Author Topic: The Library (Read 2080032 times)

PatH · « **Reply #20720 on:** March 16, 2020, 03:58:43 PM »

The Library

Our library is open 24/7; the welcome mat is always out.
Do come in from daily chores and spend some time with us.

PatH · « **Reply #20721 on:** March 16, 2020, 03:59:38 PM »

Bellamarie, you're so right about the constant information overload--a good recipe for indigestion. I try to zero in on what Dr. Fauci says. I've seen him in action when I was working at NIH, and watched him since. He really knows the science of what is going on and anything he says is the most accurate information available, with no pulling punches, and as complete as he can make it.

PatH · « **Reply #20722 on:** March 16, 2020, 04:11:24 PM »

Barb, I had to laugh at the War of the Worlds--its been a long time since I thought of that one. I don't remember the original broadcast, though I was alive then.

I can't read anything too gloomy right now either. I had gotten my hands on Broken Stars, the latest book of short stories
by Chinese born American science fiction writer Ken Liu. They're terrific, but depressing, dealing with alienation and sense of identity in a way I found too much of a downer. I took the book back unfinished so the next person in the very long library hold line could have it. I hope someone checked it out before the libraries shut down yesterday.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #20723 on:** March 16, 2020, 04:59:03 PM »

This is the craziest thing yet, they are talking here about closing school FOR THE SEMESTER - THE END OF SCHOOL FOR THIS SPRING - can you believe - What gets me, they can't teach kids to wash their hands?? They can teach math, computer science, sex, and sexual identification, birth and birth control, that God is a fantasy and its illegal to pray in school - the history of the Muslim religion but they CAN"T TEACH KIDS TO WASH THEIR HANDS OR PROVIDE HOMEMADE SANITATION WIPES AS THEY ENTER EACH CLASS??!!??

Jonathan · « **Reply #20724 on:** March 16, 2020, 06:20:49 PM »

Ah, yes. We had the War of the Worlds in the thirties. And we also started our elementary school day with a prayer. 'Our Father', of course. I do believe we were encouraged to have clean hands.

I can't find Dafoe's Journal, Pat. But I do have Robinson Crusoe, and Moll Flanders. Now, which one should I read first?

There must be furious activity in all the health labs of the world. And so much is being done to control its spread. Good health to all of you. I'll read my plague books some other time. The bestselling Successful

Aging

[/i] is a great book.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20725 on:** March 16, 2020, 07:48:44 PM »

PatH, you just reminded me of Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron which I have yet to read. I did read the Defoe, but it was sooo long ago that I do not remember a thing about it.

I just dumped two Ebooks that I didn't care for much, one was a Chick Lit and the other (surprise) a SciFi. Not only that, I have not been in the mood for listening to my audio books lately.

My bet is that the book sites are seeing a big increase in sales of books involving plagues, fiction and non-fiction, especially from the younger set. Apocalyptic plague stories have been rather popular in SciFi for a while now, with or without zombies and mutants. I generally stay away from those, but there are a few good ones.

Around here some restaurants are offering free delivery of meals in place of or in addition to serving in house. Actually, I think that is a good idea. The restaurants have food that is dated, so it is a good way to use it before they must throw it out. I caught mention that Canada is closing its borders to the US with some exceptions. That kind of explains all the tractor trailers heading into the US lined up and stopped the whole way across the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron and Point Edwards yesterday.

Now I am off to find another book to read. Perhaps one of my poor neglected print books?

PatH · « **Reply #20726 on:** March 16, 2020, 08:29:22 PM »

Jonathan, I read Robinson Crusoe when I was a kid, and don't remember it much. But it's only been about thirty years since I read Moll Flanders, and it was very entertaining. Hmm--maybe it's time to reread it.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20727 on:** March 16, 2020, 09:30:59 PM »

PatH., Wow, I am impressed you actually saw Dr. Fauci in action. I have paid very close attention to what he says. He is calm and direct to the point. I have thought of you often through these past few days, knowing you worked for the NIH.

Well, the Ohio Diocese has just put out a notice, ALL Ohio churches will suspend any and all church functions, masses, baptisms, all Lenten services and Easter Sunday Mass. The Bishop has given dispensation for all Catholics during this time. I completely understand, yet my heart felt very sad to think it will be the first Easter Mass my hubby and I will miss celebrating the Resurrection of our Savior, since we've been married for forty-eight years. We watched Sunday Mass this past Sunday through live streaming, and we will have to continue our celebration of Mass this way until this virus is contained or gone.

Barb, the main purposes of closing schools, restaurants, bars, etc., is because the children and millennials will not stay home, and they can be carriers, with NO symptoms, and then spread the virus to the high risk people they go around. I just saw on the news they are partying in the streets for St. Patrick's Day in Louisiana. Some people refuse to adhere to the rules, putting others at risk. It's rather sad. My hubby and I are hunkered down, and he goes out only to have the grocery store place our click list food into the trunk of our car. I stocked up a bit more today so we don't have to shop weekly. My son was nice enough to bring us toilet paper and water from the stores he distributes to. So we should be all set.

I'm going to give Go Set A Watchman another chance. It did not grab my interest, so I put it down. I don't like giving up on books, but like Frybabe, I may have to give it the boot.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20728 on:** March 17, 2020, 07:35:07 AM »

Well, Bellamarie, the kids are not staying at home. No school so they are out and about playing and running around the neighborhood. Still, it seems better than having them sitting so close to each other in classrooms. I found out yesterday that my next door neighbor is pregnant again, so this all must be worrisome for her and her husband. They already have one youngster who is maybe around two now.

I still have plenty of hardcopy books around the house I have not read yet. Just several weeks ago I received two I ordered from ABEbooks that I couldn't get elsewhere. I was a little wary of them because, although I ordered them from a Maryland booksite, they shipped from Washington state. They came just before all the noise about the outbreak in that state. Anyhow I thought I would start the first one, but now my Ebook hold just came through. so I will read that first.

PatH · « **Reply #20729 on:** March 17, 2020, 10:57:23 AM »

The virus doesn't live indefinitely on surfaces, so by the time you start reading those books you should be fine.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20730 on:** March 17, 2020, 11:32:53 AM »

Frybabe, I heard on the news a woman was nine months pregnant, had been exposed to the virus, the baby was born healthy and so is she. So hopefully your neighbor has little to worry about.

PatH., It's reassuring to know the virus does not last forever on surfaces, and if anyone is concerned when receiving packages in the mail, just wipe them with your Clorox wipes, and wash your hands.

I've got plenty of books to hold me over, I bought quite a few from our library last year when they were $1.00 for a bag. All our libraries are closed due to the virus. I bet online book buying is up these past few weeks. Ya'll stay healthy.

Still have not figured out how to resize, so feel free to make this smaller.

Jonathan · « **Reply #20731 on:** March 17, 2020, 03:33:41 PM »

It's just right, Bellamarie. And that reminds me. Many years ago I was on 5th Ave, NYC, on St. Patrick's Day, to watch the parade. I soon realized I was part of it. 'Where's your shamrock?', I was asked. I'm not Irish, I replied. 'Today we're all Irish' I was told. And so I feel today. And that's no blarney.

Thanks for the tip, Pat. Moll Flanders sounds like more fun. I'll read that one first.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20732 on:** March 17, 2020, 08:28:22 PM »

PatH., Thanks for the mention of Moll Flanders. I found it online at my library, and have begun reading it. All I can say so far is, wow what a cad Robert is! Jonathan, we can read it together.

nlhome · « **Reply #20733 on:** March 17, 2020, 10:03:31 PM »

Bellamarie, thanks for that encouraging story about the power of people. Our community is building a new jail, so it was an interesting read.

I have not heard that heat and sun will do anything to Covid-19. It seems even the warm states, especially Texas, are getting their share. We just spent a week at our daughter's house, watching their two little girls while she and her husband attended a medical conference. They came back with lots of information. It seems as we age, we are more vulnerable, and then with underlying health issues, the death rate is really high. My husband was exposed to Agent Orange and has heart issues, and one of the medicines he takes makes him even more vulnerable, so we came home to "hunker down." My daughter did a big grocery shop for us this morning before we left, so we are well-stocked. We have books, our tablets, our computers, our TV, and a decent-sized yard if the sun every comes out. We should be ok. But it may be a long haul, and I fret for our small town businesses.

PatH · « **Reply #20734 on:** March 17, 2020, 10:13:01 PM »

Bellamarie, by the time you finish the book you might not have a very high opinion of Moll either.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20735 on:** March 18, 2020, 12:33:40 AM »

nlhome, So glad you made it home and have groceries. We are having a shortage in our grocery stores. I was not able to get chicken or hamburger, ramen noodles, mac n cheese, yogurt, orange juice, rice, and many other items on my Kroger click list I placed yesterday. They were expecting a delivery truck today, but it had not yet gotten there. Other big stores have very little left on their shelves as well. I do hope people will stop over stocking, so others can have just a weekly share.

PatH., It did not take me long to lower my opinion of Mrs. Betty/Moll.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20736 on:** March 18, 2020, 06:29:00 AM »

I get monthly cat food deliveries from Amazon. This morning I saw an article saying they are now limiting their deliveries to essential things and not accepting delivery of nonessential products from vendors to clear warehouse shelf space for them. Grocery stores here are limiting hours. One is even setting aside 6am to 7am just for seniors, an inconvenient time but it means less exposure after stores are cleaned and restocked overnight.

jelizondo · « **Reply #20737 on:** March 18, 2020, 11:21:43 AM »

Hello All, I am a student and was just looking around the website and found this discussion going on. Glad to be able to talk to others with different ideas rather than a limited Facebook accounting of what is going on. Basically all gloom and doom on there.

PatH, I am impressed hearing that you have seen Dr. Fauci in person. He impresses me. I'm trying not to worry much, but my hubby is watching way too much TV and is always in a dither about what is going on. I'm way calmer than he is. Funny thing, but I've always been a germaphobe, but he never really has been, now he can't wash his hands enough and uses hand sanitizer all the time. The biggest problem I have is that they held the election yesterday in Illinois, while making everyone stay indoors. I guess the election is way too important to cancel for a time? What is up with all these people and their priorities? We voted at the courthouse before all the guidelines started. Why couldn't they have allowed people to vote online or just cancel voting for a while if this is such a bad situation? SMH BTW, I'm Julie

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #20738 on:** March 18, 2020, 12:12:35 PM »

Hello everyone - I am back yet again after another inexcusable absence (but please do excuse me...

I have come up to rural Aberdeenshire to get away from all the frenzy in Edinburgh - we are very lucky that we still have a small house here, and it is very peaceful to be in a village, looking out of the window over the garden, the river, and the trees beyond - sometimes I almost forget about all the pandemonium going on elsewhere.

I too have been stocking up massively at the local library, which I luckily registered with on my last visit a few months ago. They are very generous - up to 15 books, + 10 ebooks, and masses of free things online like magazines, newspapers, audiobooks and music. The library here is usually very quiet - when I went in last night just before it closed I was one of only 2 people there, and was just thinking that people did not know what they were missing, when the librarian told me that the earlier part of the day had had been ‘manic’ with everyone ‘panic borrowing’ just like me. He was not complaining - the borrowing rates are what our councils use to decide on a library’s viability. I do hope people remember, when all this is over, just how fantastic a resource our libraries are. And ours are still open, at least for the time being.

I have been doing some themed reads with various book bloggers - last year I did #projectnames, which meant we tried to read only books with names in the titles. We did say we would also only read books already on our shelves, but I’m not sure how well we stuck to that one. I found having a focus really useful, and I read far more widely than I normally do, discovering authors I would otherwise probably not have looked at. One of my favourite reads of the year was Henry James’ Daisy Miller, but I also very much enjoyed Mr Todd’s Reckoning by Ian Maitland, a very chilling study of a psychopath, brilliantly revealed. And that’s something I would NEVER normally have touched with the proverbial bargepole.

This March I have been taking part in Reading Ireland Month - my books so far have been Marian Keyes’ The Mystery of Mercy Close and Maeve Binchy’s Dublin 4. These also sat very well with my own new theme, #project places. Before that I read my first Mary Stewart - Rose Cottage - which I loved. She was a prolific writer, so lots more to choose from.

While I am up here on Deeside I am working at home in the mornings, which is fine, then in the afternoons I have been walking beside the river. Today, however, I must do some gardening, as one of the last places we managed to visit before the Big Shutdown was our local plant nursery, so now I have lots of things to get into the ground. It’s a fabulous sunny day here, the birds are singing and of course there are very few planes flying overhead as no-one is going anywhere, so the blue sky is as peaceful as peaceful (though there was a helicopter buzzing about a while ago - I wondered if some of the royals are decamping to Balmoral early, though I know the Queen has gone to Windsor.) We are supposed to be practising ‘social distancing’ and from next week people aged 70+, which includes my 92 year old mother, have been told to stay in their own homes for up to 4 months. I can see the reasons for this, but the social isolation must be terrible - I am thankful that my mother now lives in a small sheltered housing house, so she will at least have the company of the 5 other residents and the small team of housekeeping staff. And they do have a lovely walled garden - the bird table we gave to Mum for Christmas is a source of great joy to all of them.

I’ll stop now It’s good to be back. I do hope everyone is managing to keep safe and well. Rosemary

ANNIE · « **Reply #20739 on:** March 18, 2020, 02:13:54 PM »

Hi to all who have been posting about the virus and how they are handling it! As most of you know I am living in assisted living facility. We are very aware of remaining in our studio apartments so lots of TV following of what is going on in the world.

Our libraries are closed here in Columbus Ohio but you can still go online and order ebooks. So I will be doing that soon.

I am reading Cold Burn by Kit Ehrman. And surprised that her mystery books are very popular and there are many!

Story is presented in the middle of a horseman taking a job at a ranch where he will learn how to help mares deliver their babies. He took the job because a good friend of his has mysteriously disappeared from the ranch! His friend’s sister can’t find her brother and she suspects foul play at the ranch. I can’t put it down! Good reading!

Welcome to our newest newbie! Julia! Or Julie? Annnnnd welcome home RosemaryKaye. So glad you are back!

jelizondo · « **Reply #20740 on:** March 18, 2020, 02:33:19 PM »

Quote from: ANNIE on March 18, 2020, 02:13:54 PM

Hi to all who have been posting about the virus and how they are handling it! As most of you know I am living in assisted living facility. We are very aware of remaining in our studio apartments so lots of TV following of what is going on in the world.

Our libraries are closed here in Columbus Ohio but you can still go online and order ebooks. So I will be doing that soon.

I am reading Cold Burn by Kit Ehrman. And surprised that her mystery books are very popular and there are many!

Story is presented in the middle of a horseman taking a job at a ranch where he will learn how to help mares deliver their babies. He took the job because a good friend of his has mysteriously disappeared from the ranch! His friend’s sister can’t find her brother and she suspects foul play at the ranch. I can’t put it down! Good reading!

Welcome to our newest newbie! Julia! Or Julie? Annnnnd welcome home RosemaryKaye. So glad you are back!

Thank you! I'm glad to have found all of you. I am Julianna, but my friends all call me Julie or Jules

I'm a Latin Student but always enjoy a good book. I haven't ready any good books lately, but am always interested in novels similar to my old favorites John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, and I've read all the Harry Potter books, yes, I'm just a big kid at heart! I do love to read, well a mystery, true crime, almost anything that is a good read, so I'm open to any ideas. I have a Kindle, so I can download almost any book.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #20741 on:** March 18, 2020, 03:43:34 PM »

So glad you browsed and found the reading group Julie - I loved the Harry Potter series - we had discussed I think it was the first 3 or maybe 4 when they each came out here on Senior Learn - those discussions would be archived if you are curious. I think as much as reading the stories I loved going to those opening night parties and seeing all the kids when their number was called to drop immediately to the floor or go out the door and lean against the building and start reading - here it would be 11: at night and sometimes midnight and these 8,9 and 10 year olds could not wait to get home and start reading - I smiled and smiled.

Good to see your post Rosemary - you've got all sorts of things going on - haven't started to plant yet as you have but I need to spray the trees with baking soda - the ball moss just took over this winter - unbelievable. 2 of my Grands are coming down from Lubbock on Friday to spend the weekend and they are going to help me spray - their parents, my son and daughter-in-law are coming up from Magnolia outside Houston on Saturday and I have no idea what we are going to do - Paul always likes for us to go to lunch at a well known barbecue restaurant or another of his favorites that serves a a great chicken fried steak but everything is closed - i mean everything - I need to call the German Restaurant up in Walburg - may be open since they are out beyond even Georgetown much less Austin so maybe - keep my fingers crossed.

Annie I've seen Cold Burn by Kit Ehrman as a book recommended - let us know what you think - sounds like it takes place in the west - bunch of cattle have been rustled here of late up - I've a few friends who live up around San Saba and they were saying it has become a problem for the sheriff in their area.

Yes, they are doing that here frybabe - stores open just for seniors at the crack of dawn

I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON!!! I did some grocery shopping before all the hoopala so I've not needed to shop and with the boys coming on Friday they always stop at the store on their way in. The plan is to show them how to make Schnitzel and German hot potato salad.

Haha I'm glad you are finding the real Moll, bellemarie - good warning Pat - did y'all see the movie - I thought it was done well. My favorite though was the 1965 version with Kim Novak as Moll. I thought she looked the part... and none better than Leo McKern - just his face screams Britain never mind when he opens his mouth.

Just downloaded a free book on my kindle that sounds interesting - Mendelevski's Box Preface is saying only 19 Jews returned to Amsterdam after their release from the concentration camps but that number is not ringing true from what I know - maybe it was just from this one camp or maybe just in Amsterdam - I had a friend from when I lived in Kentucky and her mother lost her husband but true to Jewish law when his brother returned he was obligated to marry her and they immediately set off for the US. I cannot believe her new Dad was one of only 19 - and so maybe 19 stayed and like her mom and new dad others left - anyhow the story is about what happened and his life for several years to this one who returned - something about in the last year or so there was really, not fiction, a box of papers found in an attic from someone who had returned and that information is woven into the story. Still plowing through The Political Economy of Development keep having to stop and research all sorts of new to me concepts of economics and recent economic history.

Jonathan · « **Reply #20742 on:** March 18, 2020, 04:36:26 PM »

It's wonderful to find everyone here in such high spirits, with old friends and new friends showing up. I'm just back from the Mall. Many shops were closed, but not, thankfully, the bank. Our library has closed, but not before I stopped in to pick up Straight Into Darkness, recommended by Annie a few weeks ago. And came away with five other 'withdrawns' for a couple of dollars. All good titles, including Janet Malcolm's Nobody's Looking At You, just published last year. I've enjoyed several of her other books.

Bellamarie, I would love to talk about Moll Flanders. I've read the author's preface and I'm hooked.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20743 on:** March 18, 2020, 04:53:33 PM »

Welcome Julie, it's good to have a new member. Just to let you know, we have not followed our past format, where we used to choose a book, discuss it for a few weeks and then move on to the next one. We have become more like a meet up book/cafe style, where we come here to share the books we are individually reading, and recommend, along with what ever we want to talk about daily, or when ever one drops in. I hope you were not looking for a more regular book club discussion group, as we used to be. I am a huge Mary Higgins Clark fan. One of our members, Ginny, teaches Latin, you may get to meet her in here.

In Ohio they cancelled the primary voting, and rescheduled it for June 2nd. I personally have been keeping my TV off throughout the day to prevent from getting an overload of repetitive information. President Trump has been having updated press conferences, with all those professionals involved in dealing with this virus, so I do try to listen to that. Afterwards, I shut the TV off, because the news stations are overdoing it with repeating what he said.

rosemarykaye, Oh my, it's good to hear from you. Golly, it has been awhile. Your little place sounds divine. I can't wait to begin my Spring gardening. My hubby and I go out for a walk with our dog Sammy each day just to enjoy the freedom of being able to, with all this quarantine and social distancing taking place. We did go to a grocery store today, wiped down the cart handle with sanitizer wipes, and I wore my gloves. There were few people in the store, and we did not dally, we got what we needed and got out. This was my first time going anywhere in a week. I am a home body, so I really don't mind this. My kids are keeping all the grandkids away from us, for our safety, which I don't mind, since we can face time each other.

Barb, I had no idea Moll Flanders was made into a movie. I may check it out, after finishing the book.

Annie, I hear no visitors allowed in the Senior care centers and assisted living places. You take special care.

Jonathan, so you made it out to the mall, bank and library today. Glad you were able to get yourself some good books. The author's preface of Moll Flanders seemed quite interesting to say the least. Yes, let's share our thoughts as we read about this bit of a vixen.

It is good to see everyone drop in, and as Jonathan said, in such high spirits. I mean there is so much to be thankful for, and yes, we are living through some difficult times at the present, but this too shall pass.

jelizondo · « **Reply #20744 on:** March 18, 2020, 06:04:56 PM »

Thank you all for such a warm welcome! No, it's okay, I love all discussions so if anyone wants to talk or discuss any books they have read it's fine with me. It's always nice to get out of Facebook for a while. I play Gardens of Time which I have done since I retired, and it's fun, but not all consuming! I like variety and love people, and it's fun since I'm not working anymore to keep abreast of what is going on in the world especially now that we are all stuck at home for a while.

The Bishop has even stopped Mass here in Central Illinois where I live so I think we will have to watch from TV if we want to participate. I hope it's not going to be too long, but if it will help contain the viral outbreak, it would be worth it. We are hunkered in and have plenty to eat if we are stuck for any duration at home. We have a standard poodle named Dylan and he has plenty of his food available too. Hopefully we will start having nicer weather so we will be able to at least sit in our yard once in a while!

Ginny has been my teacher since I first started Latin 3 years ago! She is such a sweetheart and a great teacher! I wish my Latin teacher in High School was like her. I would have loved her class! Okay, I guess I have monopolized the conversation long enough for now. Glad to hear there are other people that like my authors! I so remember watching the kids at the Harry Potter book parties! They are such fun and so knowledgeable about all things Harry. To sit in front of them during the shows when they first came out reciting spells was always such fun too!

Stay safe all. It's getting to be evening here, so I will be getting off the computer until tomorrow, but I will be sure to check back in to this lovely group tomorrow or the next day! Stay safe all!

PatH · « **Reply #20745 on:** March 19, 2020, 10:41:49 AM »

Welcome, Julie, it's good to see you. As a Latin student, you're familiar with Ginny's sparkle, the spirit of this site. As Bellamarie said, we used to have a book discussion about once a month, but we have had to cut back, as we have so few discussion leaders. Our current aim is four a year. 2019's fourth, a challenging discussion of the Mabinogion. lasted from October to this February. It's my turn next, and this virus hit before a choice had been made and distracted us all. Now it will have to be something available online, as all the libraries are closed.

I'm another Harry Potter fan, and stood in many of the the midnight lines to get the next book when it came out.

Where in Illinois do you live? (If you want to share--you don't have to.) My husband was from Springfield, and went to the U of I in Champaign-Urbana. It's too bad about your election. Here (Maryland) they've postponed it and say they are going to do it by mail.

jelizondo · « **Reply #20746 on:** March 19, 2020, 12:07:50 PM »

Hi Pat,

We are about 50 miles South of Springfield, Illinois and 60 miles North of St. Louis, almost half way between the two cities in a town called Litchfield, IL. We are located right off I-55 where the old and new Route 66 passed through! Our town is a rural community of about 7000 population. Mostly farmers and people that have lived here all our lives. Everyone pretty much knows everyone in our town and surrounding areas. We generally shop a lot in Edwardsville, IL where SIU is located but sometimes in the Chatham, IL area (near Springfield, IL) as there are more choices. But, I worked in Springfield, IL for many years, commuting daily (100 miles total) to the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

Maryland is smart to delay voting, the way this virus is spreading, it is smarter to be home if you don't absolutely have to get out. I worry about the elderly and people and others with a compromised immune system getting infected. It's too bad we could not have voted by mail, as Chicago generally decides most of our elections anyway. They have a larger population than downstate. The only redeeming factor is the collar counties surrounding Chicago sometime vote the way we would like them to and help us downstaters out.

From time to time Chicago even sometimes bring out the deceased to further their cause!

If your husband grew up in Springfield, IL, I'm sure he can relate to what I'm saying. U of I is now part of Springfield College, which was a great addition. It has always been a wonderful school that a lot of very intelligent people attended. It was pretty much one of the top colleges when I was in High School.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #20747 on:** March 20, 2020, 07:15:30 AM »

Morning all.

it is another beautiful sunny day here in Aberdeenshire. I have been into the garden to feed the birds and now I am sat at my desk with a cat on my lap. I may well get backache, but at least she's happy...

I have just started reading Rebecca Shaw's 'The Village Newcomers'. Shaw writes about the fictional village of Turnham Malpas and the lives of the inhabitants - it's quite light stuff but she does address some 'real' issues like marriage break up, adoption and so on, and the characters feel real. It's just what I need in these times of anxiety, especially as there are nineteen books in this series alone!

I am also reading 'Black Forest Summer' by Mabel Esther Allan, a children's book written in 1957, which i found in a charity shop and chose as one of my #projectplaces reads. Mabel wrote 130 books during her long career, many of them school or ballet stories, but this is a one-off about a London family who are orphaned and invited to stay with their previously unknown uncle (handily a rich one as they have no money!) in Germany. Mabel once said every one of her stories began with a 'flash', a 'sense of possessing a landscape for a story', and I can certainly imagine Freiburg from her description. I am enjoying this.

And I am glad to say my London daughter has been persuaded (by me of course...) to move up to Edinburgh tomorrow. She will stay in our house there by herself until she is sure she doesn't have symptoms - then she might join us in the country. I will be glad when she is away from London. Other daughter is sitting it out in Dundee, but at least that's only an hour's drive away, and she has satisfied me that several of her student friends are also staying, and that they are well organised with supplies. 'I think I might try growing potatoes' is her latest idea

Take care everyone.

Frybabe · « **Reply #20748 on:** March 20, 2020, 07:44:03 AM »

For anyone with children, Audible just announced that they have a fair sized list of free books for children 0-18 available during the virus crisis and school shutdowns.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #20749 on:** March 20, 2020, 07:52:07 AM »

What an excellent idea Frybabe. In all of this chaos we are fortunate to have all the online resources the internet can offer.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20750 on:** March 20, 2020, 12:16:30 PM »

Good afternoon all, I have to say it is a beautiful windy/warm Spring day here in Ohio. Hubby and I took our daily walk with our dog and the wind felt fabulous, even though a few times it made me feel a bit off kilter. I told my hubby, it's like the Wizard of Oz, and we have Toto too! lol I'm thinking of going for yet another walk before the temps fall.

Now, as for this Moll Flanders character, oh my heavens, could there be a more conniving wench in literary history? And yet, how does this author have the ability to make her kind, caring, loving and innocent of her crimes? I am one third of the way into the book, and I've lost count of men, marriages and births. Jonathan, I don't want to spoil anything for you, but when she moves to Virginia, you are not going to believe the shocker revealed there. Ewww, ewwww, and ewwww!

I don't want to be over optimistic, but could it be they have found a drug that was used to treat Malaria, a possible drug to cure the Coronavirus? Is there truly light, to this darkness. I have to share this pic with all of you, whether you are believers or non believers, this is still incredible.
https://www.healthsumo.com/jesus-appears-in-the-sky/?fbclid=IwAR3I86nMMcm7LHo4r5-FmbgpKu06ha6AR8LhOySjHVX4lkOs0zieonY4gj4

Ya'll have a good day, stay home, and stay healthy.

Jonathan · « **Reply #20751 on:** March 20, 2020, 12:26:25 PM »

Hi, Rosemary. It's wonderful to read about the 'beautiful sunny day in Aberdeenshire.' Here in Toronto it is a wild, last day of winter. 70 degrees F, sunny one minute, torrential downpour, with great gusts of wind the next, which had me tearing around the house, closing windows. The place is well-aired. I hope I didn't let in too many germs. Potatoes might just save us. At the very least it is such a wonderful return to mother earth.

Bellamarie, I am slowly getting into Moll Flanders, with its 17c language and style. Seen as a vixen, is she. And also, I read, as a jade, a wench, a beggar, and a whore. Isnèt she caught up in a world of wild circumstance. But she is beautiful and very smart.

Jonathan · « **Reply #20752 on:** March 20, 2020, 12:28:58 PM »

I just saw your post, B..Take good care of youself.

PatH · « **Reply #20753 on:** March 20, 2020, 02:06:25 PM »

All of you take care of yourselves. The most important thing we can all do now is to be as rigorous as possible in following all the guidelines, especially social distancing, handwashing and not touching our faces. We need to slow things down as much as possible to make up for our bad start.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #20754 on:** March 20, 2020, 04:32:45 PM »

Well everyone decided to put off the visit - not the first disappointment for sure - but between the continuous rain and the sense made of avoiding contamination it was the only decision we could make.

Interesting to see how people react when there is no normal and we working blind. I keep going back to St. John of the Cross and his Dark Night of the Soul for inspiration or even the simplicity of the Serenity Prayer - where many seem to be caught in the drama of awfulness and actually get angry if you bring out hopeful or what I call good news - ended up leaving for awhile my neighborhood site because a bit of my good news caused such a furor among some they took it down even though there were equally as many with a positive comment or reaction - There is an old saying that popped into my head with the perfect question - Am I wasting wood on a fire that serves no purpose - and so when the fire dies down and the purpose changes to bring about hope and joy I'll bring my wood again.

Moll is sure a force to be reckoned with isn't she Bellamarie - at times I hate her choices but then, to keep going she did whatever it took and given her circumstances there were not many choices open were there.

I bet you are feeling blessed Rosemary to have less populated areas for you and your family to live out the quarantine - Trying to remember the name of a light read where the women digs and makes a garden but really ends up doing more digging and piling up dirt as her way of handling her anger and grief over a life changing divorce - like you said about The Village Newcomers - light but addresses substantial life issues.

Talk about freebees -well not entirely free but hay 49 cents - wow - I downloaded the Harvard book shelf - all 51 volumes plus 21 more volumes of novels from the ancients to the modern - Surprised at how many I've read and how many we have read over the years here on Senior Learn - but there are a few new to me - and the poetry included knocked me away - the kind of poetry that I wish I could memorize it all - reminded me of back when most of us attended primary school and part of English was not only weekly spelling but memorizing poetry. I remember how my father could do all of Paul Revere's Ride and The Wreck of the Hesperus He really took it up a notch with

"Come hither! come hither! my little daughtèr,
And do not tremble so;
For I can weather the roughest gale
That ever wind did blow."

He wrapped her warm in his seaman's coat
Against the stinging blast;
He cut a rope from a broken spar,
And bound her to the mast.

Jonathan sounds like Spring is doing it's lion thing where you are - for a week it has been doing its sobbing crying thing here - wish it would buck up and smile - at least all the ranch tanks are filling up so the cattle will have water this year.

Did y'all see how the Hallmark Channel on TV is going to show Christmas specials all this week and to bring cheer and hope many are decorating the outside of their homes with Christmas lights and wreathes. Appears like Christmas has more meaning than commercialism - love it - good antidote to the Corona 19 Spring lion's roar.

bellamarie · « **Reply #20755 on:** March 20, 2020, 06:58:22 PM »

Barb, I am so sorry to hear all the travel plans have been cancelled. I can't say I am surprised with what all is going on. I know how much you were looking forward to spending time with your loved ones, hopefully, when this is all over you all can plan for another get together. I love the poem, and it's so fitting for what is going on today.

Quote

Moll is sure a force to be reckoned with isn't she Bellamarie - at times I hate her choices but then, to keep going she did whatever it took and given her circumstances there were not many choices open were there.

Yes, I too at times hate some of Moll's choices, but I am trying really hard to keep remembering what choices were available to single women back then. Not many, and she has no family to fall back on. Marrying one man after another seems to be the norm. The deceit and conniving is mind boggling. And how do you just leave your kids behind? Yes, I understand it's for their own good, but one after another. I am getting a bit frustrated with her character.

Jonathan, I believe your downpours of rain is heading our way. I can't seem to put Moll Flanders down, now that I got into it. Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

PatH., Yes, we do indeed need to slow things down, and follow the guidelines with this virus. I have friends I graduated with, arguing with each other on social media, trying to lay blame here and there, depending on their politic stance, and I just find I will have to limit my times on social media. It's kind of sad because we can't be with each other due to "social distancing," so you would think we could all be kind and respectful during this time. Barb, isn't it sad how some just don't want to hear positivity?

Mkaren557 · « **Reply #20756 on:** March 21, 2020, 11:28:33 AM »

It was so nice to drop into the library ans find so many of you again. Can I blame depression for the "dropping out" thing I have done for the past few months. I too am in assisted living and we are not having visitors or leaving and yesterday they closed the dining room and are serving meals in our apartments. We have a courtyard and halls I can walk, but that would necessitate getting dressed and leaving my chair.Florida is getting hot and all I see on the long term forecast are temperatures in the 80s and sun.
I have been reading like mad. Right now I am reading A Suitable Boy, which I am loving alonf with the History books in the Old Testament. I am also reading Thoreau and rereading Little Women. They tried to get a book club going here but only two of us were interested, so David and I are now a bookclub. We just decided to read Arundel a 1940 novel by Kenneth Roberts a Maine author. It is about Benedict Arnold when he was still a good guy leading an army through Maine and surprising the british at Quebec. David is from Canada and I promised him a Kansas book next. Any suggestions? All I can think of are the Wizard of Oz and In Cold Blood.
I will stop by again soon. Please stay well. Aren't we blessedd thatt we like to read?

Dana · « **Reply #20757 on:** March 21, 2020, 12:41:44 PM »

Oh Karen, I am in the middle of A Suitable Boy too, isn't it a marvellous read? I want it never to end. he was supposed to have written a sequel...A Suitable Girl, but it hasn't appeared yet. The book is good on so many levels....the story is nice and gossipy, the history (India just after partition) is largely unknown to me and fascinating, the insights into the culture are really super interesting, I love the use of Indian words and expressions which I keep looking up and enjoying, it is written really well, clever use of language....everything about this book is the best...a perfect read in this horrible time when we need something to take us out of ourselves....

Mkaren557 · « **Reply #20758 on:** March 21, 2020, 01:58:26 PM »

Dana,
I am so glad to find someone else reading this book. This is thee third time I have started this novel and each time I stopped reading it. This time I am determined to finish. I love the way the author weaaves the political history into a wonderfullove story. I do find that I have to keep hopping back to the family trees at the beginning to remind myself who is in what family. ai loved the descriptions of the Holi festival . . .it sounds like April Fool's Day gone wild. I was reminded of that whole section as the college students flocked to the beaches here in Florida in spite of all the warnings. Then my neighbor reminded me of all the foolish and sometimes dangerous tricks I pulled believing I was living a "Charmed Life". Back to my reading.

PatH · « **Reply #20759 on:** March 21, 2020, 02:37:56 PM »

Karen, how good to see you here. I've missed you. You're lucky to have found even one reading buddy, and it makes a huge difference. I've sometimes had the experience of trying a few times to read a book, then finally it clicks. Paul Scott's Staying On, which we read before your time, has a description of Holi, and the movie made from the book has a scene involving it. Crazy.

Stay well, everyone.

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