and fires. And a new grandson - congratulations!

I haven't read Penelope Lively in a long time so just might see if I can get my hands on The Family Album

As JoanP suggested Sturm and Drang is generally translated to mean Storm and Stress. It originated as a literary and music movement in Germany in the late 18th century and is noted for giving vent to extremes either of difficult emotions and individual expression etc. so is far from being 'humdrum drudgery'. It often culminates in violence or other conflict. Goethe and Schiller were prime exponents. Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther is a good example that would be available in English through your library system.

Octavia, it really is so good to see your smiling face again.

Octavia · « **Reply #331 on:** November 28, 2009, 03:09:26 AM »

Thanks, Joan and Gumtree, for the translation. I should have known my imagination wouldn't be right

. I hope the book lives up to my expectations. I loved City of The Mind, she always weaves the past into her novels.
Yes it is me, a lot has happened since Seniornet, most of it not so good, but that's life, isn't it? The floods seem a lifetime ago, we are so desperate for rain now. The bushfires were surreal because the kind of pictures we're used to seeing on TV from down South, were now of our familiar, everyday streets. Ten firemen were in a code red burnover on a street I've often driven down. Luckily, they survived.
It was lovely to see your profile on the Home Page. I'm very impressed.

Bellemere, my John was born in 1969 and was the only John all through his childhood. His teachers thought he he had to be Jonathon at least. Now there's a revival of older names like Abigail and Samuel.
We call Lachlan 'Lockie'.I'm sure it hasn't crossed his parents minds that the name Lachhlan has a very historical connection. Governor Lachlan Macquarie(our first Governor) was called 'The Father of Australia'. He petitioned the British Govt. to officially name the penal colony Australia. I like that link with our beginning. Plus it's a Scottish name, and my ancestors are Scots.

bellemere · « **Reply #332 on:** November 28, 2009, 08:55:52 AM »

Before we leave Little Women, try to get the latest movie, very well cast, with Susan Sarandon as Marmee. The street swcens were filmed in Deerfield, about 20 miles north of here, the quintessentially quaint New England village.
Did Penelope Lively write a book about families living on houseboats? Or is that another Penelope?
when my oldes daugheter was born, there was a run on Linda and Robin. Then came a lot of K names: Kim, Kyle, Kaylee, Kristin, Kirsten, Karen, etc.
AThen the last names as first names for girs: Courtney,Madison, Brooke, Hadleigh, Paige, etc. and now the old biblical names like Isaac, Sarah, etc. What next?
Through it all, African American moms have pciked out or invented names that they liked the sound of : Malia, Sasha>

Steph · « **Reply #333 on:** November 28, 2009, 10:42:20 AM »

There is no easy way to do this... Tim and I were in a traffic accident on he 11th of November. He died on the 20th.. I was injured and am now home with home nursing etc. I am sure I will eventually be ready to deal with things, but just now the world is a bit more than I can deal with.. So. I love you all and will certainly come back, but not yet. Steph

mrssherlock · « **Reply #334 on:** November 28, 2009, 10:50:34 AM »

Steph: What shocking news. My heart aches for you. Know that we are here for you when you need us. I amso sorry.

Babi · « **Reply #335 on:** November 28, 2009, 10:59:57 AM »

Irregardless of whether or not the family may use a child's proper name, JEAN, his playmates are still going to find a nickname of their own choosing. I remember a short story of a mother who craftily picked a name with that in mind. She finally decided that if she named the child Montgomery, she could also live with the nickname 'Monty'. Unfortunately, the first group of kids who came to see the baby in his cradle promptly..and appropriately..named him "Gummy"!

STEPH, we were posting at the same time. How terrible for you. Take all the time you need, and know that we are thinking of you and praying
for you. Love and hugs..

Gumtree · « **Reply #336 on:** November 28, 2009, 11:03:12 AM »

Steph: Such tragic news. My love and thoughts are with you. We will be with you in spirit until you are ready to return.

JoanP · « **Reply #337 on:** November 28, 2009, 12:17:46 PM »

Oh dear, dear Steph! It is so hard to read the words and more difficult to imagine what you are going through. When you are ready, we await your return. In the meantime, know that our hearts and prayers overflow for you. You will find the strength, I just know you will.

With love,
JoanP

ALF43 · « **Reply #338 on:** November 28, 2009, 01:28:28 PM »

Oh Steph, oh my gosh, I am so very sorry for your loss.Know that we are here when you feel strong enough tocome back to us. In the meantime you are in my thoughts and prayers. It is so sad, I only wish that we could lessen your burden, but I know that that is not possible.

joangrimes · « **Reply #339 on:** November 28, 2009, 02:40:14 PM »

Stephanie,

My deepest sympathy is with you.I am so very sorry. I wish I could say something to make things better for you but you will find your way. It will take time but you are a strong woman and I know you will find your way.

My heart is breaking for you. Give yourself time to heal my friend and call on us when you need us.

Much love and many prayers,

Joan Grimes

JoanK · « **Reply #340 on:** November 28, 2009, 03:41:50 PM »

Stephanie: our love and prayers go out to you. Do turn to us if you need love, support, or just a listener. I also lost my husband suddenly and unexpectedly. I'll never forget what a support my Seniornet friends were at that time.

ANNIE · « **Reply #341 on:** November 28, 2009, 04:08:09 PM »

Oh Steph,
I am so sorry to hear of your husband's death and then your injuries also. Please know that we all have you in our good thoughts and prayers. It will take time to recover from this and do take your time. Know that all love you.

marcie · « **Reply #342 on:** November 28, 2009, 04:52:22 PM »

Steph, I'm adding my thoughts and condolences. I appreciate your letting us know the very sad news about your husband and your injuries. I'll be looking forward to you return, whenever you feel able. Meanwhile, I hope that you will heal in body and spirit.

ginny · « **Reply #343 on:** November 28, 2009, 05:18:27 PM »

{{{{ Stephanie}}}} What horrendous news! I am so sorry to hear of Tim's death and your injuries, what an unbelievable thing, can't take it in. Golly moses. Our sympathy in your great loss, and hopes for a quick recovery.

We'll be here when you are ready to come back. Thank you for letting us know. I am so sorry!

pedln · « **Reply #344 on:** November 28, 2009, 06:41:39 PM »

Dear Steph, That is such sad news, my heart is breaking for you. Please know that you are in all our hearts and that we are praying for you.

JoanR · « **Reply #345 on:** November 28, 2009, 08:23:26 PM »

Dear Steph - I'm so very, very sorry to hear the sad news. Prayers and warm thoughts are flooding your way from all of us in aid of healing both your physical hurts and the dreadful hurt of your great loss. Remember that you are never really alone.

bellemere · « **Reply #346 on:** November 28, 2009, 09:25:40 PM »

This is unbearably sad to hear. My deepest sympathy and wishes for recovery from your injuries and for consolation in your grief. We are all hoping to welcome you back soon. God bless.

maryz · « **Reply #347 on:** November 28, 2009, 10:57:54 PM »

Much love and caring from here, Steph. What a sad time.

Frybabe · « **Reply #348 on:** November 29, 2009, 01:38:09 AM »

My sincere condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery Steph.

salan · « **Reply #349 on:** November 29, 2009, 07:13:30 AM »

Stephanie,
My heart goes out to you. I lost my husband of 44 years last year after a sudden and devastating illness, so I know the shock you are feeling now. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Try to concentrate on yourself and your own recovery--one day at a time, one step at a time.
May the healing love of family and friends be with you every step of the way.
Sally

jane · « **Reply #350 on:** November 29, 2009, 10:00:22 AM »

Stephanie...
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

jane

Octavia · « **Reply #351 on:** November 29, 2009, 03:37:50 PM »

I was saddened to hear about this terrible accident. Treasure your memories.

joyous · « **Reply #352 on:** November 29, 2009, 07:43:39 PM »

Many loving thoughts are being sent your way, Steph. I have been down that road also.
Joy

PatH · « **Reply #353 on:** November 29, 2009, 07:50:29 PM »

Oh, Stephanie, I'm so sorry. Such a terrible loss, and you have to deal with it while wounded. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} along with prayers and tears. Take care of yourself.

serenesheila · « **Reply #354 on:** November 29, 2009, 10:45:10 PM »

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Stephanie))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

You are in my thoughts, and my prayers. What a tragic event. I am very sorry about the death of your husband, and for your injuries. Be extra kind, gentle and patient with yourself. You deserve lots of T.L.C. I hope that you can allow yourself to grieve.

Love, Sheila

maryz · « **Reply #355 on:** November 30, 2009, 06:40:06 AM »

From A Word A Day

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Reading a book is like rewriting it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms. -Angela Carter, novelist and journalist (1940-1992)

ALF43 · « **Reply #356 on:** November 30, 2009, 10:43:32 AM »

I love thaqt MaryZ- We need to put that at the top of our boards. It is so true!

Mippy · « **Reply #357 on:** November 30, 2009, 11:07:33 AM »

Stephanie ~ my thoughts and prayers and {{{{hugs}}}} to you at this difficult moment. There are no words to say how much I feel for you! Try to take care of yourself and get better soon !
Do stay in touch with all your friends on line.

marcie · « **Reply #358 on:** November 30, 2009, 11:37:03 AM »

Mary, that's a wonderful quote and definitely applicable.

JoanK · « **Reply #359 on:** November 30, 2009, 09:42:34 PM »

We're looking forward to seeing you at the

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2084324 times)