The Library

[ginny]

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!

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[ginny]

My goodness, Kulka, Fran and Ollie, that sure brings back memories. That was a simpler time, wasn't it? Sort of like Mr. Rogers, in a way. I looked it up and it last aired in 1957 after a 10 year run.

I remember Beulah the witch.

What struck me this time is the name Kulka. I think it means something, but I don't know what, anybody know?

There was another program in those years on TV for children where you wrote on the screen with special crayons. You could put up a piece of special paper, not sure where one got that, or wax paper perhaps and you could trace on the screen to the prompts of the characters and solve the mystery. Can't think what it was called.

One of our members here in the past, Charlie, was on the program Howdy Doody, what did they call that box where the children sat?  Was it Gallery? Peanut Gallery? My mind is slipping on these important details of the past.. hahaaaaaaaaaaa

From that show I especially remember Princess SummerFallWinterSpring, good way to learn the seasons. And Mr. Bluster, I've met him in the intervening years, several times. hahaaa

I love what Jane does to the headings here, always so enticing and seasonal.

I finished Care of  Wooden Floors last night in a rush. You really can't put it down once you pass the half way mark. "Fawlty Towers," some reviewers  say, it's more than that, but it's similar.  It's funny and tragic at the same time, and lots of rumination.  Still I think I'd skip it if I were a cat lover. A book full of unexpected twists and turns and lots of surprises, I wouldn't read any review of it lest they spoil it, and it would be spoiled, ruined, really,  if all the surprises were revealed.

Like a roller coaster, reading it is. You get off and say whoo, that was something else.

[Babi]

 486 books in the average home? Really?  Considering that I've heard quite a few people state
that they haven't read a book since high school, that comes as a surprise. When I think of the
population of an area, compared with the numbers of patrons that come regularly to the library,
I have to wonder.  Of course, many people may prefer to buy all their books. I bought the ones
I really wanted, when I was able to do so. But when it comes to books I may enjoy but don't
expect to re-read, why add them to the bookshelves?

 A book that funny..the Will Wiles book..is definitely appealing, GINNY. Of corse, the losing
one's mind is hardly amusing. As it is a new author, my local library may not have it yet, but
it will be on my list for reference. Meanwhile, you can finish the book and give us a final
opinion. 

[ginny]

I may have gotten that number wrong, Babi, and I don't have the book yet, had just read a review, but here's another from the UK and it says:

A survey suggests the average Briton owns 80 books which they haven’t read but are there only to make them look more intellectual.

The research found that 70 per cent of books in the average bookcase remain unopened, and four in ten of those questioned confessed that their works of literature were purely there for display purposes.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046012/How-average-bookshelf-packed-80-books-havent-read-bid-look-clever.html

AND, and this is a very interesting article, it states the copies people DO display (Pride and Prejudice) while preferring trashy novels kept hidden.

The research by Lindeman’s wine found Pride And Prejudice is the book most of us lie about having read, followed by The Lord Of The Rings, Jane Eyre, Harry Potter and The Hobbit.

Interesting. I don't think I own a copy of Pride and Prejudice. Quick, how many of you have one on display in your bookcase?

Why do most of us lie about having read Pride and Prejudice?

[Babi]

 Now that, I can well believe, GINNY.   

[PatH]

It seems odd that people would lie about P & P rather than something more flashy.  I have two copies, but they aren't where a visitor would see them.  One is a worn-out paperback, the other is bound in soft leather, and is showing a fair bit of wear too.  I don't have a count, but I'm pretty sure I've beat Disraeli, who read it seventeen times.

I don't have to lie about the others either; I've read them all more than once.

Anyone who hasn't yet read The Hobbit is about to get a chance, since it looks like it's going to be the next book discussion.

[ANNIE]

Well, I don't believe I am writing this post!  Yesterday, I woke up feeling odd and my head weighed a ton and I had a headache.  I called my physical therapist to see if any of our work could account for this and he didn't think so.  
Well, to go back a month, while I was in NYC with my sister, Mary, I tripped over a hotel threshhold and fell on my left shoulder and then slid 2 feet into the following door banging my head pretty hard.  Mary about lost it because I am on coumadin. The hotel manager and two of the wormen who work the welcoming desk got me to my feet and sat me down in the lobby.  My shoulder started to hurt so I asked them for an ice pack which they brought and Mary and I went off to our room.  My arm and shoulder hurt a lot but she and I continued to enjoy our favorite city to visit.
 Saw three musicals plus visited the 9/11 Memorial and the Tenement Museum.  Our old friend from SeniorLearn, LucyLbr, (she now helps in the Latin classes) met us for breakfast on Friday and had arranged the trip to the two museums. In the evening as we parted to ride the Metro to our different locations, Lucy invited us out to Far Rockaway where she lives.  So she had planned another day for us!  The following Monday we traveled 2 1/2 hours on the train and had a wonderful visit with Lucy.  
The weather was spectacular the whole week we were in NYC so on Tuesday we decided to visit the new High Line Park (an old elevated train bed that has been turned into a lovely park for walking).  While we were walking along enjoying the bright sun shiny day, I stopped and turned to say something to Mary and tripped backward and fell onto the sidewalk and into the bushes.  Again I hit my left shoulder (on the backside this time) and my elbow.  Several New Yorkers stopped to help me up.
I felt like an idiot!  Once I was oriented and rested, we left to eat lunch.  Needless to say, my shoulder was really hurting me but I managed to ignore it and go out that night to see "Jersey Boys".  
We were leaving on Wednesday and Mary had to help me pack my suitcase and back pack.  At the airport, when checking in, my ever helpful sister, had to do all my heavy lifting. While waiting for our planes, mine to Ohio and hers, to North Carolina, we munched on junk food and continued our busy chatting.  And home we went.
So, I saw my dr about my falls, was x-rayed, and sent for PT which was scheduled for the next four weeks.
That brings me to the heavy head and headache yesterday.  I called my dr about it, went to his office and was checked out and found to be so-so.  Was sent to the ER for a CT scan.  After a long list of questions put to me by the ER drs, nurses, et al, I was told they didn't think my falls in NYC that had caused my present problems. The CT scan showed nothing out of the ordinary but now I have to see a neurologist due to my list of other symptoms that I had mentioned while being checked in.  All along I thought the symptoms were from my falls.  
So, this loooooooooong story has been to ask for prayers and good thoughts for my husband and me as the drs try to see whats going on with my body.  Needless to say, we are very concerned but trying to remain strong.  Just knowing that I have you all to reach out to for prayer makes me feel better.

[maryz]

Annie, I'm so sorry to hear of your problems.  Having dealt with a couple of bad falls over the past year, and currently dealing with the problems caused from them, I can certainly sympathize (empathize?).  Anyhow, we'll be waiting to hear about the results of testing, and hope for the best with you.

[Steph]

Oh Annie, I do so hope all will be well with you. Do be careful. Betwen you and MaryZ, I am making vows to be careful and not fall. Even though the few days I slept in the twin b ed, I did in fact fall out of bed and bang my head.. But all seems normal
Oh Massie. I do love them both and read all of the books.. An excellent author.
Ginny,, wondering about crazy and hallucinations>> The Jane Gardam..Queen of the Tambourine is for you. Makes you revolve in circles as to what is real, what is her mind playing games, etc. Do check it out.

[PatH]

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} Annie, and I'll add my prayers to the others.

[jane]

Annie...hope things go well and they find an easy solution to your heavy head problem.

I, too, don't display books for others to see.  Those out on shelves in a family room are reference books for my knitting, etc. so they're easy to find when I need to know how to do a particular stitch.

Ginny..." Kukla is the Greek word for "doll"; Greek people often address young girls as Kuklaki mou meaning "my little doll". It also exists as a loanword with the same meaning in Russian and Albanian, as well as in Turkish with the meaning of "puppet." according to a footnote I found about the program.  As an aside, I had an oncologist named Dr. Kukla and in my head I always added "Fran and Ollie" when I spoke to or about him.  

jane

[nlhome]

Wow, Annie. So sorry. Definitely sending positive thoughts to you and your husband.

The television show I think Ginny is referring to is Winky Dink. I had one of those plastic sheets too to put on the TV screen.

I've read Pride & Prejudice and Jane Eyre each more than once. Don't have copies of either. Most books on our shelves have some sort of attachment to us, such as about our area or my husband's experiences or authors we know; but also a good number that I plan on reading some day. Maybe.

[nlhome]

 A friend sent me an an essay in the Wall Street Journal yesterday: 
My 6,128 Favorite Books, by Joe Queenan "on how a harmless juvenile pastime turned into a lifelong personality disorder." It's a good read, for those who have access. I don't know if a subscription is required. Nothing popped up for me, but I don't usually read that on line.

[BarbStAubrey]

Anne you must be beside yourself with anxiety - They say aging is not for the weak and so my prayers that you both will be able to muster up your courage and faith with this latest challenge.

Interesting about the Greek name - never knew - for my kids it was all about The Captain and Mr. Greenjeans - that was the hour when I could clean up the kitchen and get the Laundry started. In summer I could even weed a bit in the flower garden that was just outside the backporch behind the kitchen. I loved that hour - the children were entranced and more than entertained, they were learning something and I could get on with things without interruption.

Jane Austin is not my favorite author to read but I did wade through P&P when the Emma Thompson's version of S&S hit the theaters. I've one of these fat tomes with all her stories within one cover.

Since I have books piled in every room and on every table top except the breakfast room table there is no book prominent. Even some of the chairs and the sofa have books in piles. Having mostly full days and such a strange schedule where you don't have a consistent day to shop or go to a Library with most personal errands carried out after 8: at night it was simply easier to find a used copy on Amazon plus, in our family books seem to be more often the gift exchanged. More than anything, regardless of the huge number of books receiving a book is still the most cherished gift.

Massive 10 point buck in the backyard this morning - hadn't seen him during the rut so I wonder where he has been hanging out. Segway - finally after all these years I'm reading Rachel Carson - lovely, almost poetic certainly not a drum beating activist but her message is haunting.

[JeanneP]

I use to have just to many books around the house.  I don't buy them anymore, just get on line and order what I want from the library and then read and return.  Still I do have one bedroom that has to have the door closed at all times other than when I have someone staying. such a mess I let it get into.  Just did clean the pantry and stuff sitting here for the Food bank.

[JeanneP]

Forgot to mention.  Last 2 days read a book by Jennifer Weiner "Certain Girls" A nice fast read

Forgot to say last post.  I do always keep the Non fiction books that I have collected over the year and a few good one sit on my coffee table all the time. Would not part with those.

[mabel1015j]

Oh Annie, i know how frustrating it is not to know absolutely what is causing a physical problem. There seem to be so many possibilities as we get older. I hope you get an answer soon.

I have bought non-fiction books that i want to re-read or use as resources, but i probably have only a half dozen fiction books that i have bought to keep. ( The library has always been my favorite spot outside of my house and i can't beat the price.) That's as opposed to ones i have bought at library book sales and intend to return for the next sale. We probably have about 500 books that we keep, but almost all of them are upstairs in our bedrooms or office. So we're pretty "average." Altho, we have read 98% of those we own, so that makes us "peculiar". 

Jean

[Frybabe]

Annie, sorry to hear about your problem. I hope you are feeling well soon.

Barb, I am not far behind with books all over the place but on shelves.

Added to my list to read (if the library has it) is called Science Left Behind by Alex Berezow.

Not reading much right now. Busy with Latin; reading a SciFi book. I've let The Tempest slide for some reason, but not because it isn't good.

[pedln]

Annie, sorry to hear about all the mishaps and problems. especially when you were in New York.  However, it sounds like y ou certainly managed to hang in there without missing any of the fun.  You know you have all my thoughts and prayers.  Keep after those DRs here at home, have them check everything.  Wishing you a speedy diagnosis and recovery.

[ANNIE]

Thanks for all the prayer
I am reading a new book by Bruce Feiler about the growing revolutions in the Islamic countries especially in the Middle East.  Quite an interesting premise on the author's part. Its fascinating! Its only 151 pages with the title of: "Generation Freedom".

[MaryPage]

Sending whole bunches of good wishes your way, Annie.  Itchy times for you, and I'm hoping it all turns out well.

Am a Jane Austen nut, as well.  Do not have a single one of her books in this apartment, though I do have over a thousand books in here at this minute.  Have read Austen over and over and passed her on to my granddaughters.  Granddaughter Angela, out in Oklahoma City, named her darling little girl (my 21st great grandchild!) EMMA when she was born this summer.  Angela has inherited my love of Austen, and, just like me, EMMA is her favorite.  Warms the cockles of me heart!

I do own every movie ever made of an Austen book.

[Steph]

I have tons of books everywhere. fiction....non fiction....atlases...maps...hardback and paper. Some favorite authors I keep simply because they are out of print and I loved them..I do a lot of trading on a paperbackbookswap site..
Just now I am overloaded because there were four wonderful used book stores up in the mountains and I went nuts with them.. One lady sells hard back 2.00 and paper for 1.00.. Bad for me.. I found so much old stuff to haul home..

[Frybabe]

Sounds good (bad) to me Steph. My local used bookstore sells hers for anywhere from $4 to $8 for paperbacks depending on size, and from $8 to $12 for hardbacks. At least these are the prices I ran across the last time I was in. The only way she buys books is to give customers a credit of .25 cents for all paperbacks regardless of size and .50 cents for hardbacks. While her prices have gone up, she has not raised the amount she credits customers. She is getting too pricey. Come to think of it, every year at my birthday she sent me a free book card. This year, I haven't seen one.

There are other used bookstores in the area with similar pricing. One book exchange uses the printed price on a book as the starting point for their credits, but I forget how it works exactly. I do remember something about 50% of the printed price, and I remember a charge ($1, I think) added when you buy a book with your accumulated credits. Seems complicated.

So, for now,I am sticking to freebie ebooks and the library except for exceptional books.

[Babi]

Oh, good, PAT. It will be a pleasure to read 'The Hobbit' again.

 Tch, tch, ANNIE. I want to scold you! All those times losing your balance and falling, and
you didn't follow up on it?! I'm so glad you're doing something about it now. The sooner you
get on top of this thing, whatever it is, the better. I'll be praying the doctors get to the
root of the problem quickly and you will discover what you need to do to live more safely.
I think you have had an angel on your shoulder, not to have been more seriously injured already.
Take very good care of yourself, please. 

[Frybabe]

I just remembered something. My Mom was taking spills too. I looked into it a little and found out that older folks tend to lose some of their "foot feel". I've seen specialty shoes for people that are supposed to minimize the falling, but I don't know how they work or if they truly work at all. The other thing I read was a recommendation to walk in your bare feet or socks as much as possible to give your feet better contact feeling with the floor. That may be fine for indoors, but not very practical many times outside. At any rate, we used to remind Mom to lift her feet more. She started to shuffle more because she thought that would help her keep from falling. In reality it makes you more susceptible to falling more easily or trip on slightly uneven sidewalks and rug edges or bumps. I have a tendency to not lift my feet much when walking on icy areas, so I must remind myself to lift my feet at times too.

[ginny]

Jane, thank you for Kukla, how interesting. I wonder why they chose that name? And the puppet looks Italian. I read somewhere that it was based on the tradition of the Italian puppet shows, I think there's only one left in Rome now, kind of nostalgic. I've actually never seen one (and with my Italian I might as well watch birds chirping, but hey! You never know).

Nlhome, absolutely right! Winky Dink and you (let's all SING!) Winky Dink and you...There is NO telling how much radiation we absorbed drawing on the TV.

Ann I am so sorry to hear you've had some problems since your two awful falls. I hope it's something transient, we're all pulling for you!

I opened a new nonfiction  book called How to Live, a Search for Wisdom from Old People (while they are still on this earth), and the first page  I turned to had a mother telling her children she had made plans for the rest of her life and they did not include her children. Shock everywhere.  I need to read that bit first, tho I think that's not as wise as the title of the book suggests, and that there is more to it somewhere. It addresses the issues in growing old and how people handle it. (I am thinking we could have written our own book here!) It also has a lot of famous people's wishes for how they might end. Mussolini was close.

[marcie]

Annie, I too am hoping that the doctors will find a diagnosis soon and that you'll get good treatment.

[JoanK]

ANNIE: I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you.

"It addresses the issues in growing old and how people handle it. (I am thinking we could have written our own book here!) "

you can say that again! I've noticed a whole shelf of books by people in their fifties and early sixties on how to grow old. What do they know? I'd love to be sixty again! The prime of life.

[BarbStAubrey]

Well I voted - so that is done - no matter what happens I can no longer affect the outcome but that is OK - lots of folks voting this first day of early voting - I just made it before the jam and got the last booth before I would have had to wait in line - lots to vote on here - 15 city amendments and city council etc etc. - 16 more days of the phone ringing and hyper ads to sway the vote - I am tired of it... this one never seemed to stop since 4 years ago.

[nlhome]

Here we have a program called "Stepping on" which is supposed to help people with techniques and exercises to prevent falls. We also have a program called "Walk with Ease" that is sponsored, I think, by the Arthritis Foundation, and works to encourage people to walk more and walk safely. I know the Stepping On program also uses professionals like physical and occupational therapists to provide advice. They also talk about footwear and rugs and such.

[rosemarykaye]

Annie, I am sending you lots of good wishes from this side of the Atlantic.  I do hope your doctors sort everything out soon - I know it is horrible waiting to see what something is.  I will be glad to say prayers for you.

Here is something to make you laugh: today was my elder daughter's first day back at school after the October half term.  I also saw my younger daughter onto the train for school at 7.30am.  At 8.30am, Madeleine (younger) called me to say 'Are you sure it's school today?' - she had arrived at Steiner in Edinburgh to find the whole place locked up.  Checked my list and found - they don't start till tomorrow    Thank goodness M has a sense of humour.  I felt so bad for her - especially as it's a foggy, dreich, miserable day here - that I spent the rest of the morning making Chocolate Florentines for her instead of writing my book reviews and reading my book group books.

And now I'm off to a craft demonstration with some ladies from the SWRI (Scottish Women's Rural Institute).  I am about 30 years younger than the median age, which makes me feel quite good!  They are all so nice and friendly.  I haven't a clue what's being demonstrated, but so long as I don't have to make anything, I'll be happy.

Rosemary

[Babi]

 And some, FRYBABE, like me, have problems in their 'balance' center.  I am especially
vulnerable in turning around, for instance. If it is full dark, I need a contact point to
persuade my feet to move at all.     I can't walk out on the lawn any more, because it is uneven.
Old age,...it's all about adjustment and adaptation.  Fortunately, I'm good at that.

  I was never very good at crafts, ROSEMARY. Had a couple of things I could do in a pinch.
I am fortunate, however, to have a SIL who is marvelous with her hands and makes beautiful
decor items. The family is the lucky recipient of her many talents.

[marjifay]

I'm not a crafts person either, LOL.  I still remember in Home Ec class in high school, trying to put together a skirt I was making.  I got so frustrated I took a pair of scissors and cut the darn thing in half, threw it in the waste basket, saying "Well that finishes that!" 

Marge

[Frybabe]

Ah, yes Babi. That has something to do with the inner ear, right? Do you get dizzy when you move your head fast? I don't know much about it except for a little about vertigo.

[maryz]

I hit my head when I fell 31 July, and I had a lot of trouble with vertigo, particularly when I'd lie down in bed.  I went to see an ENT doctor, and obviously this is not at all uncommon.  Even has a name - posttraumatic positional vertigo (WOW!).  Anyhow I've had two treatments with the Epley Maneuver, followed the sleeping instructions for the first week afterwards, and the problem seems to have cleared up.  You might try seeing an ENT for the vertigo problem.

I'm still very  careful - don't want any more falls.

[Frybabe]

Once in a great while when I moved my head fast, I felt like my head stopped but my eyes didn't. I used to get a similar sensation on very bright, sunny days after stopping my car. I knew I was stopped, but it felt (and saw) like the car was still moving very slowly. Odd feeling. I don't seem to have that problem any more, probably because after my cataract surgery the doctor told my always to where sunglasses when outside. He had told me that implants don't filter out uv rays like original lenses. I don't usually put sunglasses on when I mow the lawn, but I always have them on when driving on sunny days.

[Tomereader1]

Yes, do go on line to the Epley Maneuver, and there are several other listings where you can print out the exercises.  I was having trouble awhile back, and a friend who has the inner ear problem, pointed me to that, and it worked great.  (I was having dizziness, while turning around).

[BarbStAubrey]

Wow good to know - I have a friend who gives herself a gold star on a special kitchen calendar for every day she does not fall and most of her falls are from turning quickly as she did when she was younger - I need to share this link with her -

Thanks Frybabe for the reminder on the sunglasses - I forgot that little tip and been so annoyed that the fake eye does not respond to change in light or even focus well in the mornings so I have not done the other eye - cannot see out of it very well but it was better than nothing - if I get used to sun glasses maybe I can get this other eye done after all.

[JoanP]

Well, we had the vote of the 8 nominated titles for November discussion -  and narrowed the list to three.  We held a run-off election - only to find the results way to close to call.  Here's what we decided to do.

The Hobbit November Book Club Online discussion.  Join us today!   HERE  

*************************************************

Travels with Herodotus January Book Club Online Discussion by Ryszard Kapuscinski  

Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof - for consideration in March (if there is still interest)

[Steph]

I find that I need to pick up my feet a bit more. I did not realize I was starting to not pick them up and it does make you trip easily..
Blood work this am and a flu shot. Two different arms.. Whew..then a lunch with some people I had met in Franklin, who also live in Clermont.
Now waiting to see what the realtor will tell me.. We will see. I used to sell real estate, so I have a number of things that I require.