The Library

[joangrimes]

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!  Everyone is welcome!

Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

Claire,

Amazon is coming out with a Kindle for Mac very soon.  I discovered the announcement of it on the Kindle page on Amazon.

Here is the ad from Amazon
Read books on your computer or other mobile devices
 Get Kindle for PC
Mac version coming soon  
 Get Kindle for iPhone
Also works on iPod Touch  

Joan Grimes

[Steph]

I think the Kindles sound great, but thus far, I see well enough with my glasses and will stick to my much loved books. I do so love the feel and smell of books.
My husband was my
Quicken person and now I must somehow download what he recorded until his death in November. Not looking forward to it at all. I am sure there is a book, but as to what he did with it.. Nada..

[Babi]

  I don't envy you that chore, STEPH.  I've said a quick prayer for you and
the 'Quicken'.

[jane]

Steph...If you're looking for the tax stuff, try Reports/Tax/ Tax Summary and then the current year, etc.

You can print that out.

There is also a Quicken forum here that I've found helpful.

https://qlc.intuit.com/app/full_page?fullpage=categories

jane

[pedln]

I'm glad to know there is a Quicken forum, Jane.  I've used Quicken since '92 and love it, but do mainly just simple stuff.

Steph, Quicken is not a difficult program to use.  I don't know that there is a "book" per se, but there is a pretty good help section you can access right from the program.

Please heed:  Before you do anything with the Quicken, make a couple of file backups of your data -- to your CD-ROMS or your flash drives.  (My writable CD doesn't work anymore, so I just use flash drives).  You do that right from the Quicken program.

[bellemere]

Where is that Christopher Robin quote just when I need it for a granddaughter who had to repeat her final college semester but persevered and got her degree in Marine Biology from University of New England?  We are giving a party for her Saturday.  She is very shy, and lacking in  assertiveness, and now must look for a job in a horrible economy. 

[marcie]

Bellemere, here is the quote:

Christopher Robin says to Pooh, "Promise me you'll always remember:  you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

You might have to click "Show new Replies" (or click the REFRESH button on your browser) several times to see a quote you like in the news section at the top of the page.

Good luck to your granddaughter in finding work.

[mrssherlock]

Today Neal Conan interviewed  Bernadr Cornwell, author of the Richard Sharpe tales of the Napoleonic Wars which I have seen on PBS.  It seems that Cornwell writes more than Sharpe stories:  He writes about the American Civil War, the Saxons, King Arthur,. and Stonehenge.  Has anyone read him?  http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/bernard-cornwell/

[JoanR]

I heard Bernard Cornwell speak at the Toronto Bouchercon (a gathering of mystery lovers - readers and writers).He was there to receive a lifetime achievement award.  His research for all his books is very thorough - good historical fiction.
Lindsay Davis and Peter Robinson were guests of honor - both good speakers but Lindsay Davis is superb - very funny too.  I love her Marcus Didius Falco character in her Roman mysteries. 
This was all back in 2004 and there hasn't been another of their annual conferences that was near enough for me to get to,  Toronto was easy (I have a daughter there) but this year's will be in San Francisco - too far, too expensive and too strenuous for this old lady!!

[JoanP]

You've heard that JD Salinger just passed away this afternoon?  He was 91.  I always wondered whether his unpublished novels would ever see the light of day.  I've heard there were quite a few of them - more than 10 - though most of them he didn't finish.  Just kept locking them away...

[PatH]

JoanR, I assume the Bouchercon was named after Anthony Boucher?  I always liked his stuff.  He also wrote science fiction, and was a founding editor of Fantasy and Science Fiction, a major magazine in the field.  And horror and supernatural, too.  I have a book of his short stories, "The Compleat Werewolf"; they range from unforgettably creepy and scary to absolutely hilarious, some with amusing theological quibbles.

JoanP, thanks, I hadn't heard.

[winsummm]

kindle for mac.  I have both since march 2009

I have the number 2 versions  and there is a dx version that is larger.  still reading BORDER SONG by Jim Lynch.  excellent

claire

[Steph]

Thanks for the Quicken help. I will try it today. But the thing to remember is my husband adored short cuts and I have a suspicion that he may have used some. I do remember him saying that his bank accounts and the bank never agreed. Mine always do, but then I dont use Quicken, I use me and a calculator..

[Babi]

 JoanR, have you read any of Louise Penny's mysteries set in Quebec?
I just finished my first, "Still Life", and very much enjoyed it. The
leading character is Inspector Gamache...very good charactization...
but all the characters are good. It's set in a small town full of complex
and surprising people who overlook one another's flaws and remain good
friends.

 STEPH, I'm always in favor of sticking with what works! 

[JoanR]

I'll have to look for that, Babi!  Thanks.  Another book I will search out is Boucher's "Compleat Werewolf" suggested by Pat H.  I guess my plan to try to read  only what I already have in the house for a while has just been shot down in flames!

  I even have Byatt's new book here which I haven't started yet, thinking that I should reread Possession first.  I found you all after you had the discussion on "Possession".  I think Ginny suggested another discussion on it.  How about it?  That would be great!

My sister has been campaigning for me to read "Wolf Hall" but I'm putting that on hold - too much else around me in teetering stacks.  I'm being influenced by Susan Hill's new book "Howard's End Is On the Landing" wherein she undertakes a year's worth of only reading what she already owns - buying no new books.  Her book is quite delightful! Maybe it's cheating but I won't count library books in that plan - so I feel free to go hunt out your suggestions!

[pedln]

The Susan Hill sounds delightful, JoanR and your comments sent me on a hunt.  Here's the first chapter published in the Guardian


Howard's End is on the Landing

[catbrown]

I love Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, particularly the early books. Sharpe is a soldier in the British army during the Napoleonic wars. He is recruited as a lowly infantry man and rises through the ranks (relatively unheard of at the time when officer ranks were bought by the aristocracy). Most of the early books center on a major battle of the campaign and the battle scenes are terrific. You both understand the dynamics of the strategy and tactics and experience the excitement, drama and terror of the battle. Sharpe is a great character.

There were BBC dramatizations with Sean Bean as Sharpe; other than Bean being wrong physically for the character, they weren't bad.

[mrssherlock]

There are two new Sharpe's coming in to TV March.

[CubFan]

Greetings -

A heads up on some new books coming out in spring so you can get on the library lists if you're interested.

Elizabeth George - This Body of Death - April 20 -- Lynley is back at work.

Laura Childs - The Teaberry Sampler  - March 2 -  teashop series

Jennifer Chiaverini - The Aloha Quilt - April 6 - Elm Creek Quits series

Also last night a friend recommended three titles - has anyone else read them - I've ordered all three.

Found on 16th Avenue by Karen Roth

My Portion Forever by Karen Roth

Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg

Wonderful reading weather here this week.  Sub zero temperatures.  Don't even think about going outside.

Mary

[EvelynMC]

Jane  Thanks for the info on the Quicken forum.  I use Quicken,  and many times have a question - great to know a place to ask a question.

Cub Fan Thanks for the heads up on some of the new books coming out in the Spring.
 
 Evelyn

[winsummm]

I FInished THE ANTEATER OF DEATH   by BETTY WEBB and went looking for more o her books. found one which is not fiction. . .i don't think and no more. anyone know more about this.  the AoD is just my style, animals humans good and bad, humor, good writing.
claire

[Steph]

I found the report section on Quicken.. Hmm. I do wonder if there is a way to straighten out Quicken. My husbands theories on bookkeeping are odd to put it mildly.

[Babi]

 MARY, down here on the Texas Gulf Coast we don't get down to sub-zero weather. But being a warm-blooded native of my environment, 30-odd deg. is quite enough to keep me indoors.

 I don't recall who recommended it, but I am enjoying reading Sandra
Dallas. I'm reading "The Persian Pickle Club", a very homey tale of friends and neighbors in times of need.  The 'Persian Pickle'  is a quilt pattern, if
you are wondering.  It rouses nostalgia, but also involves a newcomer who doesn't understand that it's kinder to let some mysteries
alone.

[maryz]

Babi, where are  you on the coast?  I grew up in Houston, and still have family in The Valley.

[jane]

Steph...Since we're in a new year, now is the time to do it your way.  You might have to make adjustments to whatever you've entered for January so far, but now is the ideal time to start and do it the way that works for you.

Good luck!

jane

[mabel1015j]

Mary - noticed your Angelou quote. When my son was a jr in high schl he had an assignment to read an author who had a series of books and report on their writing. The teacher had provided a list of suggested authors - not one was female, not one was a person of color. I suggested he ask to do Maya Angelou since she had a variety of genre as well as sev'l books he could analyze. His male teacher agreed, but i've often wondered if he really got the message of putting more diverstiy in his suggested list of authors................. ............BTW, Stephen got an A on that report, and enjoyed the readings - he never was, or became much of a reader..................he's a "doer".........loves activity..................jean

[maryz]

Good for you AND your son, jean.  I got the quote from the "quote of the day" on "A Word A Day" one day last week.

[salan]

Babi, I may have been the one who recommended Sandra Dallas.  I have read all of her books and enjoyed them all.  The Persian Pickle Club was the first book by her that I read.  The last one I read was Prayers for Sale.  All of her books are worth reading (imo).
Sally

[JoanP]

Where did the month of January go?  We were just celebrating the fresh start to a new decade - and suddenly it's time to turn the page on the calendar!  I can't think of any significant accomplishment - other than reading Kipling's Kim with a bunch of really fine bright companions, led by two very fine discussion leaders.

We're getting ready to discuss Bruce Feiler's America's Prophet - which is catching on like wild fire on the New York Times list - good thing he agreed to  discuss his book with us before the book got so hot!  And then we have Markus Zusak's big award-winning The Book Thief scheduled  for March.  

But there is nothing yet on the schedule for group discussion in the Spring!  We need to get on that right away.  We are seeking some meaty titles that will lend themselves  to group discussion.  A number of you have mentioned this year's Booker Prize winner, Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall .  I haven't read it - but from what you are saying, it sounds like it would be good for group discussion, doesn't it?  If you've read it, or started to read it, will you please stop in and the Suggestion Box and suggest it?
 (You will find the  link to the Suggestion Box is in the heading here.)  We'll vote on the suggested titles in a week or so.

[JoanP]

What else? All of your suggestions are welcome -
JoanR,  you mentionned a delightful book - are you reading Howard's End now?  Is it available in the US now?

I had enjoyed reading Powell's Book store's review of Susan Hill's "Howard's End is on the Landing." -   Just loved this reviewer's comment -

‘Delightful... an idiosyncratic commingling of fiction, non-fiction and poetry...Hill has a voracious and varied appetite and her taste, with a few exceptions, is impeccable.’

Doesn't this sound like a great book for group discussion?
Pedln, JoanR, will you mention this title in the Suggestion Box please?

Some have mentioned Anne Tyler's latest - Noah's Compass  Has anyone read it?  We have quite a few Anne Tyler enthusiasts here...

[Steph]

I love Anne Tyler and always read her stuff. She has some interesting thoughts on different types of families.
Thing about the quicken is,, I cannot figure out how or why he entereed certain things.. I did find the report section and was dismayed to discover he did not enter everything.. He always used to, but I now remember he was talking about only entering things he thought I would need. Oh well.

[salan]

Uh oh, "I done done it again!"  Just ordered 7 or 8 books to add to my growing pile of tbr books.  On that note, Joan & Joan, maybe Susan Hill's book would be a good one to read and discuss!!  Many of the books I ordered were because of all recommendations by many of you at Senior Learn.  I think this site is becoming dangerous for me (and my overloaded book shelves). 
Sally

[Frybabe]

I know the feeling Salan. I got a gift certificate to B&N which I am hesitant to use just yet lest it start me off on another year of binge book buying. I really overdid it last year. 

[pedln]

From today’s “Books” e-mail from the Seattle Times.  All I can say is wow, this sounds like a sticky spiggot.  Does this mean Macmillan books are no longer available to Amazon customer?  Who will be next?
E-books pulled from Amazon in pricing dispute

Babi, I enjoyed Dallas' Persian Pickle Club, but my favorite of hers so far is Tall Grass, set in Colorade during WWII.

Steph, does anyone living near you use Quicken, maybe someone from a near-by senior center?  Our local U here has a service they call Apple that helps people with bookkeeping matters -- checks, taxes, etc.  Perhaps just having someone familiar with Quicken, looking it over once, would be a help.  Please remember to back up.

[Babi]

 Mary, I live in a small town on the southeast edge of Houston. I have
family in the Valley, too, and it's been too long since I've been able
to visit with them.

 SALLY, I definitely plan to read more of Sandra Dallas. I'm glad
you recommended her. And yes, around here you really do need to build
up your sales resistance. PEDLN, I'll check and see if my library has
"Tall Grass".

 I'm glad you directed my attention to the heading, JOANP. I've been
blithely waiting for a link to the Suggestion Box to show up in a post.
I really do need to pay more attention to those headings.

[Babi]

JOANP, is the suggestion box dated Nov. 2009 the current one?  None
of the four books listed there sounds like the ones I've heard mentioned
lately.

[maryz]

Babi, my family first moved to Houston during WW2 and we lived in the Park Place area.  Then we moved to Bellaire after the war.  Small world....

[marcie]

Here's a reminder that the second episode of Jane Austen's EMMA will be on many PBS stations tonight. The episodes are also available to view online. We're talking about the program and book here: http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=1023.160

[mabel1015j]

I know this is off topic for this discussion, but i tho't you may know someone who could use it.

A high school friend just sent me a msg about a free cleaning service for people who are having chemo therapy. Snopes says it's legitimate, so i tho't i'd send it along to this site in case you know someone who can use it.

http://www.cleaningforareason.org

The msg that came to me said they wld do a free cleaning one time per month for 4 mos and is available all over the country.........jean

[maryz]

I got that, too, jean - and didn't recognize the sender or anybody on the long address list.  I marked it as spam.