The Library

[JoanR]

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!

Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

Thanks, JoanP for the link to Politics and Prose.  If I were younger with enough money, I  would buy that place in a shot!!

I followed their book club link to the discussion of Japanese literature and have saved that page for future perusal.  Japanese literature looks to be a whole new and wonderful field to explore.  I've read some Murakami and have here a book which is waiting to be read - "I Am a Cat" by Soseki Natsume.  If "Possession" didn't have me in thrall, that's what I'd be reading right now.  Of course, Frankenstein is coming up and then Marisa Warner's book!!  No end to it, is there?  A blessing, of course!

[ginny]

Tomereader! Thank you for letting us know about our appearance in the July/ August issue of Bookmarks Magazine! I  can't wait to see it, love that magazine, always something great reviewed to read.

How exciting and you were the first to see it! Yahoo!

[Tomereader1]

Well, "Bookmarks" arrives in the mail...everything stops!  Nothing gets done until I have read every letter, article, review!  You can tell, I love that magazine too!  I only wish I had gotten in on it's "secret" much sooner.  I recommend it to my reading friends, my book group participants, anyone within hearing distance.  I can be a pest if I can sneak in a plug for Bookmarks!

[PatH]

Sorry to hear they are closing.  Loved the store.  Remember as though it were yesterday when they opened.

If We're lucky, they won't close.  It's up for sale, but if they find the right buyer, it could stay somewhat the same.  They are quite profitable.

[marcie]

JoanR, I'm glad you are enthralled with Possession. Me too. We need your thoughts in the Possession discussion. Participants are expressing strong feelings about the actions of Ash and LaMotte. Please post your thoughts about that or anything else. Your last post there was very helpful.

[Steph]

Lovely store, but DC.. noooo. traffic alone is scary enough.. Still I do hope they get a younger generation who loves books the way they do.. Book stores are the most fun of any retail by far. Your customers are so loyal and love to discuss books all the time.

[marjifay]

Oh, dear, I hope Politics and Prose Bookstore finds a buyer and continues.  They are a wonderful store.  I've been getting their weekly newsletter for a long time.  Haven't read this week's issue yet.

Marj

[marjifay]

I visited Washington, D.C. some time ago.  At that time, their subway system was wonderful and made it very easy to get around without a car. 

Marj

[Mippy]

After living in the D.C. area for over 15 years, I became comfortable with driving there, except for VA.  Those freeways around the Pentagon have a way of dumping you either over a bridge into VA or into the Pentagon parking lot.   I've read at least one novel where the author used that detail, but can't remember if it was Anne Tyler or someone else.

Even with a map I used to get lost taking children to a friend's house in VA, but the District itself wasn't too confusing with many streets as a grid and the avenues as spokes of a wheel.

There used to be several good bookstores in the city, but that was B.A., before Amazon.

[Steph]

I agree that the subway is a good one. We used it extensively when we were in DC in 2008.. Just left the car in the hotel. But the weather is not my favorite. I grew up in Delaware and remember Washington.. It is steamy in the summer, snows and they never believe it will in the winter and the whole place goes nuts.. Not a favorite place to live for me.. Now Annapolis.. Ah.. I do love that small city.

[MaryPage]

Annapolis thanks you!

That is where I live.  I have a condominium in The Villages of Chesapeake Harbour.  We have our own marina and 1 waterfront restaurant, Sam's On The Waterfront (otherwise, no commercial at all.)  My back deck, well, the whole condo, but my back deck looks out on a marvelous full view of the Chesapeake Bay with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in all its glory up on the left.  I can sit out there, or even see from inside, and view the Wednesday night sailboat races as put on by the Annapolis Yacht Club and the Thursday night sailboat races as put on by the Eastport Yacht Club.  I live in Eastport, but it is Annapolis as far as the United States Postal Service and taxes and so forth are concerned.  We Eastporters just prefer to be a tad snooty about our peninsula!

[JoanP]

The Metro USED TO BE a good one.  Have you ridden on it lately?  It's showing its age - rising number cars in need of repair, replacements, escalator and elevator outages -  at a time when fares are increasing.  Too bad! So many depend on the system.

[pedln]

MaryPaige, did you watch the swimmers last Sunday morning?  My son was one of the 1000+ swimming the four miles between the two spans of the bridge.

I love DC except for its traffic.  There is so much to do there, and I wonder if the folks who live there appreciate all those wonderful FREE museums.

[PatH]

I love DC except for its traffic.  There is so much to do there, and I wonder if the folks who live there appreciate all those wonderful FREE museums.

I, for one, definitely appreciate the free museums.  I grew up in DC, and it seemed strange to me later when I had to pay for entry.  As a child, I felt the museums were my turf, and I still do.  I can go downtown on the Metro and pop into whatever museum I like, without worrying about whether it's worth the admission fee.  I'm fully aware of my good luck.

[Steph]

Yes, there are a few places in the world that I would love to live just for the museums.. Free or not.. I live in Florida and they really do not have much in the way of world class museums.. The Smithsonian is like a dream to me.. There is always something new.
I do envy you your condo on the Bay.. I grew up in Delaware, spent summers in Dewey Beach and the bay is ever changing..\
In the winter Florida is fun, but the long long hot summers are not making me a happy person. I was used to leaving in the rv.. My first summer that I am here.. all the time. Oh well, somehow whatever will be... will be.

[marjifay]

I don't know about world-class Florida museums, but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Ringling Bros. Circus museum in Sarasota.

I agree that the Smithsonian is wonderful, Steph.  Aside from my visit to its museums, I most enjoyed my visit to the Ford Theater and the room in the house nearby where they took the wounded President Lincoln.  So sad.

Out of the country, I most enjoyed the British Museum in London.  I spent a whole glorious day there (and could have spent more) while my friends spent the day at Harrods Dept. Store.  I hate shopping.

Marj

[roshanarose]

I enjoyed the Smithsonian too.  If my memory serves me well, two art galleries were joined by an underground (huge) shop, selling copies of the masterpieces of the galleries and also many, many art books.  I was in 7th Heaven.  Only problem was that I couldn't buy any of the big books - too much extra weight for the long trip back to OZ.  Also, books in the US are much cheaper than here - or so it seemed to me back then.

Copied and pasted from my "Readings" e-newsletter, below, is a list of Australia's current best sellers.  I thought that maybe you would find the entries interesting.  Stieg Larsson is everywhere!  I really should read him.  However, Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall" is next for me.

Top 10 Non-Fiction

Quarterly Essay 38: Power Trip: The Political Journey Of Kevin Rudd — David Marr
At Home: A Short History Of Private Life — Bill Bryson
Hitch-22 — Christopher Hitchens
The Family Law — Benjamin Law
Possessing The Dead: The Artful Science Of Anatomy — Helen MacDonald
Parisians: An Adventure History Of Paris — Graham Robb
The Dukan Diet — Pierre Dukan
Ordinary Courage: My Journey to Baghdad as a Human Shield — Donna Mulhearn
Love and Other U-Turns — Louisa Deasey
Nomad: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilisations — Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Top 10 Fiction

Indelible Ink — Fiona McGregor
The Thousand Autumns Of Jacob de Zoet — David Mitchell
The Short Second Life Of Bree Tanner — Stephanie Meyer
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest — Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Played With Fire — Stieg Larsson
A Question Of Belief — Donna Leon
Solar — Ian McEwan
Brooklyn — Colm Toibin
Jasper Jones — Craig Silvey
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo — Stieg Larsson
 

[Steph]

Yes, the Ringling Museum is nice, although small and so is the circus museum part and the Asolo theatre.. If I move closer to my sons, that is the area I will look at.
The Smithsonian has ,yes a wonderful gift shop connecting the two art museums. I love it. When I owned the used book store, I had several Australian customers.. They got together as did the English ones and four times a year, I would get a special container from the postal service.. It is group type mail.. I could pack about 50 paperbacks in it and would ship to one address and then they would  remail it to the various others. It was cheap compared to what they paid home for books.
I love the British Museum, the Tate,,the Louvre ( man, that place has horrible directions though), the Museum that was once the Post office in Paris.. Has the romantics in it.. Lovely lovely building... The Cairo museum,, the old one that is,, dirty,dark, but ah the treasures.. I just flat out love museums.. New York has several wonderful ones.. Bostons Fine arts is outstanding.. Oh me.. New Orleans.. Philadelphia.. the list is enormous and I am so grateful that I have seen them all and would go back to most of them every chance I got.

[Babi]

 Ah, a soulmate, MARJ. I'll happily go with you and avoid the shopping.
I was able to visit the British Museum and saw a wonderful exhibit of gold
work unexpectedly done by a nomadic tribe. I forget, just now, the name of the
tribe, but no one expected that level of artistic metalworking in a group that
lived 'on the move'.

[marjifay]

Thanks, Roshanarose, for the list of Australian best sellers.  I haven't read many Australian books, but I did really enjoy Peter Carey's TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG.

I'm also enjoying WOLF HALL.  A member of another group took pity on my having to keep returning it to the library, and she sent me her brand new copy (she had not liked it).  I was overjoyed.

I also liked THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, but haven't had time to read the other two in the trilogy.  There was an interesting article in the book section of a recent NYTimes regarding how Larsson's books have spurred interest in Scandanavian noir mystery authors, from which  I got a whole bunch of additions to my TBR list:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/books/16noir.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

(If this web address doesn't work, the article was entitled "A Scandanavian Hit Sets Publishers Seeking More.")

Marj

[MaryPage]

I did not watch the swimmers last Sunday.

Just finishing up with a week of a load of family company from Missouri.  They just left to start back home.  They drove.

I loved the first Larsson book, the second was even better, and the third I could not put down;  could not do Anything except read it.  Then I read it again before passing it on to one of my daughters.  They were really "Wow!" books.

[marjifay]

Yes, Babi, that London museum is wonderful isn't it?  I remember I'd just been reading some history on one of the ancient kingdoms in the middle east, and there in the museum was a huge entrance gate I'd read about.  I was just fascinated, and had to sit down and stare, and almost sobbed I was so overwhelmed.  I saw a security person looking at me kind of curiously and finally moved on, but thinking what could they do to me, I certainly couldn't steal it.  Those Brits sure brought back a lot of stuff wherever they went, didn't they?

Marj

[Gumtree]

Roshanarose: Thanks for posting the current Aussie bestsellers - David Marr is everywhere at the moment. Jennifer Byrne had him on her First Tuesday Book Club the other week - so did Tony Jones on QandA so he's getting plenty of exposure. I've been meaning to get hold of Craig Silvey's novel, Jasper Jones - his first one Rhubarb was excellent - set here in WA - Fremantle - which he had down pat to the last chair on the cappuccino strip - loved it.

I felt like I'd lost an old friend when I heard that Randolph Stow had died a few weeks back. I've always been a big fan of his and have read all his novels, poetry etc and always looked for anything he reviewed for the TLS. There'll probably be a flurry of activity around him now  - maybe David Marr will do a biography of him to match the one he did of Patrick White . Stow was born in Geraldton on the WA coast - he was a very learned man,  lived in England, and was very shy and reclusive. Tim Winton makes no bones about how much his own writing has been influenced by Stow. Stow hasn't published any new novel since the brilliant Suburbs of Hell in 1984 - maybe they'll find a few manuscripts among his things -but somehow I doubt it.

[roshanarose]

Thanks for that link marj.  I am considering ordering another lifetime so I can read all the books on my TBR list.  I am sure I am not the only person on this site who has bookcases of books TBR, but who still borrows from the library.  Is there such a thing as a "biblioglutton"?

Gumtree.  This morning I am smarting along with Harry Kewell.  Despite myself I had started following the soccer/football, only to see us lose two of our best to red cards... grumble, grumble.

I have not heard of Randolph Stow before.  On your recommendation I can add him to my TBR.

RE MUSEUMS

I am a museophile as well.  Probably the most impressive I have seen is Philip II of Macedon's Tomb at Vergina in Northern Greece.  The museum has been built to encompass the tomb.  The grave goods are magnificent.  The museum is dark upon entry until one adjusts one's vision.  Then golden grave goods appear to float in the gloom.  I have never seen anything like it.  The Greeks know how to set up Museums, no doubt about that. If in Athens make sure you visit The National Museum of Archaeology. 

 I have been to the Cairo Museum as well.  And as someone mentioned it has stuff everywhere.  A bit like a warehouse I thought, but what a spectacular warehouse

[Steph]

Yet another reason to go to Greece.. I do want to go, but most of the tours include Turkey and I simply do not want to go to Turkey. Must look harder for a 2011 tour that does Greece including their Islands.. Then to find out if they let singles go.. Sigh..It is much more complicated alone.

[maryz]

Steph, I'll bet Elderhostel (or whatever they're calling it now) has such a trip.  John's sister and spouse went to Greece and Turkey, and were much more impressed with Turkey.  To each her own.

[Babi]

Marr, Stow, Silvey....(groan)  Have a heart, people!  I just know
in spite of all my reading, I've missed some really great writers.  Probably while reading some not so great writers. (sigh  Well,
that's what happens when you hang around a bunch of rabid bookies.
 

[jane]

Steph....Every trip I've taken with a group(8 or so to date) has included single people.  I don't think you'll find that a problem.


If you have travel agencies in your area, stop in and see what they have to offer. There are also groups like Tauck Tours and Grand Circle that specialize in the 50+ age group and build their tours for that age group. 


It sounds as if many of you have large TBR piles.  I tend to hoard my little pile...wanting to save it for an emergency...when nothing new is at the local library to interest me or I'm traveling away from home.

 
jane

[pedln]

Steph, friends of mine took a land tour of Greece this spring (link below) and then added a 7 day cruise that went to Egypt, Turkey, and Israel.  (They were also “lucky” enough to have to stay an extra week in Greece due to volcano eruptions, all on the insurance co. tab.)

http://www.affordabletours.com/search/tours/17478/#itindata

Like MaryZ's family, my son and DIL were very impressed with Turkey, which they drove through when they were stationed in Italy years ago.

[Gumtree]

Marr, Stow, Silvey....(groan)  Have a heart, people!  I just know
in spite of all my reading, I've missed some really great writers.  Probably while reading some not so great writers. (sigh  Well,
that's what happens when you hang around a bunch of rabid bookies.
 

Babi Spare a thought of how it is for me when I read about the dozens of US authors mentioned here that I haven't heard of let alone read.    

Marr - he's from journalism and does biography etc - interesting if you know about the subject. His recent Quarterly Essay on Kevin Rudd, our Prime Minister, has been the subject of considerable controversy - Rudd wasn't too pleased with it. So far his work on Patrick White is his best.

Silvey -a  novelist and is a relative newcomer. Wrote a quirky book 'Rhubarb' about a lonely blind girl and a young man who made superb cellos - set locally here - I could follow the blind girl's footsteps myself blindfolded -

Stow - (note my hallowed tones): Novelist, poet, anthropologist, linguist - was the first to record one of languages of the Trobriand Islanders -he also did work with the Navajo. Powerful depictions of aspects of Australian life and the human condition. I know some passages by heart - specially from his poetic Tourmaline. He had achieved huge success in terms of recognition and multiple awards whilst still a young man in his twenties - He nearly died from illness contracted in the islands and while recuperating in England wrote the delightful The Girl Green as Elderflower -a novel dealing with the Sussex legends of the green man and then finished what some see as his masterpiece Visitants. Two or three of his novels have been used in school and university curricula for decades. All of his novels tackle different subject matter. Then there is the poetry ... I'm sure that now, following his death there will be a resurgence of interest in him and his work.

[CallieOK]

Steph, check with local colleges or universities to see if a professor is escorting a tour to Greece. That's the way I went and it was fabulous.  The professor (at Oklahoma University) had taught in the American College in Athens for 7 years, spoke (as he called it) "marketplace Greek" and provided local experiences I would never have tried - or had an opportunity to try - on a regular tour. We saw all the "must sees", too. We didn't go to very many islands but we had a marvelous opportunity to experience "real life" on the ones we did visit.
 It was a "student tour" - also open to non-students of any age. On this trip, these all happened to be singles. The students, who were getting credit for the trip, had assignments to complete.  The non-students could participate in these if they wanted to.
This ranks as one of the top trips I've ever taken. 

[roshanarose]

Steph - You have so much to look forward to if you visit Greece solo.  imho solo is the only way to travel and you don't cop the dreaded "single supplement" in Europe as you do in Australia.

Both times I  travelled to Greece, once in 1982 and once in 2004, I travelled solo.  Both times I took a CHAT tour.  CHAT cater for singles and couples and I can recommend them highly.  Just do a search for CHAT tours, Greece.  I am a dedicated Hellenophile and there is so much to see and experience in Greece.  The museums are wonderful and you would have the added advantage of visiting the new Acropolis Museum.  While you are there please lobby for the return of the Elgin Marbles to their rightful place - in the new museum.  Always a good idea to read up on the archaeological sites before you go.  The experience will mean so much more to you if you can "feel" and not just "see" Greece.  I won't ramble on too much here, but Steph I can recommend many books to help you.  The serious traveller should also sign up to a site I always use if I plan to travel, ie www.tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews, places to see etc..  My name on there is thelameaustralia and the archaeological institute of america has great tours with no single supplement.   btw thelame in Greek means - we want/we need.

[Octavia]

Go the Kiwi's!
Gumtree I feel your pain re Harry Kewell
I had a quick look at Stow's site and I'll return there later. He seems very interesting.
I've finally got my computer back from hospital and fired up again. I've had very bad withdrawal pains. Unfortunately, but in another way fortunately for me, I won't be able to get in here much for the next week. I have a son coming to visit and I haven't seen him for for years. He's coming from Malaysia, so I want to make the most of it.
Welcome Roshanarose. Another Queenslander will be great to have around Wasn't the State of Origin terrific?
I've read The Postmistress and seemed to have liked it more than a lot of reviewers.
There was a very strange part at the beginning. The young bride, who's joining her doctor husband in a strange town, stops on the steps of the Greyhound bus, and starts discussing Tolstoy and sex with her husband. She opens the book and shows him the relevant passage there and then.

At that time in History, and given all eyes would be on the new doctor's wife, it seemed very bizarre. Otherwise I thought it was very moving.

I've just re-read The Quiet American. I can't remember how long ago I first read it.
I'm about to start The Ghost of Munich by Georges-Marc Benamou. I see he's cultural advisor to President Sarkozy.

[Gumtree]

Octavia So good to see you again - I've missed you and was worried you might be ill but was hoping it was your computer again. You might enjoy Stow - he's been very neglected for years even though he's required reading on some English courses - perhaps that's why - also he hasn't published anything new for 25 years.

Odd you mentioned The Quiet American as DH and I were  discussing it only a few days ago.

Who wrote The Postmistress? - from what you said about it 'bizarre' is the word.

I don't follow the soccer - so the reference to Harry Kewell is puzzling - someone else?

Enjoy your son - it's so good to have you back!   

[Octavia]

I'm sorry Gumtree, I meant that comment for Roshanarose,I knew it was an Australian voice . I only follow soccer once every 4 years,like most of the country.
The Postmistress was written by Sarah Blake and I think somebody was talking about her when I dropped out. I'm sure I read a previous book of hers, but I can't think of the title just now.
The Postmistress was about collecting the voices of the dispossessed in Hitler's Europe, and I found it very moving, apart from that jarring note.

[Steph]

I have done Grand Circle tours and enjoyed them with MDH, but they are the ones where I have run into the singles complaining about roommates..Never done a Tauck.. Elderhostel.. right now in the international catalogue, I am leaning toward a theatre tour in London in the spring. Sounds like fun. I adore London and the single supplement is not that much.. Although if any other senior learn person is leaning toward London and the theatre check it out. I feel like I have known all of you most of my life..
CHAT tours?? Will check them out. New to me.
I probably would like Turkey, but I just feel that the first time I go to Greece, would rather spend most of it in museums, etc and the islands of course.

[Babi]

 GUM, I'm sorry to say my small local library doesn't have any of those
authors. I'm going to check my daughter's branch of the county library,
tho', as I'm especially interested in what you write about Stow. I do
think I've heard of "Tourmaline". I would really like to read some of his
work.

[marjifay]

I agree, Greece was one of my favorite places to visit.

And one of my favorite places there was the outdoor arena and stage where the Green plays were performed.  I had just taken some courses at UCLA on Greek history and drama, and it was so exciting to sit in one of those stone chairs marked with the name of some prominent Greek back then who sat and watched these performances.

Have you seen one of my favorite films -- Shirley Valentine, with Pauline Collins and one of my favorite male actors, Tom Conti?  Set in Greece.  I sat in one of those chairs in the restaurant shown in the film before I'd seen the film -- great view and great film!

Marj

[serenesheila]

OOOHHHHHHHHH, I love "Shirley Valerntine"!  I have watched it several times.  I also love "Enchanted April".  They are both so relaxing stories about older women. 

In the 1960s we were stationed in Southern Italy.  Across from Brindisi.  We could see Greece from there.  However, we never made it to Greece.

Sheila

[mrssherlock]

So many things to comment on.  First, I've just finished Sarah Blake's The Postmistress and I loved it!  I will reread this one.  It is about three women who's lives on the fringe of the war are interconnected and how they change one another. Very powerful.

Tom Conti?  I love him! 

Travel programs rarely live up to the excitement and fun I see in Globe Trekker on PBS.  Young singles  fearlessly climb, swim, hike, ride, sail all over the world.  The one on Greece, I can recall many scenes from it.  http://www.pilotguides.com/tv_shows/globe_trekker/shows/europe/greek_islands.php