Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776105 times)

Babi · « **Reply #1280 on:** December 18, 2010, 08:32:55 AM »

This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers.

Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?

Discussion Leader: Judy Laird

JANE, you must really have a detailed worksheet set up, if you can retrieve your
information by character. But then, you are one of our gurus around here. I totally agree
with your philosophy re. books, but my shoes are chosen for comfort and there is enough
laundry without adding napkins. (I do recycle.

)
STEPH, I now eat many of my meals sitting in my chair in front of the TV. Shucks, why
not?
Anybody else read Anne Bronte's "Tenant of Wildfell"? What did you think of it?
I did read "Villette", long ago, but I don't remember a thing about it. Maybe one of these
days I'll take another look and see what I think of it now. It's still in there on the shelf, old
and shabby.

MaryPage · « **Reply #1281 on:** December 18, 2010, 09:50:04 AM »

I read Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall decades ago, probably back in the forties or fifties, and liked it very much. They were all three hugely talented, but I think Emily the most. Loved going to Haworth with my husband in 1971 and being right there where they lived out their so short lives. Those tiny miniature books they wrote are in glass counters for visitors to see but not touch. Blew me away, they did! Also the size of those women. They have a dress of Charlotte's on a dummy for all to see. She was tiny, tiny, tiny. Must have had bones like a bird's!

I adored Three Cups of Tea and could not put it down. Could not wait to get Stones Into Schools, and devoured that, as well. One of my daughters is reading it now; she, too, loved Three Cups. These were easily two of my best reads for 2010.

In the fiction department, nothing comes close to the three Steig Larsson books, all of which I read in 2010. Wow!

maryz · « **Reply #1282 on:** December 18, 2010, 09:57:41 AM »

We always use cloth napkins. And when I eat in my chair (

), I use a dishtowel for my napkin/bib.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1283 on:** December 18, 2010, 01:19:13 PM »

MaryPage - I too visited Haworth in the early 70s - it was a foggy day, and going up there in the swirling mists was so atmospheric. I had never really been anywhere outside southern England in those days, and I remember seeing the rows of terraced houses that went up hills and ended in green fields - somethng I had never seen in london, where one street just always led to another one.

Around that time there was a TV series about the Brontes - I remember that we enjoyed it very much, and that every time the old father went up the stairs to bed, he took out a big key and wound the grandfather clock on the stairs. The day he died, they showed the clock, unwound and stopped.

I have not read any Anne Bronte - we did Jane Eyre at school, and - as with so many things - the having to pull it all to pieces so much put me off reading any more. I think schools - or at least my school - got us to read many things when we were too young, although I still appreciate the vast swathes of Shakespeare that I was obliged to commit to memory, especially Henry IV Part One, Anthony & Cleopatra, and Henry V (our set texts, I think, for O and A levels).

Rosemary

FlaJean · « **Reply #1284 on:** December 18, 2010, 02:15:35 PM »

I have a spread sheet for books read with a column showing VG (very good), G (good), NG (not good) but I have to confess it is hit and miss on whether I bother with it. Comfortable shoes are a must for me. My almost 75 year old feet are in very good condition and I want to keep them that way. Fashion lost my interest years ago.

I loved Three Cups of Tea and I am looking forward to reading Stones into Schools. I am #2 on the library reserve list for Margaret Maron's new book Christmas Mourningand am looking forward to that.

ursamajor · « **Reply #1285 on:** December 18, 2010, 02:25:55 PM »

I hope to have time to re-read The Dark is Rising. I like to re-read that series, or at least that book, during the Christmas season. I would think it would mean even more to our English participants. Susan Cooper is the author; five books, nominally for children.

CallieOK · « **Reply #1286 on:** December 18, 2010, 02:49:17 PM »

Maryz, I use the same type of cloth napkin you do - except mine is made of terry cloth.

Rosemary, I so agree with your comment "as with so many things - the having to pull it all to pieces so much put me off reading any more."
Although I enjoy reading the comments, I think that's why I don't participate much in book discussions here (or anywhere else); I really don't like dissecting a story.

I wish I could still wear fashionable shoes. Unfortunately, an inherited arch problem that has worsened with age has resulted in my having to wear leather braces on both feet. They look like boots and go from the pad of the foot to just above the ankle bone. Corrective surgery would mean being in a wheelchair - then a cast - for the better part of a year for each foot - and the surgery isn't guaranteed.
I can walk "naturally" without aids - but cannot walk/stand for very long at a time and my legs do ache at the end of a busy day.
The hardest thing to bear is that I can no longer travel/tour - even though "the rest of me"

could still do it.
Ah - the Aging Process!!

pedln · « **Reply #1287 on:** December 18, 2010, 05:16:06 PM »

Callie, my knees hate me. One of my best investments is an easy-to-fold rolling walker with a seat. I don't use it at home, but it's been in just about every museum in NY and DC, and on the buses, and will go to the Picasso exhibit in Seattle next week. It's also handy in the airports as I can plop my laptop and stupid CPAP on the seat, goes right up to the gate.

Quote

STEPH, I now eat many of my meals sitting in my chair in front of the TV. Shucks, why
not?

Me too, Babi, and sometimes in front of the computer reading the New York Times, especially at breakfast. If I'm eating by myself I'm not going to just stare at the plate.

Flajean, thanks for the Maron reminder. I just asked my library to think about getting it. They have all her other books. My library has recently updated its website to have a page for recommendations. I hope it gets as much attention as the emails I've sent. They have been quite good about getting suggested titles.

I use mostly paper napkins or paper towels. I like cloth napkins at a restaurant, and will use them if I have guests for a meal. But I want my napkins clean -- at every meal. My Seattle family uses cloth, with different little animal rings, so that's what I'll be using next week, but I know they get mixed up.

salan · « **Reply #1288 on:** December 18, 2010, 07:01:08 PM »

Callie and Pedlin, it's my back that prevents me from doing much that requires walking or standing for very long. I have stenosis and degenerative disc. Just had an MRI and will start steroid shots in Jan. Hopefully, that will help. I also have one of those walkers, Pedlin. I only use it when I am going somewhere that will involve much walking or standing. It's been very helpful. Pedlin, I also have a cpap machine. I hate having to use it; but am thankful for it, too.

I read the Maron book Christmas Mourning. A quick easy read that I enjoyed. Am mostly reading Christmas themed books that are light. I have read several of Anne Perry's Christmas books and a couple of Debbie MacComber (altho, a little of her goes a looooong way--a little too "goody, goody" for even me!).

Will leave for Dallas tomorrow to spend the holidays with my daughter and her family. In case I don't post again before
Christmas; everyone have a happy one~
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #1289 on:** December 19, 2010, 06:31:58 AM »

This week will be the week I read "The Watching". It is done beautifully with many illustrations by the Corgi-aid people. It is to benefit homeless corgi who need vet assistance before being adopted. A very good cause and the book is quite different.. It used to only be on line, but now you can get a hard copy and I do love it.

Babi · « **Reply #1290 on:** December 19, 2010, 09:10:51 AM »

MARZ, I wish I would remember to arrange a 'bib' for eating in my chair...before I get
comfortable. It would certainly save me the embarassment of walking about with stains on
my tops. No wonder 'old age' is so often compared with childhood.

Social engagements of any kind are sort of 'iffy' for me. As I told my daughter, I no longer
make plans, I 'consider possibilities'. "If" I can make it, I will.
Memory certainly isn't what it used to be. I happily brought home from the library the first
two Louise Penny books, only to find I had already read them both. I didn't recognize the author's name when we were discussing her.
On the plus side, I did complete a New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle!

maryz · « **Reply #1291 on:** December 19, 2010, 11:34:37 AM »

Babi - your post made me smile this morning. Thanks.
Re the "chair bib" - I have a basket under my chair-side table where I keep all manner of things that I need. A terry-cloth dishtowel lives there - getting washed and replaced as needed.

nlhome · « **Reply #1292 on:** December 19, 2010, 01:19:49 PM »

I read Christmas Mourning and did not enjoy it. I'm not that fond of the author, but I thought I would give another of her books a try, so I finished it.

We always use cloth napkins - goes by to Earth Day, I think. Then my husband bought me, someone who never had a sewing lesson, a sewing machine (ever hopeful in those days, he also bought a deep fat fryer in the hopes of getting homemade donuts). I never got beyond sewing in straight lines or mending, so I bought material and made cloth napkins, some of which we just first threw away a few years ago. I look for cloth napkins on sale or at rummage sales and often find some, never used usually, and we have a big drawer full. They are especially nice when eating outside because they don't blow away as easily as paper napkins.

Right now I am still reading Gladys Hasty Carroll's Chrismas Through the Years. I think I'm up to the WWI time now.

maryz · « **Reply #1293 on:** December 19, 2010, 02:08:03 PM »

Another thing that makes good cloth napkins is washcloths. Sometimes you can buy a package of 10-12 cheap terry washcloths. They make good casual napkins.

roshanarose · « **Reply #1294 on:** December 19, 2010, 09:46:11 PM »

I shattered my ankle 5 years ago. It never really healed, and one nail/pin was working its way out through my skin. Painful and frightening. It has been operated on 7 times and is basically past it. If I had been a horse they would have shot me, or at least put me out to pasture.

I had a date (love that term) with a guy yesterday and our plan was to have lunch and then go to the soccer / football (the one with the round ball where the only player alowed to touch the ball is the goalkeeper) at Robina on the Gold Coast. Sounded like an enjoyable outing, or so I thought. The rain started as soon as we started lunch and did not stop pouring until we reached our destination about an hour and a half later.

No parking was to be found within 3km of the Stadium. So we set off on foot. Me wearing an extremely glamorous plastic parka thing, and he looking much smarter in a waterproof jacket and jeans etc. Orange is a colour I hate, but the date had packed it especially for me. The waterproof parka was bright orange and I looked like a balloon. We had to walk at least three kiometres in the pouring rain to get to the stadium. As soon as we floated into the Stadium the announcement was given that the game had been called off. There were many more dramas later, but I will spare you those.

Today my ankle feels as though someone is thrusting a knife into it. Oh Vanity. All is Vanity.
It is entirely in the hands of the gods if I will see the date again.

Thanks for listening/reading. Sorry to vent all over the board.

Oh. I use paper towels, but hate them. Maryz idea is a good one.

MaryPage · « **Reply #1295 on:** December 19, 2010, 10:23:01 PM »

That is a HOOT!

And yes, I want MORE!

The "date," not the ankle.

maryz · « **Reply #1296 on:** December 19, 2010, 11:45:45 PM »

Poor ankle - I'm so sorry. And I'd like to hear more about the date, too.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1297 on:** December 20, 2010, 02:41:01 AM »

Oh Roshanarose, what a day! I hope you are feeling better now. We are getting so fed up with tramping around in snow boots at the moment, but it's that or fall flat on your face and/or get your feet/trousers soaked.

Do tell us about the rest of the date

. And don't worry about venting (not on my account anyway) I do it all the time - my daughter aged 12 had to sit on the stairs and listen to me do just that as soon as she came home from school the other day - luckily she's the patient one....

R

roshanarose · « **Reply #1298 on:** December 20, 2010, 03:34:31 AM »

Thank you for your sympathy.

I told the story to my daughter this afternoon and she found her mother's discomfiture extremely amusing.

As for the date. It is similar to my affair with your illustrious President. I must remain discreet.

Steph · « **Reply #1299 on:** December 20, 2010, 06:07:28 AM »

Ah, but you have the courage to have a date. I have been turning them down. Just not quite ready to cope with anyone elses feelings.. Plus it is scary as far as I am concerned.. We are still too cool in 'Florida, but no snow and no heavy rain, so we are lucky.

Babi · « **Reply #1300 on:** December 20, 2010, 09:39:56 AM »

My chair side table has a drawer, MARYZ. Maybe I should pop a 'bib' in there. I already have several other 'conveniences' either on or in that table.
My sympathies re. your 'date', ROSHANA. I am astounded that so many people (no parking within 3km!) were there on a day when there was every likelihood the game would be canceled. Soccer on a wet, slippery field does not sound too likely, but then I know absolutely nothing about it.
All my reading just now is light fiction...mysteries and sci/fi. Well, except
for the selected ancient historians I am reading a bit at a time over
breakfast. Speaking of which....I haven't had mine yet. I think I'll go
scrounge. Have a good day, all.

marjifay · « **Reply #1301 on:** December 20, 2010, 09:59:53 AM »

If, like me, you are tired of the usual mishmash of boring Christmas book recommendations, here are a couple of nontraditional holiday books recommended by someone in another group:

HOLIDAYS ON ICE by David Sedaris (Me Talk Pretty One day) Sedaris gets the most mileage out of Christmas, from his stint as a Macy's elf in "Santaland Diaries," to comparing American and Dutch holiday traditions in "Six to Eight Black Men." In "Jesus Shaves," Sedaris recalls a French class in which students try to explain to each other, in broken French, the concept of Easter: "On the Easter we be sad because somebody makes Jesus dead today."

POLITICALLY CORRECT HOLIDAY STORIES FOR AN ENLIGHTENED YULETIDE SEASON by James Finn Garner. Includes "Twas the Night Before Solstice," "Frosty the Persun of Snow," and others.

THE STUPIDEST ANGEL; A HEARTWARMING TALE OF CHRISTMAS TERROR by Christopher Moore. Not for the kiddies.

Marj

(I loved your "date" story, RoshanaRose!)

roshanarose · « **Reply #1302 on:** December 20, 2010, 07:10:06 PM »

Steph I do understand what you mean, although our circumstances are different. My husband and I divorced 5 years ago. I still dream of him every night and no man can even come close to competing with him, at least as far as I am concerned. So having the date was a big leap for me. Shame it was so disastrous. My problem is that I fear that I am going to be hurt again. I think my vulnerability shows and men sense it. It was strange because when I was with "the date" we both spoke openly and fondly about our ex spouses. Bitterness is even worse than vulnerability and if a man sledges his ex wife or women in general, I run a mile, or take him to task for it.

BabiMany Australians are just plain sports crazy. I may be crazy in many ways, but I HATE getting wet. Perhaps there were so many there because the game was free, put on by some fat cat in order to appease the Queensland government. Quite bizarre, the whole thing.

roshanarose · « **Reply #1303 on:** December 20, 2010, 07:24:49 PM »

For Steph and others who have loved and lost. I guess that's the majority of us. Not a poem, but one of my favourite songs.

THE ROSE (Bette Midler)

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower, and you it's only seed.

It's the heart, afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.
It's the dream, afraid of waking, that never takes a chance.
It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give.
And the soul, afraid of dyin', that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes The Rose.

For a poem about the rose, see the Emily Dickinson, last posted by Barb. It's so beautiful.

Steph · « **Reply #1304 on:** December 21, 2010, 06:15:50 AM »

I have always loved the Bette Midler... The Rose.. Now it is appropriate for me.. So is Trisha Yearwood.. " I would have loved him anyway".. Ah well. Life hands us surprises..Some not much fun at all/

Babi · « **Reply #1305 on:** December 21, 2010, 03:34:27 PM »

ROSAHAN, sounds like the old Roman games, which rich men would stage free for the populace to gain political support. The games change...the motivation remains the same.

Aberlaine · « **Reply #1306 on:** December 21, 2010, 05:13:58 PM »

Since my memory is so bad, I can't remember all the books I've read this year. But here they are:

FAVORITES

The Help
On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Three Cups of Tea
Glass Castles
The Other Boleyn Girl

I'm looking forward to reading the Stieg Larsen trilogy.

The WORST books I read this year were:

Let The Great World Spin
Outlander

roshanarose · « **Reply #1307 on:** December 21, 2010, 08:39:54 PM »

Babi - an interesting observation. I hadn't thought of that.

Steph - I just read those Trish Yearwood lyrics - they brought tears to my eyes.

ALF43 · « **Reply #1308 on:** December 21, 2010, 09:47:46 PM »

Aberlaine- I loved the trilogy but they are not for the fanit hearted reader. There's some pretty gruesome chapters and so are the scenes in the first movie.

Steph · « **Reply #1309 on:** December 22, 2010, 06:28:22 AM »

Alf,, I love Biltmore and have never seen it at Christmas.. I am sure it is truly lovely. One of the very very few great houses that is liveable..
Still putting off the Stieg Larson until I can tolerate violence again.

maryz · « **Reply #1310 on:** December 22, 2010, 06:49:27 AM »

Steph - Christmas at Biltmore is incredible. We've been there 2-3 times at Xmas. It's definitely worth putting on your agenda next year.

Steph · « **Reply #1311 on:** December 23, 2010, 06:07:44 AM »

Iam in love with Asheville period.. If I were a bit younger, say mid 50's..( hmm thats almost 20 years younger) I would move there. It is a beautiful vibrant city and has several smaller towns close by.. Hendersonville is a gem..and Waynesville is nice as well. Black Mountain.. Ah,, that part of the country is so very beautiful.. IF my sons were not both in Florida, I would not stay. This is where my husband loved, not me..The humidity and long heat is not my thing.

Babi · « **Reply #1312 on:** December 23, 2010, 08:24:37 AM »

North Carolina isn't that far, STEPH. How close are your sons now? If at least one of them is
only a few minutes away, I can see how helpful that would be. But if Asheville would get you
away from that humidity, it might be worth the longer drive for you and your sons. If moving
isn't feasible, maybe August in the North Carolina hills would work as an annual escape.
(It's so easy to propose all these major undertakings for somene else.

)

maryz · « **Reply #1313 on:** December 23, 2010, 09:39:00 AM »

I agree, Steph. Unless I were on the ocean, I wouldn't want to live in FL. And that would have its own set of problems. Of course, we're just a little way from the NC mountains. We love that area, but love what we have here, too. None of our girls live here - range from 1+ to 4 hours away.

pedln · « **Reply #1314 on:** December 23, 2010, 09:31:34 PM »

What interesting tales about the dating or should I say "re-entering" experience. I have just finished the most delightful book about that very thing, told from the male perspective -- Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. A story about village life in contemporary UK, with hunts, golf, class, racial tensions, and even excellent women. I thought of Barbara Pym often.

The cover is one of the most enchanting and creative book covers I've seen in a long time. It is actually from the cover of a 1924 Life magazine.

Major Pettigrew's Cover

Steph · « **Reply #1315 on:** December 24, 2010, 05:59:55 AM »

My sons are two and three hours away further south in Florida.. I would be totally alone in North Carolina and am not sure I would enjoy that. That is why I have rented the house for July. This way I can figure out how I feel..

maryz · « **Reply #1316 on:** December 24, 2010, 06:42:46 AM »

Steph, it should be great to be in the mountains in July - away from the heat and humidity of FL.

Babi · « **Reply #1317 on:** December 24, 2010, 09:30:22 AM »

Good thinking, STEPH. Closeness to my kids is the most important thing for me, too. There was a time in my life when I lived alone and was content, but that time is past. I literally do not know what I would do if I did not have my younger daughter with me.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1318 on:** December 24, 2010, 01:36:47 PM »

Maryz - how abt those UConn women? When do they play Tennessee?.......Did you ever get to read Vivian Stringer's book?

North Carolina mountains in July sounds cool and quiet Steph.

I am surprised at some of our friends who are thinking of moving away from their children AND grandchildren, and fairly far away. I would hate not seeing mine regularly, but then, i'm not a great traveler, so distance may seem more negative to me. We have good friends who live in Indiana, their children are in NC and Montana and abt every other month they go to one or the other. They have the money to do that, but at one point the husband had to take dyalsis equipment w/ him also, fortunately he has now had a transplant.

Have a good Christmas everyone!

FlaJean · « **Reply #1319 on:** December 24, 2010, 01:43:47 PM »

We've been living in Florida almost 23 years and I love it. We get plenty of cold weather here in the north central part and as long as there is air conditioning in the summer I'm happy. I don't miss the times I got caught in a snow storm or shoveling snow and still endured the heat in summer with the air conditioning going.

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776105 times)