Random books from WholeHouseLibrary's library
The New Growing the Messembs by Ed Storms
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Johnny Depp: A Modern Rebel by Brian J. Robb
Thomas Wolfe: A Biography by Andrew Turnbull
Eros: The God of Love in Legend and Art by Irene Korn
How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read by Pierre Bayard
The Treasures of Galveston Bay: The first complete collection of the facts and legends of every buried treasure known t by Carroll Lewis
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Friends: amancine, andyray, britalcast, Child_of_Light, citygirl, ijkahn, jillmwo, Jodyreadseverything, TeenAuthor
LibraryThing authors: Jonathon Green (abecedary), Lisa McMann (lisamcmann), Larry Portzline (lportzline), Paul Sloane (Laretal), Carl Zimmer (cwzimmer)
Member: WholeHouseLibrary
Library1,713 books — see library
Reviews9 reviews — see reviews
Cloudstag cloud, author cloud
TagsNon-fiction (430), Biography (263), Reference (224), Books about Books (180), Science (176), Fiction (166), Essays (150), Religion (121), eBook (119) — see all tags
GroupsAdirondacks and beyond, Arthurian Legends, Atheism and humanism, Atheists review books, Austinites, Banned Books, Board for Extreme Thing Advances, Book Arts, Book Care and Repair, Book Collectors — show all groups
Favorite authorsDouglas Adams, Isaac Asimov, Nicholas A. Basbanes, Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen R. Donaldson, Anne Fadiman, Stephen Jay Gould, Helene Hanff, O. Henry, Garrison Keillor, Frank McCourt, Thomas Paine, Mark Twain (Shared favorites)
Favorite bookstoresBarnes & Noble Booksellers - Arboretum, Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Round Rock, BookPeople, Borders - Westgate Marketplace, Borders Books at The Domain, Follett's Intellectual Property, Half Price Books - North Lamar, Half Price Books - Parmer Lane, Half Price Books - Round Rock, Hastings, Sue's Book Exchange
Favorite librariesHarry Ransom Center, Round Rock Public Library, The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
Other favoritesTexas Book Festival
About me "Us", really. She's a Librarian and I live vicariously as a Librarian through her. In my other life, I do contract coding and some book restoration work. Our mutual interests are (in general) the Humanities and Natural Sciences. If you look at our catalog, you'll see that it's not limited to just those categories. Okay, lately, MrsHouseLibrary has deep-ended over teen vampire romance books, but I'm sure it's just a passing phase, and she'll get on with her life soon enough -- I hope. We're each very much interested in whatever the other happens to 'discover', reading or otherwise. "Spare time" activities include music, museums, antique stores, coffee shops, rock shops, and delving into craft-related activities. Diane Setterfield summed us up fairly nicely in her book The Thirteenth Tale -- "In the background is the hiss of the gas heater; we hear the sound without hearing it for, side by side, together and miles apart, we are deep in our books."
Currently Reading:
(He) -- How to Read a Book and Truth and Consequences: Special Comments on the Bush Administration's War on American Values


(She) -- Eclipse and Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, Book 4) and All Together Dead



Some books I have read recently:
The Art of Reading Poetry
The Trouble with Poetry: And Other Poems
Cavender's House
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Child that Books Built
A Princess of Mars
Mr. Brisher's Treasure
Fatal Revenant
The Runes of Earth
46 Pages
Missionary Position
You Can't Read This
American Bookplates
84 Charing Cross Road
At Large and At Small
The Laws of Simplicity
The Word Museum
Book by Book
About my library The name says it all! My wife and I have bookshelves in every room of our house -- 2 stories (the house, I mean), 4 bedrooms, LR, DR, Kitchen. We added 6 large bookshelves a bit over a year ago, and they're almost full! There aren't any books on the floor or chairs anymore, though. I thought it would tide us over until my youngest son left for college, but he's enrolled in online classes, and his friends have yet to commit on renting an apartment together. Once he's out, he's not getting the option of moving back home again -- we've got plans for that room. It will be the Harrell J Odom Memorial Reading Room, named after her late father and author. We are getting an additional 800 books and 12 shelves from his private library in the very near future. I'm hoping it will coincide with my son's We're in the process (now, finally) of sorting our books according to the Dewey Decimal System. Each room will be dedicated to a different, or a couple of, depending, major section(s) of the DDS. Right now, since we've moved so many books around, I have to re-establish their current location. A cataloger's work is never done...
Ask us about the Library Hotel sometime.
LocationRound Rock, Texas
Account typepublic, lifetime
Connection NewsConnection News
URLs
http://www.librarything.com/profile/WholeHouseLibrary (profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/WholeHouseLibrary (library)
Member sinceNov 25, 2006

Comments from other LibraryThing-ers
(Leave a comment.)
posted by fleela at 8:18 am (EST) on Jul 18, 2008
Fortran! You clever guy. I speak it fluently, too, although I prefer Fortran 66 to Fortran 77 with all those nasty if-then-else nests. Give me a clean DO loop or IF(something) 100,200,300.
I really enjoy reading your stories in the various threads.
See you around, karenmarie
posted by karenmarie at 6:38 am (EST) on Jul 17, 2008
I'm so glad you got nosy, the URL is there for that reason. I started my site because my father was always talking about wanting to know where his family came from, I didn't listen as I was just a stupid teenager. Then he died just when I was the right age to understand how important it was to him. Also history is my area, it makes it so much more real when I can picture my ancestors living through events much like I do each day. The economy, disasters, elections ect...
If you ever want to start on your family history, it isn't all that hard to just start asking questions. Write the answers someplace safe, and save for all who come later on. You might not have the time now, but newer generations and/or distant cousins might, any resource can help. This year I taped a couple interviews with my mother and put them on YouTube, the few family members who have seen them are thrilled to see her and listen to her memories. Now my mother is in a rest home, I don't know if she will be able to do anymore interviews but I wish I had done more. This is what I am talking about, just save your stories so that someone else can work from that. I wish I had something real to start with, I like you found that most had been hidden from me, or false stories.
I read the later Harry Potter books like you all day. I think they are the exceptions to normal reading. Right now I am struggling with my school books for fall classes. Two are on Nationalism one on the French Revolution another on Asian history, and both I have put back down as I was just lost. How frustrating, can't people write so that we really want to read. JKR should give lessons to these dry historians on how to write so we can't put the book down.
Take your time with the review, just don't forget to remind me when you are finished. Last night I found my "home page" for LT where it shows me what you and other "interesting libraries" have recently entered and reviewed. Too cool, but I think I might need to avoid that area as it is too distracting from the reading I should be doing. The Internet is a curse as well as amazing!
Susan
posted by sgerbic at 12:40 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2008
Susan
posted by sgerbic at 1:16 am (EST) on Jul 2, 2008
posted by Jim53 at 8:38 pm (EST) on Jun 24, 2008
Just wanted to say that.. Dramamine works, too...
How are you doing? I am hoping well.. I read some of the other comments and it
looks like you have a new job!? yay! Do you like it?
I have been crazy busy with my daughters wedding and reception and finishing the school year, I have spent way too much time today online. ( oops!)
Anyway.. just thinking of you and thought to say so..
kath
posted by mckait at 5:49 pm (EST) on May 24, 2008
posted by fairygrl at 3:51 pm (EST) on May 15, 2008
posted by andyray at 12:00 am (EST) on May 15, 2008
I wonder why you do not review your books, one of the best features on LT is this ability to quickly see what others think about a book.
I was also interested to see the book groups that you joined, I hadn't found this feature yet and so was amazed to see Atheist book clubs. I have joined one and posted already since your profile pointed me in this direction.
I have books everywhere in my home, just not to the extent that you have. I can see my collection growing now that I can list them, but I think I am becoming choosier and actually letting go of books I know I will never look at again. The Internet makes it so much easier to find information than ever before. I am also finding that I just can't find places to read in my house anymore, I didn't seem to need good lighting before, and have purchased my first pair of reading glasses a few months ago. (I'm 45 and resisted as long as possible) My older son, Caspian seems to be absorbing many of my history books into his collection I noticed when I started listing my books. I suppose when he moves away my collection will reduce even more.
Susan
posted by sgerbic at 11:16 pm (EST) on May 14, 2008
Susan
posted by sgerbic at 4:59 pm (EST) on May 14, 2008
:o)
posted by clamairy at 7:28 am (EST) on May 1, 2008
posted by passy at 6:52 pm (EST) on Apr 25, 2008
Re the link: those people make my obsession with all things dog seem comparatively normal. What is it about book people & cats? I am not a cat person. I prefer pets who sometimes do what you tell them. My golden is perfect, of course. He goes almost everywhere I do & is a welcome house guest. He & I both adore manhattan & shopping! It's one of the few places that encourages you to bring your dog along to shop. We are regulars in all the Madison Ave stores, Bloomie's & Bergdorf's, of course. After being rather isolated here in the boonies, it's a welcome change to be back in the crowds of friendly faces for both of us. Am working on getting a place there again. Have a pretty good lead; fingers crossed!
So, how do you & your wife prepare for such a sudden move? Has to take a mastermind of organization. I've been to Austin once & really liked it. It must be difficult to leave. Best of luck . Judie
posted by passy at 8:03 am (EST) on Apr 25, 2008
I love having the goldens here & normally could sail through it, but had a touch of the flu for a few days & it drained my usual boundless energy. All back now, thank goodness.
Gee, with your lack of singing ability, too bad we don't live closer-I could play the piano to accompany you so no one would notice how bad you are because they'd be hanging waiting for me to hit the next note! Gotta run to play with the boys. The weather is idyllic 70 degrees, sunny & a light wind. They've been out most of the day. This is dog central & another one is coming with his owner for dinner tonight. Just made Cointreau flavored zabaglione for dessert-yum! Judie
posted by passy at 4:08 pm (EST) on Apr 24, 2008
posted by passy at 9:50 am (EST) on Apr 24, 2008
posted by passy at 7:48 am (EST) on Apr 24, 2008
posted by passy at 5:46 pm (EST) on Apr 23, 2008
I'm planning to keep up with the diet habits to make sure my iron levels stay as they should be. Thank you once more. Jody :-)
posted by Jodyreadseverything at 6:19 am (EST) on Apr 11, 2008
posted by Bastian13 at 8:22 pm (EST) on Apr 9, 2008
posted by Bastian13 at 7:15 pm (EST) on Apr 9, 2008
My husband and I wrote the book several years ago, actually, but with the way LT is set up, it has been impossible until recently for me to be listed as co-author. As it is, the other (meager) copies of the book show up under my husband's name (Benjamin Mancine.)
It is not much of a book, truth be told, but I am inordinately proud of it, and I am just bowled over to think there is even a copy of it in THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. I swear the next time I am visiting my daughter, we are going to head down to D.C. so that I can request it. (Can one do that at the LOC?)
If we had any extra copies of the book, I would be delighted to send a signed copy to you and your lovely wife, but, alas, we just have the one copy right now.
I did not have to send any sort of proof of authorship to Tim or Abby - I guess they just trusted me.
Thanks for asking!
Anne
posted by amancine at 5:23 pm (EST) on Apr 8, 2008
Was thinking about your French exchange student. Do you think he ate a lot because of his family's deprivation during the war? Hanff's books brought that to light for me. Judie
posted by passy at 5:45 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2008
posted by passy at 8:25 am (EST) on Apr 7, 2008
Yeah, that was what my post was about. I am going to rearrange by genre and I wanted to know if LT could somehow calculate the shelf space needed for each 'tag.'
I deleted the post because it accidentally posted 3 times! I thought I left one there, but maybe I didn't...
Thanks for your answer...I think a spreadsheet like that is a future goal of mine...or, maybe LT will just add a feature like that!
I had a works database listing all the books I had when I left my parents' house for college...unfortunately 'ISBN' was not a field in it, so I had to start over when I found library thing!
posted by lilyfyrestorm at 10:51 am (EST) on Apr 4, 2008
Raising kids in a house full of books, as I'm sure you know, has its advantages. My circumstances are certainly not as dire as yours were, but it sounds like you guys got through it ok.
My wife is also suspicious of using family photos, which is why I stick to occult symbols and the occasional funny monkey picture. Tell your beloved that you are a nice looking couple!
posted by makifat at 11:47 am (EST) on Mar 27, 2008
Skokie is close to Evanston which has the Northwestern campus and lots of apartments and the train line shoots over to it (The Skokie Swift)so if you have trouble finding a good apartment in Skokie proper I'd try Evanston. In Chicago I often look in The Chicago Reader for apartments but I don't know if they have listings for the suburbs. Skokie is a pretty nice suburb as suburbs go- good access to public transportation and it was (and still is)one of the traditionally Jewish neighborhoods so there are still some excellent bagel shops. There is a nice bike trail and actual canoeing on the Chicago river up there too.
There are some apartment search organizations. In Chicago there is one called apartment people but again I don't know if they serve the suburbs. You might try the listings on Chicago craiglsit and then widen it for the suburbs because I think they have listings for the whole Chicagoland area. There are some websites like apartments.com but I don't know how good they are. If you have a car with you it will make things easier as apartments close to public transportation generally fetch a higher price.
I'd avoid apartments on Howard because it is a big street and there is a lot of traffic. If you have a certain street address send it to me and I'll tell you if I know anything about it.
We're carless at the moment so I haven't been in Skokie much lately but you'll have to let me know when you arrive and perhaps my husband and I can meet you for dinner.
Maren
posted by Marensr at 11:53 am (EST) on Mar 14, 2008
Take care of yourself. You are a kind, decent man.
posted by xorscape at 8:00 pm (EST) on Mar 4, 2008
I hardly know what to say except that I am so glad that they were wrong. Keep proving them wrong. I am almost 55.. will be in may. That is not a good time to go if you can help it, I am thinking. I am also glad that you have a great doctor who understands alternative and complimentary medicine. That is surely the best of both worlds. Have you had acupuncture? It is wonderful. I used to work for an holistic vet, and I saw many wonderful things. Animals have no preconceived notions..so if something helps them... clearly it will help us too? so I believe, anyway.
I had to laugh at your rant about corporate America. I so agree!As the wife of an ex Steelworker in the Ohio Valley.. We lost our home and a way of life... we moved... to find work. He then went to Domino Sugar in the Boston area. After three years, march 1 1988 they told the workers that they were closing their doors n march 31. They did, Thanks to Merril Lynch who had bought the company. We moved back to the Pittsburgh area, and he went to work for USAirways. HA! Guess what? Yep.. Almost lost a second house after 9/11. So much for the American Dream?
I have worked too.. once the kids were older and in school.. but of course my pay was supplemental not our living wage.
I was glad to see you say that death doesn't scare you. We have stories too. and my belief system is that we go on. I truly believe that. Still... even though you will be in a different and better place, theose who love you will miss you, so I hope that you will be here for them for a long while.. Beat that 60 yr old thing in your family! You should put that book together.. but if you don't.. how wonderful that you are leaving your stories for your kids.
As for why your library is interesting. . . first of all.. most are to a book lover. It is very eclectic..I like that. I read all sorts of things too.. do not stick to one or two genre... and to me, that is the way to go. So much to learn, be entertained by, experience. It is good to have so many different authors...etc. Also I am awed by the thought of putting a home library in DDS order. great idea.. but thoroughly daunting!
I do know what you mean about looking at other peoples libraries making your wish list grow. I have a wish list and a shopping list at Amazon. A wish list at B&N..and a few in my head. And that blasted "kathleen's Amazon" thing on that site. So many books leading to so many more.
As for being a slow reader...that is not necessarily a bad thing. Yesterday, I read The Authenticator, and 90 minutes in Heaven .. ( serendipitous, considering other points of our conversations.. one is a novel, one is not) Now that is two books in one day. That makes my habit pretty expensive. Sometimes I put a book down and walk away intentionally... to "save" it. If I read slowly, I would still be reading them. Not partway into something new... they go too quickly!
Your description of a perfect reading day almost made me weep.. because I had to leave and go to work .. tomorrow will be just that sort of day...oh well..
A for looking over my catalog.. I may not have a lot of healing books in there.. I really have not put a lot of them in. They are upstairs, and I just haven't gotten there..
but if you do find any.. ask me about them... some are better than others. I do suggest Brian Weiss though.. Many Live Many Masters....not so much healing as... comforting... life changing, for some.
Mike.. I am so glad to meet you. and hope that we can stay in touch. I will be looking at back posts of GD as time allows. Work intrudes on my free time way too much! But even so.. keeping in touch is more fun than reading old posts..
you take care too.. and if its okay?
feel hugged
kath
posted by mckait at 7:22 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2008
I'm sorry to hear about your mother in law and I hope she gets better soon. You take care too. Jody
posted by Jodyreadseverything at 12:19 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2008
posted by xorscape at 1:01 pm (EST) on Feb 23, 2008
posted by OdetteOdile at 10:54 am (EST) on Feb 20, 2008
Anne
posted by amancine at 11:37 am (EST) on Jan 26, 2008
posted by MerryMary at 6:10 pm (EST) on Jan 24, 2008
Jill
posted by jillmwo at 6:32 pm (EST) on Jan 23, 2008
Thanks for your comment, I will certainly put a link into your group.
We are currently in the UWS, having relocated here from the south coast of England in 2006. Our time in NYC is drawing to a close, but we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here.
Louise
posted by fabrile-heart at 12:52 pm (EST) on Jan 15, 2008
great post
posted by NativeRoses at 12:40 pm (EST) on Jan 14, 2008
posted by OldSarge at 8:33 am (EST) on Dec 29, 2007
posted by dodger at 6:04 pm (EST) on Dec 15, 2007
posted by timspalding at 12:44 pm (EST) on Dec 4, 2007
I saw that you posted on a Librarians Who LibraryThing discussion that you print catalog cards from Excel data. I've been trying to do the same thing and haven't been able to. Any pointers?
posted by RHLib at 3:52 pm (EST) on Oct 23, 2007
Can you tell me whether its style is closer to the first or to the second chronicles? I must admit I found the second chronicles a bit verbose.
posted by Amtep at 1:47 am (EST) on Oct 12, 2007
posted by MerryMary at 8:55 am (EST) on Oct 9, 2007
now I face a difficult decision, do I spend my time improving my English or have fun in the "person below me" talk. Reading the description of your house and the books in it, it seems, that we are sort of your European counterpart from Switzerland. This was written on a Saturday, never mind. (hm, that looks better, I agree)
posted by diwan at 3:37 pm (EST) on Oct 6, 2007
Right now we have a whole apartment library but we hope to graduate to the house version some day.
I think the best libraries are ones that intersect but have lots of different things as well- how else can one find good recommendations for new books.
posted by Marensr at 11:14 am (EST) on Oct 3, 2007
posted by Esta1923 at 12:55 am (EST) on Oct 1, 2007
But good for you and Mrs WHL and your DDS-organized personal library. You should teach a class on this!
posted by dizzydame at 12:57 pm (EST) on Sep 21, 2007
posted by SweetbriarPoet at 3:31 pm (EST) on Aug 12, 2007
posted by pw0327 at 9:14 pm (EST) on Aug 11, 2007
posted by NotSunkYet at 12:24 pm (EST) on Jun 20, 2007
Catalog
posted by catalog_theLTcat at 4:50 pm (EST) on Jun 16, 2007
Catalog
posted by catalog_theLTcat at 6:00 pm (EST) on Jun 15, 2007
I am also trying to loosely use the Dewey Decimal system, but I am making my own tweaks. Using the main numbers to group books is not so bad .....
* 000 – Computer science, information, and general works
* 100 – Philosophy and psychology
* 200 – Religion
* 300 – Social sciences
* 400 – Language
* 500 – Science
* 600 – Technology
* 700 – Arts and recreation
* 800 – Literature
* 900 – History and geography
..... though the 000's are sometimes tough for me. When it comes to sub-sections I get more puzzled at times. Is there a novice web site that can help you decide which category a book should fall under? I am finding I have quite a few books that go under multiple categories and it is a bit difficult at times working out what place to put things.
posted by atlaswinks at 10:56 am (EST) on Apr 5, 2007
What sort of issues are you having with your shelves? I'd love to see pictures of the steinbock units you made, and learn how things are going with the rest of your shelving efforts. I'm thinking about getting (or building) a shelving unit with glass doors for my older books. Any thoughts?
Things have been very busy here, hence the lack of postings. Work has been hecktic, and we're re-doing our bathroom. (No, I tried, but there won't be any shelves beside the throne. My wife vetoed that).
Best,
Steve
posted by steinbock at 9:58 pm (EST) on Apr 4, 2007
Even the bathroom??? ;-)
I'm getting close--the living room/dining room contain more bookcases than any other furniture. Entry has some bookshelves; cookbooks are in the kitchen. They haven't infiltrated the upstairs yet, except for my current reads in the bedroom.
So what's this about a Library Hotel? Can I send my books on vacation when I run out of space?
posted by karen5l at 9:09 am (EST) on Feb 17, 2007
I'm only 24, so my library is still a work in progress.
posted by superlibrarian at 10:57 pm (EST) on Jan 4, 2007
Kari
posted by karip8 at 11:03 pm (EST) on Dec 14, 2006
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