Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776306 times)

Steph · « **Reply #1920 on:** May 21, 2011, 06:07:40 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

The two days unshaven look is popular with younger actors. I am sure that will cease when the whiskers start being grey..
A mistake of mine.. It is Dorothy Allred Solomon, not Ruth. She writes well.. From her point of view, there has been much contension in the Mormon faith ever since plural marriage was annulled.. Amazing. She also seems to look at the women and how much they were not in favor of this.

Babi · « **Reply #1921 on:** May 21, 2011, 08:47:48 AM »

House is unquestionably an infuriating character; a total b_____, to say it plainly. He is the complete cynic. He is also brilliant to the point of genius. The thing is, it's a wonderful piece of acting by Hugh Laurie. He never breaks character, even when you really wish he would.

salan · « **Reply #1922 on:** May 21, 2011, 01:56:23 PM »

I watched the first season of House and really enjoyed it. Then it seemed like House got worse and worse--cold and unfeeling. I finally got tired of him and quit watching. He was inexcusably rude and hurtful. Not my kind of hero.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #1923 on:** May 22, 2011, 06:17:41 AM »

I must put something comic that Hugh Laurie has done on my netflix. My sole experience with him is House and I dislike it too much to figure him as brilliant.

roshanarose · « **Reply #1924 on:** May 22, 2011, 10:14:23 PM »

Hugh Laurie is a bit of a chameleon. Two nights ago I saw him on the Graham Norton show, guesting with Robert Pattinson (sp), Reece Witherspoon, and a lovely Anglo/Indian comedienne. Hugh was charming and sweet and he and a small group played a song with Hugh doing vocals and playing guitar. Very versatile chap.

Hugh Laurie has been in many British TV productions, but my favourite depiction of his is in
"Blackadder the Third" as Prince Regent - the Prince of Wales. A fop and an idiot He is very funny and steals the show.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1925 on:** May 23, 2011, 01:31:26 AM »

Yes, I agree Roshanarose - he is brilliant (as is Rowan Aitkinson) in Blackadder the Third.

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #1926 on:** May 23, 2011, 06:00:49 AM »

Blackadder the Third, .. will go to Netflix and see if they have it.. I am anxious to see him in something that is funny.. I dont like House, so maybe I will like something else.Part of that is the constant two day beard.. Just looks messy to me.

jeriron · « **Reply #1927 on:** May 23, 2011, 08:13:46 AM »

and here I thought I was the only one that couldn't stand his 2 day beard and didn't watch House because of it. But a lot of the reason is I don't like medical shows and I don't like his attitude. Guess three reasons are good enough I guess.

Babi · « **Reply #1928 on:** May 23, 2011, 08:37:04 AM »

Thanks for the info. about 'Blackadder the Third'. I'd like to see that one, too.

Yeah, JERIRON, I think three reasons is enough!

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1929 on:** May 23, 2011, 09:02:55 AM »

Don't let it put you off Blackadder - he really is completely different in that!

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #1930 on:** May 24, 2011, 06:10:14 AM »

Its funny how we have an inner picture and want others to conform.. I know that one of the reason I dont go to see many movies made from books that I love is that I generally have an inner picture of the characters and Hollywood has all of these actors whose egos make them do things they cannot do.. Katherine Hegl as Stephanie Plum.. Bah... Humbug.. We needed a gritty New York type actress for this one.. Sigh..Too much money and ego for another blonde of the month type.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #1931 on:** May 24, 2011, 11:52:53 AM »

I would have pictured Laura San Giacomo (played Kit in "Pretty Woman") very gritty and New York-ish (Jersey-ish)!!

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1932 on:** May 24, 2011, 12:46:28 PM »

Here's some more news we may not want to hear about "One for the Money". Of course, it's just one person's opinion. I have to agree that Sherri Shepard should make a good Lulu.

http://www.celebitchy.com/146286/whats_wrong_with_katherine_heigls_stephanie_plum_movie/

salan · « **Reply #1933 on:** May 25, 2011, 05:39:52 AM »

I just finished House at Riverton by Kate Morton. Very good book for those of you who like family sagas set in England.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #1934 on:** May 25, 2011, 06:14:22 AM »

I am reading a not too much fun book about working in retail.. Recommended here, but the author is such a complainer, that I am finding it hard going. I would have fired him the first week, but they keep him on.. He is b----y to put it mildly. Good employees are hard to find.
But my book on a sheltie, agility and another owner who is sort of different is really good.. ah well, I will stick with the retail book a bit longer.. But he is just too too twee and full of himself.

Babi · « **Reply #1935 on:** May 25, 2011, 08:41:00 AM »

I found myself definitely in need of a Terry Pratchett. I found one I hadn't read in the YA section,
"A Hat Full of Sky", and it is just what I needed. A bit of excitement, surrounded by the fabled
Pratchett charm.

JoanK · « **Reply #1936 on:** May 25, 2011, 02:58:10 PM »

The Stephanie Plum movie sounds like a disaster. But Debbie reynalds as Grandma Mazur!!! Like the reviewer, "that alone guarentees that I'll go see it."

MaryPage · « **Reply #1937 on:** May 25, 2011, 10:37:17 PM »

See what?

Steph · « **Reply #1938 on:** May 26, 2011, 06:04:19 AM »

Debbie Reynolds.. Good heavens no.. How about the woman who played Granny in the Jed Clampett thing or at least someone who looks and acts like that. Debbie was never an actress.. Just a star type. They are ruining a favorite book of mine. Darn.

MaryPage · « **Reply #1939 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:36:50 AM »

What book?

Babi · « **Reply #1940 on:** May 26, 2011, 09:08:55 AM »

Actually, I can see Debbie Reynolds as the grandma. I think she would be
hilarious.
The first Stephanie Plum book, MARYPAGE. "One for the Money". The general
opinion here seems to be that the actress who bought the rights is all wrong
for the part.

MaryPage · « **Reply #1941 on:** May 26, 2011, 01:24:14 PM »

Reminds me of when the late Rosalind Russell was so crazy about Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax books (as was and as am I), and she bought the film rights and made the first one and starred in it. Her great looks and acting skills were right there, but Mrs. Pollifax she was Not!

Sigh! That was clear back in 1971.

JoanK · « **Reply #1942 on:** May 26, 2011, 02:56:46 PM »

I remember that. What a shame!! I love the Mrs. Pollifax books, and they would make great movies.

MaryPage · « **Reply #1943 on:** May 26, 2011, 06:36:36 PM »

That is what I have always thought. Surely someone in Hollywood should see the obvious popularity a TV series based on Mrs. Pollifax would have.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1944 on:** May 27, 2011, 02:34:43 AM »

Who is Mrs Pollifax?

Gumtree · « **Reply #1945 on:** May 27, 2011, 04:24:45 AM »

I know the name but can't say I've ever met the lady

Steph · « **Reply #1946 on:** May 27, 2011, 06:08:07 AM »

Mrs. Pollifax is a popular series about an older woman who becomes an accidental spy. Funny and warm.

MaryPage · « **Reply #1947 on:** May 27, 2011, 10:18:15 AM »

Yes, a perfect description. She is funny and warm. A widow and very interested in gardening, she becomes, by total accident, one of the CIA's best spys!

Get the old Rosalind Russell movie and get an idea. Look up books by Dorothy Gilman and get the real thing. I promise you, these books are a complete JOY!

MaryPage · « **Reply #1948 on:** May 27, 2011, 11:15:24 AM »

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/dorothy-gilmans-mrs-pollifax-mystery-books.html

on this one, look over at the far left for a complete list of the Mrs. Pollifax series. They are best read in the order in which she wrote them:
http://mrspollifax.com/blog/list-of-books-published/

You can still buy all of the Mrs. Pollifax books in paperback, and your used book stores have them, as well.

If you loved Miss Seeton, you will Adore Mrs. Pollifax, and to have missed either is a Sin!

Steph · « **Reply #1949 on:** May 28, 2011, 06:16:47 AM »

Still on a non fiction kick.. Amazing how you get interested in a subject and boom.. I am knee deep in it.. A sign of getting older and a curiousity that will never stop.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #1950 on:** June 12, 2011, 08:56:39 PM »

I will have to check on my Kindell and see if Mrs Polifax is on there. I don't believe I have ever put in a title that they didn't have.
I have been reading the cheap books on the Kindell not much meat but some are fun I have loved the Dixie Divas. Also have been re reading some of my favorite authors such as Isles and Gregg Olson.

Also have put a word game on the kindell and spend time on that its fun.

After the yardwork and driving people from Fairwinds to the doctor and taking care of Don I don't have a lot of time.

I read Old Filth and it really didn't do much for me.

Steph · « **Reply #1951 on:** June 13, 2011, 06:05:13 AM »

JUdy,, glad to h ear you are still alive and kicking. YOu dont post much. I put games on my IPAD as well as books, etc. I have put a lot of free or cheap books on my IPAD.. Dont feel bad if they arent as good as I hoped. But I still spend money every month on it.. Cant seem to resist some of the stuff.

Babi · « **Reply #1952 on:** June 13, 2011, 09:08:49 AM »

I came across a site that offered a chance to win a fine iPad or some other stuff, offered to
out-of-state 'visitors'. All I had to do was pick a prize, enter my mobile number.... Mobile
number?? Alas, so 'not-with-it'.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #1953 on:** June 13, 2011, 04:07:52 PM »

Babi I think I would have to pass on that.

I didn't feel good yesterday so spent the afternoon and eve in bed.
I had a Helene Hanff marathon. How I love those books. I read The Dutchess of Bloomsberry and Q's Legacy. Very fun.

Don't feel much better today but have to go take a lady to the dentist. Won't take long.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #1954 on:** June 13, 2011, 06:02:41 PM »

Anytime some site says "win _ _ _ _ (something) and then you click and it asks for a bunch of information, I just X out and say, well, I probably wouldn't have won it anyway!

Too much of our private information is "out there" and just waiting for some crook to hack into it.

roshanarose · « **Reply #1955 on:** June 13, 2011, 09:30:33 PM »

Babi - I fell for the same ploy. I went through a reputable site that I use often to win a lovely IPad. I foolishly included my telephone number. Sure enough at 5.30am on Sunday morning a chirpy American lady told me that I hadn't won the IPad, but would I be interested in a tour to the Bahamas or something. My daughter and friends will tell you if anyone calls me before 10am they can expect to find me at my most unkind. Suffice to say that particular lady won't be calling me again.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1956 on:** June 13, 2011, 11:01:23 PM »

I stopped entering contests sponsored by travel agency/sites. I found that often what you "win" is a couple of nights at a place that includes someone trying to sell you a time share or the like. They do not provide the plane/train fare to get there either. The only vacation sweeps I enter are through something like The Travel Channel, Conde Naste, or BH&G. Always before I enter I check the official rules to see exactly what you get and who is actually sponsoring it. Sometimes they will list quite a few different sites that are also sponsoring the same sweeps. I should check the privacy policy more often than I do. If I get an inkling that a sweeps comes attached to allowing sales calls or emails, I skip it. Some state Visitor's Bureaus sponsor sweeps. They seem to be okay. You can request additional info about vacationing in the state or sign up for an email newsletter, but they aren't required for entering the contest.

Steph · « **Reply #1957 on:** June 14, 2011, 06:06:38 AM »

Yes, just now I am getting all sorts of stupid email,, all insisting I signed up for them. Since I dont sign up for strange sites, I have to assume that something I did triggered this avalanche.. Darn.

Babi · « **Reply #1958 on:** June 14, 2011, 09:21:42 AM »

Absolutely, TOME. Anytime I am asked for inappropriate information, I'm
gone!
ROSHANA, I am shocked! You were rude?

(She called at 5:30a.m. ?! Must have been in a different time zone.)

Frybabe · « **Reply #1959 on:** June 14, 2011, 01:00:00 PM »

Another wonderful little trick some sites use is if you want to enter a contest or sign up for an email, they already have a bunch of extra things checked off. You have to unclick everything you don't want. Sometimes I miss one or my finger "slips" and I hit enter rather than the tab I wanted to. TYhen I end up with unwanted emails as a result.

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776306 times)