The Library

[Steph]

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 
 

We have a lot of news junkies.. Do wonder if this is our age..The 20 somethings tend to use their many devices for whatever they want to know.

[Babi]

If it's 9 EDT, I'm pretty sure it's 10pm here.  I've located the proper channel and
marked it for quick reference. When it comes to politics, I do need clear and careful
instruction. I never even had a clue when it came to office politics!  Just took people
at face value until they proved different.
  My interest in news is something 'new' for me.  I finally realized I could find out what's
happening, even if I didn't understand all the political ins and outs.  (Then I could come in here and ask questions.  )

[ginny]

Yes we do have people in here apparently WAY up on the news, which is good. I tend to dwell in a cloud so we can always come here and find out what and who is happening.


Here's some more news you might enjoy hearing about, especially since several of our readers here are also Latin students in our program:

This morning we have some very exciting news!

 The results of the 2011 National Latin Exam are in. More than 150,000 students at all levels  including the university level took the National Latin Exam in 2011, from all 50 states and 12 countries, including  Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Zimbabwe, and for the first time, Iran and Malaysia.

Once again all of the students who took the National Latin Exam from our program received awards!!

We had 5 students this year to try their hands, all in the 101 and the 102 this year, as many of our upper classmen are not eligible this year for the next rung.

Of those 5, all received first place. That puts our average per school at 100 percent awards, unheard of!

In the Introduction to Latin we had 3 placing first:

Congratulations to:



Introduction to Latin:

Mogamom:  First place: Purple Ribbon (they don't give gold medals for the Introduction but this purple and gold ribbon is absolutely gorgeous, I want one) and Certificate  of Outstanding Achievement

Roxania: First Place: Purple Ribbon and Certificate of Outstanding Achievement

Yvonne Miller: First Place: Purple Ribbon and Certificate of Outstanding Achievement

Latin I:

Cielolama: Gold Medal, Summa Cum Laude

MelandraII:  Gold Medal, Summa Cum Laude

In addition two of our students got Perfect Papers!


Perfect Scores: Separate Commendations:

Congratulations to our own Mogamom and Roxania for this incredible feat!


And congratulations to all those who assist with the program in any way, Jane who is our Registrar, and who does techincal help and orientation,  Marcie who helps with the technical side,  Mippy and Pedln as Teaching Assistants, and Edith Anne for the games.

It's a good and pretty incredible thing, actually.  

[ginny]

And now, to change the subject AGAIN, I came in originally to talk about Old Filth, how did you like it, Maryz? I've gotten several emails from people in this discussion saying how much they liked it and wanting a recommendation for another of hers.

I think this is the kind of book you'd either love or hate, but the DEPTH here,  just blows one away, totally unexpected. Creeps up on you.

In looking for her next book I found this incredible article and photo of her in The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/jan/10/jane-gardam-life-writing

and it's perfectly obvious she's one of our generation. No problem then knowing why Filth is so realistic, I just absolutely love it.  She's won just about everything she can. Is she really an OBE too?

I'm not through yet, it's kind of like the Major which I also brought here originally,  but with a strong dose of reality, I swear Gardam is following me around. The CAR thing! But I want to finish it first.  It just blows me away, how she seems to know what flits thru the mind of one getting older, and it's not always sweet.

Filth and his wife were both orphaned at an early age and now that past is coming back to him in his 80's. I've slowed down reading it because I don't want it to end and I'm afraid of it ending. It's about how aging is perceived by others around you and the secret life you have. What scares me is HE'S in his mid 80's and I'm not, but still....

Powerful, to be a work of fiction it's powerful.


 I guess she would not make a good author to interview here because as she says, once she's written it, it's gone. Love this article, love Old Filth. She's got a new one out which is  Filth's wife's side of the story. (He's not filthy, he's extraordinarily natty but FILTH is an acronym for Failed in London, Try Hong Kong), he's a former judge.

Highly recommended and the book form is almost perfect, smallish paperback, bookends on both covers, large print. Wonderful reading experience.

Reading anything good? If you saw the Upstairs  Downstairs on PBS Sunday come over and discuss it with us in the PBS discussion, it was fabulous, too. Or so I thought but I'm a big fan of the original series.

[MaryPage]

Babi, we in Eastern Daylight Time are one hour Later than Central Time and so on across the nation.  So our 9:00 in the evening would be your 8:00 in the evening.

[rosemarykaye]

Ginny, I love Jane Gardam and would very much recommend her books "A Long Way from Verona", and my absolute favourite, "Bilgewater".  I have read a few interviews with her and she always sounds very "normal".

Rosemary

[Tomereader1]

Okay, you people - - driving me up the wall!  How on earth can I make any headway on my ToBeRead stack, with all the suggestions, especially of authors I've never heard of!  LOL   I put in a request today for Gardam's "Old Filth" at my library.  Not many copies so I'm third on the list.  Someone in this forum must live in the Dallas Library System, as I have seen several books we've talked about, making big dents in the availability.  They have 3 of OF and two are currently checked out! So somebody has been reading our mail!

[FlaJean]

Tomereader, I live in a much smaller place than Dallas, but I feel the same way.  I put a reserve on Major Pettigrew after I read about it in the forums here and I am still on the waiting list.

[Steph]

I did Major Pettigrew through my IPAD.. Am glad, it is a reread occasionally for me.
I must try Old Filth.. It does sound interesting. I am getting depressed however with Staying on.. The Paul Scott coda..Too much deliberate malice..I will struggle on, but am disappointed n the overall down of the second half of the book.

[ginny]

hahah, Man there's nothing like a good book, is there?

I had never heard of her either, till I read an off comment on a website dealing with the Downton Abbey series, I don't know where I've been all this time.

Rosemary thank you for those recommendations!!  I can't wait to dive in. Is she readily available in  the UK? I hope to find something of hers when I'm out tomorrow but this publisher of Old Filth has me spoiled, for a non e reader experience it's hard to beat.

Still reading Goldsworthy on the small e screen, it's just amazing how that small screen breaks down his involved text into manageable bits, like reading Patterson or something.

I sometimes feel a little out of it when I look at the bestselling authors, some of whom I've never read. I don't think I've ever been on a plane I haven't encountered somebody reading Auel, and she's got a new one out: THE LAND OF THE PAINTED CAVES, by Jean M. Auel. (Crown.) The latest volume in a series that began with “The Clan of the Cave Bear,” set during the ice age.

Have any of you read these?  What ARE they?  Or Coben? He seems to sell a lot of books. I did get a Doig  (sp) which was recommended here, and it looks fabulous, I love books about the midwest, love that kind of thing.

It's so intresting to see what people are reading in airports and on planes and of course the new thing is to pop a book out immediately lest the person next to you should say hello. haahaa

I have actually never read  a Louis Lamour and even tho he's not on the current bestseller lists, I know they are really popular.  Never read a Picoult. Don't read Patterson but did like his book on King Tut. He is the highest grossing author there is, beating Stephen King and Rowling.  My list of "I've never read a...." seems too long!

In truth, if you look at what's on the bestseller list this morning, how many HAVE you read?  http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/list.html

I did read Water for Elephants, based on recommendations here. I see it's to be a new movie too. And I bought but have not read The Help, which also is to be a new movie, but other than that I'm a blank here.

I wonder if that's a bad thing?  What are YOU reading today?

[MaryPage]

Harlan Coben is good.  I always buy his latest book when it comes out in paperback.  I do this with a lot of authors, and keep track of what I have on hand and what I've already read and given away by keeping a table list in my WORD for each author separately.  Sometimes I buy the unabridged audio book on CDs and listen while I take my walk.  With the "Cat Who" series I had about a third on audio.  Had about a quarter of the Patrick O'Brian on cassette tape (CDs had not been invented yet;  I bet you can get him on CD now).  I still have a lot of Cobens on hand to read.

Reading right now?  Along with a lot of "stuff" of various kinds, I am still reading and hugely enjoying MRS. JACK by Louise Hall Tharp.  Oh, the people and the goings-on in 19th century Boston!

[Frybabe]

I like Coben too. Right now, his book, The Woods, is in my TBR pile. When I read his Tell No One, I couldn't put it down.


Aside from three books I am reading for our book discussion groups, last night I started The Memory of Mars (Short Story, 1961) by Raymond F. Jones. http://www.manybooks.net/titles/jonesr2609326093.html I picked it up off of Project Gutenberg, but noticed that it is free on several other ebook sites as well. One thing PG isn't real good about is listing the original publication date on their books. Mostly, the dates I see are when they are published on PG. I am curious about how this came to be public domain already. According to PG, anything published in the US before 1923 is fair game for public domain publishing. After that, some books, etc. can enter into the public domain under special circumstances.


I just finished volume #5 of the StarDoc series (S. L. Viehl) SciFi. Number six is Rebel Ice which it is not available anywhere unless I buy it used over the net. The posted prices and postage don't make it worth ordering - just yet. Amazon does not have this one (although others are) on ebook. I've just put in a request for it. I don't know if they wait for a critical mass of requests before they do so, but it is pretty obvious that the current printing has been exhausted, as are several others of this series. With #5, I noticed that that author's writing has improved (or she got a better editor).  

[MaryPage]

I enjoyed TELL NO ONE immensely, as well.  Did you know the French made a movie of it?  You can get it with subtitles, and it is really, really good.  A little different, as they always are;  but basically the same.

I have heard Hollywood will make it eventually, and I believe they have bought other Cobens.

Actually, when I think on it, I believe the TELL NO ONE I saw in my local moving picture theatre was dubbed in English, not subtitles.

[jeriron]

I saw "Tell no One"  from Netflix. It had subtitles. It was really good.

I get a kick out of people on Netflix that give a review of a movie ( one star )because it had subtitles. Don't they read the discription of the film before they order it. What do they expect if it's a foreign film. Unless they rather see it dubbed.

[Babi]

Oh, quite right, MARYPAGE. I was thinking backwards!

 I'm glad that was a non-fiction list, GINNY. I don't read as much non-fiction now, and I
haven't read any of those.

[MaryPage]

One of my 5 daughters will not watch a movie that has subtitles!  I think that is really SO dumb, because the subtitles are usually just perfect and tell you all you need to know.

But then, hey!  I remember going to the silent movies.  Cost a nickel and someone played the organ right there in the old church in my home town that had been converted into a place to show the new movie delights.  Douglas Fairbanks!  Be still my heart!  (Actually, I never liked him, but he was quite the rage.)  Oh yes, and back then every female heart fluttered over The Sheik of Araby!  They must have given the person paid to play the organ (or piano in some movie houses) a score, because they would play creepy scary where called for and rise and fall as the action required.  What Drama!  What Hams!

I bought all 3 Swedish films of The Girl Who.  The first has subtitles only, but it is fun to listen at the same time to the Swedish and realize how many words are close to our own.  The other 2 are dubbed in English.

[jeriron]

I started to watch "DiVinci's Inquest"It's a Canadian Detective show. The first two seasons the DVD has CC. But the third season DVD doesn't. I can't understand why Acorn does does that. I had Netflix sent me the first one just incase it was a mistake which sometimes it is. Not this time. No CC,nosubtitles. So annoying.

[pedln]

Jeriron -- that really doesn't make a lot of sense that they would not have subtitles for the 3rd season.  What about SDH -- which I think a lot of the newer DVDs have in lier of CC -- subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Tell No One -- I saw it in New York a couple of years ago -- it was subtitled.  I'll repeat my story about the Finns for those who won't look at subtitles.  Finnish children are out in front on reading and one reason is -- subtitles.  The kids don't necessarily watch more tv than other kids, but more of it is NOT Finnish, so it has subtitles.  Apparently there have been studies done showing positive benefits of children reading along with the subtitles.  If I had little beginning readers at home, they'd be watching daytime PBS (excellent children's programming) with subtitles.

Hold Tight is the only Coben I've read.  Really really liked it.  Required reading for parents of teenagers.  Do you know where your children are?  Do you know how you can find out?

Now I'm looking forward to reading my first Ivan Doig -- someday, I hope.

Ginny, you must read The Help.  Before you see the movie.  EVERYONE is reading or has read The Help.  It sounds like you've been missing a lot of fun reads.

[pedln]

Tuesday I went to the big city for my annual audiology appointment.  Wished I'd had a camera.  I was deep into Clara and Mr. Tiffany (on my Kindle)  when I looked up and oh my gosh -- the gentleman next to me was showing HIS Kindle to the fellow next to HIM, who had an IPAD. The guy sitting across from us was too absorbed in HIS Kindle to comment.  There was one lone booky -- she was up to T in the Sue Grafton series.  We were all of a certain age.  When the audiologist called me she said it was too bad I didn't get a picture because no one would believe me.

[MaryPage]

Oh, I don't know about that comment!  If you stop on a city street corner and gaze about for a moment, it is downright staggering how many people passing by or standing around or driving by or sitting at a sidewalk cafe are ON THEIR CELL PHONES!  Good grief Miss Agnes, ask I;  how much talking must the average American DO these days and to whom must they speak so much?!  Granted, I can remember when most people did not even own a telephone and ours was on a small table at the back end of the front hall and using it was a rare delight tinged with terror and we all literally screamed down the line.  But this is the age of technology and that said John is that!

I don't know from texting.  What can be the use of it is more than I can see!  But I do read an old-fashioned book in medical waiting rooms.

[rosemarykaye]

MaryPage - I agree about people yapping on their cell phones - when I visit my mother and travel on commuter trains in and out of central London, the evening trains are alive (as well as packed like sardine cans) with the sound of people imparting such vital information as "I'm on the train" and "It's chicken for tea".  And they always talk in such loud voices - sometimes I want to scream "I DON'T CARE" - but of course, being English, I don't   

Texting, however, is something I like.  I like the way you can do it - like email - when you like without worrying about interrupting people, because they can reply, or not, when they wish.

Only one of my friends has so far bought a Kindle - she loves it.  My MIL has purchased one for my FIL, but she says they are struggling with it.  We will see them in a couple of weeks and I hope we will be able to help, though I am not the best candidate for that - luckily my husband and elder daughter think in those technical ways....

Rosemary

[kiwilady]

I wonder if we will end up a society who rejects the telephone. I and my friends increasingly get communications from our children by email or by text instead of a phone call. Our kids all live in the same city as us! I am getting a bit irate. I have begun to refuse to speak to their answering machines or answering services. Some have caller ID so even when I don't leave a message they know its me and will phone back immediately. Why didn't you leave a message Mum? My reply is that I refuse to speak to a machine.

At the moment I am reading a non fiction book entitled Perdita by Paula Byrne. It is a biography of the life of Mary Robinson, actress, then writer and one time Mistress of the Prince of Wales in the latter part of the 18th century. It is a very good read.

Carolyn

[Frybabe]

Carolyn, my Mom was the same way. She very rarely left a message. In my case she didn't have to because I too have caller ID.

[JoanP]

Lots of good book titles here in the Library! The Suggestion Box is now open for business.   We're looking for your nominations for June and July discussions.  In early May, we'll vote on the titles you nominate.  Get in on the next selections now - we're waiting to hear what you think of the nominations so far.  Do you wish to re-nominate a title that was not selected the last time?

[marcie]

Pedln, what a great story. I can picture it though it would have been great if you had been able to take a photo in that waiting room!

[maryz]

pedln, you ought to see it in the airport or on an airplane.  Lots and lots of e-readers (including mine).

[Steph]

I am another Coben fan..I like both the Myron books and the other stand alones.. I also liked The Help with reservations.. I found it a bit over the top in some ways.
I wait until paperback for most of my favorite authors.. That way I can keep track. I found the latest Charlaine Harris the other day and pounced. I liked Sookie.. notmuch into vampire books, but she and Patricia Briggs are both interesting writers.
I will drop the Paul Scott book discussion. I found the book truly awful now toward the end. I will finish it, but it is just a mess with all depression and no lighter moments now.. Tusker is the kind of person, I would have crossed the street to avoid.. Ibrahim is the only character who tries to stay like a human.

[Babi]

 Well, MARYPAGE, they were terrible hams, but without sound they did have to convey it all
by gestures, posture and facial expression. It's only now that it looks ridiculous.
  I suppose I can understand your daughter's objection to subtitles. I know how annoyed I
get when, in the middle of a tense drama, some ad for another show pops into the corner of
the screen. So distracting.

 PEDLN, on the Doig, do make it sometime soon. You won't regret it. I plan to read more of
his asap.

 You know, I find all this focus on constant phoning/texting a bit alarming. It's as though
everyone is retreating from personal contact, shutting themselves away from the people
around them. I once read a short story sci-fi in which people no longer went out of doors
or met with others in their homes.  Everyone was isolated and kept in contact through their
computer/camera set-up. Now we seem to be seeing the beginnings of all that.
  Ah, well, I'm sure our instinct for survival will pull us back from that precipice. It
always has before.

[jane]

 On the other hand, (dontcha hate that ) many people stay in closer contact with texting  (hearing from their children several times a day), instead of the once a week duty call.  We get cell calls from family members enroute home from work and caught in traffic or waiting for the train and can catch up with what's going on.  A simple text message "waiting at airport...flying to Charlotte, then Dallas, then Denver this week..will try to catch up with you this weekend" keeps us up with  how busy the lives of the working 40 yr olds are these days.

I agree about the shouting, though.  It seems they're either deaf from listening to that darn music so loud it'd split your eardrums or they think they're using orange juice cans and a string (if anyone is old enough to remember that fun as a kid!)

jane

[marjifay]

Does everyone know that the due date for FEDERAL income tax filing of forms and payment of taxes has been extended to April 18, 2011 due to be observation of Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in Washington, D.C.

Is this the first year of this holiday?  I'd never heard of that holiday before.  I haven't seen anything in the newpapers or heard anything on the radio/TV, but I'd remembered hearing this and finally found it today when I googled "Federal Income Tax 2011 due date."  (I'd had my forms finished and check written, but set aside in a file folder and almost forgot the due date is looming.)

Many states have also extended the due date to April 18.  My state, California, is honoring the April 18 date.

Marj

[BarbStAubrey]

hmmm I wonder if Emancipation Day is like our Juneteenth Day here in Texas?

[MaryPage]

Oh, how I love Juneteenth!  I had an aunt in Dallas, long gone on to her everafter, who used to throw a huge Juneteenth party every year.  June 19th, is it not?

Jane, I remember the cans and string, but ours were usually bean cans.  I don't believe orange juice came in cans until after World War Two.

[marjifay]

Yes, according to Wikipedia, Emancipation Day is commonly known in Texas as Juneteenth Day and celebrated June 16.  It commemorates the announcemet in Texas of the abolition of slavery made on that day in 1865.

In Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day is usually April 16.  But since that is on a Saturday this year, it will be celebrated on Friday, April 15 (today), thus moving the tax deadline to Monday, April 18.

Marj 

[BarbStAubrey]

Hon  you have it but Juneteenth is June 19, - here is a link to  one of the sites where Juneteenth highlights for celebration are being lined up for Austin - http://www.austintexas.org/now_playing/event_detail?id=1837

Lots of stories how and what delayed the news of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation but it was in June 19, 1865 that General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas the Emancipation Proclamation.

[marjifay]

Oops!  I goofed!  You're so right about the date of Juneteenth Day in Texas being June 19.

On Wikipedia they show a picture of Ashton Villa, the house in Galveston, where the Emancipation Proclamation was read from the balcony -- Yes, on June 19!

Marj

[JoanK]

GINNY: a while ago, you asked about Jean M. Auel and The Clan of the Cave Bear. I don't think anyone answered (unless I missed it). These are novels set in the time of the cave men. They follow the heroine through many years, and treks to many places. I believe the author tries to be as accurate as she can, given what is known.

You either love them or hate them. They give extremely (almost painfully) detailed descriptions of every aspect of life as we understand it was lived then: food, implements, clothing, herbs etc. etc. which you'll find either interesting or very tedious.

One of the many things she describes in excruciating detail is the sex life of the characters (when this involves rape, the detail is really excruciating). Nothing is left to the imagination. This may account for the popularity of her books in airports. Can't call them pornographic exactly, since this is not a main focus. She just gives the same attention to detail here as everywhere else.

If the sex doesn't put you off and you like descriptions of primative societies and technologies, they are well written. I read a few but got tired of them. Best to start with "Clan of the Cave Bear".

[kiwilady]

I found the sexual content of the Clan books a bit off putting also. No wonder teenagers were lining up to buy them!

Carolyn

[Steph]

I can understand that
Washington DC celebrates something, but the idea that the Internal Revenue also needs to honor it is beyond me.. It is not a federal holiday and it seems to me that the government needs to honor federal holidays, but certainly not state ones. or more to the point,, Washington which is sort of inbetween anything.

[marjifay]

Did you know that Bank of America, General Electric and a bunch of other corporations paid no income tax?  ZERO!

There are going to be a lot of rallies all across the U.S. on April 18 protesting this fact.  To find a group that will be protesting in your area, google "TAX DAY; MAKE THEM PAY" and you will find a link to one or more of these groups.

Marj

[Tomereader1]

and how many people did B of A, GE and the bunch of others employ?