Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776274 times)

Steph · « **Reply #1760 on:** April 03, 2011, 06:24:31 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

I have read early Alice, but as I recall, I stopped when she just got too dark.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #1761 on:** April 03, 2011, 06:24:40 PM »

I have to keep the dog for probably 6 days. They haven't showed up yet. I keep thwe lawn mower for ever or so he says. My old lawn mower has had it. Coca is Martha's sister out little shitzu that was killed by a car. We now have 2 shitzu's named Emma and Eddie and no I really don't need another dog to watch but what are you going to do? I can hardly wait to see this lawn mower, what he says it is and what it is may well be 2 different things. Stephanie I moved out of a place where they did eveything for me coulsn't stand it for many reasons.
Now if it would just warm up.

Babi · « **Reply #1762 on:** April 04, 2011, 08:39:02 AM »

Ah, well, six days is doable. And it is getting warmer. Hang in there, JUDY.

Steph · « **Reply #1763 on:** April 06, 2011, 04:48:36 PM »

I live in a townhouse.They do the lawns etc. That is it.I even have a little herb garden,that I tend.

FlaJean · « **Reply #1764 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:50:37 AM »

We have 1/2 acre which is entirely too much at this stage in life. Just a herb garden sounds great to me.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #1765 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:48:27 PM »

6days is a piece of cake if its not COLD not SNOWING not HAILING. oTHER THAN THAT IT IS A WALK IN THE PARK.

Have to hurry down to Fairwinds to take a 93 year old lady to get her hair done and then take her to Fred Meyer. Shes probably the funniest person on the planet but its a little hard to handle her...
Went down at 12:30 and its really 1:30 so I came back home and was researching Calendula and now I am gone..............................

Judy Laird · « **Reply #1766 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:50:04 PM »

Fla Jean I have about 1/2 acre too and I planated some lilys yesterday , bright yellow and georgeous before the hail and snow hit them. Are you finding it hard to get up and down? I can barely get up after I get down.

Babi · « **Reply #1767 on:** April 07, 2011, 07:23:09 PM »

I just completed, with great satisfation, Ivan Doig's "Dancing at the Rascal Fair". I am
enchanted with Mr. Doig, and plan to read the rest of his books.

FlaJean · « **Reply #1768 on:** April 08, 2011, 11:47:57 AM »

Judy, my son bought me one of those little stools/benches that you can sit on or turn up side down to kneel on. Then you can use the bottom ends to push yourself up easily when you kneel on it.

pedln · « **Reply #1769 on:** April 08, 2011, 06:20:10 PM »

FlaJean -- please send picture of said stood ASAP so I can get up !!!

Judy -- you have snow? now?

FlaJean · « **Reply #1770 on:** April 08, 2011, 10:57:24 PM »

If you go to Home Depot on the Internet and put in GKS-2 you can see what it looks like. It is very sturdy and strong. I use mine a LOT.

marcie · « **Reply #1771 on:** April 09, 2011, 12:22:09 AM »

A photo of the garden kneeler/seat is here: http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Garden-Center-Garden-Tools-Parts-Accessories/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbx6v/R-202494197/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

You can click to ZOOM a larger photo or get a few other views.

There are similar items on amazon at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Folding+Seat+Garden+Kneeler&x=16&y=23

Babi · « **Reply #1772 on:** April 09, 2011, 08:54:27 AM »

Cheaper at Amazon, too, I note. What a clever idea. Why is it I never thought of something
like that and made my fortune?

Steph · « **Reply #1773 on:** April 09, 2011, 10:36:46 AM »

What I need just now is learning how to nail things into concrete.. My beautiful lattice, that MDH put up and patiently wove the confederate jasmine in, fell down in our recent storm.. The heavy vines are woven perfectly, but the lattice itself broke off in the ground. I think that is I can penetrate the concrete post, I can put up some little wooden struts and then lace the lattice into it.. At least I hope so.

marcie · « **Reply #1774 on:** April 09, 2011, 04:19:49 PM »

Stephanie. I have zero tool skills but I found this video about putting a screw into concrete: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTj8GR6WdqY&feature=related

Steph · « **Reply #1775 on:** April 10, 2011, 06:08:45 AM »

I got lucky and my younger son showed up on his way home from his shooting match. He put in a hook to catch the lattice and it seems ok. Then he pressure cleaned my drive way, and has stayed the night. I took him out for his choice of dinner ( Red Lobster, he does love seafood) and was so delighted to see the lattice up and the confederate jasmine waving bravely and smelling wonderful.
But for reasons that escape me, I woke this morning crying.. Sometimes memories are overwhelming.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1776 on:** April 10, 2011, 11:50:24 AM »

Aaaww, Steph, sometimes crying is just what we need to do. Isn't it nice to have a son close by? Even my independent husband sends out a call for our son more often then in the past. It's a bonding experience for them and i get to cook some of our sons favorite dishes.

The aromas coming from our yard are wonderful right now also. Daffodils, hyacinths, love their smells, that was a major reason for planting the ones i did. The look of the front and back yards changes everyday. Mother nature is lovely. ........ Jean

FlaJean · « **Reply #1777 on:** April 10, 2011, 03:22:03 PM »

Thank you, Marcie, for posting that additional info. Thanks for being so helpful in looking up things on the Internet. Sometimes I just don't google the right words.

marcie · « **Reply #1778 on:** April 10, 2011, 06:25:32 PM »

Thanks, FlaJean. I enjoy looking things up. I can't help myself. I find it amazing that so much information is just a click away. I'm glad that I'm living in the age of the personal computer. Of course, the Star Trek computer, would be even better :-)

Steph · « **Reply #1779 on:** April 11, 2011, 06:18:08 AM »

Ah yes, a computer who talks to you and reasons out what you really want.. Of course if you remember HAL did that and it didnt turn out well.

marcie · « **Reply #1780 on:** April 11, 2011, 10:54:47 AM »

LOL, Steph. Yes, HAL went a bit too far!!

pedln · « **Reply #1781 on:** April 11, 2011, 03:21:21 PM »

Thank you Marcie and FlaJean, and Babi too for mentioning Amazon. Home Depot is OUT OF STOCK, but now that you've told me what to search under, I've found several interesting places.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1782 on:** April 11, 2011, 09:01:22 PM »

I'm w/ you Marcie abt being glad to live in the age of the internet. I had a treat last week - a high school friend had disappeared from my radar after our college years. She didn't come to any of the class reunions and when i would ask people about her they could tell me she was teaching in Calif and had gotten married but no one knew her married name or exactly where she was. Last week someone from our high schl class sent out an email abt a luncheon. I replied back to "reply all", but hadn't looked thru the whole list. About a half hour later i got an email from my "lost" friend. I was so happy tohear from her.

Jean

Babi · « **Reply #1783 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:04:47 AM »

That's great, JEAN! I know that's a luncheon you're really looking forward to.

Steph · « **Reply #1784 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:17:09 PM »

Every once in a while, an old neighbor reappears on Facebook.. I find it delightful to hear from them.. We moved so much and people disappeared from our lives.. I do love the internet for bringing them back to me.

joyous · « **Reply #1785 on:** April 13, 2011, 12:59:38 PM »

I never cease to be amazed at how fast you can put something on the Search, only simple question, and get the answer immediately.

My g-son decided to give me some artwork on my living room wall, with a
pen. So I went immediately to the search machine and put in----How to remove ink marks from a painted wall------and the preferred way was with
spray net, and it worked perfectly (with some muscle power and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser).
Ahh, this modern world!!!!!
Joy

CallieOK · « **Reply #1786 on:** April 13, 2011, 05:30:46 PM »

Joy, I'm always amazed at the Household Hints I can find on an internet search!

I've just gotten my reserved copy of Jean Auel's latest, The Land of Painted Caves. It's the final book in her "Earth's Children" series. (Thank goodness for an author that knows when to stop writing about the same subject!!!)

Her writing style is a bit annoying but I do want to read it because I've seen the Lascaux Cave Paintings (actually, the authentic replica next to the original cave, which is closed to the public), as well as the overhang shelters at Cougnac.

It's 757 pages long so I must read steadily because it's so new in the library system that I doubt I'll be able to recheck it.

Steph · « **Reply #1787 on:** April 14, 2011, 06:16:56 AM »

I noticed at the library that the new Jean Auel is on the lists of requests for months on end. I read the first one, started the second,but never finished it.. However I remember when I owned the store, I never could keep a copy of it in stock.. People loved them.

Babi · « **Reply #1788 on:** April 14, 2011, 09:02:10 AM »

I very much liked Jean Auel, and my dtr. Valerie loves her. I'll be sure and let her know there
is a new one out. I'll have to check my patience supply to decide if I want to tackle a book
that size. I do seem to be less and less willing to take on long-term projects in anything.

Steph · « **Reply #1789 on:** April 15, 2011, 06:09:12 AM »

Babi, I would go ahead with it.. Long Term are probably good for us.

Babi · « **Reply #1790 on:** April 15, 2011, 08:54:47 AM »

Well, that's a thought, STEPH. I'll have to think about that. Long-term projects are, what...
optinistic?

marjifay · « **Reply #1791 on:** April 15, 2011, 01:25:55 PM »

"Income tax returns are the most imaginative fiction being written today." (Herman Wouk)

Steph · « **Reply #1792 on:** April 16, 2011, 06:29:46 AM »

Yes,, I believe we need long term projects at our age.. Looking further ahead is probably good for us. I know that I always needs goals and some need to be long term.. I try hard to plan ahead at least a year..Silly, but I love structure.

Babi · « **Reply #1793 on:** April 16, 2011, 10:24:10 AM »

I find it impossible to plan far ahead, STEPH. I never know from day to day what I will be
able to do. I must satisfy my planning instincts with occasional 'to do' lists and the weekly
grocery list!

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1794 on:** April 16, 2011, 12:54:13 PM »

Just starting an interesting and well written book: Sins of the House of Borgia, by Sarah Bower. The protagonist is a Jewish woman who "converts" to Christianity to bcm a lady-in-waiting to Lucrezia Borgia. The cover leads me to thinking this might be considered an historical romance by some, but the detail is very interesting. The cruelty of the powerful to the non-powerful makes me very glad i live in 21st century America. But then reading any history has always made me feel that way. At this point -80 pages in- i wld say if you like historical fiction to give it a try. It is one of those books where i have to sit w/ my ipad near by to look up some words that are not familiar to me - usually something of the time.

I mentioned her conversion bcs she has interesting questions about both religions as she lives in her new " Christian world". It is only a small part of the story, at least at this point.

Jean

Judy Laird · « **Reply #1795 on:** April 16, 2011, 09:21:58 PM »

thanks for the URL Marie I am going to buy one of those stools but I would have to kneel because I am sure that I couldn't bend. Nothing seems to work anymore.
I had 2 guys working in the yard today so of course I was out there working with them and I wonder why I can't get up now. hehe
Read 2 good books in the last few days. Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart and The Writing Circle by Corinne Demas. I especially enjoyed the last one. I was not aware that there were writing "circles". It seems to be like a book club but just for writers and they are somewhat small in numbers. It was a very enjoyable book.

Don's dementia continues on the downhill slope but we manage with me yelling about half the time. I can't seem to remember that he doesn't really know what hes doing. But let me tell you he thinks he knows what he'd doing and therein lies the problem.

Steph · « **Reply #1796 on:** April 17, 2011, 06:47:41 AM »

Oh Judy, it is so hard with dementia.. My Mother in law was like Don.She truly believed she remembered everything. She was furious when her bridge partners would no longer play bridge with her, but truth was, she had forgotten all of the rules and what she was bidding. It never improves.. But just remember the earlier days of your life. You are upbeat and funny and I know that you have lovely memories of your life with him.

Babi · « **Reply #1797 on:** April 17, 2011, 08:49:53 AM »

My sympathies, JUDY. I could kneel, but I wouldn't be able to get up again. $:-\$

MaryPage · « **Reply #1798 on:** April 17, 2011, 09:25:31 AM »

I found LUCREZIA BORGIA by Sarah Bradford a really great read.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1799 on:** April 17, 2011, 03:22:19 PM »

MaryPage, I have 1904 volume called Lucretia Borgia: According to Original Documents and Correspondence of Her Day by Ferdinand Gregorivius. The book is dedicated to Don Michelangelo, Gaetani Duke of Sermoneta who were enemies of the Borgias. I haven't touched it yet. It would be fun to compare the info.

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776274 times)