The Library

[LarryHanna]

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 
 

Hi everyone.  Another beautiful day here in Georgia.  

I just looked at the pictures that Daphne posted of her equipped van.  I wish her well but sure wouldn't want to have to live like that.  I didn't see anyplace where she had a nice easy chair recliner and the other comforts that I have grown used to.

Ginny, I worked a little bit with the Calibre last evening and you can individually edit the metatags, including the covers that appear in your ebook reader.  A lot of the books I downloaded from the Gutenberg site have no covers and you can't really tell what the book is.  I am thinking I will keep my ebook collection on my computer and only have a few books show in the ebook reader at a time.  I have them on a small memory disk that fits into my ebook reader and is easily removed and put in the computer and I think will make it much easier to manage the books.  

Barb, it is great to see so many familiar names writing here.    

[rosemarykaye]

I think the idea of "themed" reads is great.  However, after I posted about Bird Cloud I looked it up on Google and the reviews are terrible!!  There is also a Guardian "condensed read" that is v funny.  Basically, all the reviewers feel that here is a rich, spoilt, unreasonable woman, patronising tradesmen, making ridiculous demands and generally taking herself too seriously.

The episodes I have heard on R4 did not come across that way to me, but maybe it reads differently on paper, or maybe I wasn't listening properly!  It would be interesting to hear what others think.

R

[mabel1015j]

I envy and am in awe at Daphne' adventure. I would love to do that, but would be very stressed about doing it.

I saw Kim Komondo's newsltr about the calibre. I have only downloaded a half dozen books to my ipad. I just love curling up on my sofa or bed w/ a book and curling up w/ my ipad doesn't feel the same.  . So the books i've downloaded have been mostly the out of print non-fiction books and i go to them when i have a few minutes, or am on the treadmill. My favorite at the moment is from Amazon on the Kindle app, Elizabeth Cady Stanton's memoir, Eighty Years and More, Reminiscences 1851-1897.

I read The W of Wstprt a few months ago. I think i was in the wrong mood to enjoy it. All three of those women made me just want to smack them - mentally, of course, i wld never smack anyone, and say "start thinking! You've got a brain!" Most of the humor alluded me.

Jean

[BarbStAubrey]

rosemarykaye -  I have decided the best today is to keep the motto 'to each his own;' front and center including among critics - even here there are some who are concerned for Dapphne and some who could not see themselves duplicating her choice of adventure and others who are green with envy - I think that goes for critics as well, especially, when it comes to the housing and lifestyle choice. No one is right - and published writers can write from a 100 acres or. 1 acre or. one room and someone can find a reason to question their choice - I must say it took me awhile to figure out who/what Radio4 was - I was certain for a while it was the on-line name for someone - it took me a bit to figure out OHhh it is Radio 4 as in listening to the radio that I can access through my BBC link.  

Both books did I flirt with and change my mind - both the Three Weissmans...  and the Bird Cloud instead, I went for The Winter Sea and Chasing Harry Winston: A Novel - Started the Winter Sea - a writer of romance how after checking out a castle on the Scottish coast decides to settle in a rented cottage to write her book - sounds like the location  may be near  you Rosemarykaye - she talks about Perth and Edinburgh and is it Firth - I was lucky, Amazon is showing it is back-ordered and the cost of one from the marketplace is high, especially when  you add shipping - a week ago a young women in Colorado was selling her copy and so I snapped it up for $5. Plus, the $4 shipping charge. Haven't started Chasing Harry Winston yet, but it looks like fun. .I'm still reading the old copy of Tatterdemalion. I found by accident a couple of weeks ago.

Ginny you are something - don't let all that falderal from Real Estate turn your head - please - everyone of us in books works hard at what we do and those of us who are independent workers that were banded together for mutual support and training in Real Estate Co. are coaxed to stay with all the splash a Broker/Owner can imagine and muster - it is simply bribery to keep those who like to showcase winning on board. That is why it is in the trunk of my vehicle. I do love what I do and love it when I can see the face change as people get it and go forward making their own choices - I love that - and the camaraderie among most agents but being competitive to make money for the owner - sorry, I think it turns the integrity of our work into a football game. ..  

As to decorating - it is interesting to see the variety - however, I see a great amount of similarity according to income brackets which you can guess because of the price range of home they are selling. Funny to watch are buyers making the choice of a new home that you know was because they fell in love with how the builder's model was decorated and you know when you go back to visit after they have moved their furniture into the house in their minds they no longer see their furniture but see it as if it was the professional decor similar to the builder model.

The home that stays with me and still breaks my heart is a condo - just a bit higher in price than the typical condo complex - I wrote a prose poem about the experience - this was about two and a half years or so after we were in Iraq.
 
Texas Chapel

Opened a town house this evening - nicely decorated with a man's big leather chair in a small room overlooking a view of Live Oak trees against a red sunset - Texas memorabilia lay on the table and hang on the walls; including a mounted set of longhorns -

sunset
the Cowboy leaves behind
footsteps

The living room was fashionable with a two story fireplace wall - the room, like open arms ready to wrap you in its depth, waited – as if no one lived there at all - even the warmly decorated, immaculate kitchen with earth toned tile counters seemed undisturbed - the bedroom told it all -

First, we noticed on top of the dresser, in a triangle glass box, the stars of an American flag. We look closer and read a small plaque at the bottom - born 1959 killed in Iraq 2002 - surrounded by several wedding photos, another of him alone; squatting in bluejeans, boots and hat - angled to the folded flag is a large, 8 by 10 professional photo of him and his wife dressed in red shirts holding a 9 to 10 month old little boy.

The buyer, a single guy, slowly took it in -
tears in both our eyes -
we left...

[Frybabe]

And now for something just a little different. Article and pix of writer's huts.

http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/email/famous-writers-small-writing-sheds-and-offthegrid-huts-140587?utm_source=Re-Nest+Weekly+Email&utm_campaign=ad48d8241e-RN_email_3_2_113_2_2011&utm_medium=email

[Tomereader1]

Ohh, I want Michael Pollan's writing "hut" for my very own!! Set up perfectly for me - - even if I never wrote a book, but would read hundreds!

[rosemarykaye]

I want Roald Dahl"s - so cosy inside and so beautiful outside.

We viewed a house that had an office in the garden - I loved it. Unfortunately it was sold before we could buy it.  There is something very appealing about cosying oneself away in a secret place - I suppose that's why children like Wendy houses.

Rosemary

[Frybabe]

I loved the aside about GBS naming his hut "London" so that if anyone called, they could say he went to London and be telling the truth.

[maryz]

Steph, I think it was Bobbi Gould who was wandering the country in her van.  She came through here, and I met her for coffee one day.  I couldn't entice her to stay a night with us, but it was fun to talk to her.  I haven't heard anything about her in a while.

I love the idea that Dapphne is living her dream is terrific.  I do agree with Larry, though - when we got our camper, one of my requirements was to have a place inside where I could read at night (i.e., light, with no rain or bugs).  But we each have our own "necessities". 

[Octavia]

Sorry to take so long to answer Jane, but no, that wasn't the post I lost. The touch pad on my laptop is so sensitive, it seems to move if I even breathe on it. Plus, sweaty fingers make it difficult.
I haven't been here for a few days because of the weather, lots of storms. I have one ear cocked for thunder right now.
Gumtree, I didn't see The Book Club for the same reason, but I did see the Grantham flood program. It sent chills down my spine to watch the footage of somone's house being swept away, with the film and commentary coming from the person inside.
There was an incredible rescue here in the last couple of days. A man waded into a rising creek to see if it was okay to drive across, and was washed away and had his foot stuck between rocks. He would have drowned except for a length of garden hose his friends grabbed out of their Cruiser. It let him breathe just long enough to finish the rescue.


I've just read Anita Shreve's Rescue. I enjoyed it, but not as much as some of her other books. Anyone with an interest in emergeny medicine would enjoy it.

[Octavia]

The other lady in Seniornet who travelled around in a van, was she the lady who had two dogs? I can't recall her name, she gave one of the dogs to a seniornet lady.

[mabel1015j]

I got a blurp about this book in my Women and History newsletter today. Exit the Actress is a novel about Nell Gwyn, an actress who became the mistress of Charles II and the mother of his child. The author, Priya Parmar, is a doctoral candidate at U of Edinboro. The description of the book itself was fascinating and the story got good reviews from the Amazon readers.

http://www.amazon.com/Exit-the-Actress-ebook/dp/B0043RSJRM/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

This is the description of the book:
The book itself is a work of art. The book is written in diary format, decorated with bits and pieces of fancy stationary, easy to read diary entries, flourishes, newspaper articles of the time, theatre brochures, personal letters between members of the royal family, and delightful recipes for cures from The Lady’s Household Companion. It truly is a feast for the eyes as well as the intellect. This heightens the historic feel and credibility of the novel. There is a great deal of historic detail cleverly weaved together to form the story. Nell is a fascinating character, courageous and forthright, who overcame poverty and rose to the loftiest of heights. A rags to riches story not to be missed.
Jean

[roshanarose]

Jean  - That books about Nell sounds delightful.  I shall look out for it.

I would like to live in two places.

1.  The most beautiful place I have ever seen/been.  Magical, mystical, peerless and magnificent Santorini.  I would live in one of those little white houses built into the side of the caldera.  I would have my own very private pool and a view all the way to Heaven.  I would have a little balcony with straw based chairs and a small iron table.  I would have an excellent cellar and dine on the best fetta, olive oil and fish in the land.  An occasional visit from a Greek god, or demi-god, would be lovely and I would invite my SL friends as well.  Just down the hill from where I will live is the hydrofoil which will take me all around the Greek islands, or better still I could learn to sail and have my own little yacht.  Of course, my beautiful, Roxana Taj would be there as well.  If Santorini decided to erupt, at least I would die happy.

2.  I know that I am not the only Doctor Who fan on SL.  I would enjoy living in the Tardis.  I have always been fascinated by all those knobs and dials.  The Doctor would have to teach me how to fly/launch/drive/sail the Tardis.  Maybe renting a room from the Doctor and accompanying him on some of his time travels.  After last week's repeat of the "Vampire Aliens" in Venice, I wll give Venice a miss for now.

After I retired I did intend to drive from Brisbane to Cooktown.  But it is just too far to drive alone, so I just went as far as Hervey Bay to watch the whales.  I decided that if I wanted to get to Cairns and/or Cooktown, I would fly.  Or maybe go with the Doctor.

[rosemarykaye]

Oh Roshanarose - I love the sound of the house in Santorini.  I can just imagine the whitewashed walls and the blue sky above.  And an occasional visit from a demi-god sounds like a great idea (so long as no sacrifices involved   ).

There are lots of places I would like to live, all of them well off the beaten track.  I just hope that by the time Madeleine has left school I still have enough of my faculties to be able to live in rural tranquillity.

Rosemary

[kiwilady]

If my husband had not died so young we intended to live on our classic boat and travel all round the coast doing jobs like fruit picking in summer and just enjoying blobbing out in winter. We had all mod cons however including one indoor shower and one shower with hot water on the dive platform. Good sized galley with frig, Gas cooker with oven etc and two sleeping cabins with a master cabin with double berth.

Carolyn

[rosemarykaye]

Carolyn - that sounds wonderful too.

The Ladies of Covington set up sounds good, doesn't it?  But I fear that even my dearest friends and I would not be as patient and tolerant of one another in the long term...

Rosemary

[rosemarykaye]

FlaJean - I have just sent you a message about your Wyoming video - it is great!

Thanks for posting it.

Rosemary

[Steph]

Yes, it was Bobbie, who set off in her van conversion with two rather large dogs. I honestly dont know what happened to her, but I do know that the van quit somewhere far far away in the west.. She wanted to stay in some really far places. I loved the RV, but it was comfortable..But then I am definitely a city person..I grew up in the country and lived again in the country for about 6 years when my children were babies..Very very isolating indeed.
But Ginny,, I love Tracy Kidder period and enjoyed House very much.. I just picked up another of his at the book sale.. A nursing or retirement home. Sounded good to me. But I do love all of his stuff. My older son had him as a professor at Tufts many many years ago.

[MaryPage]

I am a comfort-spoiled human being.  There is no place, for me, like home.  Traveling has been a wonderful, stimulating experience, but give me my very own bed in my very own home with my very own shower.  I could never do what Dapph is doing;  never.  Hate camping out.  Could not live in or travel in an RV.  My cosy little condo with the view that every visitor exclaims over:  the waters of the Chesapeake Bay clear to the far shore of Kent Island, changing constantly according to the light, the time of day, the weather, the time of year, and the boat traffic.  I feel I have died and gone to Heaven, for sure!

To each his own, and goodness knows we all learn heaps from having others relate for us their own unique experiences.  I salute the Dapphs of this world!

[ginny]

It's interesting, the thoughts Dapphne's Odyssey brings up.


Two Sundays ago the NY Times ran an article on  a woman, not over 65,  called Independent Scholars: A Nomadic Lot, in the Jobs section of the  Times. She had   gone off to Europe with $10,000, which ran out 9 months later,   to study, and research how the aqueducts and water systems  of ancient Rome, revived in the Renaissance of that city, changed the course of the city's history.  She stayed when the money ran out. She calls herself an "urban historian," and lives apparently by her wits, she's got no sabbatical, was an adjunct at some strange small college and essentially (I guess), is like that older  woman who they finally got out of Egypt, during the recent  riots, remember her?  She  was living over there, just to study?  The NY Times woman  has written a new book on Renaissance Rome which is just out but the article pointed to how she funded this and was quite interesting. Here it is: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/jobs/20pre.html

The poor woman in Egypt could barely walk, was that how you understood it, and she courageously  fended them off with a knife? And a cane? When they tried to come into her apartment.

I know last summer when I came back from Europe, safe mainland Europe, the Customs guy said, boy you're brave to travel by yourself. I said huh? He said maybe I know too much, I couldn't do it. I said huh? He was young and appeared fit. He said I've seen and heard too much.

But it appears there are scores of women, apparently well up in years,  doing exactly  what these two are doing overseas, alone, permanently,  is this some kind of sign of the times? Or has it gone on for ages and I just did not know it?

When you read Down the Nile, you have a young woman who wanted to row a rowboat alone  down the Nile in Egypt and did,  and it's absolutely fascinating, one of the best books I have ever read. I admired that spirit, I wished I could do the same, but she was young. She apparently goes about doing these adventures all over the world. But she then comes home. Briefly.

The woman rescued out of Egypt said she loved Egypt and would go back, wanted to be buried there,  unless it became a Muslim country. I am not sure what she thinks the predominant religious belief of Egypt  IS?  Perhaps I misunderstood her point.

I dunno.

Larry, you download your books ONTO your computer? How do you do that? I don't have a gigantic drive in my I phone so I don't think I'll put many books on it (tho it's 4 times what we used to think of as HUGE in the old days!) hahaha

I do like the idea of covers for the  Gutenberg books.

Love all the places and writer's huts people would live in!

Rosemary Kaye:

I think the idea of "themed" reads is great.  However, after I posted about Bird Cloud I looked it up on Google and the reviews are terrible!!  There is also a Guardian "condensed read" that is v funny.  Basically, all the reviewers feel that here is a rich, spoilt, unreasonable woman, patronising tradesmen, making ridiculous demands and generally taking herself too seriously.


Ah but have you read House? Stephanie, wouldn't that make a great comparison? Imagine having Tracy Kidder as your professor in college, I'd like to be a fly on the wall in that class!

[MaryPage]

I think she meant, Ginny, unless Egypt ceased being a secular state and became an Islamic state.  In an Islamic state she would be in peril for not being a Muslim and for not wearing a burka and for being a woman living alone.  Women under fundamentalist Islam are supposed to be under the protection of a husband or related male.  Period.

The people of Egypt are, without doubt, Muslim in the majority.  But Egypt is NOT run by any religion.  It is, like the United States, governed by internationally accepted laws that no religion dictates.

May it be ever so, for us, for them, and for emerging democratic societies everywhere.  For separation of church (synagogue, temple, mosque) and state means no religious belief held by a majority of citizens can threaten or intrude upon the peaceful lives of the minority.

[PatH]

Amen.

[pedln]

MaryPage, how well-put.  Thank you.

[Tomereader1]

MaryZ, Steph and Octavia, yes it was Bobbi Gould who traaveled in her van with her dogs.  I think she stayed for awhile over in Ft Worth with another of our Srs., but then she moved to ?Ohio? and is living with her son.  She still posts over in Sr.Learn in Abuse Survivors, as least she did a few months ago!

[maryz]

Re Bobbie:  Do I remember Gahenna, Ohio?

[LarryHanna]

Ginny, you need not worry about the ebooks taking up a lot of space on your computer.  They are just very small document files with a very small file as a graphic. 

Octavia, I see your concern with the sensitive built in touch pad.  You could use a mouse with the computer and a lot of computers have a setting to turn off the touchpad.  Or an easier thing to do is tape an old credit card or piece of file folder or anthing stiff but thin over the touchpad.  I have done that one several computers.  That eliminated the cursor jumping all around when typing.  Personally, I have never liked using the touch pad but know a person could get used to it and it does provide the convenience of not having to deal with a mouse. 

[rosemarykaye]

Larry - I have got a new Apple Mac and the built-in mouse is driving me demented.  As Octavia says, it is SO sensitive - I seem to be constantly initiating commands that I didn't even know existed.  My daughter has a laptop with an inbuilt mouse and says you do get used to it, but I'm not sure that I will.

I suppose I will have to buy the Apple mouse but it costs £55!!

Rosemary

[maryz]

I don't use the touchpad, and keep it turned off.  I use a remote mouse.

[Persian]

MARYPAGE - Here I am.  Yes, you are spot on RE your post about the elderly American woman who lived in Egypt, protected herself against folks who tried to break into her apartment, and then, finally, was assisted to the airport and returned to the USA.  The majority of Egyptians living in Egypt today are Muslim, but there are also numerous Egyptian Christians (mostly Orthodox, whose roots go back centuries), as well as Western Christians who have relatives in Egypt or have chosen to live there.  Many in Alexandria.  There is also a small percentage of Jews.  Although Cairo has been prominent in the recent news vis a vis the recent political upheaval, there are quite a few native born Westerners living in country.  Some married Egyptians and chose to live in country, while others were employed there.

I saw the American woman's interview, which included her arrival in the USA where she was welcomed by her son, and then a later portion of her comments.  She was obviously exhausted, but staunch in her feelings about Egypt and her interest in returning.  And if she feels healthy enough to do so, has the funds to support herself, she may very well do so after some of the current upheaval is eventually settled.

Mahlia

[rosemarykaye]

Speaking of adventurous women, has anyone else read any Dervla Murphy?

She is an Irish woman who has lived a fiercely independent life, travelling all over the world alone or with her daughter Rachel, mainly by bike.  Her first book was about her bike trip to Afghanistan and India in the 1960s - it is called Full Tilt.  She has written many others, including Wheels Within Wheels, about her upbringing.

She lives in Lismore, Co Waterford, which is very close to the home of my Irish friend.  When we were in our twenties we both worshipped her (Irish friend Marian is a lot more adventurous than I am and travelled widely by herself before she married).  One Christmas we were driving through Lismore with Marian's sister when we suddenly spotted Dervla.  She is notoriously private, so we knew we couldn't stop, but we were so thrilled to see her that we had poor Bernie driving round and round in circles so that we could take another look.

Rosemary

[BarbStAubrey]

Oh YES - I always wanted to write to her and thought a note would never get to  her since her publisher was in London - yes, the book I  read she traveled through Europe into the areas of the Middle East that we have been engaged in a war for the past 12 or so years on her bike. She took off as I recall in one of the worst winters that Europe had ever experienced. I learned of the Arab hospitality that she took advantage of - and the one wealthy home where she stayed for a while in what I think was either Iraq or Iran - something about getting on  a bus and being injured. I need to pull the book out again - and YOU KNOW HER or OF HER - WOW!!!!!

[rosemarykaye]

Barb - I'm delighted that you have heard of, and read, Dervla - but really, I don't know her at all!  We just saw her walking in Lismore one Christmas and "stalked" her for 5 mins.  I think if you wrote to her and just put Lismore, Co Waterford, Eire on the envelope she would get it - everyone knows about her for miles around. I'm sure you're right - when she set off on her very first trip (which she could only undertake once both of her parents had died) it was a terrible winter - probably the famously awful one of 1963, the very same that led to Sylvia Plath putting her head in the oven in London.  (I must say after the weather we had in December I had some sympathy with her   

My dear friend Marian is now an Irish farmer's wife, but before that she herself went all over the place - including spending a year in Ethiopia with Concern, the Catholic charity (she is a nurse).  She lives on a farm in the hills above Dungarvan, Co Waterford.  I spent many happy Christmases at her family home nearby when we were both single.

Rosemary

[BarbStAubrey]

Thanks 

[marcie]

rosemarykaye, I have used a mouse meant for Windows computers with a Macintosh before. If you know of a mouse you can borrow to try it, you might be able to purchase a less expensive mouse, if it works.

It's good to see you here, Persian.

[rosemarykaye]

Thanks Marcie - I will borrow one from my husband and give it a try.  £55 does annoy me after having coughed up so much for the laptop.

[Persian]

Thanks for your greeting, MARCIE!  I read the posts occasionally, but have been so preoccupied with a second abdominal surgery in early January, my husband's initial inability to reach his family, friends and university colleagues in Egypt during the first few days of the uprising and my son's concerns as he continues his deployment in Iraq that I have little time to myself.  But it is ALWAYS delightful to "come back" to familiar friends and read their views about the world.

Mahlia

[Babi]

 Ah, BARB, your description of that man's home was beautiful. I'm
close to tears myself.
  I loved those pictures of writer's 'huts', too.  The message was
pretty clear...you need to get away from distractions for serious
writing.

  "Exit the Actress" sounds like the kind of book one wants to
keep. From the description, however, I suspect it's going to be
expensive.

 GINNY, I am reminded of a story of my exes aunt. She lived in
an apartment building in LA. One night she heard burglars on the
stairs. After calling the police, she went into the hall and
pointed a gun at the two men on the stairs. She held them there
until the police arrived, ...and learned she was holding them off
with a fake gun. She was a feisty old lady.

[mabel1015j]

Babi Amazon has Exit t Actress for under $10........ Jean

[Steph]

I admire the woman who lived in Cairo, even though I would never want to live in a city where I did not speak the language. I love newspapers and places to chat. She is deep in  studies about Egypt and loves it however. I am not sure she will get to return. I suspect it will be topsy turvy for a while. I also would be careful about the muslim brotherhood. I read some of their public statements and they would worry me.

[MaryPage]

I honestly believe the Muslim Brotherhood is too much in the minority to win an election.  I could be mistaken, as I certainly cannot read the future;  but I do know it would appear the majority of Egyptians are anxious to have a secular government that generates jobs for its people, is pro-education, fosters a strong middle class and is for equal rights for women.

Basically, it is the lack of jobs and worry about a good life for their own and their children's future that is causing all of this revolution in these Arab nations.  The tyrants made the mistake of constantly incrementing the poverty of the majority while putting more and more and more of the wealth of the society into the hands of a very few.  This gap between rich and poor is what brought about the fall of the Roman Empire and many others.  This, plus too much money pouring into arms, weapons, and all of the machinery of war, is what brought down the U.S.S.R.  People will philosophize and History books will give all sorts of reasons for nations failing;  but the vast majority of the time if you use that old phrase:  Follow The Money, you will discover the real reasons.  A nation with a strong middle class running the government is a strong nation. A military-industrial machine nation (which General & President Dwight David Eisenhower in his last speech to us warned might take us over), owned by a few filthy rich while the majority yearn for work to earn food for their children is a nation begging to be brought down by a rising up from that "wretched refuse yearning to breathe free."