Author Topic: The Library (Read 2087282 times)

MaryPage · « **Reply #3800 on:** January 20, 2011, 10:42:35 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
*SeniorLearn's Archives

Winston Graham wrote The Poldarks, a wonderfully romantic series set in Cornwall in the 18th century. The books were also made into a British mini-series of films.

http://www.winstongraham.org/

Delderfield's books were quite simply wonderful reading. Set in Devon, if I am remembering rightly. Well, not all of them.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/r-f-delderfield/

MaryPage · « **Reply #3801 on:** January 20, 2011, 10:45:44 AM »

And do not forget John Galsworthy and his nine novels making up THE FORSYTE SAGA. Beyond wonderful. Perfection.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1932/galsworthy-bio.html

joangrimes · « **Reply #3802 on:** January 20, 2011, 11:25:41 AM »

Amazon has The Forsyte Saga on Kindle...I just ordered the first volume on Kindle..It was free..

bellemere · « **Reply #3803 on:** January 20, 2011, 11:26:34 AM »

Still thinking over the ereader situation. The Nook cannot downloaed from Mexico; the Kindle can. do I want to be drummed out of the family?
Kiwi lady, your daughter is one lucky gal. I am so curious about China.. Have you seen the publicity of the Chinese American mother and her unbelievably harsh child-rearing practices? Very controversial.
the president of china is visiting the White House. Someone held up a sign,"america's banker has arrived"
tonight is mhy Book club meeting and I am presenting books for march. (
We don't meet in Feb._) here is what they will be voting on:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Washington Square (I always include a classic)
Then We Came to the End
Lit

maryz · « **Reply #3804 on:** January 20, 2011, 12:57:11 PM »

jane, I'm looking forward to seeing your Nook. John's been reading my Kindle - leaving me to fend for myself.

We might be in the market for a second e-reader.

jane · « **Reply #3805 on:** January 20, 2011, 01:08:22 PM »

I'll remember to bring it along, I hope. [ Remind me closer to the time! Old memory isn't what it used to be.]

MaryPage · « **Reply #3806 on:** January 20, 2011, 01:37:05 PM »

Joan, I adored, and still adore, The Forsyte Saga. If you don't like it, my abject apologies. Oh, but you will love it, too! The Aunts in The Man of Property are a hoot! Well, so are Uncle James and Uncle Timothy. The two different mini-series, one in black and white that preceded and really began Masterpiece Theatre, and the one in color just a few years ago, were quite wonderful; but the books were even better.

joangrimes · « **Reply #3807 on:** January 20, 2011, 01:43:27 PM »

Yes Marypage...I agree with you on all that...I read the Forsyte Saga years ago ...I just want to read it again... Books that are so good demand a rereading now...Joan Grimes

MaryPage · « **Reply #3808 on:** January 20, 2011, 01:50:02 PM »

Don't forget Elizabeth Jane Howard's THE CAZALETS. Too wonderful for words. I think at least 2 books; maybe more. A wonderful film mini-series from the BBC. I watched the VHS version until I wore it out, and then bought the DVD.

FlaJean · « **Reply #3809 on:** January 20, 2011, 02:57:47 PM »

If I remember correctly, THE CAZALETS, are three books. I enjoyed them and loved the way it ended.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3810 on:** January 20, 2011, 03:04:21 PM »

The Forsytes come to NINE (9) books altogether!

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3811 on:** January 20, 2011, 03:40:02 PM »

does anyone remember Thomas Costain - he wrote, Below the Salt - The Tontine - The Silver Chalice - there were a few others - most of his book were best seller historical romance novels back in the 1950s - Big thick books that were more historical than bodice ripping romance.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3812 on:** January 20, 2011, 03:58:41 PM »

Oh yes, Barbara; I loved all of Costain's wonderful books. The Tontine was my favorite, and I have always been fascinated by the fact they really did have such things. My interest was so peaked toward finding out who won in the end.

A.J. Cronin wrote some fabulous novels, as well. A lot of his, as is true of a lot of Costain's, were made into movies.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3813 on:** January 20, 2011, 04:20:14 PM »

I remember a young Gregory Peck as the priest in Keys to the Kingdom but who was in the Citadel?

MaryPage · « **Reply #3814 on:** January 20, 2011, 04:33:46 PM »

Robert Donat, Rosalind Russell, Rex Harrison

MaryPage · « **Reply #3815 on:** January 20, 2011, 04:39:03 PM »

Remember How Green Was My Valley? Splendid book about Wales. Richard Llewellyn? I saw the play with Ethel Barrymore! It was at the Lyric in Baltimore in the early forties, and a bunch of us girls went from school as a special treat. We had cheap back row seats, and you could hear every word she said. Some may well say "so what," but I do not believe they had microphones, or, if they did, and they certainly were not in evidence, they did not have the great sound systems back then that they developed after World War II.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3816 on:** January 20, 2011, 04:56:12 PM »

Cannot leave Conrad Richter off this list of perfect period fiction. He was an American and wrote a trilogy together called The Awakening Land. These books, The Trees, The Fields and The Town (my favorite was The Trees) were set in Ohio in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and followed the entire life of one girl to great grandmotherhood. I think they did a not-very-good series of The Trees and Jane Seymour was in it.

pedln · « **Reply #3817 on:** January 20, 2011, 05:05:27 PM »

Carolyn, what a wonderful opportunity for your granddaughter -- to visit China. Nice to have that to look forward to.

It's been snowing here all day -- not blizzardly, just enough to make it pretty and quiet and a good day to do nothing but read. I've got about four books going -- Little Bee, which I finally retrieved from the library again, my f2f for Feb -- A Trace of Smoke by Rebecca Cantrell -- set in Germany in the 1920's during the Nazi rise to power; very tense as you keep thinking something bad is going to happen, Hypothermia by Icelandic mystery writer Arnaldur Indriasson, and one that was recommended here on SeniorLearn -- The Elevator by Angela Hunt. I'm trying hard to be partial to all, but The Elevator is hard to put down.

Steph, your train trip and the NY visit sounds terrific. And you are really right in the middle of everything there in midtown. Fantastic. I love train travel, but it's been years since I've really been on a long trip by one. I usually drive to visit my son in the DC area, but now that my youngest daughter lives in Brooklyn I keep thinking that it would be easy to just take the train up from DC to visit her, instead of flying from home which is what I've been doing.

I just checked my library's holdings for R.F. Delderfield and they have quite a few. I really liked the TV miniseries of To Serve Them All My Days.

You all have given me some good ideas of oldies, but goodies. So much to choose from. I'd forgotten about Keys to the Kingdom. The Cronin I remember best is The Green Years.

joangrimes · « **Reply #3818 on:** January 20, 2011, 06:53:06 PM »

Wonderful list of oldies talked about here today...

Pedlin, A Trace of Smoke sounds really good to me...

Going to snow here again tonight and tomorrow morning.. I will be house bound if it does....I am pretty much house bound anyway because I fell again this past Sunday Morning...I was all ready to go to church and about to walk out the door when I suddenly felt very dizzy..I tried to sit down in my recliner but could not make i...I fell on backside and hit the back of my head hard on the floor.. It did not really hurt me this time...I was just sore all over... Sure did frighten me and I have been using my walker all over the house. I had been walking mostly without even using my cane... I have not ever had a dizzy spell that before...Oh well I am sure that is more than you wanted to hear about my walking issues.Will stick to books..joan grimes

MaryPage · « **Reply #3819 on:** January 20, 2011, 07:35:37 PM »

Oh, Joan! DO be solicitous of yourself from now on and anticipate the possibility of dizziness and be armed for it.

maryz · « **Reply #3820 on:** January 20, 2011, 08:17:08 PM »

Easy does it, Joan - can't have you breaking something else.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3821 on:** January 20, 2011, 09:12:33 PM »

Oooohhhh Joan, that sounds so scary...........take care, go slowly, read a lot.

.......

Do you all keep a phone on you when you are home alone? I try to remember to put one in a pocket, but i don't always remember.......

Those of your w/ipads or iphones, have you found "word wacho express" and/or "scramble challenge edition?" They're both free word games and a fun waste of time....jean

FlaJean · « **Reply #3822 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:42:26 AM »

Jean, I have several word games on my iPad but not the two you mentioned. I'll look in the App store and download them.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3823 on:** January 21, 2011, 03:06:12 AM »

Jean, I recently had my house checked for fire safety by two nice firemen (

- my friend wants hers done too now) - they asked me where I kept my mobile phone at night. Their advice is to keep it in the bedroom at night because if there is a fire your landline may not work. It would also be of use if - heaven forbid - there were intruders who cut the landline.

Joan - yes, do take care. And do tell us about it, I think I can safely say we all want to know.

Rosemary

kiwilady · « **Reply #3824 on:** January 21, 2011, 03:21:10 AM »

Joan are you on blood pressure meds? If so maybe you need to get the dosage checked. It may be low blood pressure. Your doctors do prescribe meds for moderate blood pressure problems whereas our limits are a bit higher. You may have experienced a sudden drop in blood pressure particularly if it was in the morning. So glad you did not hurt yourself!

Carolyn

Steph · « **Reply #3825 on:** January 21, 2011, 06:31:49 AM »

I got the sheets for my IP
Ad, but as i suspected, they are bubbly.. I have a little tool to smooth it, but I dont find it particularly satisfactory.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3826 on:** January 21, 2011, 06:45:29 AM »

Ouch Joan - hope you are feeling better by now... you remind me of my good friend who was falling and had to change some of her habits and now would you believe - she had her daughter find these little gold stars like we received when we were kids when we did well on homework or a test - and so she has this 'no falling' calendar that she gives herself a star everyday she does not fall - her biggie is putting her head back to put drops in her eye - that disorientates her so that even sitting she often losses her balance - she uses a different chair now -

The other thing - she purchased last year a device that looks like a gold broach on a chain that she wears around her neck so that if she falls she hits a button and an emergency number alerts in order 5 folks she has pre-arranged to check on her - from two of her neighbors - to a handyman who lives down the street - me - I live about a dozen streets away - another friend who lives across town and finally both her daughters - one is in Waco and the other in Houston - Her daughters are only called if none of the 5 Austin folks answer the emergency ring and then who ever goes over must call back -

If you think it would be a devise that you would like more information about I will ask Charlotte and post the name and phone number. The problem that prompted her signing up for this device happened after she fell in the garage and could not get up for hours till someone came by and heard her - The dog tangled himself under her feet and down she went - Now she has this device with her at all times and it is next to her in bed - I believe she said she slips it under her pillow so that if she rolls over it is still within reach.

When Bill was still with us he often fell out-doors - he insisted on walking the dog and several times he fell in the street with someone bringing him home - one time he broke his shoulder and anther his head was bleeding so badly they had to call EMS - that one scared Charlotte and she finally put her foot down so she called the High School and arranged for a student to came over everyday to walk with Bill for the 45 minutes he walked the dog.

Babi · « **Reply #3827 on:** January 21, 2011, 08:53:28 AM »

Doesn't it drive you wild when someone you care about insists on
doing things that are patently dangerous, out of a sense of masculine
pride? You want to shake some sense into them...it that were possible.
Good idea of Charlotte's, BARB, finding someone to 'take a walk' with Bill.

Dana · « **Reply #3828 on:** January 21, 2011, 11:27:34 AM »

Talking of authors from one's youth....how about Pearl S. Buck? I used to LOVE her stuff. Saw there was a recent biography about her and thought it might be interesting.....
also Somerset Maugham.....LOVED him too......
I did like AJ Cronin, and how about Daphne Du Maurier??

ALF43 · « **Reply #3829 on:** January 21, 2011, 11:50:13 AM »

bellemere- Do vote for the Henrietta Lacks story. It is an amazing story, I loved the book and bought it for my DIL for Christmas.

maryz · « **Reply #3830 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:22:45 PM »

I agree, Alf - lots of discussion possibilities there. And Skloot has been on C-Span 2 (Book TV) several times, so those discussions can get watched online.

pedln · « **Reply #3831 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:23:41 PM »

JoanG, I hope you're okay. Good point made about the drop in blood pressure. That's happened to a friend of mine more than once. A couple times on an airplance and once in church. It was BP. She was more embarrased about being carried out in the middle of the service than anything else.

In the Kindle conversations -- want to see what where best sellers in the year of your birth? Here's the link, you just type in the date.

Best Sellers When You First Arrived

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3832 on:** January 21, 2011, 01:31:11 PM »

Oooh Pedln - how addictive! Have only done my own birth date so far - I had only read one of the books in the list (Our Man In Havana - I have an old Penguin copy and I blithely thought it was much older than I was

). I have not even read Dr Zhivago, which was top of the list - perhaps I should rectify that - has anyone read it? It looks awfully long (says she, who happily ploughed through all of A Dance To The Music of Time a few years ago - these days I tend to think "I could read three books for that one").

Joan - the same thing used to happen to one of my friends when she was pregnant (and she was only in her late 20s at the time) - so it's not an age thing. But horrible, nonetheless.

Rosemary

bellemere · « **Reply #3833 on:** January 21, 2011, 01:36:18 PM »

I try to balance my reading of my beloved oldie authors, Edith Wharton, Henry James, the English gals Austen and Bronte - with some moderns: Jonathan Saran Foer , Zadie Smith, Joshua Ferris, Lorrie Moore, Mary Karr, so I can learn the thoughts and feeling generated by our contemporary civilization. I am sometimes disappointed but more often enthralled by their originality.
The columnist David Brooks has a super article
Social Animal in the new Yorker issue of a couple of weeks ago, the one with the wrecked-up spiderman actors on the cover. I don't always agree with Brooks on political matters, but he is spot on here, with his case for man as a social being even more than a rational one. That the things that make for a happy life cannot be taught in any college classroom, no matter how high the tuition or exalted the reputation. Provocative, well-researched, and funny in parts.
My Book Club voted to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and I will be leading the discussion, in March. I found it fascinating, even with no scientific background at all.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3834 on:** January 21, 2011, 02:06:11 PM »

Rosemarykay, I think you would LOVE Dr. Zhivago. I know I did! Loved the book and hated for it to stop where it did. Loved the movie and was sooooo glad I had already read the book. What a Romance! What a real love between two people. Every time I hear "Somewhere My Love," also known as Lara's Theme, I get goosebumps. It is typically Russian, so there is a lot of history peopled with real people and a lot of description. All very helpful, really. Oh, and dress warmly and have a cup of hot cocoa or tea while reading. Most of it seems to take place in deep wintery conditions.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3835 on:** January 21, 2011, 02:12:05 PM »

I am just remembering that, was his name Pasternak, was a poet and had a wife and family and a mistress. I think? And he won a prize of some kind but did not claim it? Or did he? And he was in trouble with the U.S.S.R. For his politics? Anyway, the way the book goes is pretty much, as I remember it, the way his real life went. Emotionally, that is; the book IS NOT an autobiography. But Lara is based upon, so they said back in the day, his dearly loved mistress. The real story at the time of his death was a stunner in and of itself!

Frybabe · « **Reply #3836 on:** January 21, 2011, 03:24:11 PM »

Interesting site, Pedln. I read one on my list (The Egg and I), and I remember Lydia Baily being on my Dad's bookshelf. I picked it up once to read but didn't care for it at the time. I was much more interested in things like The Black Stallion and The Three Musketeers.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3837 on:** January 21, 2011, 03:42:30 PM »

I think I will see if the library has it.

I remember my mother reading The Egg and I - she loved it - and I actually saw a copy of it in a charity shop recently. Zipped down to the British Heart Foundation shop after the dreaded work today, as had seen hardback copy of Milly Molly Mandy in their window late last night when collecting Madeleine from the theatre. can you believe someone had bought it? This work lark has got a lot to answer for

Rosemary

MaryPage · « **Reply #3838 on:** January 21, 2011, 04:19:15 PM »

I can remember laughing my head off at The Egg and I. I immediately thought Northwest/Washington State or Oregon Territory when I saw the name again. Did it take place in Seattle?

Which reminds me of The Ya-Yas.

Lydia Bailey; wasn't that Kenneth Roberts? My mother had a letter from him in response to a query from her. I had a great great or great great great grandmother named Lydia Bailey who is buried in Jay in waaaaaay upper state New York. Turns out Roberts had been touring grave yards up there and wrote down the name from her tombstone and used it because he liked it and it was the right period. Jay is near Lake Placid and not far from Montreal.

pedln · « **Reply #3839 on:** January 21, 2011, 04:28:23 PM »

Re: David Brooks and Social Animal -- an interesting article, Bellemere. I noticed that Brooks has also written a book with the same title, due out in March, further incorporating the lives of the same persons, Harold and Erica, as those in the article.

I enjoy Brooks' columns in the NY Times, and always look forward to his weekly appearances on the PBS Newshour. Earlier this week he had a column in response to Chinese mother Amy Chua's op-ed about her book Tiger Mother. This was much along the lines of Social Animal, exhalting the teen skills learned when navigating the paths of sleepovers and cafeteria lunch tables, elevating them above the need for perfection in the academic world.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2087282 times)