The Library

[kiwilady]

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 
 

Oh do please give Eloise my love when you see her. Tell her I am thinking of her every day. I am so happy that online friends have been able to visit her. It absolutely verifies the fact that online friendships can be very meaningful and wonderfully supportive. I have some wonderful online friends and the ones I have met have been as sincere as I found them online and there was instant rapport as if we had known each other in the flesh for years.

Carolyn

[ANNIE]

Thanks, Frybabe for bringing that post here.  Just remembering Eloise of the smiling face brought tears to my eyes.  We have sent cards and we miss her too.Very much!
I was linked to Classical Corner so got notice of a message from there from Radioman with pics of Eloise and Isabelle:

http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=1693.new;topicseen#new

[PatH]

Don (Radioman) has now posted a description of his visit to Eloise.  Here it is:

I have just returned from my visit with Eloise: a bittersweet experience that has affected me profoundly.

On Tuesday I accompanied her daughter Isabelle to the hospital in order to bring Eloise home for the day.  By way of a detour we stopped at a charming restaurant on the banks of a fast-flowing rapids: a tributary of the St Lawrence River. We had a great lunch and it was here that the pictures I have posted were taken.

When we arrived at Isabelle's home we settled in for a pleasant and informal afternoon.  During that time I read to Eloise from the Scriptures: Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Eloise's favourite, the Book Of Ruth. I must also confess that both of dozed off for a few minutes as well. I also sang for Eloise a lovely Scottish lullaby which my wife used to sing to our little ones, and I was amply rewarded when later on Eloise and Isabelle sang a charming French-Canadian folk song: a performance which filled my heart.

Later on that evening we returned to the hospital where I bade Eloise a kind of tearful good bye.

And now a word about Isabelle; what I witnessed during my visit was the most profound demonstration of love, devotion and a level of caring, the remembrance of which I will carry in my heart forever. I never had a daughter,but if I did I would want her to be like Isabelle.

So now I have accomplished what I set out to do: establish contact with Eloise and her family which I was able to share with you. I helped Isabelle set up the account with S & F which as you can see has already been put to use.  So I will now stand aside, and like you, will look forward to updates from Isabelle.

One thing for sure: this was a labour of love.

If anyone wants to see the pictures, they are in The Classical Corner, probably elsewhere, too, on S&F.

[roshanarose]

Gumtree - As you said, it was an innocent act.  I am happy about the responses though.  It is impossible to be objective about something like a book list, movie list etc.  I felt like you that is was probably too US and European centric.

As for the art, I did see some Rothkos in Washington, they looked muddy.  Ducking here    I don't know why I like Mondrian, but I do and seeing his work was exciting for me.  One of my favourite artists whose work was on display was Georges Seurat "A Seascape of Normandy", a copy of which hangs in my kitchen - I have a big kitchen, saw some Dalis, and they just jump out at you, colour so thick, so vivid.  It was almost too much for me.  I get quite overcome with emotion when surrounded with such beauty and talent.  I could feel the tears in my eyes upon visiting the magnificent museums in Greece.  They are so spare, so stark, so wonderful - just like the country.

If they put together one for wines, I will add Penfold Grange Hermitage, and for champagne Krug, Veuve Cliquot and Roederer Cristal.  A bit of a departure from what I usually drink, which is Hardy Chardy  

www.penfoldsgrangeforsale.com/forsale.php?Grange

www.wineterroirs.com/2006/07/krug_champagne.html

www.champagne-roederer.com/en

btw I called my daughter Justine, but not after de Sade's book but Lawrence Durrell's "Justine".

www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/lawrence-durrell/justine.htm

[rosemarykaye]

Although I do not know Eloise, I would like to thank Don for posting such a touching and beautiful description of his visit to her and her daughter.

Rosemary

[rosemarykaye]

Re those very addictive lists again, I had a look at the children's books one and found I had actually managed 76 of those!

I was delighted to see the Mrs Large (Jill Murphy) book about the elephant family included - can you believe that some people in the UK disapprove of these as politically incorrect?  They are hilarious - and all 3 of my children loved them - we still sometimes mention them now. 

I was also thrilled to see that Mrs Cradock's "Josephine & Her Dolls" had got in - I expect i have mentioned this before, so I won't go on about it, but it was one of my very favourite books as a 5 year old.

Two others I was pleased to see on the list were "The Tiger Who Came To Tea" (Judith Kerr), and "The Doll's House" (Rumer Godden.  The latter is in fact quite creepy, but my younger daughter loved it as much as  did.

Rosemary

[Steph]

What a lovely note. Isabelle is just as charming as her Mother.
The Thesaurus sounds wonderful..
Today is packing day. I leave tomorrow for hot and humid Florida.Will be glad to sleep in my own bed, but will miss the cool misty mornings.. So lovely to lok at. The dogs will be thrilled. High on the mountain, perched on the gorge, there is no grass. just black top and stones.. They do not enjoy that.

[Frybabe]

Have a safe trip home, Steph.

[MaryPage]

Roshanarose:  I love that you read the Alexandria Quartet and named your daughter Justine.

Oh, those books are so long ago and far away for me.  About 50 years, give or take!

[Babi]

 Wouldn't it be lovely if that Historical Thesaurus was put on-line?  What a
terrific resource that would be. I was impressed with the use of appropriate terms
..so far as I could tell..in C. J. Sansom's "Dissolution".  I definitely plan to
read more of his books.

 Thank you for posting those pictures, ANNIE. It was a pleasure to see those smiling
faces.

 ROSHANA, it occurs to me that you might be able to help me out here. I have minimal
experience with wines, but I do have an unforgettable memory of the best wine I ever
tasted. It was so many years ago, a yellow wine, and to the best of my recollection
it was called "Piesporten Goldchaben".  So far as I can discover, no such vineyard
exists today. Have you ever heard of 'Piesporten' wines?  I assume, from the name,
that it was a German or Austrian wine, but that is only a supposition.

[PatH]

Babi, I'm no expert on German wines, but I bet what you had was Piesporter Goldtropfchen.  If so, you're in luck, because it's still widely available, but there seem to be a lot of choices.  German wines are very confusing, because the names are so long and complex.

[Gumtree]

Wouldn't it be lovely if that Historical Thesaurus was put on-line?

Babi I believe it already is or will be - for a price.

It is impossible to be objective about something like a book list, movie list etc.  I felt like you that is was probably too US and European centric.

Roshanarose Agreed - and they always are too focussed on other parts of the globe. We read their stuff - I wonder why they don't read ours?

[Tomereader1]

Pat, I've had the Piesporter Goldtropfchen, and it is indeed great!  In fact, it was my first experience with a foreign wine, and I was impressed.

[JoanK]

GUM: I like the fact that they tell us about foreign books that we might not know about.

I know nothing about wines, certainly compared to PatH. But I was interested in something I heard about the difference between American and European wines. This person said that European wines are meant primarily to bring out the taste of the food they accompany, while American wines are meant to stand on their own. This is why American wines sometimes have more powerful flavors.

What do you all think?

[JoanK]

Those quizzes are addictive! I did better on the classical music one (counting if I'd heard it, not heard their particular recording). Although with my bad memory, I was guessing a lot. It was slanted in the same way my taste is slanted, toward the older composers. A lot of My favorites, Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven.

[roshanarose]

Babi - Fortunately others here were able to give you the information you sought.  As for me, I had no idea.  I hope you can find and enjoy it again!

Actually, although I have turned you on to that "black hole" of 'musts', I haven't revisited it.  

JoanK - When I listen to Mozart I feel as though I am flying over beautiful landscapes on a perfect day with all my demons left behind and forgotten.  No plane, just me.  True genius imho.

[roshanarose]

MaryPage - My daughter was born in 1964 and when I named her Justine the vast majority of people had never heard the name at all.  I loved 'The Alexandrian Quartet' and must read it again some time.  I love the way Durrell writes.  I have one of his on my TBR it's called "Spirit of Place".  Justine  loves her name and always has, and it suits her so well.  I think giving the right name to a child is so important, don't you?

[MaryPage]

Indeed, I do.  My youngest child, son Chip, was born March 16, 1964.

[Babi]

 Bless you, PAT. I'll have to find me one, if only to see if it's still as good
as I remember. My family will be startled, but how often do you get a chance to
revisit a good time?

[ginny]

Thanks for the additional remarks on the Pedestrian Incident hahahaa

I have enjoyed looking up Piesporter Goldtropfchen, which I never heard of. I loved the one page of the history of the vineyard and the wine making but  the reviews of the various "wine connoisseurs" are absolutely hilarious. It's a good thing that some of you have enjoyed it because if you read their blogs, and webpages,  I can't conceive (I don't drink wine) of a "nose" of kerosene and gasoline,  combined with creamsickle taste or (another one) petrol and wet stone!

Yum- O  hahahaaa

I hope "nose" in the world of wine refers to the smell and that nobody is drinking petrol so they can compare it. Obviously I'm way out of my league but honestly it was hilarious and it kind of reminds me of "Sideways," the movie which was apparently not as crazy as I thought.

Mary I was just astounded at Wells, what a beautiful little town, and the Cathedral Close, the oldest street in England, supposedly where those connected with the Cathedral live, the altos, tenors and basses of the choir or so the plaque says....Sopranos unite. haahhaa The long jump marker in the street from the local Olympic medalist, I had no idea those long jumps were that far, they don't LOOK that far, I couldn 't have done a foot of it.  It truly was magic. The whole place is magic and of course going with somebody (Gay)  who lives there is even more so.

Thank you all for the lovely photos and reports of Don's visit to Eloise, how beautiful she looks. I also sent a card, she and I had such a marvelous time in NYC last September and I've got tons of photos of her then, too. I am SO glad she came.

What a wonderful family she has, but we knew that, I am so glad.

Thank you also I think it was Mary for news of Dapphne, I am glad she went to Seattle and I hope is settled there somewhat permanently?  Could somebody elaborate on that point? I was  not able to read the facebook link, tho I did click on it. I really have a strong aversion to facebook, tho I know many of you like it but the tech people who come out here are so violently against it (and they are young)  and are just on and on  about viruses and a hot bed for this and that, I want nothing to do with it, so I have to get reports but I was worried after seeing the photos, etc.

So I'm glad to see she's all right.

I'm reading two books, Roman Britain from the British Museum which is marvelous, everything they do is super, at last I have confirmed the dates of the Iron Age. Every time I mention it I get strange looks but I was right, it DID extend into A.D. even up to something like (don't have the book here) 46 A.D. Somewhat of a stunner, that, but there it IS in print.

I'm also reading for recreation a Lois Meade, I like her normally, the British house cleaner/ detective, almost read in one sitting, the first of the numbered series. I don't know why it's necessary for authors to make their detectives short tempered, but in THIS book, about the 8th in the series I've read, I find self getting quite irritated with her.  Surely just because you run a cleaning service you don't have to be rude and irritated  all the time: it's wearing thin.

I saw Kate Morton's newest book in England and am going out today to get it, it was too big for the suitcase, but I liked the premise on the cover and would like to lose self in a good strong book. I also got Dawn French's new one, while in England, A Tiny Bit Marvelous, (2011 paperback), Christopher Hibbert's The Borgias, and Reginald Hill's Ruling Passion, not a new book but I'd like to get back to him, which, oddly enough,  starts with a quote from Alexander  Pope:

Search then the ruling passion: there, alone,
The wild are constant, and the cunning known;
The fool consistent, and the false sincere;
Priests, princes, women, no dissemblers here.
This clue once found unravels all the rest...

Man! I love that, is it true?

 I'm glad to see that super quote because I had a hard time making any sense out of Pope in the Odyssey discussion so it's good to see something like that.   hahaaa

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. What are YOU reading?

[mabel1015j]

Ginny, your post reminded me of when we read "London" on the Seniornet site. That was an interesting book and there were so many links to look at in the history of London. I specifically thought about his statement of layers and layers of years to dig thru on the oldest streets of London.

[Jonathan]

I'm reading your post, Ginny. With tremendous relief, to hear that you are finding more pleasure than peril in your travels. Watch your step.

[rosemarykaye]

Ginny, I'm glad you had a good time and liked Wells.  Have you ever read Joanna Trollope's "The Choir"?  It is all set in a fictitious cathedral close, and I enjoyed it.  I wouldn't be surprised if she had modelled it on Wells, as she used to live near there - although it could also have been Salisbury.  The book is all about the political shenanigans that go on between the various cathedral people, plus a romance between the choirmaster and the mother of one of the choristers.

Rosemary

[maryz]

Dapphne is in Port Townsend, WA - which is on the Olympic Peninsula across the sound from Seattle.  I don't know how "permanent" she intends this to be.

Ginny, I signed up for Facebook, when one of my grown grandchildren suggested it.  I rarely post anything, but do get to read what the grandkids post.  Plus some others that I have chosen to "friend".  I use an e-mail address that I use only for that and for on-line purchasing.  And I never click on any of the ads or anything like that, and don't play any of the games.  I guess I've been on there for a year or so and haven't had any problems.  I would think that using reasonable care with how you use it would be as safe as you'd be anywhere else on the net.

[PatH]

A common scam is an email telling you there is some problem with your Facebook account.  If you click on their link, or give them your info, your computer can get invaded, so that's another thing to watch out for.  I get them, but since I don't have a Facebook account, I know what they are.

[mabel1015j]

If you missed CSPAN's documentary on the Library of Congress, you may want to check out this link. It's beautifully done, a glorious video and explanation if the paintings in the great hall. (i think Congress should be taken by the hand to be taught about the paintings on the " failures" of gov't - anarchy and "legislative corruption". And then what happens when gov't is working) . Then there is the behind-the-scenes story of how many years it would take you to look at the books, maps and pictures if you did it at one every minute! It's such a beautiful building and i think many people miss it on their tours of Washington.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/TheLibra

[kiwilady]

I am into Facebook and its given me great joy to instantly communicate with nieces living overseas and in the other island. I never play the games or click on any applications. I have maximum privacy settings and Norton 360 protection. No problems so far. I also have old SN friends now on Facebook and its a joy to keep up with them. Grandkids are now on Facebook too.

Carolyn

[JoanK]

ROSE: I'm glad someone else feels the way I do about Mozart.

And on second thought, there was a lot of Beethoven that should have been on the list and wasn't: his late quartets and many of his piano sonatas.

There was a nice program rebroadcast on PBS last night about the van Cliburn piano competition for amateur pianists.They introduced you to some competitors: people who had a different career but played the piano in their spare time because they loved it. The level of playing was really high.

[LarryHanna]

JoanK, I viewed that program (or one like it) on Netflix just a few days ago and really enjoyed it.  Age was no factor in who was selected to perform.  What a wonderful talent those folks possess. 

[Babi]

 GINNY, I'd have to know what Pope considered "the ruling passion" before I could
begin to figure out what he meant, much less whether it's true. 

[ginny]

Jonathan

Babi, I think I must have more jet lag than I thought but I thought (and I'm famous for not knowing what on earth Pope is saying) that once you find that "ruling passion" for each person, each individual's primary interest, what makes each person tick, or motivates them,  then you know that person. I think it's different for every person. Of course that may in fact not be at all what he said or meant, that's poetry, I guess that's why I like it, that's what it said to me and I think he's right.

I love poetry and miss reading and discussing it. Maybe next summer we might try some Tennyson or Scott. Or Pope if anybody feels adventurous, heaven knows you can interpret him as you like.


___________________________________

Netflix users: have you quit? I understand their facebook page is inundated with complaint. I didn't quit but I downgraded my DVD only package and it cost them $10 a month  from me, too bad. I can't stream and don't want to, tho I expect I'd like it if I had the capability. Out here one bar is a miracle.  I think they may have made a major mistake there and it looks like a lot of the competitors are taking advantage of it.

Thank you Mary for news of  Dapphne, I sure got tired of living out of a suitcase and it wasn't in a van, so I worried about her for some reason.

Rosemarykaye, Joanna Trollope's "The Choir"?  No, I haven't! It sounds just perfect, thank you so much, I'll go right out: I like her, but I haven't read her lately.

 I bought a small oh,  watercolor reproduction, just a cheap thing, and not too big,  to look at at home for the memory,  of the Close there.  I just was taken with that entire thing (and have been to Salisbury too, likewise taken), and would love to read it, thank you for that recommendation.

The Close at Wells seemed a kind of little paradise, close knit neighborhood, isolated and cut off from everything with even the separate entrance into the Cathedral....it really struck a chord for some reason. You really can't help but wonder what it's like living there.

Yesterday in a search for Etruscan candelabras since the Villa Guilia will NOT allow you to photograph their huge stunning case of them for some unknown reason, and I was afraid to risk it because of the cameras,  I stumbled on one at Sotheby's, auctioned this past June, for buckets of money (!?!)  and discovered to my shock that (1) the antiquities trade is booming, (2) the depression/ debt/ recession is obviously not for everybody, somebody is paying astounding bucks for real sarcophagi, (are they being sold because of the recession?!?)  like the one of the Rape of Persephone just sold in June for $1, 874, 500 USD.

It's just jaw dropping. I guess I live under a rock, I didn't realize that these items WERE for sale or that individuals COULD and ARE buying them. Lots of them. The next Sotheby's antiquities  auction is in December, for those of you with deep pockets. hahahaa  Imagine owning something like that! I would be happy with a coin. hahahaa

[ginny]

Speaking crassly of  money, I also want to thank everybody who has ordered something thru one of the Amazon links here on the website, because Amazon has notified us that  as of July 29, from January 1- July 29,  these orders have generated more than 2 year's fees to sustain this website which means that the Books here are paying for the website, in 2011,  which is very nice. Our own website, painlessly paid for, and everybody's happy.

Thank you for ordering thru us. We don't know who ordered what, we only see the revenue. I personally think it's a great thing, and everybody wins in the process.

[PatH]

That's wonderful news!  It's good to be self-supporting.  Hooray for everyone who ordered through here.

[PatH]

Ginny, my take on the Pope quote was the same as yours.  Once you figure out the main thing that motivates a person, their "ruling passion", different for each person, then their behavior is consistent, and you can understand them.

[MaryPage]

I remember that book well, and Hill using that quotation.  That is one of the things I love about Hill;  he is so erudite.  You will find that sort of thing all through his books.

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/reghill/

[maryz]

Ginny, we downgraded our Netflix to DVD-only, too.  I'm sure they'd like to have everybody streaming (much cheaper for them), but until they make it the only choice, we probably won't be doing it.

We didn't get to stay long in Wells (the town or the cathedral) - all we saw was the cathedral, with a fairly quick look around there.  We were sad that they wouldn't allow photography inside, so all our photos were of the outside of the building.  Maybe because it was SO much less touristy and less crowded, we enjoyed it more than Salisbury.

[kiwilady]

So glad the site is being self funded. I cannot buy from Amazon any more as honestly the cost of postage is absolutely prohibitive. If I buy something and get it sent by sea mail it could get lost easily. One parcel took three months to get here and was off loaded in Singapore in error.

The cost of living is so high now in NZ I have not been able to buy books for simply ages. Its one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in according to stats and my city is the most expensive in the country. I would have loved to help out by buying from Amazon if things had been different. I used to buy a lot of books when I first joined SN and get them at Barnes and Noble then from Amazon later on. I need to win the lottery! LOL!

[roshanarose]

Hi Carolyn

Yes.  Same here.  We do not have Amazon either.  Even though there is some parity now between the US and Aus dollar, the devil is in the detail.  That's why I try to just stick to ebooks now for my Sony eReader.  I have found a site called www.thebookdepository.com , which although based in the UK, has the cheapest ebooks anywhere.  No freight - good thing.  On average I would pay A$8.00 for an ebook that I would have to pay in excess of $30.00 for the hard copy paperback.  There are some books, of course, mainly historical reference, that if I feel I must have, I will fork out for the hard copy.  However, I do a LOT of research in order to pay the right price for it.  

I was surfing the net for some new flats for Spring.  I saw a beautiful pair of Anne Klein's loafers on a US site.  The price of the shoes was very competitive in terms of the shoes I have found here.  The bad part was the freight which was more than the cost of the shoes by $20.00.  Booo!

I guess this is the price we pay for being an underpopulated nation/nations at the bottom of the world.  But before my mate Gum shoots me down, Australia is such a beautiful place, I shouldn't complain too much

RR

[Gumtree]

Roshanarose - Yes, I'm right here on your tail  But I won't shoot you down (this time)

And I won't go into the 'under-populated' topic except to say that we have to have a 'sustainable' population and that means arable land (limited) and  reliable and regular rainfall (non existent). We can't feed ourselves now so our existing population has already reached sustainability levels.

As for buying through Amazon - I still do - but I tend to buy several books at once which cuts down the shipping costs considerably. But as Kiwilady points out it takes forever to receive the goods and unless one pays for priority shipping they send them on a slow boat to China first - in actual fact, they come via NZ in any case and can be offloaded anywhere along the route. But I have never had a non-delivery or damaged goods from them and I think it's just great that purchases help fund this website.
 

[Steph]

Home, safe and sound. Dogs ecstatic over grass again.. I too downgraded the netflix to dvd only. I dont stream, but I know at least one of my sons love to.. It is sort of an impulse thing, I suspect. The way I am with my IPAD and books.