Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2

[Babi]

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

   This might be a good time to find some new interest, STEPH.  Is there
any volunteer work you might be interested in? Something you would like to learn how to do?  Some old activity you'd like to resume?  Quite
a few possibilities for someone who's feeling restless and looking for
something to occupy her mind.  Happy hunting!

[Steph]

Florida at this time of year is not into volunteer work or clubs.. It will start up again in late August or September. I did try to volunteer at the library. but they only want childrens room volunteers and I simply do not want to deal with small spoiled children. I love my own grandchildren, but have never been a child person.
Cant volunteer at the hospital. Just not quite ready for hospitals.. Too vivid a memory.
I am going to volunteer at the genealogy part of the library in the fall.. I love genealogy and work at that . However ours is tiny and not at all complete.
I look at the volunteer lists each time they come out.. But most of them are not anywhere close to me.. So.. whine whine whine.. I know.. but I am really looking and thinking. A local animal rescue is almost done with their no kill shelter and I talked to someone about volunteering there. I am better with animals than people.

[Babi]

 I spend a lot of time on Animal Planet on TV.  A new animal shelter opened near
me recently, but I decided it's best to stay away.  I don't think I could leave without taking on another pet, and with vet bills what they are I can't handle more
than the two cats I have now.  I have enough trouble remaining firm about not
feeding the wee beggars that come around here.  (I don't believe they are homeless, no matter how pathetically they mew.  They look too clean and well.)

[mrssherlock]

My  two cats arrive at the kitchen every day at 4:30 even though they know feeding time is 6 and 6; woke up my son this morning at 4!  This in spite of two feeding bowls with one cup each of their dry food!  Since they are indoor cats they don't have access to neighbors, plus neither of them mews. The one that doesn't purr is practically a slut, demanding petting when he wants it.  Not spoiled a bit.

[Steph]

As long as the shelter is a no kill, I should be fine. They seem to specialize on hunting type long legged large dogs and I have two corgi.. which is the limit in my townhouse community. Besides it is hard to walk more than two dogs at once. I have done it, but dont really like it.

[Babi]

Tell me about it, JACKIE.  One of my two cats expects personal service,
 sort of a "Tell me that you love me" performance. He wants to be escorted to his bowl, and see my hand actually crunching, or sprinkling, or whatever.  He will ignore the food in his bowl while he butts at my feet for that personal service.  I don't know if he's spoiled or terribly
needy!

  Walking dogs is probably one of the volunteer services.  They are
supposed to get some daily exercise.  If they are long-legged hunting
dogs,  be ready to trot!   

[mrssherlock]

Babi:  A dog has an owner, a cat has a staff.  My sister is a dog owner, boxers, and she is impatient with the silliness of cat keepers.

[mabel1015j]

I'm w/ your sister, Jackie, I'm definitely a dog person, not a cat person. However, any animal that was waking me at 4am would be in danger of finding another home.................. ..............I am definitely NOT a morning person, either. ................. jean

[Steph]

I am a morning person, so the dogs do not bother me when they start moving about around 5-5:30 am.. They know this is when we get up.. If I raise my head and simply go..NO.. they settle back down. We are old together and that helps.

[Babi]

  True, Jackie.  But they are beautiful creatures, and have such distinct
personalities that they are a pleasure as well as, occasionally, a nuisance.  But then, that's true of any live-in companion, animal or human.   

[mrssherlock]

My two cats give me more pleasure than my two kids and I get unconditional love in return.  Such a deal.

[serenesheila]

When my daughter moved in with me, two months ago, she brought her 1 year old Yorkie, Isabella, with her.  I enjoy bpth dogs and cats.  One of her friends asked her about adopting a nine week old, kitten.  Her friend had found two kittens, and their mother, homeless, and has taken them in.  She has found a home for the female kitten, plans to keep the mother, and wants a home for the male kitten.

Today, we decided to try him for a week.  He is really beautiful.  I hope it works out.

Sheila

[mrssherlock]

Sheila:  I'll be pulling for you and the kitten.

[Steph]

Be patient.. Cats are much more a solitary creature than dogs..

[mabel1015j]

Our DIL had a cat when she married our son. I could live w/ her (the cat). When i'm over babysitting i never know she's around unless she wants to go out on the balcony then she goes to the door and meows. She's much less intrusive than our dog. Maybe i'm a "dog-person" because i've never lived w/ a cat........... ..............jean

[Steph]

I like all animals and have had a wide variety over the years. No cats just now, because when we traveled in the rv, did not want the litter box stuff. Dogs are a bit more complicated..But I cannot imagine my life without a dog.
Still reading the book written by an Englishwoman about reaching 60.. Interesting sort of nonsense in many ways..I do wonder if its true that the english no longer have to pay for presriptions at age 60.. That would be a wonderful thing.

[Babi]

 Since England has 'socialized' medicine, it may very well be true.  I am happy enough that a lot
of my taxes ceased at 65. 

[Gumtree]

I think it likely to be true. In Australia 'seniors' in possession of the means tested Health Care Card or whose sole income is the Government Pension are only charged a small fee to cover pharmacy dispensing costs and get the actual medication free.

[Steph]

The book which someone mentioned here that they bought in the dollar store is interesting although I simply cannot agree with a good deal of the what I dont want to do at 60.. But each to his own.

[Frybabe]

Thanks for the review, Steph. I started the book, but am only a few pages in. It is sitting by my bed in case I want to read something in bed which means I only ready a few paragraphs before nodding off or my cat intervenes. He places himself between me and the book and only moves after I turn the light off. Oh, yes, if I am still playing on the computer at 1:30am or after, he comes upstairs and gives me what for. It's time for bed MOM! Once I turn the computer off, he often goes back downstairs. So what is he - the lights out patrol? 

[marcie]

That's so funny, Frybabe. You've got a great companion :-)

[JoanK]

There seem to be a whole lot of books about what to do in old age, all written by people around 60 i.e. people who are guessing. Most of us know more about it than they do!

[mabel1015j]

Jackie - don't know when you put up the new "picture," but i just noticed it.......cute..........jean

[roshanarose]

Frybabe - Ahhhh Cats!  My cat just tolerates me living in "her" house.  As a matter of fact just the other day she suggested that I should start paying board / rent to her.

[Aberlaine]

Sally wrote: "I am currently reading "Arcadia Falls" by Carol Goodman and "Cutting for Stone" by Verghese.  Both are good so far.  I will read "Loving Frank" next for my ftf reading group.  Anyone have any feed back of these books?"

My book group read Loving Frank a few years ago.  The one woman who was "into" architecture was able to ignore Frank's idiosyncrasies and look at the talent.  I couldn't.  I disliked him immensely, which means, I guess, the book was well written.

Nancy

[Aberlaine]

My list of books I want is getting way out of hand. Ever since the accident, I am reading at about half the speed I used to. Still terribly hard to concentrate and sit still. I am so restless. I would guess looking for the man who is not here.
Also I realized the other day that planning for our rv trips and others took up a lot of our time. We searched the web, talked of areas, planned on rv parks or hotels.. Amazing.. when I think of the hours we investesd in travel. I would guess this was really our life.

It takes years to get "yourself" back, Steph, and then it's a new you.  I lost my husband ten years ago and it's only in the past several years that I can look back fondly.  Allow yourself lots of time to heal.
Hugs, Nancy

[Steph]

Thank you Nancy, you give me hope. I am still in the cry every day mode. I keep hoping that I can have memories without tears, but not yet.

[pedln]

The book which someone mentioned here that they bought in the dollar store is interesting although I simply cannot agree with a good deal of the what I dont want to do at 60.. But each to his own.

Steph, would you please email me the name of that book.  The daughter of a friend of mine turns 60 tomorrow, and I'd like to send her a review of some that touches on that.  Thanks.

[mabel1015j]

Just read a fun book. The Bride Will Keep Her Name by Jan Goldstein. The book was in the fiction section of the library, but i would call it a mystery. The author is male, but the protagonist is female. He does a good job writing from a female perspective.

His site is here:   http://www.jangoldstein.com/goldstein-bio.htm

It was an often humorous story about a woman who gets an e-mail msg a week before her wedding saying her groom is not who he appears to be. The best parts of the book are the interaction between the bride-to-be and her 2 best friends who have known each other since  childhood and will do anything for each other. The parents and in-laws to be are well drawn characters - in both senses of the word - also. I like it. I'll look for the other 2 books...................
 
June 29 - I copied the above post from the "mystery" site because i got two of Goldstein's other books at the library last night and i tho't you might want to know about them here, they are not mysteries.  I started "All That Matters" and read almost the whole 200 pages last night. It's a very different book, from The Bride.  It was his first book and got great reviews. I don't want to give any of the story away, so i'll just say it's a wonderful story about a grandmother who survived the holocaust and a 20-something granddgt who thru interesting circumstances have to live together after having been out of touch for a couple yrs.

Again JG does an amazing job of writing women's tho'ts and voices. I highly recommend it. There is a lot of discussion about death and dying - but not in the least depressing.  The grandmother has a wonderful philosophy of life that she learned from the woman who hide her as a thirteen yr old from the Nazis

The third book looks like it will be entirely different again. The title is something about Nantucket, it's upstairs and i have forgotten exactly what it is..............I will, of course, let you know what i think of it..........

June 30 - I LOVED "All That Matters." Finished it last night. Some may consider the ending schmaltzy - I might have been one of those, except JG does a great job of including humor at just the right moments. For any of us who have experienced depression and/or lose, or longed for a great realtionship w/ a grandparent/parent, this provides a lot of food for thought. .....................it is interesting to me that the reader reviews are all over the place. Some think the writing is great - i'm one of those - others think it's terrible...............uuuummm wonder why that is. ................anyway, i tho't it was a great story told in just 200 pages..........sorry this got so long....................jean

[mrssherlock]

Garden Spells by  Sarah Addison Allen, is a light little book, sort of a small r romance, but fun.  Pretty good premise with just enough suspense, in the sense of what'll happen next, not in the frighten-the-reader sense.  http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/sarah-addison-allen/garden-spells.htm

[Steph]

Book by Virginia Ironside... No, I dont want to join a book club, diary of a 60th year.
I finished it. She is very very english and urban, so her idea of 60 and ours will simply not computer. But it is interesting in part.. This author writes a column in London..

[Tomereader1]

"No, I don't Want to Join A Book Club" was not at all the read I thought it was going to be.  Let me just say "disappointed".  Didn't know it was so incredibly "English", and yes Steph, our ideas of 60 don't quite match up to hers.

[pedln]

Thanks Steph and Tomereader.  I'll go check this out on the Internet somewhere before I send my birthday greetings.

[JoanP]

Please forgive me for running this PBS promotion again, but the programming is scheduled to begin in a little over a week, and I have many FREE copies of Agatha Christie's book to give away.  Can't figure out what to do with the extras.  Can you think of anyone who might like to receive a copy?

Come July, PBS is celebrating A Christie's 120 birthday - with PRESENTS for all -

We know you have seen film productions of "Murder on the Orient Express" - but how many have actually read the book?  If you are interested in receiving a free copy of the book (except for some postage), please email me your full name and mailing address and I'll get it off to you as long as the supply lasts.  My email address is jonkie@verizon.net.

[mabel1015j]

I haven't read a Stephen Birmingham book in a long time. I picked up Shades of Fortune at the library just for fun. It's his typical NYC Jewish family who owns a cosmetic company and there's a lot family squabble going on.......... i'll let you know if i like it in the end... .........jean

[mrssherlock]

Sarah Addison Allen writes of young southern damsels in some distress facing difficult decisions which become more complicated when they gather into the mix a young, to-die-for male who hangs around.  Not your typical Romance and with a touch of Fae, she places her heroines in unusual milieus where the reader is never sure of her footing.  I loved the first, Garden Secrets as did my cousin who recommended it to me.  My daughter loved it too, read it in one sitting.  The Sugar Queen is her second and again I am enthralled.  These are light Summer reads with Allen's unique twist to character and plot.  Five stars.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/sarah-addison-allen/

[salan]

Jackie, I loved Garden Spells.  I recently read The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon.  I enjoyed both, but not nearly as much as Garden Spells.
Sally

[Steph]

I had great fun with Too Big to Miss by Sue Ann Jaffarian.. Sort of a cross between a novel and a mystery and fun.. Also has a sort of subliminal message on wheelchair bound and also heavier humans.. Interesting. Will look for the rest of her stuff.

[Judy Laird]

I will look for The Garden Spells sounds good.

I just read an enteresting book by  Richard Russo called That Old Cape Magic.
I was not a funny book for the most part but I LOL at the ending. Good book.
I will look up Garden Spells now on my kindle

[jane]

We had a good discussion here last year, led by Traude, on That Old Cape Magic.  I, too, found it an interesting book and enjoyed hearing the views of the others in the book discussion.  We're going to Cape Cod in Sept. so it was neat to learn the names of some of the area, etc.

jane