Author Topic: The Library (Read 2088635 times)

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5080 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:35:16 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

Go to: Alibris.com They have this from $3.75 up with free shipping. Might also try ThriftBooks.com; or Powell's Books

maryz · « **Reply #5081 on:** May 17, 2011, 01:56:54 PM »

Old Filth is available on Kindle.

jane · « **Reply #5082 on:** May 17, 2011, 05:54:52 PM »

Something to ponder upon... I came across this quote from Oscar Wilde, and I'm thinking I don't agree for nonfiction, but I'm leaning to agreement for fiction.

What do you think?

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ~~ Oscar Wilde

marjifay · « **Reply #5083 on:** May 17, 2011, 08:05:00 PM »

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ~~ Oscar Wilde

Interesting quote, Jane, and does make you think, but I don't agree with that. Thinking back on the books I've read that I'd want to read again, most were classics. But I couldn't manage a steady diet of classics. I read fictional books for a number of reasons -- pure enjoyment but not requiring deep thinking, mysteries that keep me on the edge of my seat figuring out who dunit, books where I learn something new re people, cultures, and history of other countries -- books I'd probably not read again, but feel they were worth while.

Marj

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5084 on:** May 18, 2011, 01:16:50 AM »

a link to one of our fantasy with a message authors website - http://paulocoelho.com/en/

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5085 on:** May 18, 2011, 04:59:11 AM »

Don't you just love this - looks like Walt Disney has become so much a part of our lives that his influence oozes out without anyone making a copycat plan.

Steph · « **Reply #5086 on:** May 18, 2011, 06:14:52 AM »

I will check. Think I would prefer an ebook..Just having the second of a way too busy week.

Frybabe · « **Reply #5087 on:** May 18, 2011, 08:36:25 AM »

Oh, My! That is too much, Barb.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #5088 on:** May 18, 2011, 08:59:00 AM »

That is hilarious! I wish I could work out how to forward it to my friends.

Rosemary

MaryPage · « **Reply #5089 on:** May 18, 2011, 09:08:02 AM »

Rosemary, I had the identical reaction! Dang! I want to send that to heaps of relatives and friends!

As for the rereading a book thing, I do not agree with Oscar Wilde. Many books I read give me Joy at the time of reading, but once I know the end of THAT story, I need to go on to many, many other stories I have not yet had the Joy of. Life is too short to get to them all, but I must attempt to imbibe as many as I possibly can in the time allotted me.

Frybabe · « **Reply #5090 on:** May 18, 2011, 09:13:36 AM »

I have yet to figure out how to drop a photo into my email body, but I was able to email it as an attachment. I highlighted the pix and copied it to my desktop, from there I used the attachment feature. Hopefully, I won't get an email back saying it isn't there or wouldn't open.

I don't agree with Wilde, either, for much the same reason MaryPage. There are many books I would like to reread, but don't because there are way too many unread ones to read. Still, if we are discussing one I've read before, I reread along because there is always something I forgot, or because I get a new perspective or insight. Just love this group.

maryz · « **Reply #5091 on:** May 18, 2011, 10:13:00 AM »

Barb, those are just TOO funny! I could "save" them to my photos folder, so now I can send them as an attachment.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5092 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:16:32 AM »

That Paul Coelho link is the most outstanding computer/graphic/art I have ever seen! Wow.

Frybabe · « **Reply #5093 on:** May 18, 2011, 01:23:06 PM »

Okay, now that my eyes have unscrewed themselves---

That was fun, and interesting.

I have The Alchemist in my TBR pile.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5094 on:** May 18, 2011, 02:53:14 PM »

Having a down day? - Just can't get started? - feel like your energy needs a boost?

If playacting brings added life and focused energy to a youngster why not use their tactics...?

~ Man of Steel ~

At his request, each morning three-year-old Ray's mother pinned a bath towel to the back shoulders of his size two T-shirt. Immediately in his young imaginative mind the towel became a brilliant magic blue and red cape.

And he became Superman. Outfitted each day in his "cape," Ray's days were packed with adventure and daring escapades. He was Superman.

This fact was clearly pointed out last fall when his mother enrolled him in kindergarten class. During the course of the interview, the teacher asked Ray his name.

"Superman," he answered politely and without pause.

The teacher smiled, cast an appreciative glance at his mother, and asked again, "Your real name, please."

Again, Ray answered, "Superman."

Realizing the situation demanded more authority, or maybe to hide amusement, the teacher closed her eyes for a moment, then in a voice quite stern, said, "I will have to have your real name for the records."

Sensing he'd have to play straight with the teacher, Ray slid his eyes around the room, hunched closer to her, and patting a corner of frayed towel at his shoulder, answered in a voice hushed with conspiracy, "Clark Kent."

JoanK · « **Reply #5095 on:** May 18, 2011, 03:23:15 PM »

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”

My daughter used to say that there's no use buying a book unless you want to read it more than once. I wish I'd followed her advice (She wishes she'd followed her advice).

I love the comics and the Superman. The computer art is amazing. I wish it would go a little slower, so I could take in each view more.

jane · « **Reply #5096 on:** May 18, 2011, 04:21:02 PM »

JoanK...I think I've long followed your daughter's advice...except for required college reading where one had no choice but to buy the danged thing...and I sure haven't re-read any of those. [They did, however, in many cases I must admit, make an impact on my life, I guess.]

It is only in recent years that I've bought books; I've always been a 100% library user, but I found some authors I really enjoyed immensely, items my local library didn't buy, and authors I enjoyed re-reading in retirement. There's also the factor that my memory isn't what it once was, so sometimes it's a whole new experience. haha!

jane

Frybabe · « **Reply #5097 on:** May 18, 2011, 05:34:09 PM »

Dad had a very small library of books at home, mostly we had several encyclopedias to fill the shelves. He had a similar sized record collection. I remember he used to say to me that he couldn't understand why I would spend my allowance money on records and books when I could listen to the music on the radio and borrow books from the library for free. I think my argument went something like, I could just listen to what I wanted to listen to and when I wanted to if I bought the records, and you had to take the books back after two weeks, either to return or to renew. Sounded reasonable to me at the time.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5098 on:** May 18, 2011, 10:06:44 PM »

I may not read them again but I have papers poking up between the pages that have something that I wanted access to later - I was reinforced using this practice when I visited some years ago Carl Sandburg's home - he had thousands and thousands of book, all with paper strips poking above the book pages - everytime I do a sell off I am beside myself for selling this or that book till now I only sell light fiction and even there I have keepers.

roshanarose · « **Reply #5099 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:15:34 PM »

Those Disney characters are priceless. Life imitating art

Steph · « **Reply #5100 on:** May 19, 2011, 06:25:08 AM »

My genealogy reference library is covered with small pieces of paper.. But my fiction.. no.. I keep a very samll amount of books forever. A few favorite authors.. The rest I trade or give to my dil or donate to the library. Plus of course a very very few, that I keep for a year or so..
But if I had the space, I would keep each and every one. I guess in my brain, they are all treasures, just different in some ways from other books.

pedln · « **Reply #5101 on:** May 19, 2011, 11:17:54 AM »

Mabel/jean and Bellemere, a question for you (or anyone who knows) as you both are so knowledgable about women's history. Are you familiar with Candace Wheeler? Her name came up in the Clara and Mr. Tiffany discussion. She was primarily a textile designer, but also responsible for opening the field of interior design to women. She designed the interior of the Women's Building at the 1893 Exposition in Chicago (Devil and White City) and also made it possible for women to study art and design.

The discussion (you all come) is bringing forth some interesting issues, mostly from letters discovered only in this decade, about women in the workplace at the turn of the century. And I'm curious to know if Candace Wheeler is or was a household name familiar to those involved in women's studies.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #5102 on:** May 19, 2011, 11:49:37 AM »

Just had two excellent book sale/charity shop days! Acquired:

Let It Bleed - Ian Rankin (I think this is the only one I haven't read - at least I hope so!)

The Runaway Quilt - Jennifer Chiaverini

The Weather In The Streets - Rosamond Lehman (sequel to Invitation to the Waltz)

The Best of Friends - Joanna Trollope

Hawksmoor - Peter Ackroyd

Enid Bagnold's Autobiography

Ambridge Jubilee - Ian Sanderson

A Cab At The Door/Midnight Oil - VS Pritchett

Score - Jilly Cooper

In Praise of the Lakes - a little book published in 1953 that I am going to send to my FIL.

And I had some happy hours of rummaging too. Also walked along the Waters of Leith path today and saw two herons, lots of blackbirds, ducks and a song thrush. Happy days

Rosemary

bellemere · « **Reply #5103 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:45:17 PM »

Finished it! 511 pages of the Thousand Autumns of Jacob Van Zoet. Huge, colorful, intricate wonderful historical novel. In the early 19th century, the Dutch had a total lock on trade with Japan; the only Western nation allowed to import and export, from an island enclave off the coast of Nagasaki , strictly forbidden to fraternize with the natives lest the culture be corrupted. It stretches over thirty years and includes the most bittersweet love story and the differences in perceptions between the Dutch and the Japanese. I recommend it highly!
The Nook version includes a fascinating essay by the author, David Mitchell, about historical fiction in general and the challenges in writing it. He points out that the best selling novel of all time was historical fiction. I'll let you all take a guess at what he says it is.

I reread books sometimes, especially poetry. Billy Collins is fresh every theme. Likewise Mary Oliver and Shakespeare, of course.
Pedin, I am not an expert on women's studies, but Candace Wheeler sounds like someone who make a breadthrough in the design field. Will have to wikipedia her.
At my local B and N store, the Nook expert, "Doctor Sally" was letting us know about the "Essential 81 classic novels in one book, available for only 3.99. A Young soldier had been in, saying that he was headed for Afghanistan and had never read the classics. He thought this would be a good time to do it. May God bless him!

JoanK · « **Reply #5104 on:** May 19, 2011, 03:24:36 PM »

BELLEMERE: What a story

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #5105 on:** May 19, 2011, 03:50:38 PM »

Bellemere - I have read Black Swan Green (semi-autobiographical, about his childhood/teenagerdom), also written by David Mitchell - it was excellent. He seems to be a very versatile writer. Bit depressing to read that he was only born in 1969! I will look out for the Thousand Autumns.

Rosemary

bellemere · « **Reply #5106 on:** May 19, 2011, 04:42:05 PM »

and I will be looking for Black Swan Green. Reviewers are favorable to David Mitchell and they note that Thousand Autumns is a departure for him.
yes the book-loving sodier really toched me, too. He downloaded the 81, everything from the Odyssey to Ann of Green Gables!
I am now on something pretty lightweight, "The Ask" , about fund-raising for a college . My former life.

ginny · « **Reply #5107 on:** May 19, 2011, 08:15:51 PM »

And here's some good news about Bruce Frankel, or more good news, I should say. For those who don't know, he's one of the two authors who met with us in last year's Soiree in New York City.

"What Should I Do With The Rest Of My Life?" has won a 2011 Nautilus Book Award Silver in the Aging Gracefully / Retirement category. The Nautilus Book Awards recognize books of "exceptional quality and merit" that “promote spiritual growth, conscious living, and positive social change ...and inspire the reader to new possibilities for a better world."

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

What GREAT books mentioned here, I'm getting quite a list!

PatH · « **Reply #5108 on:** May 19, 2011, 08:37:06 PM »

Before we drift too far away from the topic, I feel there are a lot of books that are well worth reading once but not twice, but I also do a lot of rereading. I see different things the second time, or catch stuff I'd missed. And some books are old friends, worth rereading many times. Jane Austen is like that.

Buying books vs library: I grew up in a house filled with books (in one of my quantitative phases as a subteen I counted 2000) and we also went to the library every Saturday and came home with a huge pile of books. I've continued both habits, and my house is filled with more books than is reasonable.

PatH · « **Reply #5109 on:** May 19, 2011, 08:39:41 PM »

Ginny, that's great news about Bruce Frankel. He certainly deserves it.

pedln · « **Reply #5110 on:** May 19, 2011, 08:59:33 PM »

That's terrific news about Bruce Frankel.

bellemere · « **Reply #5111 on:** May 19, 2011, 09:47:12 PM »

What? Nobody tried to guess the best selling novel of all time, according to author David Mitchell? Okay, it's A Tale of Two Cities. Surprised? ?

PatH · « **Reply #5112 on:** May 19, 2011, 10:09:12 PM »

Yes, very surprised. I didn't try to guess because I was clueless, although interested. At least it's a book I've read.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #5113 on:** May 20, 2011, 01:57:36 AM »

Yes, I'm also surprised; have also read it and do like it very much, but didn't think that it would be the answer - I thought it was going to be something like The Bible (I'm not saying that that is fiction, I just thought that would be the sort of thing he would say....)

Rosemary

kiwilady · « **Reply #5114 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:39:23 AM »

When I was a child I read the classics over and over. I read Dickens over and over. Jane Austen, The Brontes, Anna Sewells Black Beauty. Louisa M Alcotts series. Uncle Toms Cabin and a book called "The Lamp Lighter" I was delighted to see that the Lamp Lighter is still available and I may buy a copy from Amazon. I also read Mark Twain Tom Sawyer Huckleberry Finn etc over and over. I admired Toms naughtiness. Charles Kingsley - The Water Babies. Jonathon Swift and Gullivers Travels. Such magical worlds for a child and young teenager.

Steph · « **Reply #5115 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:56:59 AM »

My Smithsonian magazine just came. There is a wonderful article on Agatha Christies summer house in Devonshire. It is open to the public and there are also mentioned that people do a tour and visit where she grew up, where she married, ran away and then visit this house, which is quite remote. Now there is a wonderful English adventure for the bookies.. The house looks truly lovely.

ginny · « **Reply #5116 on:** May 20, 2011, 07:44:08 AM »

What a provocative quote, Jane, I've been thinking about it ever since you put it in: “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ~~ Oscar Wilde

All I could think of is what a strange man he was, himself. But trying to look beyond that I guess you'd have to wonder what is implied. The book would have to be so well written that you would discover something new in it every time you read it or enjoy the way it was said every time. I'm trying to think (I wish I knew what HE thought was such a book? James Joyce?) If the only issue is "keeping" the book, that's one thing but how would you know before reading it it was worth reading again?

Joan K does your daughter say?

I think I could read A Tale of Two Cities again, tho how it's the most popular book I have no clue, but any of Dickens, really, or Shakespeare, (and like a lot of people have read and reread his, but do THEY count, being plays?). You'd have an increased appreciation, and possibly a different experience as you age or change, of so many of things you did not see the first time.

I always hope. I always open each book with such HOPE. hahaha

I haven't read too much Wilde, and that in a long long time. Have any of you? Perhaps he's hoist on his own petard, any Wilde fans here?

I think I could read non fiction again better than fiction, actually. I'd love to reread the Boukreev on the fated Everest Climb and maybe the McCullough on the transcontinental railroad again. I am about to reread Agatha Christie's Come Tell Me How You Live, we were just talking about it a couple of weeks ago over lunch. (My Smithsonian just came too, Steph! What a wonder!) I love Come, Tell Me How You Live.

Rosemary, those books look so intriguing, especially Ambridge Jubilee - Ian Sanderson, A Cab At The Door/Midnight Oil - VS Pritchett, and Score - Jilly Cooper. That was a DAY for a bibliophile!

Bellmere, what a book the Thousand Autumns of Jacob Van Zoet sounds!

Brideshead Revisited I could and have read again. Is anybody actually in the process of rereading something and if so what IS it?

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5117 on:** May 20, 2011, 11:39:36 AM »

My f2f book group is reading "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde for June. First time for me! There was a movie on one of the cable/satellite channels a couple weeks ago, called simply "Dorian Gray".

It was obviously made recently and was more like a horror movie than anything else. (I don't recommend you watch that one!) The older movie was super, I have watched it many times. Just creepy, not a "slasher" type film.

ANNIE · « **Reply #5118 on:** May 20, 2011, 12:09:25 PM »

Has everyone seen this?? Just in case you haven't:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1552678&highlight=

Frybabe · « **Reply #5119 on:** May 20, 2011, 12:22:41 PM »

Thanks for the info, Steph. I just got my first Smithsonian in years and haven't cracked it open yet.

TomeReader, enjoy The Picture of Dorian Gray. I certainly did.

PS: one A and two Bs. Not as bad as I thought. I've already registered for my next two classes in the fall. It shouldn't be as hair raising. Intermediate accounting and a class on accounting software (aka: Quickbooks).

News:

Author Topic: The Library (Read 2088635 times)