Author Topic: The Library (Read 2087410 times)

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4080 on:** February 14, 2011, 06:33:24 PM »

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

I heard someone on Booktv this weekend say about people coming into a bookstore that it's like Catholic School, the boys (men) go right (to non-fiction) and the girls (women) go left (to fiction) . That's not true in our house, my husband reads only mysteries/spy stories/detective stories written by men and i read everything....... Jean

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4081 on:** February 14, 2011, 09:28:12 PM »

I was antsy all day today - the mail came very very late - would y'all believe it came after 6: this evening - I just went out to check before closing down the house and there was the mailbox stuffed - with of all things some books I had ordered back some weeks ago - of course from the Amazon market place and many do take longer to deliver - First package - a squeal of delight - finally - Miss Buncle's Book by DE Stevenson

And then drop to the floor immediate read - The lovely old cloth bound book (that I love more than anything published since just before WWII that have graphics all over the jackets and are printed on pristine white pages) - I open the package and there it is - a 1920 Scribner published copy of John Galsworthy's Tatterdemalion - yes, can you imagine such a word - I found the word while looking something up on my on-line Visual Thesaurus grid and had never heard of it - so of course I Google and learn not only its meaning but that Galsworthy wrote a book with 'the' word as its title. Tatterdemalion

Tatterdemalion Clothes for the Elegant Ruffians

And from Gutenberg for those who do not NEED to feel a book in their hands to enjoy a story Tatterdemalion (in War and Peace) about a 78 year old English widow who settles in an apartment in the South of France with her small savings taking care of her needs. OH each chapter is another story with different characters - ah so - it is a book of short stories - half during WWI and I am assuming the other half after the war.

Babi · « **Reply #4082 on:** February 15, 2011, 08:34:29 AM »

An interesting selection, BARB. Have fun!

Gumtree · « **Reply #4083 on:** February 15, 2011, 09:19:11 AM »

A reminder of what I hope will go down in the History books, though I feel doubtful: this was all begun by a YOUNG WOMAN with college degrees. She has generaled the whole peaceful protest. Hope she gets the credit, but, men being what they are, I doubt it. One can but hope!

MaryPage I think elsewhere you were asking if anyone knew the name of YOUNG WOMAN - tonight on Australian TV we had a programme giving an overview of the protest in Egypt. The woman's name is Salma el Tarzi and she was in the square right in the thick of it for the whole time together with her brother Hassan/Hassein?? el Tarzi She is aged 33 and is an independent documentary maker.

The programme aired on ABC1 Foreign Correspondent hosted by Mark Corcoran who together with other Aussie journalists was beaten up and robbed during the protest. The programme was called Salma's Revolution and Corcoran speaks with her several times during the show.

Salma is very engaging and when asked if she would follow up and go into politics she said an emphatic NO. She wants to go back to making documentaries.

This is a link to the video - hope it works.

http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2011/s3139638.htm

MaryPage · « **Reply #4084 on:** February 15, 2011, 09:51:17 AM »

That is of great interest to me. All of these wonderful young Egyptian women! But the woman I speak of who is purported to be running the show was not out in the square. She has an office-like headquarters: very busy and full of people. She does not cover her hair with any type of scarf. She is young, slender, appears to be brown rather than black haired, wears her hair in a ponytail, and looks hugely intelligent. Her last name begins with an S, and that is all my short-term memory can offer. She was headlined briefly on our NBC Nightly News last night.

pedln · « **Reply #4085 on:** February 15, 2011, 12:15:32 PM »

Rosemary, Ginny -- I loved Major Pettegrew's Last Stand, and have DIL's signed copy here (author came to her book club & their kids go to the same high school). It's not only the book that I like, but the cover (with the coat rack) is one of most charming and appropriate that I've seen in a long time.

But I'm a bit flummoxed. I'm hoping my f2f will want to read it sometime this year, so have been checking out paperback prices on Amazon. They don't seem to carry it, though some of their 3rd party vendors do. And it's available for Kindle. Barnes and Noble carries it, both pb and hardback. It's a Random House publication -- are there problems there? Not a big deal, but I was just surprised that including it in a $25 box to avoid shipping fees would not be a possibility for such a popular book.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4086 on:** February 15, 2011, 12:40:38 PM »

How many copies do you need? I borrowed mine from the library, but I could buy them from Amazon here and post them if you like. My friend in Philadelphia has also had no luck in tracking it down over there.

R

pedln · « **Reply #4087 on:** February 15, 2011, 04:39:55 PM »

Thank you Rosemary, I really appreciate that. It's not even on our agenda yet and we probably won't set our calendar up until June. But we've learned from past experience that sometimes there will be a book that's difficult to get locally -- we have one B&N in town and that's the only major bookseller -- so we now try to make sure of availability. The Exception, by Jungerson, was one that B&N said they couldn't get. I don't know why. I had it on my Kindle. Usually for our f2f I use either Kindle or used book store (when visiting kids in Seattle and NY), or the library (but of course there's never enough for our group).

This whole business of book availability, book sales, etc. can get kind of confusing, and I've no doubt it will get worse as more and more independent sellers go out of business and the distribution of books is limited to a few. What's going to happen to Borders?

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4088 on:** February 15, 2011, 04:56:25 PM »

Well I will keep a look out for it in charity shops in Edinburgh and snap up any copies I see, just in case you do it - can always find a home for them if you don't. Can easily post them as still have big box of stamps inherited from my husband's uncle, so I haven't had to pay for postage for ages - really, I don't think he could have left me a better legacy (though he didn't, of course - it's just that no-one else in the family could be bothered with them, whereas Mrs Skinflint here is quite happy to rake through all the old denominations to make up the correct postage for today).

Borders has been out of business here for some time - is it the same in the USA? All we have on the high street is Waterstones, which is so transparently commercial that i try to avoid it. In London I think Foyles still exists, though not in as nearly as eccentric a condition as it was when I was young. WH Smith, which is primarily a chain newsagent, does sell some books but isn't really worth bothering with. We have no specialist bookshops in Aberdeen, though there are still a few in Edinburgh - children's bookshops, etc. In Cambridge we had Heffers - I think it's still there, but of course all these places now have to compete with Amazon, and I am as guilty as everyone else of buying from them because (a) they're cheaper and (b) everything arrives on the doormat, no effort required!

Rosemary

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4089 on:** February 15, 2011, 06:12:38 PM »

Borders is supposed to declare bankruptcy this week and close some stores.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4090 on:** February 15, 2011, 06:14:31 PM »

I saw mention in Barron's (I think) that Borders is expected to file for bankruptcy as early as this week. So far, I haven't heard that they have. I don't know if they will reorganize under Chapter 11 or go for full closure. The news item didn't say.

Jean, you beat me to it!

I do buy books from Borders, but mostly via online.

jane · « **Reply #4091 on:** February 15, 2011, 06:29:10 PM »

Interesting that one article online about Borders says this: "...their biggest problem was failure to develop an eBook reader as Amazon has done with the Kindle and Barnes and Noble has done with the Nook."

http://www.fiercecontentmanagement.com/story/rumors-fly-about-borders-bankruptcy/2011-02-15

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4092 on:** February 15, 2011, 06:45:44 PM »

I read two years ago that Border's was in trouble along with of all places Radio Shack - remember years ago when Radio Shack was only an attachment to that craft store that sold the tools for working leather - forget what it was called.

I do not know if it is true all over but here some years ago Border's stopped having groups both reading clubs, poetry groups and on the weekends live music groups meet or perform in the store - that separation made it like any other bookstore with a coffee shop and their coffee was no better than the coffee at B&N who had a larger book selection and as large a music department - then when Borders got rid of the DVDs and Video tape section along with carrying all the International magazines there was no reason to choose them as a place to hang out -

Stores may dislike the idea they are a hangout but most who do end up buying a book they could not finish and they see it as their store to stop in when they need a gift or want to look over several books before making their choice. We forget Amazon did not have the ability to read the first chapter and look over the index of most books as we would to make a choice in a brick and morter store. And so the way I see it Borders ended up putting themselves in direct compitition with both B&N and Amazon.

OK it is only my two cents...

maryz · « **Reply #4093 on:** February 15, 2011, 07:18:31 PM »

Barb, it was Tandy - based originally in Ft. Worth, TX.

roshanarose · « **Reply #4094 on:** February 15, 2011, 08:27:33 PM »

We still have Borders book shops open here in Australia. On average there would be about four a city. I have a Borders gift card, so I will make a point of spending it soon, if the trend becomes global. With the price of books in Australia, I am surprised that Borders has stayed open for as long as it has. We don't have an Australian version of Amazon here, or Barnes and Noble, but we have Dymocks, Angus and Robertson and a couple of other book chains. They are all expensive. I very rarely buy new books. Since my library has opened an elibrary I use that. Many others have the same ideas. Just about every ebook from the library has a long waiting list.

Gumtree · « **Reply #4095 on:** February 15, 2011, 10:38:53 PM »

Roshanarose: We only have one Borders in Perth - they opened with a great flourish and a great stock of books on the shelves - they are always filled with people but they went bust not long after they opened and the store here is now, I believe, a subsidiary of Angus and Robertsons.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4096 on:** February 15, 2011, 11:15:06 PM »

My poor local Borders is occupies space next to a department store. It is just off a two major routes, but while it isn't really hard to get to, it seems like a neglected little backwater. B&N moved into a close by shopping mall when they renovated last. It is right on one of the major routes and gets the benefit of that plus the traffic coming to do shopping at other mall stores. I visit the B&N even less than Borders. I like the Borders store better (if not the prices, which seem a little higher), and I especially like not having to deal with mall traffic. I just tend to buy most of my books online or at my local used bookstore.

Of the big bookstores that have graced this area, I liked Encore the best. It went belly up. Figures. I used to frequent that store a lot.

serenesheila · « **Reply #4097 on:** February 15, 2011, 11:18:47 PM »

I am begining to wonder if I have missed something. Has a book been chosen for the month of March, discussion? If it has, I missed the information. In January I participated in the discussion of "Little Bee", and am now involved with "Empire of the Summer Moon". There is quite a bit of violence in each of them. Now, I am ready for a light read. Hopefully.

Sheila

Frybabe · « **Reply #4098 on:** February 15, 2011, 11:41:04 PM »

You know what, Shiela? I believe you are right. I don't see anything for March either.

Babi · « **Reply #4099 on:** February 16, 2011, 08:54:13 AM »

GUM, being an independent documentary film maker would certainly
make this young woman proficient at organizing and give her a good
grasp of the over-all significance of what was happening. I wonder
if she would be able to make a documentary film about this very
dramatic historical event?

MaryPage · « **Reply #4100 on:** February 16, 2011, 09:59:21 AM »

I received a $50 gift card for Borders from one of my sons for Christmas. I ordered on line, 1 book plus the DVD set of the complete series of L.M. Montgomery's EMILY OF NEW MOON. The book came right away, but I keep getting emails that the DVD set is on back order. I suppose now I will never get it!

I ordered the set, which was made into a mini-series for TV just as Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables was, because I want to view it for myself (I've never seen it, though of course I read all the books) and pass it on to one granddaughter who loved the books I gave her so much that she named her first child Emily. My great granddaughter Emily is now 17.

It has been so heartwarming to me to have a granddaughter who loved Lucy Maud Montgomery's books as much as I. It was my grandmother who introduced them to me!

MaryPage · « **Reply #4101 on:** February 16, 2011, 10:04:33 AM »

Babi, have you heard that Lara Logan, that pretty blond reporter for CBS News, got separated from her film crew in that square in Cairo last Friday and was assaulted by a group of men? She was beaten and sexually assaulted. I have no idea what more; no doubt she will tell all eventually. She is back in the States in hospital. A bunch of Egyptian women and some Army soldiers rescued her.

pedln · « **Reply #4102 on:** February 16, 2011, 10:15:03 AM »

MaryPage, that is terrible. I'm usually tuned to channels other than CBS, you'd think they would have said something.

This is off-topic entirely, but a fantastic picture taken across the river (from my town) in southern Illinois.

Valentine eagles

I remember my first visit to a Borders some years ago, in one of the Chicago suburbs. They had a cafe that serve Italian Wedding soup and a whole 2nd floor devoted to music cds. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. From then on, every visit to my brother and SIL included a visit to Borders. About 10 years later we finally got a large chain in my town.

FlaJean · « **Reply #4103 on:** February 16, 2011, 10:23:22 AM »

That's terrible news, MaryPage. Thanks for posting the web cam URL in this forum or another one (don't remember). I sent that link to a friend whose son lives in Annapolis. She appreciated it.

maryz · « **Reply #4104 on:** February 16, 2011, 10:35:02 AM »

The news about Lara Logan was reported last night on NBC Nightly News and on MSNBC, too - plus in our paper this morning.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4105 on:** February 16, 2011, 01:11:01 PM »

Pedln - re Major Pettigrew - I have just been to Sainsbury's (supermarket) and they have this wonderful novel on their "any two books for £7" shelf - I don't know how much that is in US dollars, but it's a lot cheaper than the Waterstones price. I have bought two already for two friends, and may go back again and get 2 more for my mother and mother-in-law. And to think I almost didn't bother stopping - I was only passing because I had to collect my car from the garage.

This has considerably brightened my otherwise ennervating day

Rosemary

salan · « **Reply #4106 on:** February 16, 2011, 01:21:50 PM »

Sheila and Frybabe, I was wondering the same thing. I assume that we haven't chosen a book yet. Does anyone know?
Sally

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4107 on:** February 16, 2011, 02:25:24 PM »

I wonder how Steph is enjoying the dog show. I saw part of it on Mon night but not last night. I just heard the winner but won't say in case you want to watch the Best in Show...... Jean

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4108 on:** February 16, 2011, 02:31:20 PM »

Yes, it is very quiet around here without Steph. I hope she is having a great time.

ginny · « **Reply #4109 on:** February 16, 2011, 04:24:44 PM »

Shiela, Salan, and Frybabe, the Odyssey is the Book Club Online for the month of March, it just started 2 weeks early, in February.

My cousin's dog did not win but I understand it was photographed individually on the news sometime during the dog show, what a surprise, the winner!

JoanP · « **Reply #4110 on:** February 16, 2011, 04:33:38 PM »

Oh my, weren't those dogs something else? I had picked the winner as my favorite, but never thought he'd win the best in show. He was awesome! Steph must have had a great time seeing those dogs in person. In person?

What was the breed of your cousin's dog, Ginny?

I posted in the Suggestion Box earlier, but see the same question here regarding upcoming discussions for the Spring, so will copy the post here...

The Bookclub Online discussion for February, the Empire of the Summer Moon, is a surprisingly good one. I don't know why I was surprised - I guess it didn't seem like my kinda story - the Indians and Texas Rangers on the Plains in a gory part of our history. But it is hard to put down! The author has a way with history. We'll continue that discussionthrough February.

The Bookclub Online for March is Homer's Odyssey...this is beginning now and will go through March...maybe longer.

In April, the Paul Scott series will continue with sort of a coda to the Raj Quartet, Staying On - the book can stand alone - won the Booker prize on its own merits.

Right now are gearing up for a vote for the Spring Book discussions. We're still taking nominations before we vote...in the Suggestion Box - see the link in the header on this page.

PS....Bellemere, I've been meaning to answer your question about the Pym Society Meeting in March. Unfortunately I have a meeting at the Library of Congress...SeniorNet and now SeniorLearn has been a member of the Reading Promotion Partners of the LOC for many years. (One of the Partners is PBS Masterpiece - the people who provided all those free books to us this past year.) - can't miss that meeting...

To your question though - I taught French, right off Mass Ave. in North Cambridge while husband attended law school - also on Mass Ave...three years of snowy winters. It was quite an exciting time there - in the late 60's...

marcie · « **Reply #4111 on:** February 16, 2011, 09:20:29 PM »

Pedln, sometimes Amazon has several listing for a book. I found new copies of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand at http://www.amazon.com/Major-Pettigrews-Last-Stand-Readers/dp/0812981227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297909045&sr=1-1

pedln · « **Reply #4112 on:** February 16, 2011, 10:30:09 PM »

Marcie, I'm glad you found that because I sure couldn't find it yesterday and it really bothered me that they wouldn't have the "free shipping, etc." option for such a current and popular best-seller. I guess I just didn't look far enough.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4113 on:** February 16, 2011, 10:52:13 PM »

I am so happy to see that Staying On is on the schedule.

Gumtree · « **Reply #4114 on:** February 16, 2011, 10:57:12 PM »

Me too, Frybabe I've got the book but haven't read it yet - saving it to read closer to the discussion. I did read Seven Days at Marapore though - easier to read and digest than the Raj Quartet was.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4115 on:** February 17, 2011, 02:41:23 AM »

Me too. I've read it, but I think I will read it again nearer the time. The TV adaptation will always "be" the book for me - Peggy Ashcroft and Trevor Howard - wonderful.

Rosemary

PatH · « **Reply #4116 on:** February 17, 2011, 07:51:24 AM »

I also have Staying On sitting and waiting for me, but will not start reading until close to discussion time.

PatH · « **Reply #4117 on:** February 17, 2011, 08:06:41 AM »

For anyone thinking of maybe joining the Odyssey discussion, it is definitely not too late. Don't be put off by that huge pre-discussion, which includes voting and background. The actual discussion only started 2 days ago, and started with just book one, which is about 14 pages. You can find it on the next to last page of the discussion (p13), starting with post #503.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4118 on:** February 17, 2011, 09:16:00 AM »

PatH - I am still hoping to join in but I can't get at the book till the weekend. Must admit am slightly daunted by everyone's amazing (and very interesting) knowledge - I am a complete ignoramus by comparison.

Rosemary

roshanarose · « **Reply #4119 on:** February 17, 2011, 09:37:46 AM »

Oh No! Rosemary. Please do not think like that. I get this horrible feeling sometimes that I am writing too much on the Odyssey page. The only reason so is that Greek has consumed me since 1982, when I visited, and the visit completely turned my life around. Everyone has something to offer to the discussion. Often the fresh views are the most interesting. Most of the time that pre-discussion is answering questions.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2087410 times)