The Library

[evergreen]

The Library Our library cafe is open 24/7, the welcome mat is  always out. Do come in from daily chores and spend some time with us. We look forward to hearing from you, about you and the books you are enjoying (or not). Let the book talk begin here!  Everyone is welcome!

Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

ginny -- I'm probably not the best person to determine how graphic The Monster of Florence is.  At my age, not much can "gross" me out.  It's been quite a while since I read it, but the only thing I remember is that the position of the bodies was  pretty much the same, and this is what alerted the police that there was a serial killer.

The interesting thing was how the police decided that since Preston and Spezi knew more about the murders than the police (which wouldn't take much), the police decided they were suspects.  

The book is often slow going, and not something I would recommend.

As a postscript, I thought of this book so often during the trial of the American student recently convicted for murdering her roommate.  It sounded so much like they framed her the same way they tried to frame Preston and Spezi.

[evergreen]

joan g--Dark Waters sounds like it would be interesting.  And it's available on Kindle.  LOL

I belong to the club that says Kindle will never replace books, but is simply another way to deliver literature.  It has been so great when I travel, and for the books with 700 plus pages, which are so heavy to hold, it is a great alternative. 

[winsummm]

I am about thirty per cent into Daemon and hooked.  This is a first book by a VERY GOOD WRITER.  my kindle makes these things so easy for me. I don't have to get on lists and wait for others to be done. The Kindle has given me a new life.

claire

[Steph]

McCarthy.. I remember from TV and I too had a family member who adored him, but then my Dad was an Eleanor hater, so it figured.

[Babi]

"..they hadn’t heard of the authors who are famous in my world: Lorrie Moore, Roberto Bolaño, Michael Chabon. This is most of America."
  I found the essay entertaining, PEDLN, tho' I confess I'm not familiar
with Stephen Eliot and I'm curious as to what he considers 'my world'.
I'm not familiar with Lorrie moore or Robert Bolano either. Michael Chabon sounds vaguely familiar. Do you know these authors?  Could you tell us what they have in common that he feels is his world?

 And having heard from a number of posters here how much fun the No. 1 Detective Agency DVD's are, JEAN, I'm looking forward to receiving my
first one.

[joangrimes]

Folks,  I have started Dark Water and it is well written and interesting.

I am becoming more and more dependent on my kindle to help me to fill my lonely hours.

Joan Grimes

[JoanK]

I love Mrs. Polifax too. She's who I want to be when I grow up (getting a little late for growing up, but I still have hopes).

[mrssherlock]

Did I hear about Gilgamesh here?  I am totally caught up in this odd little story about a young Australian girl who, just at the outbreak of WWII, undertakes a journey across half the world.  Jane London is the author.  See:  http://www.amazon.com/Gilgamesh-Novel-Joan-London/dp/0802141218

[winsummm]

those hours are not lonely for me  any more

 I hate to be interrupted when I'm reading and my archives have over 85 books in it now maybe ten not read all the way through. this since march.  It keeps me from fussy over eating too. There is more to a Kindle than access.

claire

[serenesheila]

Aaahhh, the McCarthy hearings.  I was pregnant with my first child, at that time.  I was glued to our small, TV set.  I will never forget the attorney who opposed McC.  What a gentleman he was!  I also remember getting a job at a nearby Air Force Base.  As a new hire, I had to sign several papers claiming I was not, and never had been a member of the Communist Party.  That seemed to me to be a violation of the US Constitution.  I resented being required to sign them, but I did sign.

I have read the first chapter of "Roses".  It grabbed my attention within the first few pages.  I subscribe to "People" magazine, and it was given 4 stars.  It is a multi generational story.  I am looking forward to reading the entire book.

I am also a fan of Pearl Buck's books.  I also read all of Michener's books.  Howard Fast and John Jakes are two more of my favorites.  With what is going on in Afganistan, I think it is time for me to reread "Caravan".  Turner's Classic Movies will be broadcasting "Lawrence of Arabia", in February, and I plan to record it.

Sheila

[bellemere]

We had to read the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo for BookClub, and now must discuss it on Thursday night.  I left it unfinished, a chpter or two shy of the endl  I found it disturbing on a couple of levels.  Corporate crime is pretty boring;  serial killing was presented in an almost pornographic way, with wrencing depictuions of torture and murder  If they had been presented in visual form, it would definitely have fallen into the realm of pornography.  Not that there wasn't plenty of sex in this Swedish thriller;  the characters were constantly stopping to have coffee and sexual affairs of a totally nonpersonal
 and mechanistic kind.  Improbable plot, unlikeable characters. grautitous sex without the participants evn liking each other very much = give it a pass.

[winsummm]

girl with the . . . . OK  giving it a pass.   thanks for the review. . . claire

[Steph]

Looks like the Dragon Tattoo would not suit me either. Oh well.
Today I must go to the police station and give a written statement on the accident. Not looking forward to doing it, but it is necessary. According to my sons, I should also make it clear that I am interested in prosecuting the person who did this and am willing to testify if necessary and pursuing results.. Hmm.

[ginny]

OH gosh Stephanie, more trauma for the poor victim, honestly. The evidence is clear, and you've lost your husband, that should be more than enough, without your setting foot anywhere prosecuting anything. Honestly.

{{{{{ More hugs!}}}}}}}

You need Gloria Alred or however her name is spelled.

Evergreen, I started the Monster of Florence,and so far I like it. I didn't know it was True Crime,  DUH.   But I could not recommend it to anybody, even tho Preston has a way of writing which somehow separates you from the indescribable graphic horror he's talking about, still and all, it's early days yet but  I'm sure it's not something we'd want to discuss.

Florence, I know is one of many people's favorite cities but not mine.  Still I've read worse (so far), specifically Queen Boudicca's revenge on one poor British  town, forget which now but unspeakable horror, so she wins so far. References to Hannibal Lecter in The Monster  are not reassuring however, so we'll take it as it comes. I like the way he writes.

I do think, however, there's a lot of hyperbole in it, especially from the Italian journalist, a type who  are not known for their objectivity so you really have to take a lot of this with a grain of salt, considering the source, on all things, including the police.

Sheila,  Roses came yesterday, all 600 pages of it. Can't wait to start it, I am in the mood for a sprawling Texas drama.

Bellemere, can't do torture, there are two things I won't read about, one is child abuse of any kind and the other is torture, so will have give that a miss. (I once said something like that, I won't read child abuse and somebody, in writing me about something else, said "I saw one person say they would not read about child abuse, can you IMAGINE?" Er...yes i can.

Had to quit the Saramago Blindness when they began to call for the women, can't bear that type of thing, but hey. It's reader's choice. There are a lot of books out there. I was so seared by that disgusting New Zealand thing we read on SN it's taken me... well I'm not over it yet. Absolutely revolting.

Winsumm, let us know how you like Daemon as you read. It's sitting here looking at me,  they say his latest one ties up the ends, I want to read it, too, Freedom.  The premise of Daemon  is startling, to say the least, love techno thrillers. Especially when the person writing it knows the field.

I am amused to hear that Mary Karr (The Liar's Club, Cherry) is a lovely person in appearances and her latest book is considered one of the best of the year. What's it called? Shooting Up or something? Really why do we care? Are we that desperate for reading matter? Oh no it's called Lit.  Right.

Enjoy. Can't wait for the one she writes in her 60's, just imagine the topics.

An interesting article in the new Newsweek (cover on Haiti, article by President Obama) but one article is  on a new book about a man walking, and what analysis does or does not do to the reading of a book. Man is walking, that's the story.  Sort of "a poem should not MEAN but BE" type of thing and the suggestion that as an art form really film (which forces you to be in the moment, supposedly) but if you've ever discussed a movie then you've ruined it. Also contains  the somewhat surprising idea that the Real Housewives and other Reality Shows are the REAL experience. I think that's naive, those things are obviously scripted down to the wire.

What do YOU think? Are the Real Housewives REAL? Does analyzing in any way (don't we all do that? If you're reading a book and all a man does is walk, don't we ask why?)  What provides the most real and personal experience for you? And what book is doing it lately?


What'cha reading?

[maryz]

I just put Roses on hold at the library.  But now that I know how big it is, I'd probably better get it for my Kindle.  That way I can actually hold the "book"  and not have to worry about getting it back on time.   

[CallieOK]

I am about 1/3 of the way through "Roses".   I won't spoil the experience by commenting in detail - but I will be very interested in reading what others think about it being promoted as a "sprawling" saga.   (I've all ready come across a sort of sneaky reference to "Gone With The Wind" in the narrative.)

[Frybabe]

Has anybody read The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova? I almost picked it up this morning while cruising the isles at BJs.

[bellemere]

Hope you give Mary Karr a try.  Lit may not be one of the year's best but it is a big imnprovement over her last one.  It's alcoholism this time, and finding religion in the struggle to over come it.  She is definitely funny, and can laugh at herself, which is good. 
I have had Wolf Hall on the shelf for a week, trying to get u my courage to start it.  It is longer than what I usually go for, but a lot of people liked it. is it really worth it?

[winsummm]

ginny daemon is just that a TECHNO THRILLER and it ends i a place wehere the scene is set and the primary characters are deffined, so one would look forward to the sequal, but I think he CHEATS. and the next one FREEDOM is very expesive on the kindle. I don't thik I'll bother. He is an very good writer though, tells a lot in simple words and sentences of what to expect etc. less is more in this case.

claire

I just clered some light stuff from my kindle index, but it is still available in the archives if I wwant it.

now to do DESK WORK  . . . ugh
 

[evergreen]

I've just started to read New York:  The Novel  by Edward Rutherfurd.  This is his latest book, which came out in November.   I remember reading his novels Sarum and London many years ago, but don't remember much detail other than they were very long.  

I'm in the mood for a big, sprawling book about New York (it's 880 pages).  No more TV for me.  I am now rowing up the Hudson River in the 1600's.

I still have to sneak in Dark Water.  Maybe in between chapters of Rutherfurd.  LOL

[mabel1015j]

Nice new picture, Mary...........i went back to Standing Tall by Vivian Stringer. Had started it months ago, but since i own it and don't have to "return" it, others got in the way. The first chapters were a little too schmaltsy - everyone is wonderful, family is terrific, etc. Last night i got to chapters 5 and 6 when she begins to coach at Cheyney - much better and more interesting! My son - a football and basketball coach- had to take his wife for a medical procedure this a.m. I told him "I have just the book for you to take w/ you. Just read Ch's 5 and 6." She talks about her recruiting and coaching philosophies and i tho't he'd enjoy reading those...............he did!

I read London and New York sounds like a good cold weather book. For some reason i've been really busy over the last couple of months tho' so it's on my TBR list. Between family and handwork w/ deadlines and reading Am'n Prophet, my dance card is full!...............jean

[maryz]

Thanks, Jean.  Vivian Stringer is really a great lady...just below Pat Summit on my admiration list. 

[joangrimes]

Thanks for the mention of New York by Rutherford.  Sarum and London were both favorites of mine.  On a trip to England once my husband and I searched out the Site of Sarum and so enjoyed doing that because we had read the book.  London was always a favorite travel stop for us too.

Joan Grimes

[Steph]

Rutherford never rang any bells for me, but I like Mary Karr. The first book was outstanding, the second not so much, but I will read the third.
Have been in Florence, but it is certainly not a favorite city. Museums are nice though.

[joangrimes]

Sorry to hear that Robert Parker died.  However I never read one of his books. He just was not a writer who attracted me.

I love history and historical based writing, along with art and artistic things.  Mainly I love learning.  I enjoy reading and learning and traveling and learning.  So I am different.  So what.

Click on
http://joanmgrimes.com/brunelleschisdome/Scan0002_0002.jpgTo see me and Florence when I saw it first. Rather a faded old pic.  It was taken a long time ago...

Joan Grimes

[FlaJean]

Never read Robert Parker, but I did enjoy "Spencer for Hire" on TV which I understand was based on his novels.

Nice picture, Joan.

[winsummm]

I remember reading Robt. Parker and enjoying it but I think I have suffered a generational change in taste.  for example books about teens even if they are effective in an adult world no longer interest me.  I used to like COMING FO AGE books but that is more psychological than physical.

claire

[Steph]

I lived ten years just outside of Boston and loved Parkers descriptions. I have been to many of the places he mentions and always enjoyed Cambridge as well. His Sunny Randall series was good as an example of love being a push and  pull at the same time. Interesting.

[Babi]

I feel the same way, CLAIRE.  Teen angst and 'coming of age' simply
no longer interests me.  I can remember of course, but I am bored by
re-visiting.

[joangrimes]

Babi and Claire,

I agree with you for the most part.  However I thought I might try some of the coming of age books just to see how I feel now about them.  I find my taste in reading material is constantly changing.

Joan Grimes

[Babi]

 Good point, JOAN.  My preferences have changed, I know.  On a short-term basis now I simply read whatever I'm in the mood for at the time. Why not?

[ginny]

Why look at you, Joan, you look French! In Italy. hahahaa Love it. Or European, anyway.


Robert Parker, how did I miss HIM? One wonders how many one has missed, and why one misses them.

Callie, "sprawling" is not the word, huh? hahahaa I'm afraid to ask what is.  I think the author put it aside for years and then when she retired she finished it? I was interested in it for that reason alone, how are those of you reading Roses finding it so far?

On the subject of putting things away, I  wrote a little sort of poem, I guess it could be called,  a small book for my grandbaby a couple of years ago but I can't draw,  and gave it  to my son before I left on a trip in case the plane crashed. It's about a bed we've passed down thru 4 generations now belonging to my grandbaby, (which s all taken apart and on the floor so he won't fall and break his neck).

 Anyway I can't draw and had no way of illustrating it, and so I took stuff off the internet but one has to get all sorts of permissions from those taking the actual photos,  and the strangest thing happened out of the blue last Wednesday:  one of my former Latin students at  Furman's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute  also teaches the Pen and Ink drawing  classes (he's really good) and he had put a sign in the hall with some of the class's  work "Commissions accepted."

 I had talked to him earlier when he was in the class diffidently  about perhaps the book being a class project, but did not push it as you know, people like to draw what they like to draw.

ANYWAY, to make a long story short, I met him quite by accident in the hall last Wednesday and he seemed interested,  so found the "book' on the computer here and think I will send it on to him next week and see what he thinks, there are very few illustrations in it (and I was surprised the poem was good...for doggerel, which it is). It's for a child, tho, and not  publication... it's not good enough to be a BOOK but it's good enough   for a history for the baby. The woman who wrote Roses and put it away, too,   and that  reminded me of my own little poem so I thought I'd mention this curious set of coincidences. It may come to nothing, he thought the amount of work involved would be the key factor, and he's really good.


__________________________

I'm watching a wonderful ...is it a movie? Or series from possibly BBC TV, not sure, from Netflix called  Summer's Lease, about a British family who rent a house in Tuscany for the summer. It's has  John Gielgud in it and he got an award for playing the grandfather who comes along, I think he's supposed to be in his 70's.  It's  absolutely marvelous. It's a mystery, which I did not know initially and I love it, have any of you seen it? It's by  John Mortimer, whom I love.

I have to watch something when I do my obligatory (now) hour on the recumbent bike, as, having lost 40 lbs, am going for the next 10.  It's amazing how one packs it on overnight when one is having fun sitting around eating and reading.  Anyway, Summer's Lease is really good.

I've got the new Ishiguro too, I don't know why I keep confusing him with Ha Jin, but it's short stories and HE'S the one who wrote Remains of the Day, so I can't wait to get started. I got a lot of B&N gift certificates at  Christmas and boy have I enjoyed using them. Like being in a candy store

Got to finish Wang the Tiger (Sons) and the third sequel to Pearl Buck's The Good Earth before moving on to Edna Ferber, but she's next in my personal campaign of "something old something new" for 2010. Should I read her So Big? Or Giant? Or Show Boat? Or all of them?

And then maybe Sinclair Lewis, another author I've read all of (to go back to our theme here of who all have you read the entire works of). His language is dated (did you know Babbitt has sequels too?) but his books still resonate.

Those of you who have read Rutherford's London, do you recommend it? I know it's gigantic,  so would like to know before embarking on it? I got one of David McCullough's on the bargain table, about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, has anybody read that one? I know he's a good read. Might be fun to read it and then take "the walk" across it, if I've got the right bridge in mind.

Claire, Suarez CHEATS?  How? Now I have to read it! Thank you for that recommendation, the very idea of a computer searching for an obituary is intriguing to me.

I love coming in here, so many authors and books I have not heard of, including  Vivian Stringer!

I started the book about the football player that was recently a movie with Sandra  Bullock and the beginning chapters are all about coaching, which I tried but could not get interested in, back on the pile for another day, it's amazing how your tastes change, isn't it? One day you feel like a nut, another day you definitely don't, tomorrow it may be just the thing again.

What'cha reading?

[CallieOK]

Ginny - well, "Roses" eventually moves from East Texas to far West Texas and back again - which is a pretty good definition of "sprawling".  

I have also read about the author and am waiting for the inspiration to move me to get out my file of unfinished stories, articles, plot outlines, etc. and Do Something With Them.  Unfortunately, I first need to find that elusive Round Tuit.   hahaha

My reading tastes definitely change - usually several times a year!     I will go through a period of reading non-fiction - then switch to "fluff stuff" - then to "sagas" - then to "historical fiction" - etc. etc. etc.

I've just finished "Roses" and plan to start "Leaden Skies", which is the third in a trilogy of historical novels about Leadville, Colorado - where I lived for 13 years.  
I've read other books "set" there - but always felt that the background research must have come from C of C pamphlets!   This author, Ann Parker, has Leadville ancestors and has a good sense of "feel" about the area.

Oh...I have read "London" and recommend it. 

I hope you are succesful finding someone to illustrate your poem.  What a neat idea!

[mrssherlock]

Callie:  Over the years Sandra Dallas has written about women who express their times.  Sprawling over time and the west, starting with a Kansas farm wife in The Persian Pickle Club she has placed her women in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Montana.  Her women have many roles:   rancher, brothel madam, movie star, miner's wife, wagon train immigrant. Her novel, Prayers for Sale, is set in the mountains of Colorado during the Depression and, to me, it felt nitty-gritty real.  Have you read it?   Dallas, former Denver chief for Business Weed, has lived many years in Colorado.  (I never miss the opportunity to read a new Sandra Dallas.)  http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/sandra-dallas/

[joangrimes]

Thanks for the comment on the pic, Ginny.

I have not started Roses yet.

Oh I must see Summer's lease.  I know I would love it.

So you tried to read the book that Blind Side came from.  Have heard that the movie was excellent. Have not seen it myself, although my coach was in it.

I recommend London.  You will love it!!

Oh I just searched Summer's Lease and it is a book written by John Mortimer.  Guess what!  It is available on Kindle.  I will be reading it on my kindle.  I don't watch many movies because my physical condition is requiring that I spend so much time walking.  I am on the walking track at our civic center everyday.  There is nothing I can do to occupy my mind while I walk.  I hate the walking track but what has to be has to be.

[CallieOK]

Jackie,  "Prayers For Sale" sounds very interesting.   I haven't thought about a Sandra Dallas book in a long time.  Thank you for suggesting it.

[JoanK]

JOANG: "There is nothing I can do to occupy my mind while I walk". I used to have a long, depressing walk through a subway tunnel to get to work every morning. I used to play a game "what if I got stuck in time (like the character in Groundhog Day") and was doomed to spend the rest of my live walking this walk. What would I do?

I only came up with two answers: see, really SEE and experience, everything around me, and meditate. I throw them out for what they're worth.

[winsummm]

ginny: the cheat happens near the end so you will have to find out for yourselff.  enjoy the trip

claire

[joangrimes]

JOANG: "There is nothing I can do to occupy my mind while I walk". I used to have a long, depressing walk through a subway tunnel to get to work every morning. I used to play a game "what if I got stuck in time (like the character in Groundhog Day") and was doomed to spend the rest of my live walking this walk. What would I do?

I only came up with two answers: see, really SEE and experience, everything around me, and meditate. I throw them out for what they're worth.

JoanK  thanks for trying to help.

[maryz]

Joan, have you tried listening to audio books while you walk?