Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 774994 times)

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4280 on:** January 14, 2013, 11:40:30 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

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4281 on:** January 14, 2013, 11:41:35 PM »

Jeanne Tight budgets is probably the culprit but at least you know it is well read and there are lots of folks who enjoyed the story and you are sharing in that experience.

Steph · « **Reply #4282 on:** January 15, 2013, 06:05:30 AM »

They generally don't replace library books unless they are checked out a lot.. Since our Friends of Library has used book sales, we give our librarians first pick on new books as they come in... They take quite a few of them and it helps keep their buying down. They also take all of the DVD's we get and many of the cd's as well. Almost all of the childrens books.. Our childrens librarian uses them in many ways..We have a lot of people who seem to get every single best seller in hardback and then donate it to us when they finish reading.Always amazing the number of best sellers.

JeanneP · « **Reply #4283 on:** January 15, 2013, 06:38:09 PM »

The only thing is, this one even has some of the pages Scotch taped. Has written on there. Torn and dirty. I have read the book years ago. This is more of a soft back were the other was hard back.
Think will just ask them to see if another one available.
they have a book sale about every 2 months and I know they would not even put this book in it. Could be a mistake it being still out there

Steph · « **Reply #4284 on:** January 16, 2013, 06:04:25 AM »

Yes, the book sounds as if somehow it got left behind.. I am reading Dearie, The Julia Child biography.. and Heads in Bed ( I think Ginny had mentioned it. I am enjoying it up to a point). So no fiction, but may add in one, since Dearie is slow going. Good, but wordy.

marjifay · « **Reply #4285 on:** January 17, 2013, 11:57:07 AM »

In another book group they were describing some books they wanted to read. It occurred to me that there are some descriptions of books that make me yawn and turn me off instantly:

"charming book"
"lovely little book"
"coming of age story"

Do you have descriptions that turn you off?

Marj

Babi · « **Reply #4286 on:** January 17, 2013, 05:24:21 PM »

'coming of age story' is a turn-off for me as well. I really don't want to read about teenage
angst anymore. "Steamy" is another cue to me for 'forget it'. And any topic about which
I have already seen dozens of books and/or films, and am sincerely tired of it. Or, of
course, any subject in which I have absolutely no interest.

Steph · « **Reply #4287 on:** January 18, 2013, 06:20:57 AM »

Oh me, yesterday I picked up another Stewart O'Nan.. Snow Angels.. Spent the day off and on reading it. Not a long book..But a good one. So different, but then he is one of those authors, who does not revisit, but goes ahead. I liked it, even though I got the cold shudders at the end.. Understood it, but lamented. Still I liked it. He is one of those authors , that I am searching for every book he has ever written..

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4288 on:** January 18, 2013, 11:51:00 AM »

Re: our discussion about "free will", the sample audio book today from LearnoutLoud is "Willpower:our greatest strength" These authors say we have strong will to do as we do, apparently......

http://www.learnoutloud.com/Audio-Books/Self-Development/Goals/Willpower/45294?utm_source=FROTD&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Free%2BResource%20of%20the%20Day

The free audio book today is "Iron Will" from the early 20th century, i believe.

http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video/Business/Strategy/Iron-Will/37599?utm_source=FROTD&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Free%2BResource%20of%20the%20Day

Jean

jane · « **Reply #4289 on:** January 18, 2013, 03:43:54 PM »

Descriptions that turn me off...."coming of age," "steam of consciousness," "shows / describes the human condition." As Babi said, I taught in a high school for 30+ years...I've had all the teenage angst I can stomach up close and personal; I don't care to read the meanderings of someone's warped mind, or read about what I see on the tv news nightly or read in a newspaper.

I'm too old to waste my time being depressed by what, for me, should be pure enjoyment and entertainment.

JeanneP · « **Reply #4290 on:** January 18, 2013, 08:46:30 PM »

Started reading"Free Will" last night as it is a small book. Lost interest real quick. Sort of like Jane. I skip a lot of what is in the paper anymore. Don't listen to most of the News, its depressing. (That is all they seem to want to report on.). Tired of hearing about and them showing Starving people. MOst women pregnant and have lots of children hanging on them

I still believe if in all countries birth control would be one of the first things taught along with the 3 Rs then lots of the problems could be taken care of. I never see them asking for donations in order to supply or teach that. Someone now asking so can buy Uniforms and open schools for children in Africa.

Steph · « **Reply #4291 on:** January 19, 2013, 06:16:31 AM »

stream of consciousnesss.. Not that is a turnoff for me.. It tends to be disjointed, undisciplined and not my cup of tea. I have picked a few charities.. Second Harvest Food bank locally is a good one. They buy food in bulk and then distribute it to others,, small payments.. I think my money goes further than the smaller individual charities that cook and serve food. Then I give to a Corgi Aid, that helps homeless corgi and corgi types get well enough to be adopted. I also volunteer a the library,, the Sunshine Corgi Rescue and last year, I started making loans to Kiva, which is interesting..

Babi · « **Reply #4292 on:** January 19, 2013, 10:48:04 AM »

Hear, Hear!, JANE. I'm with you on that 100%.

I agree, JEANNE. Unfortunately, external birth controls are generally out of the
reach of the poor, while timely abstinence is not popular with the men...to say
the least.

maryz · « **Reply #4293 on:** January 19, 2013, 11:41:57 AM »

Steph, what is "Kiva"? We support three local charities - the local food bank, Chattanooga Room in the Inn (women's shelter), and the Community Kitchen (local support and shelter for the homeless).

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4294 on:** January 19, 2013, 01:55:00 PM »

Jane as a former high school teacher also, i agree!!!

PatH · « **Reply #4295 on:** January 19, 2013, 09:26:22 PM »

Jane--former high school teacher? No wonder you're so patient with me when I goof up.

jane · « **Reply #4296 on:** January 19, 2013, 10:16:23 PM »

Steph · « **Reply #4297 on:** January 20, 2013, 06:26:34 AM »

Kiva is interesting. An old friend has been doing it for some years. Google it.. It is small loans to people all over the world to start up small industry of various types. 25.00 is the minimum. Then they pay you back and you can reloan the money over and over.. You can be very specific about what you want to loan the money for..They send you updates as you get paid back.. A good many of them need a lot of small loans to start. My Kiva loan is a woman in Mongolia in a small town. She wanted to start a store selling clothing.. She has paid me two small amounts thus far.. I really like helping people start small at home type businesses.

Babi · « **Reply #4298 on:** January 20, 2013, 08:52:08 AM »

I've heard of such projects, STEPH, and think it is a great idea. Helping people become
independent and self-supporting is a major step forward. And as a former businesswoman
yourself, this idea would be especially appealing to you.
Another outreach similar to it, which I have donated to whenevery I could, is sending
people in poverty areas such things as seeds, animals, and building water wells. With
such resources, they can feed and support themselves. These are the kind of goals that
seem to me to be the first step forward. Once they are not starving, the second priority
imo would be education.

maryz · « **Reply #4299 on:** January 20, 2013, 11:27:30 AM »

I love that kind of ideas, too, Steph and Babi.

JoanK · « **Reply #4300 on:** January 20, 2013, 03:28:37 PM »

Steph: I'm very interested in those loans. I started to give one through a website that I got from "Half the Sky." But they asked for my computer password, and I didn't want to give it, so backed out. Did you have any trouble?

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4301 on:** January 20, 2013, 05:16:50 PM »

I'm starting "Shaman" the second in the Cole trilogy by Noah Gordon. The first 50 pages have been good.

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #4302 on:** January 21, 2013, 06:28:11 AM »

Try the Kiva website. I have a friend who has been doing this for some years and has had no problems. but no one asked for my password, so I would be careful about that for sure.
I loved looking at all of the people who were looking for small amounts. They put your money together with other loaners to make up the amount.. Unless of course you want to finance the whole thing, which you can do as well.
Yes, I have done the seeds and animals.. I like Samaratans Purse

Babi · « **Reply #4303 on:** January 21, 2013, 09:18:16 AM »

WorldVision.org is another good one.

Steph · « **Reply #4304 on:** January 22, 2013, 06:28:59 AM »

I generally buy something like chickens in the name of my grandchildren.. My grandson loves the idea and wanted to name the chickens.. but I told him, they would belong to another little boy and that seemed to make him content.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4305 on:** January 22, 2013, 06:32:20 AM »

We once bought an Oxfam goat in the name of my husband's extremely wealthy and spoilt nephews. The youngest - and most spoilt - one didn't get it at all (even though he was at school by then, not a baby) and kept demanding "But where's MY goat?" (My sister-in-law actually told us once, with pride, that these boys 'count their presents and know who hasn't sent one.')

I wanted my husband to order them an Oxfam chemical toilet the following year, but he chickened out

maryz · « **Reply #4306 on:** January 22, 2013, 08:38:18 AM »

Rosemarykaye -

Well done!

Babi · « **Reply #4307 on:** January 22, 2013, 09:40:39 AM »

I'm with you, ROSEMARY! It's a shame, though, to see kids spoiled like that, especially
when it's pretty clear the parent(s) are at fault, and haven't a clue. I wonder how their
mother would react if you were so obliging as to give her son a goat?

Frybabe · « **Reply #4308 on:** January 22, 2013, 09:50:45 AM »

Good for you, Rosemarykaye.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #4309 on:** January 22, 2013, 11:53:38 AM »

Translate please: Oxfam?

Frybabe · « **Reply #4310 on:** January 22, 2013, 11:55:13 AM »

http://www.oxfam.org/

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4311 on:** January 22, 2013, 01:04:07 PM »

Sorry - Oxfam is a charity that works in the third world. It's very well known here, and it was originally founded in Oxford in response to a threatened famine in Greece in the 1940s. These days it works internationally and has charity shops in most high streets. It also has a huge mail order business and you can buy 'gifts' like goats, etc whereby the goat goes to people who need one, and the person here gets a card saying that you've done that in place of giving them a present. I once bought a cataract operation for a third world person and gave the card to my mother, who had just had hers done courtesy of the National Health Service. She thought it was a great idea.

Rosemary

JeanneP · « **Reply #4312 on:** January 22, 2013, 06:32:02 PM »

Oxfam. One of the first places I go to when in UK. Great one in the Village were my family live. Lots of wealthy people in the area and so can find good things. Last there I picked up Old beer Steins that my grandson collects. For myself a Silver tea service set. Had wanted one for ages. Just like the ones used in the big Hotels. Like new. My daughter was with me this time and thought it was a new clothing store. The clothing all hanging like it is one. In fact I have decided that next trip I am not going to bother with big luggage. Just a few thing and then hit the Oxfam for what I need. On leaving will just wash and give them back to the store.
The part I hate now on traveling is the baggage problem. Cost way to much in the US. Spent about 70 each way last flight I took. If want that on Intl. I can buy at Oxfam for less. and not have to carry.

Steph · « **Reply #4313 on:** January 23, 2013, 06:25:41 AM »

Sounds like agood idea if you know where stores are where you are going.Otherwise it wont work though. I have not been overseas in the last year, but last year, there was no extra charge on overseas flights as long as you were under the 50 pound limit.. I bought a new extra light suitcase and it worked fine.

Babi · « **Reply #4314 on:** January 23, 2013, 09:35:58 AM »

A cataract operation! What a brilliant idea, ROSEMARY. I don't think I've ever run across that option. Of course there are many health clinics, etc. that one can donate to, but I love the idea of being able to give your mother such a thoughtful gift.

Another great idea, JEANNE. What an imaginative solution to the luggage problem. I no longer attempt to travel, but I've only seen one airline advertising that they still transport luggage the old way. I don't know what routes that particular airline uses, tho'. I know we can get it here, but I'm not sure whether they have overseas flights.

JeanneP · « **Reply #4315 on:** January 23, 2013, 03:19:00 PM »

As I always use my Family as a Home Base when in the UK. another way of doing luggage now is that one can mail it from here to the address you are going. What is the Big company. I usually use United Parcel here on my packages. I do believe that they do it also.
I didn't realize that until I saw a young man in there sending his suitcase by them into Europe.
Now I hear that lots of people doing it just traveling in the States. That is were the price of checking luggage is the Highest.
Airlines now making more profit on that than on the Airline tickets.

maryz · « **Reply #4316 on:** January 23, 2013, 05:00:30 PM »

We fly Southwest whenever we can - no charge for one bag, if it's under the weight limit.

Steph · « **Reply #4317 on:** January 24, 2013, 06:19:14 AM »

The few times I used Southwest, I ended up in a middle seat, since you could not at that point reserve a specific seat.. So I don't use them any more.
I am plugging along with Dearie.. The author is one of those.. every breath they take sort of authors, so I skim along, especially with parts that I have read about elsewhere. Still I like it.

maryz · « **Reply #4318 on:** January 24, 2013, 09:52:35 AM »

Steph, you still can't reserve a specific seat, but when you check in online 24 hours ahead of your flight, you get a boarding number, and you choose your seat when you get on the plane. We usually manage to get in the first group to board, and almost always get aisle seats. As with most things, it's what works for "you".

JeanneP · « **Reply #4319 on:** January 24, 2013, 02:01:01 PM »

Don't see any way of using Southwest Airlines from this area of Illinois.

News:

Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 774994 times)