Author Topic: The Library (Read 2089856 times)

roshanarose · « **Reply #6000 on:** August 15, 2011, 10:25:59 PM »

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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*SeniorLearn's Archives

Rosemary - I immediately thought of Brigadoon when I saw your lovely pix. With the coo and the doocots. I am always interested in the history of the places, esp since I have been watching "Time Team". About what period is Linton do you think?

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6001 on:** August 16, 2011, 04:02:40 AM »

Roshanarose - I don't know much about East Linton (yet...) but here is some info about it - as you can see, it is thought to be very old:

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/eastlinton/eastlinton/index.html

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #6002 on:** August 16, 2011, 06:09:40 AM »

How far is East Linton from where you live? It looks lovely.. I am hoping for that sort of villages when I tour.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6003 on:** August 16, 2011, 06:18:02 AM »

It took us about 15 mins to drive there but I am a slow driver and we probably didn't take the most direct route - still finding our way round here. Glad we went yesterday - today it's dull and raining and wouldn't have been half so nice. I will be going back as we came across a plant nursery + tea room that looked good, but we were too late and it was already closed for the day. Madeleine had never heard of a plant nursery before - I suppose they all used to be called that before they turned themselves into "garden centres" selling more tat than plants.

Rosemary

MaryPage · « **Reply #6004 on:** August 16, 2011, 09:28:10 AM »

Oh, thank you, Rosemary! What a lovely trip! Do, please, take us with you on more.

Babi · « **Reply #6005 on:** August 16, 2011, 09:35:49 AM »

Thanks so much for those pictures, ROSEMARY. I spent a bit of extra time
there, just imagining myself walking by and actually being there. The bluebells,
especially, reminded me of our fields of bluebonets.
I often think the idea of those long walks sounds so lovely. In actual life
here, Texas weather during most of the year is too hot for long walks, but I did
enjoy some beautiful walks in the woods. Especially in early Spring, when the
dogwoods and redbuds are in bloom.

JoanK · « **Reply #6006 on:** August 16, 2011, 03:16:54 PM »

CAROLYN: what college/university is he studying at? California has literally dozens.

JoanK · « **Reply #6007 on:** August 16, 2011, 03:17:26 PM »

In my mail today were five notifications from Amazon that my order (with order number has been processed) has been processed WITH AN ATTACHMENT. I deleted without opening -- I've never had an attachment on a notice from Amazon, and I didn't order five books yesterday. Stupidly didn't notice if the order numbers were all the same, but I'm pretty sure it's a hacker.

pedln · « **Reply #6008 on:** August 16, 2011, 08:42:39 PM »

JoanK, did you notify Amazon about this?

Steph · « **Reply #6009 on:** August 17, 2011, 05:55:43 AM »

Do be sure and notify Amazon, they are a prime target for hackers..
I walk early in the morning most of the year in Florida. Daytime walks are way too humid and hot.. This is our shake and bake time of year. Whew..
Today is our libraries second birthday in their new building. The employees will get a free luncheon from the Friends of the Library and we are giving out Fans, cookies, book marks, etc to each and every patron today. Fun, but a lot of work.. Made a new type of cookie. An old Pillsbury winner.. Chocolate, Oatmeal, Choc Chips, Pecans,, on and on. It is good,, shiny, soft and crunchy all at once.

Babi · « **Reply #6010 on:** August 17, 2011, 08:42:53 AM »

Sounds scrumptious, STEPH. There were always some great new recipes coming out of those
Bake-Offs. Do they still hold them? Now that I no longer have a family to cook for, I've stopped
paying attention.

pedln · « **Reply #6011 on:** August 17, 2011, 08:19:05 PM »

Obama's Book Club

Just for your information, from the Daily Beast -- The books President Obama has read 2008-2010.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #6012 on:** August 17, 2011, 09:09:04 PM »

Interesting, thanks for sharing Pedln.

Steph · « **Reply #6013 on:** August 18, 2011, 06:20:00 AM »

My recipe came from the book that they put out a few years ago on winners.. It was from 1984.. But excellent.. Yes, I believe they have the bakeoff every other year and it is big time money now.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6014 on:** August 18, 2011, 07:29:42 AM »

That must have been where the book my mother had came from all those years ago - I do recall that the recipes all had people's names attached to them. I do wish I still had it - but my mother is not such a book hoarder as I am

Rosemary

jane · « **Reply #6015 on:** August 18, 2011, 07:43:24 AM »

Thanks, Pedln, for that link!

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6016 on:** August 18, 2011, 08:18:11 AM »

Oh my gosh, he doesn't lighten up does he? Or maybe he's like all those Important People whose alleged "summer reading" the Sunday Times lists every year - never an easy read among them, all heavyweight biographies or Booker type novels. I don't believe them, I bet they've all got murder mysteries tucked away in their bags...

Thanks for the link, Pedln. At least Obama does read something - I can't imagine that our lot get much beyond Sky News.

Rosemary

Babi · « **Reply #6017 on:** August 18, 2011, 08:41:20 AM »

I was pleased to see that while a number of the books would have been for his
reading pleasure, he is also diligent in reading things that would help him do his
job intelligently and well. A President is so busy, tho'...I wonder if he had some
books summarized for quick gleaning of information.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6018 on:** August 18, 2011, 09:37:46 AM »

On Woman's Hour this morning there was an item about the house of Jane and Thomas Carlyle in Chelsea (London).

I haven't been there myself but it sounds very interesting. It is now looked after by a resident National Trust caretaker, who said that she tries to keep it as Jane would have done. She read out some of Jane's letters, in which she refers to joining in with the servants to clean the kitchen walls; she was not afraid of getting her hands dirty. Apparently the house has a very nice garden that the Carlyles used to sit in, and the caretaker now picks posies of little flowers to brighten up the rooms, and in the winter, small branches and other bits of greenery. Here is some information about the house:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-carlyleshouse.htm

It seems that the Carlyles moved to London from Scotland because Jane thought that Thomas would have more writing success there, in the midst of more publishers, other writers, etc. They paid £35 a year for a house in what is now one of the most expensive streets in London! (I think Mick Jagger used to have a house there). Jane was actually born in Haddington, which is the county town of East Lothian, and only 10 minutes from our new house. it's still a very old fashioned country town. In London, Jane attended to all of the domestic matters so that Thomas would be entirely free for his writing. They became a sort of 19th century "celebrity couple".

Persephone books have republished "The Carlyles At Home" by Thea Holme, which is about the Carlyles' home life in Chelsea - I haven't read it but I think I will try to after hearing this radio programme, as Jane Carlyle does sound quite fascinating. this is the book:

http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/pages/titles/index.asp?id=49

Rosemary

marjifay · « **Reply #6019 on:** August 18, 2011, 01:07:17 PM »

Very interesting about the Carlyles' home, Rosemary. I haven't read anything by Carlyle, have you? I think it's so wonderful that these homes are preserved.

Marj

Gumtree · « **Reply #6020 on:** August 18, 2011, 02:06:31 PM »

Rosemary - thanks for the Carlyle - good to know the house is one being preserved - lots of them are I believe.

I've had ago at reading him - Sartor Resartus and The French Revolution are somewhere around my shelves - probably long buried. The read The French Revolution after discovering that Dickens had used it to help in writing Tale of Two Cities. I like links like that.

PatH · « **Reply #6021 on:** August 19, 2011, 01:41:39 AM »

Quote from: rosemarykaye on August 18, 2011, 08:18:11 AM

I don't believe them, I bet they've all got murder mysteries tucked away in their bags...
Rosemary

Hey, there's even a murder mystery on that list. George Pelecanos, a native of Washington, DC, writes hard-boiled mysteries mostly set in DC--the seedy part, not the political part.

From the timing of the dates on that list, I'm guessing those aren't the only books he read.

Steph · « **Reply #6022 on:** August 19, 2011, 06:13:38 AM »

Yes, I believe every time I read a book list that is published, that there are some fluff thrown in, but oh my important type people dont like to admit that one.. But then the number of politicians, who actually read is probably quite small.

ginny · « **Reply #6023 on:** August 19, 2011, 08:57:41 AM »

Rosemary!! What gorgeous gorgeous photos and place. I love to come in here and find you walking in another fabulous setting, thank you for those beautiful photos and description, looks like paradise to me.

On lists, I take Entertainment Magazine because Best Buy gave it free for some reason years ago, and I've kept it up because I think (probably erroneously) it does something for my Fuddy Duddy syndrome: I know almost none of the young actors and don't care about them, particularly, but I do think it sort of lets you in on the trends. The movie about the Dragon Tattoo, I sure hope that actress did not have her face punctured in that way for the movie, how on earth does anybody eat with those kinds of piercings?

(There's a frightening reality show on TV now called something about Repo and this huge and extremely unattractive woman who has a piercing of the lip which actually goes round and back out the front thru her chin and has silver spikes which wobble when she talks, I mean it's the side show at the circus big time. I truly wonder sometimes what we're coming to.)

But anyway they have interviewed the author David Nicholls, whose book has inspired the new Ann Hathaway movie One Day and asked him for his 5 best novels about Love. Ordinarily I would have skipped this entire thing, since I don't read love novels, but they are surprising novels.

There are 5 covers shown and his excellent reasons for choosing them; it's just his personal list, like Obama's. He says only one is bright and uplifting. I am not sure I agree these are "love" novels, but I am intrigued by the list:

1. Tender is the Night F Scott Fitzgerald
2. Goodbye, Columbus: Philip Roth
3. Far From the Madding Crowd: Thomas Hardy
4. Great Expectations: Charles Dickens
5. Revolutionary Road: Richard Yates

I am interested to see I have read all but the Hardy and Dickens and I have to ask myself why? I am a huge Hardy fan but have not read Far From the Madding Crowd. Have you and how was it? I love Dickens and have not read Great Expectations, tho I have it. Revolutionary Road I thought for years was the be all and end all of all books, we read it here in conjunction with one of Franzen's which fell a lot short of the Yates tho the Yates upon close introspection lost some of (but not the majority of) its glitter. I haven't seen the movie, tho I hear the actors are incredible, I need the characters Yates put in my own head and they are not those in the movie.

Goodbye Columbus when I read it years ago I thought was another of the best books I had ever read.

I am wondering if the AGE at which you read something makes a big difference? Nicholls appears a fairly young man (anybody under 50 is young, to me) and I am just wondering as the fall light FINALLY is beginning to appear here in SC after a scorching summer, what 3 and 4 above might do for me, would they appeal to the older reader? as the shadows lengthen. Have you all read all these and if so, can you comment on 3 and 4?

ginny · « **Reply #6024 on:** August 19, 2011, 09:01:08 AM »

I actually came IN however, to remark on Dapphne, whose progress I was somewhat anxious about, to find splendid news of her in the S&F site, for those of you who know her, she's remarking in a discussion about a porch swing that she's apparently doing magnificently in Washington state, has given up the van life, and is heavily happily involved in several community projects, and even a radio station. It's quite exhilarating to read and I am so glad and so happy for her.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #6025 on:** August 19, 2011, 10:27:57 AM »

Here is a nice site the Webby recommended this morning - Track New Books - http://www.tracknewbook.com/

pedln · « **Reply #6026 on:** August 19, 2011, 11:35:17 AM »

An interesting site, Barbara, and a good source of info about books, especially those by authors outside the US. I was curious about Meir Shalev and the site showed me that he has written other books since A Pigeon and a Boy.

Ginny, I think I've read only Great Expectations, from that list. One Day was first a book? Nicholls has an interesting website/blog (I think it's fairly new.) I got the impression One Day was first a book. He is now working on screen version of Great Expectations.

David Nicholls

Thanks for bringing him up. I'd heard the name but didn't know much more.

Re Obama: I wonder what he reading at Martha's Vineyard. Last year the bookstore there gave him a copy of Franzen's Freedom (which I've just started), slightly before it was released to the public, I believe. And he bought Tinkers by Paul Harding, there. And because he bought it, when I got my Kindle I bought it too. The price was right (still is), and it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, 2010. It doesn't seem to have really taken off. I still haven't read it, yet.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6027 on:** August 19, 2011, 12:54:52 PM »

I read Great Expectations comparatively recently (ie within the last 5 years!) and I really enjoyed it. Dickens has such a way of handling such a huge cast of characters, and because of the way the books were originally published they are still great page turners, with lots of incidental detail about the way people lived in those days.

Dickens was apparently one of the regular visitors to the Carlyles' house in London. Coincidentally, I have just heard a discussion on the radio about the proposal that a statue of him should be erected. It seems he specified in his will that his only memorial should be his books, but now some people - including a member of his own family - want to put one up, and say that it depends how you interpret his words as to whether you think he really didn't want one or not. Some Dickens specialists are however appalled.

I have read the Hardy, but so long ago that I can't remember it. Ditto the Fitzgerald. I'm not sure that these would be my five top love stories, but I'd have to think about what would be. Anyone else have any suggestions?

Rosemary

FlaJean · « **Reply #6028 on:** August 19, 2011, 01:41:40 PM »

Ginny, I'm so glad you posted about Dapphne. I've been wondering about her and I'll go check out that site in S&F. After Seniornet dropped the forums, Dapphne was the person who notified me about this site and S&F and I really appreciated it.

JoanR · « **Reply #6029 on:** August 19, 2011, 02:01:57 PM »

Ginny - "Great Expectations" is one of my favorite of Dickens. There was an old classic movie of it that did a great job of telling the story - worth looking for.
As for Hardy - I read nearly all of him in my younger days and even then found him pretty gloomy - "Jude the Obscure" was absolutely heart-breaking! I think that I could read "Far from the Madding Crowd" over again alright - it was really quite good if I remember correctly - except for the incident of the sheep and the cliff (awful).

I do wish there was enough time left for me to re-read many things that I enjoyed! I can't even keep up with all the stuff that I haven't read. Double drat!

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #6030 on:** August 19, 2011, 03:21:18 PM »

We all have our taste don't we but for romance I an not fond of the suggested list...I did not read the last book on the list Revolutionary Road and I am not familiar with the author - however...

First book on the list - to be swept away into a world that is thrilling with love in the air not sure that Scott Fitzgerald pulls it off - he seems to me to talk about the affects of love - no Heathcliff shouting, pouting and stumping through the bogs with a torn heart.

Roth I just find raunchy - seems to me he has sex and love as one and the same.

Far From a Maddening Crowd like most of Hardy and as JoanR says, gloomy with tinges of reading to discover who will be the victim.

Dickens has more to read - it would take over a year to get it all in - but Great Expectations is a strange romance with Estella his hearts memory - sheesh... I would prefer re-reading Little Dorrit

For a fun romp I would prefer reading A Busy Day by Fanny Burney

Of Course Doctor Zhivago however, I do not think I could read it without the movie looping through my head so I would rather just skip the book on this one and watch that beautifully shot movie again.

And finally, my all out favorite would be to be whisked away reading Tristan and Iseult of course the entire Rosalind Miles series would be heaven to read - I am not sure where this Dover published story of their Romance starts because as I recall reading of their young years before Tristan sails to Ireland helped to bring more daring and passion to their secret love. OH my when a sword placed just so on a Tristan's chest while he slept could fool the knights into believing they were innocent...ahh

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6031 on:** August 19, 2011, 04:06:52 PM »

Barb - much as your version gave me a lot of laughs, I think it is Madding, not "maddening". Although Hardy could probably be described as that - as could quite a few writers.

Rosemary

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #6032 on:** August 19, 2011, 04:49:53 PM »

Whoops -

roshanarose · « **Reply #6033 on:** August 20, 2011, 01:15:36 AM »

Hi Ginny

I gave a quiz on Far From the Madding Crowd in Author, Author on this site not so long ago. I adore Thomas Hardy.

It's not spelt Maddening, but Madding, maybe from an English dialect.

kiwilady · « **Reply #6034 on:** August 20, 2011, 05:01:03 AM »

I love Hardy too and I think I have read most of his works.

Carolyn

Steph · « **Reply #6035 on:** August 20, 2011, 06:11:00 AM »

I have read them all, but love stories?? not really. I suspect it has a lot to do with how you figure love and separate it from lust.. greed..etc. The kind of love story that makes you cry.. My all time top.. not a book.. a play, a ballet and an opera.... Romeo and Juliet.. Oh me.. The ballet reduces me to tears each and every time.. So does the play.. Now thats a love story.. sad, tragic, but a love story.. and as I remember.. Hm, someone named Scott Spencer wrote a book about obsessive love in teens a long time ago.. Quite a love story, but tragic again.. I guess my love stories tend to end sadly,,

Gumtree · « **Reply #6036 on:** August 20, 2011, 07:41:04 AM »

Madding derives from mad = disordered, distracted, acting madly, or in a state of frenzy- The word is now archaic.

Somehow, I don't think Far From the Frenzied Crowd would have had quite the same ring.

I've read most of Hardy's well known novels and a few of the lesser ones like The Hand of Ethelberta and the Trumpet Major- I was intending to read through them all in the order he wrote them but it really is daunting - I believe there are around 25 volumes including the short stories etc - and then there's the poetry...

Babi · « **Reply #6037 on:** August 20, 2011, 08:46:24 AM »

GINNY, I must confess I look at some of the facial piercings people choose, and
can't help wondering what a good psychiatrist would have to say about it all.
But then, how is it that hair-dos that look for all the world like old straw
brooms are now so popular?

David Nicholls choices for books about Love are obviously not of the light
'romance' variety. I've read the Hardy and the Dickens. Saw the move, 'Goodbye,
Columbus'. ( Who hasn't?) It seems to me he is recognizing some of the different
aspects of love and what it can lead one to in life.

marjifay · « **Reply #6038 on:** August 20, 2011, 11:09:03 AM »

From an article entitled "Overrated" in Slate Magazine Aug. 11, 2011 by Juliet Lapidos on great books that (she thought) aren't so great:

"Every year for the past three years I've read a Thomas Hardy novel, and every year I've been sorely disappointed. I couldn't get into Tess of the d'Urbervilles, found Jude the Obscure too preachy, and deemed The Return of the Native simply dull. Hardy had reverse-Hollywood syndrome: He never met a horribly depressing ending he didn't like. And, in the manner of Hollywood, this gets pretty repetitive. Perhaps I'm to blame. Hardy, after all, is a bona fide literary master—the kind who shows up on college syllabi. (That's why I keep reading him: I'm planning to start Far From the Madding Crowd in a month or two.) But wherever the fault may lie, Hardy, to me, is one of the "greats" who just isn't all that great. "

(The only Hardy book I tried to read was Jude the Obscure that was a DNF for me. One of these days I'll try Far From the Madding Crowd.)

Marj

MaryPage · « **Reply #6039 on:** August 20, 2011, 12:01:56 PM »

Hardy was a great writer, but soooooo depressing. I could handle him when I was a teenager, but as an octogenarian I want mostly sweet & light. Mind you, I do not read only sweet & light, but prefer it; so I will not read Hardy again. Or watch movies made from his books.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2089856 times)