Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776389 times)

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3280 on:** June 16, 2012, 03:51:06 PM »

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

Henry, in "Henry and Clara" ( the couple w/ the Lincolns the night of the assassination) was knifed trying to grab John Wilkes Booth - if this fictional author is accurate - did not die and spent many years knowing that people in his presence were whispering about why he didn't prevent the assassination!!! According to this story he hadn't seen Booth until Lincoln had been shot. The writing, and therefore the story, has gotten more interesting after the part about the assassination. However, most of it is bits and pieces of history that i already know about. I might like it better if i didn't know so much history.

I'm also reading Anne Siddon's "Islands". I can't decide if i like it or not. It's the story of a group of 40/50 - somethings, 3 of whom grew up in Charleston and on Sullivans Island, and their spouses who continue as friends. They spend many weekends at the "beach house" that they as adults owned together on S's Island. That part appeals to me because my husband had 3 friends, one a cousin, who have, a long w/ their spouses and now all the children, have been friends for 60 yrs. The eight of us for about the last 15 yrs have vacationed together and, of course, have been to all the graduations of the next generation and then the weddings, sometime the birthdays and the funerals of the families, very much involved in each ither's lives.

However, she spends a lot of pages describing Charleston - some of which would be interesting, but it is constant - describing clothing, houses, the beach, the people ad nauseum. The story doesn't seem to move very much, but she has moved thru the couples lives for a couple decades. I'm perplexed. I will finish it.

Has/have any of you read it? What did you think?

Jean

MaryPage · « **Reply #3281 on:** June 16, 2012, 05:58:15 PM »

I agree with you, Steph. All of the economists say every citizen should have coverage in order to bring the price of the premiums down.

We all know that old folk cost the moon in medical expense, while, except for exceptional illnesses and accidents, the young rarely use or need or purchase medical insurance.

Which means, mathematically, that the insured population today is paying a much, much higher rate for coverage than they will have to pay when everyone must put into the pot.

It is like the collection you take up in your office to buy the boss a $100 present. If ten of you pitch in, it costs $10 each; but if the entire office staff of 20 persons pitches in, the cost goes down to $5.00 each.

That is the principal of the thing. And think of this: if those young people and other uninsureds DO go to hospital, they get their entire treatment for free. For Free? Oh no, that's right: their treatment, which they do not pay for, raises OUR charges from doctors and hospitals and pharmacies and eventually our insurance premiums.

Babi · « **Reply #3282 on:** June 17, 2012, 09:09:01 AM »

I've never cared much for Ann Siddons, Jean. I know many people thinks she is very
good, but I simply find her books boring. A sort of 'that's nice', followed by a yawn.

Quote

"..if those young people and other uninsureds DO go to hospital, they get their entire
treatment for free."

Is that accurate, MARYPAGE. I've always understood that a hospital
was only required to give emergency care, to the point where the patient is stabilized. Otherwise, if there is no insurance, the person can be turned away. Hospital's option, if they want to accept a charity case.

Steph · « **Reply #3283 on:** June 17, 2012, 10:07:37 AM »

Hmm, if the hopital receives any amount of money from the government or the county or the state or the town..public money. They have to treat the patients that come in via the emergency room.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3284 on:** June 17, 2012, 02:19:33 PM »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Medical_Treatment_and_Active_Labor_Act

MaryPage · « **Reply #3285 on:** June 17, 2012, 03:00:57 PM »

This important and explanatory article in today's The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/health-reform-without-a-mandate-lessons-from-washington-state/2012/06/16/gJQAosKghV_blog.html

If you cannot get it through my link above, try the Washington Post yourself and ask for Sarah Kliff's article. It is titled: "WASHINGTON STATE'S HEALTH INSURERS OFFER A CASE STUDY ON FEDERAL LAW'S LIKELY EFFECTS."

JeanneP · « **Reply #3286 on:** June 17, 2012, 05:43:39 PM »

No Insurance. Hospitals are suppose to not turn away. But however no saying how long you lay there before getting treated. It has to be free .
I was tempted to go to ours 2 weeks aga when having tummy pain. Was dark out and didn't know if I should drive. Waited for doctor next morning. He informed me to watch on going to Emergency as one has to pay $200 up front before will sign you in. Not refundable by Medicare. So being insured or without I don't know who is better of.

However if you are then admitted to Hospital 80% insurance will pick up of the $200. So I guess that one should really act in a lot more of pain and they will admit you regardless if they say nothing really wrong and try to give you a pill and send home.

bellemere · « **Reply #3287 on:** June 17, 2012, 08:08:54 PM »

In most hospitals , a stay with no insurance coverage usually ends with a long, intensive interview with the social work staff, to negotiate a payment plan. Unless you can show complete indigence, the plan will produce a payemt expectation, for several years, to cover most of the care you have received. Elements of the interview will include your job, your spouse's job, your respective salaries, the size of your family , the jobs and financial status of your grown children, the assessed value of your house, make and model of your car, any second homes ,bank accounts , stock portfolios, and anything else they can think of. Some states allow garnishment of salaries if these payments are not made on time. the hospital may try to force you to take out a home equity loan on your house in order to pay them. Missed payments bring legal action , and they could end up taking your house, and part of you paycheck.
Free care is not free. By these aggressive collection practices, the hospital mainains its ability to help those who truly have no way of paying for their care.
From any perspctive, health insurance is a better way to go.

Frybabe · « **Reply #3288 on:** June 17, 2012, 08:51:51 PM »

"...the jobs and financial status of your grown children..."

It is my understanding that your grown children are not responsible for their parents debts unless they claim parents on their income tax as dependents. That won't stop collection agencies from trying, though, I'm sure.

JeanneP · « **Reply #3289 on:** June 17, 2012, 10:57:43 PM »

Belemere.

Sad to think that the USA health system is that bad that they want to ask all this kind of info. I think people just aught to refuse to give all the info they ask for. Most of the people talking to you are collection agencies that the hospitals have hired to try and collect

Babi · « **Reply #3290 on:** June 18, 2012, 08:39:48 AM »

The article did help clarify the problem, MARYPAGE. I guess we are facing another
dilemma re. our beliefs. Do we give up the security of guaranteed health care, or do
we place another personal life decision in the control of the government?
I just had a thought. This discussion sounds like it belongs in non-fiction rather
than generally entertaining world of fiction. It's an important topic, but how did we
get started on it here?

FRYBABE, would you believe that tho' I've never been hassled by a collection agency for
a debt of my own, I have been for someone else's debt. I kept getting calls from bill
collectors for a mobile home bought by someone else with the same name. I kept telling
them they had the wrong person, but they didn't believe me. It finally stopped when my
elder daughter caught the phone call one day. That collector threatened her with
reposession of the property. She calmly replied, "Go right ahead. You could reclaim every
mobile home in the county, and [my mother] wouldn't turn a hair". He paused, then laughed
and agreed that he must have the wrong Barbara Simpson.
Isn't it odd? Years later I did buy a mobile home. Paid for it, too.

Steph · « **Reply #3291 on:** June 18, 2012, 09:07:09 AM »

Oh Babi, I do love the story.. Bill collectors are hard to discourage. I have a good friend who is an attorney and I generally sic him onthem.. They stop in a hurry..
Hospitals are sometimes betwen the rock and the hard place.. They are the biggest reason for bankrupcy in the US.. but also a place where people try hard to cheat.. I know someone who actually uses a friends cards.. Unfair and dishonest.
Books.. I got the most wonderful book the other day. It was photographs by Margaret Bourke White and dialogue by Erskine Caldwell from the 30 and 40's in the south. Spectacular. Wow.

bellemere · « **Reply #3292 on:** June 18, 2012, 09:17:59 AM »

three cheers! I also support getting back to discussion of fiction; just read a great wild ride, Swamplandia by Karen Fuller. I had read her short stories and loved them and this is her first novel.
bottom line: those who do not wish to purchase health insurance must"
1. Put plenty of money in a "Health Savings Account" , like an IRA , made with before tax income. At today's hospital prices, you whould need a whopper of a balance to face a major illness or accident.
2. Be willing to negotiate a payment plan with the hospital whenyou are discharged, and stick to it , while, of course, continuing to make your donations to your HSA for "next time" , and there will be a next time. Good luck living on what's left over!
thursday night is my book Club meeting where I'll find out if the members will read Anna or one of the pairings of fiction and nonfiction. I liked doing this work; it reminds me of my taching days, drawing up a syllabus. A two month reading period of a fiction work with a relevant nonfiction work might be fun here.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3293 on:** June 18, 2012, 03:00:45 PM »

I am in total agreement that this forum should be a discussion about works of fiction we have read. I am also yearning for a place where we could discuss our experiences and opinions regarding matters important to Seniors, such as health care, without anyone slinging mud at the opinions of other posters and without anyone trying to push a political line or candidate. I have tried the political forums, and they are just too nasty for my sensibilities.

I do have a political point of view, and I have never missed voting in an election in 62 years. But I have no desire to fight with those of other persuasions; I just want to discuss and exchange ideas and such like. Amicably.

Babi · « **Reply #3294 on:** June 19, 2012, 08:20:39 AM »

That Margaret Bouke-White book is a famous one in photography, I understand. I haven't
seen the book itself, but one of the major magazines (Life, maybe?) published an article
featuring a number of the photos. Gripping and shocking.

The old truism still holds true, MARYPAGE. It doesn't pay to bring politics or religion into a
general conversation. There are always going to be people who are both rigid in their views
and very vocal in defending them. One of the best things about SeniorLearn is that the people
here can allow others their opinions without getting offended, or offensive.

Steph · « **Reply #3295 on:** June 19, 2012, 08:46:37 AM »

The book is fascinating. A glimpse into an era that has ( I hope) disappeared.. The pictures are very theatrical, but still good.. The intro is written much later and discusses the similarities and differences in this book and another done roughly at the same time.. I have the other as well.. James Agee?? I think

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3296 on:** June 19, 2012, 11:56:35 AM »

I read a good Bourke-White bio about 2decades ago. It might have been the Vicki Goldberg book, but i'm not sure. She had a very interesting life and i love her pictures. She attended a famous girl's school a few miles from us and i didn't know that until i read the bio. One of her pictures was the first Life magazine cover. I'll find a link..........

Jean

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3297 on:** June 19, 2012, 12:06:24 PM »

http://www.google.com/search?q=life+magazine+first+cover&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#biv=i|0;d|PcLBP4nEXj4qBM:

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/margaretbourkewhite/ig/Margaret-Bourke-White/Margaret-Bourke-White-with-First-Life-Cover.htm

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3298 on:** June 19, 2012, 01:32:54 PM »

I finished Henry and Clara by Tho Mallon and Islands by Anne Siddons. Both got better in the second half, but i probably won't read Mallon again. It was slow and, as i said before, had historical inaccuracies on "historical facts." i don't mind authors making up astory for historical fiction, but to accually change historical facts bothers me.

Islands got much better in the second half as her typical style of writing about relationships took hold. But she continued to describe the weather everyday, and everything else, so i still did a lot of skimming and instead of being sad the book came to an end, i was happy it was over.

Jean

Babi · « **Reply #3299 on:** June 20, 2012, 08:01:44 AM »

JEAN, I wondered when I saw the magazine cover why they would choose a picure of the
dam for their first cover. Fortunately, the article mentioned the projects Pres. Roosevelt
initiated in the 30's, when this issue appeared. Given the purpose of the magazine, that
made sense.
Thos Mallon I've never heard of, and considering your review I won't go looking for him
(her?). I've read one or two of Anne Siddons, and wasn't too taken with them, either. I
decided to pass on reading more of her.

Steph · « **Reply #3300 on:** June 20, 2012, 08:58:14 AM »

I have read some Simmons. Some are really good, but others I didnt finish..Margaret Bourke-White led some wild life.. Amazing for e period. Nothing got between her and what she wanted. There is a wild picture of her hanging out on something in NYC to get a picture.Terrifying to me who hates heights.

bellemere · « **Reply #3301 on:** June 26, 2012, 08:41:07 PM »

To my wuprise, book club chose
Anna Karenina to read over the summer. A couple of strong dissenters, tough. I wonder if they will read it. I got the new translation on my Nook, and it really is more readable. Now I am stuck leading the diwcussion of it next September.

Steph · « **Reply #3302 on:** June 27, 2012, 08:15:01 AM »

I would be a dropout for Anna. I read her years ago and was young and stubborn, so I finished it, but never understood why it is great lit.. Oh well. different strokes. I truly dislike Russian novels. except for Nabokov

MaryPage · « **Reply #3303 on:** June 27, 2012, 12:41:28 PM »

I read it AND saw the movie; both years ago. Beautifully written and well filmed, I could not possibly do either again. Just leaves me so depressed, and I keep wanting to redo the steps in her life. With all my old age ailments, I sure do not need to add depressed! I often think about Anna, though; which shows you the power of that novel.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #3304 on:** June 27, 2012, 02:32:10 PM »

I think I mentioned it before but I have found an author that is new to me.
You all know I pretty much read junk and it makes me happy. I already know eerything
I need to know. hahaha
New author John Hart Iron House absolutly great The Last Child really good and King of Lies which I put on my Kindle but have not read. I went down to Fairwind and the conschierge (sp)
hailed me down and returned The Last Child the girl at the front desk started waving arms and now she has the book. Florence read it firtst after me. People at Fairwinds seem to like what I read so pretty soon I am going to have t make a list.

Got a call from a fairwinds resident last night and one of my close 94 year old friend had gotten a call from the outfit that supplies her ozygen. Said her insurance didn't cover it and they were coming to get it today. Well call JUudy they all said. I told them what to do and I was down there at 8 o"clock AM too make sure nobody didn't come through the door a;nd take her oxygen. Problem finially solved and now I am home and a nap doesn't seem out of the question.

Judy finished Benton's last book Folly Beach and loved it. Gave it to my frien d Florence on the way out of the building

salan · « **Reply #3305 on:** June 27, 2012, 06:09:15 PM »

I read The Last Child by John Hart, Judy. It was the first book I had read of his and is one of the best books that I have read this year.. I will look for more by him.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #3306 on:** June 28, 2012, 08:36:12 AM »

John Hart is new to me, Judy, but I will look for him.. Sounds as if you are Mother Courage to the residents of Fairwinds. Is that where you lived for a while??

Babi · « **Reply #3307 on:** June 28, 2012, 08:46:25 AM »

Russian authors to tend to be sombre and tragic. I think it's related to living in
such a cold (most of the year) land. Not enough sunlight. I see the same thing in
the Scandinavian writers.

Good for you, JUDY! You definitely earned that nap. Sounds like I definitely need to
add John Hart to my authors list, too.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3308 on:** June 28, 2012, 11:16:41 AM »

I see the John Hart books are adding to the list of books set in North Carolina!?!

salan · « **Reply #3309 on:** June 28, 2012, 04:54:50 PM »

I just finished Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe. About 1/4 of the way through; I realized that I had read it some time back. I went ahead and read it again and enjoyed it all over. I do like her writing. I am now on the waiting list for her latest--Beach House Memories. It is a prequel to Beach House. I just checked out Maine, but haven't started it yet and I am trying to read Adam and Eve by Naslund. The latter is my ftf selection for July. So far I am not enjoying it at all and may not finish it. Anybody read anything really good (not non fiction) lately??
Sally

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3310 on:** June 28, 2012, 08:14:14 PM »

Loved Beach House! And i believe there was a sequel?

Jean

jeriron · « **Reply #3311 on:** June 28, 2012, 10:19:57 PM »

The beach house. Then beach memories and the third is Swimming Lessons.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3312 on:** June 29, 2012, 02:42:10 AM »

What is the Beach House about (apart from a beach house, that is....

?

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #3313 on:** June 29, 2012, 10:07:22 AM »

Rosemary, she writes about the south. Generally around Sullivans Island.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3314 on:** June 29, 2012, 11:11:45 AM »

I would say the theme of BH is parent -child relationships, especially mother-dgt relationship. I thought it was a well-written, lovely story of how adult relationships being parents and children can be enlightening to both, without being schmaltzy. It is set on an island off the Carolinas. Don't confuse it w/ James Patterson's Beach House, very different book.

salan · « **Reply #3315 on:** June 29, 2012, 06:10:44 PM »

Rosemary, Mary Alice Monroe never disappoints me! Beach House is a great light read, but the story has substance. Throw in information about loggerhead turtles and environmental issues and you have a great summer read.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #3316 on:** June 30, 2012, 08:43:27 AM »

I am not overfond of her, but a lot of people are. I prefer Pat Conroy for the area she covers.
Anne Rivers Seddon is also in that area.

bellemere · « **Reply #3317 on:** June 30, 2012, 07:59:57 PM »

My actor trained DIL has been hired to read and record audiobooks. she is currently reading a Harlequin novel. She said it is so bad,particularly the sex parts that she is embarrassed reading them with the producer in the control room, along with his sixteen year old intern. She doesn't want her own name on the work and is trying to think of a pen name. Someone suggested taking the name of you first pet, plus the name of the street you grew up on to make a pen name. She would be: PomPom Route 47, after her cat and the rural road in Massachusetts where she gre up. I would be "Tiny Brookside", my daughters would be Bootsi Eger. My grandson would be Missy Dartmouth.
Do tyou think the heat is getting to me? What would your pen name be?
she is hoping she will get an Edith Wharton or something similar for her next book.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3318 on:** July 01, 2012, 02:26:47 AM »

Oh goodness, mine would be Topsy Bromley, Topsy being my first and late lamented hamster!!!

Your DIL's experience reminds me of the porn filming scenes in 'Love Actually', in which the lovely Martin Freeman actually strikes up a romantic relationship with the actress he's having to pretend to cavort naked with. It's sweet (not the porn, the ensuing relationship.) However, like your DIL I would be mortified - but well done her on getting the job. As you say, hope she gets something a bit tamer next time (and not Fifty Shades of .... - there is a good spoof of that going round on Twitter, 'Fifty Sheds of Grey')

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #3319 on:** July 01, 2012, 09:44:25 AM »

My husband did a lot of voiceovers and then recording of books. He took his nickname and then his middle name as his last name.. Worked for us. YOu could not find us in the telephone listings that way. Very common in radio.

News:

Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776389 times)