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Member: laytonwoman3rd

Library1,962 books — see library

Reviews40 reviews — see reviews

Cloudstag cloud, author cloud

Tagsfiction (811), non-fiction (548), history (268), first edition (251), illustrated (208), detective fiction (199), photos (197), not yet read (192), r&r fiction (130), mystery (116) — see all tags

Groups50 Book Challenge, American Civil War, Bas Bleu, Books Compared, British & Irish Crime Fiction, Crime, Thriller & Mystery, Deep South, Early Reviewers, Eureka! finds, Hardboiled / Noir Crime Fictionshow all groups

Favorite authorsJames Lee Burke, Clara Gillow Clark, Jeffery Deaver, Annie Dillard, William Faulkner, Shelby Foote, Stephen Jay Gould, G. W. Hawkes, John Irving, Barbara Kingsolver, Robert B. Parker, E. Annie Proulx, Anna Quindlen, J. R. R. Tolkien, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams (Shared favorites)

About me I'm older than Elvis or John Lennon, but not as old as Paul McCartney or Bonnie Raitt. I love flowing water, flying geese, music, movies and books, books, books. My job is in the legal field, with responsibilities that include case management, computer support, and systems administration. I have a B.A. in English Literature from an excellent small liberal arts college, and continue on my own to study and enjoy the works of William Faulkner, who takes up more shelf space than anyone else in my library. I married one English major and raised another. My catalog will include books owned by the one I married, as well as my own. You'll find the offspring's catalog under lycomayflower. Did I mention I love books, books, books?

About my library Eclectic. Threatens to take over the house. Much fiction, 19th, 20th and now 21st century. Emphasis on Southern writers, including Faulkner, Welty, Shelby Foote, Flannery O'Connor, James Lee Burke, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote. Lots of non-fiction too--history, especially WWII and the American Civil War, science and natural history, modern religious scholarship, cookbooks. Fair representation of poetry, essays, biography, genealogy, local history (PA, NY, LA) "Candy" in the form of detective fiction, suspense, fantasy, and the best of Stephen King.

I believe I have catalogued everything that is in the living area of the house. New acquisitions will be added as they come in. There are some books boxed in the attic, and those will also be added in spurts, as time and inclination allow.

"Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image; but he who destroys a good book kills reason itself." John Milton

CURRENT READING: My 50 Book Challenge thread is here if you want to see what I'm reading, and what I think of it. This is my 2007 thread

My Progress:




My wishlist for generous-type people:

My Amazon.com Wish List

Also onBookCrossing, Flickr, LiveJournal, Squirl

Membership LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Real nameLinda

LocationPennsylvania

Account typepublic, lifetime

Connection NewsConnection News

URLs http://www.librarything.com/profile/laytonwoman3rd (profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/laytonwoman3rd (library)

Member sinceDec 3, 2005

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Thanks for your generous donations to my library!!! I will let you know as soon as I get them.
Thanks, Linda, for responding to my plea for help so quickly! I'm going to take a break from the Snopes for a bit, so I'm going to read Intruder first.

I have invited you to be a bookish friend and, if you have requirements, I can probably find three letters of recommendation attesting to my good guy-ness . . .

Charlie
It looks like your dance card is pretty full here, but you may want to check out my last entry in the 50 Book Challenge—I need your help, coach!

Charlie
We share 19 books. How exciting is that???
If I were to read my first Faulkner book, which would you receommend?

We almost got to see his house, but got as far as the drieway and discovered the place was closed! :-(
Hi, Linda,

I'm curious about your affinity for Southern authors. How did this come about?

Joyce
snagged a review copy for August - [Guilty by Reason of Stupidity] - this has been a week - became a helper - had a problem uploading a picture, but finally got that done and okayed - and now this - neat (even if i have to code on blurty)
Do you get local events on your home page or did you find out from my many problems letters about the booksale? I posted some other ACL stuff too?
yeah, not bad for a "newbie"!

I also emailed my nephew. I'd like to see his author site with more information, but I want him to OK it first.
Got pictures up and Abington sent me a lists of events which I will post (the next booksale is already there).

Haven't heard back from Weinberg but I sent an email to the Dean.
I also emailed Leah Rudolph at the ACL and told her what I had done. I don't have a contact at the Weinberg to do that.
I added both libraries with pictures. Tried doing the picture with photobucket and found it was easier just putting the pics into My Pictures on my computer and uploading from there.

When you are in Local there is a place marked Local members. There a re currently about 6 people with Scranton addresses listed. I added clarks summit to my location, but it didn't seem to want to add my name to Local member. Maybe I have to go away from here and come back. Don't know.
We should put out a "general" post to find out who lives in the area? Send it to just CS area people??? Heehee!
Hi Linda,

Started a Colin Cotterill, The Coroner's Lunch, but he's mixed supernatural elements in with the crime. Sacrilege. No guessing the guilty party if the author doesn't play by the rules. Interested to read about the compulsory plastic shoes for government employees though, and will have a look for them when I return this December. Thanks for the link. Heading back to have a look.

Pam
Are you scouring booksales? I haven't been to your house in quitre a while but I don't remember it being that big. Will you have to build a new room or are you taking over one that doesn't get much use any more. I have two of those, but they are now store rooms for past occupants.

The Catlin House is having a yardsale/booksale this Saturday with stuff that they have deaccessioned from their collection. Not sure what the books are, though.
The cover photo on the Welty book looks terrific. Time to use that Amazon Wish List button!

Joyce
Darn, Linda--i simply can NOT keep up with all the books you're adding! the latest one--Eudory Welty photographs--looks absolutely fascinating. How is it?

Joyce
Sounds interesting. I have several copies of the Bible - just sort of do. I always heard of people who knew the book well and always read it, so I thought I'd try. It's better than some novels I ahve read.
I noticed that you just posted the King James Bible as something new. It's a good book (no pun intended). I read the bible from cover to cover years a go (different version - Douay, I think). Took me a whole year.

I've posted a lot of books and am slowly getting into adding notes to groups. I tried one of th What are you Reading No ones.
i read Are You Somebody by Nuala O'Faolain shortly after it was published here in the US...and loved it for its unsentimentality and power...even when she was really down i knew she'd prevail..she had no choice..being the writer she was...and i did not know she had died...sad that...anyway..have you read her novel My Dream of You???..it's a contemporary story tied in with an actual historical event..and how the protagonist walks a fine line between the two..check it out
I noticed that you added the autobiography of Nuala O"Faolain(sp) to your library. I thought it was a brave and marvelous book. There seems to be renewed interest in her since she died. I know Carolyn is a fan, also.
My favorite prose translation of The Odyssey is by E. V. Rieu which was published by Penguin Classics. They now publish a verse translation so you will have to buy it used. Signet Classics publishes a prose translation by W.H.D. Rouse that is very good. My scan of Amazon shows it as the only prose translation in print right now. Prose or verse it is a great book and I am sure you will enjoy either of these two translations.
Bill
Oh, no!!!! That's terrible news! What will save me now!?

Joyce
Hi, Linda,

I have added a most dangerous tool to my browser--a button that allows me, no matter what site, to put any book on to my Amazon Wish Lists (I currently have 7 going). so, I've been tearing up and down your thread, clicking away like crazy--I've added at least a half dozen.

What an outstanding list of books you've read this year!

Joyce
Hi Linda, I was reading some of your reviews, I think you're a very good writer! To be honest I read the reviews of the books of books that I read and found that you take was the same as mind. Therefore, great logic, you have an excellent mind!
Michael
Can't wait to start using them -- this new book, a research one, may be the one! K
Thank you for the comment on The Landmark Herodotus. I'm flattered that you would take the effort to find my thread. I have to bookmark it or else it takes a lot of time to find because I only add about a book a week. I will really feel like I have accomplished something when I finish The Landmark Thucydides, he is much harder going. I have also committed to reading Ulysses and from what people said that is quite a chore also. I have some chronic health problems and LibraryThing is a large part of my social life. Nice people like you make it very rewarding.
thank you for your note...i checked out your library and we both have titles other than Faulkner!!!!i am adding to my library here at LT...slowly....check it out if you like...i am trying to gind Groups that suit my stuff...that takes time too...but thanks again for your note...i'll be in touch....READ ON!
You review deserves it.

Joyce
Yes, one of them--last I looked you had 3! :-)

Joyce
Outstanding review of Franklin and Lucy!

joyce
thank you very much :)
Here I go again, thanking you. I started reading The Unvanguished because of your recommendation and the fact that it's shorter than some of the other "beginner" books. Like most bibliophiles, I'm not happy unless I have three or four books going at one time--there's always something to match my mood at the moment--and I'm pleased with your choice.

This is one of the great things about LibraryThing: If you need an answer, no matter how esoteric, just ask someone!

Charlie
Linda, thank you for noticing both my 50 book challenge and my LOA library! I love meeting readerly folk, and you certainly qualify. Our profiles say that we have 21 books in common, but if I ever get around to entering the rest of my smallish collection I would say we have about 50.

I too am a fan of James Lee Burke and have read all 16 Dave Robicheaux novels; #17, Swan Peak, is due July 8 and takes place in Montana. Tin Roof Blowdown broke my heart and I think it's about time JLB retired Dave: neither he nor New Orleans will ever be the same.

And now a request. I am ashamed to admit it, but I have never read Faulkner, even though I have four LOA volumes of his novels. I think my biggest problem is where to start. Can you, or rather will you, recommend one of his novels that won't bog me down in heavy symbolism?

Charlie
Linda: I'm not so sure I should thank you for the link provided by your daughter, because all I could see was about 10-12 more books I want to buy on the history of the Napoleonic Wars!! AND to find out that somewhere i can get the DVDs of the TV series!! i had no idea that Sean Bean was the star--he's perfect for Sharpe.

Now to try not to go bankrupt as I buy yet more books. (groan) Joyce
Oh, wow . . . outside of Scranton? I lived in Carbondale for the last 2.75 years of high school before heading to Penn State (yes, that's the Nittany Lion on my profile, can't believe how long it's been since I've been out there).

I haven't cataloged all my cookbooks yet (most of them, I guess); what I realized when cataloging them was that leafing through one provides a very different experience when compared with looking for recipes online, which I've gotten used to doing. But I go to the web when I'm looking for a specific recipe or already know the main ingredient; looking through cookbooks provides that serendipitous experience of finding a recipe I've never tried and expanding the horizons a bit.

Elizabeth
Hi,

I've heard of the Hobart book village but haven't been there yet--I grew up around here, moved to Pennsylvania when I was in high school, and made my way back to central NY in October of 2005. Got settled, endured the winter, welcomed spring, got flooded out of my house in summer of 2006.

So, with the somewhat difficult homecoming, I've not done as much leisure activity as I would like. I did visit the Bibliobarn in South Kortright, which is a wonderful spot, but Hobart is on the agenda for sometime between now and the next snowfall (ugh).

So . . . where in Pennsylvania are you? I spent a couple of high school years in Carbondale before going off to Penn State.

Elizabeth
What a great deal! I wouldn't have been able to pass that one up either. =)
Hi Linda,

I just wanted to let you know that you won my contest for a copy of the book thief. Please send me a private comment with your address when you get a chance so that I can send you the book. =)

Gail
Sure do. I was a casual admirer for a while, having only read As I Lay Dying. A couple of years ago, though, I took a course on Faulkner in which we read 11 of his novels, from Flags in the Dust through The Hamlet. It got pretty grueling sometimes (the professor referred to the course as "climbing Mt. Faulkner"), but I'm so glad I got all those books under my belt. It's great to get outside the required canon of such an important writer--you get a much better idea of his or her work than most people ever do.
Hi, hope you don't mind that I added you to my interesting libraries list. I see that we share some of the same favorite authors. In fact, I'm currently in the middle of a Faulkner reading project, trying to read as many of his novels before I go down in flames.

Slainte,

Sean
I saw your post on oldest books in TBR pile, about War and Peace.. good luck with that! LOL
I found it to be horribly dull and boring.. made 3-4 attempts at it over the years, and finally gave it away so it would quite staring at me and trying to make me feel guilty and stupid.

Love your library, the photo and your wonderful profile! We do like some of the same things...!

happy weekend
kath
hahaha you have the computer cover version! i love it, i actually bought one for my macbook :)
Thanks for your comment. Aberdeen IS a wonderful place to live - I love it here. :)
Linda--

PLEASE do let me know what you think of the movie when you see it.

Joyce
One of the reasons the movie was panned was Penn's "over the top" acting. When we saw it last night, we were both put off by his wild gestures during his campaign speeches--sort of windmilling. THEN I watched the Special Feature on Huey Long on the DVD, which had short clips of Long, including a very short one of him on the campaign trail--and guess what--there it was--indications of the same sort of "windmilling" Penn uses in the movie. Clearly, Penn watched movie clips of Long. Penn doesn't use it elsewhere and evidently neither did Long.

In addition, in the Special Features, there are additional scenes and an Alternative Ending. I can only assume that they went with the theatrical ending for reasons of time--same with the deleted scenes, which are excellent. The alternative ending is superior to the theatrical one, but I can understand the necessity.

tonight I'll have time to watch the featurettes on the making of the movie--am looking forward to it.

I think you'll really like the new version!

Joyce
Hi, Linda!

I'm pretty sure that you're the one who wrote to me about All The King's Men. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I recently viewed the two main movie adaptations--the 1949 one in which Broderick Crawford won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Willie Stark, and the recent movie starring Sean Penn and Jude Law. The former has received rave reviews while the latter has generally been panned. I decided to buy the latter one after seeing Crawford, because I thought he did such a good job--and because I thought the rest of the cast, with the exception of Mercedes McCambridge, who also won an Academy Award, stunk. John Ireland was absolutely wooden as Burden. I was prepared not to like it, because Sean Penn was almost universally panned fro his portrayal. to my delight, I found the recent version EXCELLENT. It holds far more truly to the book, and Jude Law is a perfect Jack Burden. Obviously sacrifices had to be made in the script, and one of them was the role of Anne--much better portrayed by Winslett but she really was wasted in the role. James Gandolfini has been derided--I thought he was excellent--this was not a replay of Tony soprano. Gandolfini is a fine actor, and it shows in this movie.

So--in case I remembered correctly, this might interest you. I'm also going to post--when I have time--on the Books turned into Movies thread--soon.

Hope all is well.

Joyce
This is interesting -- my Faulkner is not showing up on the books we share list. I wonder if they are in the boxes I have not unpacked yet??? Of the 228 boxes of books I moved two years ago, I think I'm down to 2 boxes not yet unpacked in the living room, 5 boxes in the Laundry room, and 8 boxes in the basement. I unloaded 8 boxes last week and have another 8 boxes set up to go (having recorded their titles) this week.
thank you! I got my wonderful birthday card. Actually, it came a couple days ago but I've had so much junk mail, I didn't find it until I was going through the basket today. What a nice surprise amidst the other stuff.:) It's almost nicer getting one later, because the after birthday lull makes a card seem even more special.
How exciting to meet another LTer who shares my love for the same old Books. I love the Chapter in Bradsby: The Dead That Still Live. Miner's letters to his father is also very fascinating. I look forward to sharing new leads with you!
Hello, nice to meet you. I love your picture, can you tell me anything about it? It's magical.

I was thrilled to see your collection of PA history books, since I now have more leads in my genealogical research. My Grandmother's family settled the Wyoming Valley and I have become stuck in time, obsessed with learning all I can about their lives. I have lost days to online searching PA's Digital Past, and scouring AbeBooks and Alibris for additions to my old books collection. My prized possesion is a crumbly 1858 copy of George Peck's Wyoming; Its History, Stirring Incidents and Romantic Adventures. I have a digital copy of Bradsby's History of Luzerne County, it is invaluable. I bought a CDROM of Geneological and Family Histories of Wyoming and Lackawanmna Valleys, I found it to be very useful in filling in my gaps. I have a long list of sources to check when I get to the Allen County Library in Ft. Wayne, IN., Spears' Chapters in NE PA history is on my list. I find copies for sale online, would you recommend it as useful? And my last question, do you have an author for your 1786 History of Luzerne and Lackawanna Cos.?

I look forward to perusing your collection when I'm done obsessing on the PA bits!
Thanks for that, Linda! I was just feeling very elderly that day but also recently joined in with another chat room where I seemed to be the oldest there by miles. Couldn't even understand what most of them meant! This one is much more my thing!
Hi, Linda,

I vaguely remember Clarks Summit--never went there as a kid but have some memory of passing through at one time or another. I remember it as being quite lovely and as you say, having characteristics of country and town. I'm really glad that such areas managed to survive!

Joyce
Hi, Linda,

In my other note, I forgot to ask--and where do you live? in Scranton? One of the suburbs?

Joyce
Hi, Linda!

I just received word via email of your comment but it doesn't show on my profile page, for some reason. But I can answer it here, still.

I grew up in South Side, mostly on Palm Street. Went to all South Side schools, then transferred to Scranton Central, which my mother told me years ago had been shut down.

I haven't returned since my mother's funeral about 8 years ago. I really would like to go back some day and take a look at the place. Living where I do, however, doesn't make that easy.

Yes, I remember the Lackawanna Court House area!

I really like Martha Grimes but didn't that The Dirty Duck was not one of her best efforts. I'm slowly working my way through yet another reread of all her books. I'm on The Old Contemptibles right now, which is one I really enjoy.

But I think it doesn't matter which one you read--her humor never stops, and the crew from Long Piddleton, especially Melrose and his aunt, are worth the price of the books.

Let me know what you think of the ending!

Joyce
Hi, Linda,

I sneaked back to look at your catalog and what did I find on the first page but lo! a history of Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties! I grew up in Scranton.

Where's the bridge?

Didn't have time to do much more than scratch the surface of your library. I see that you're in the Civil War group and have quite a few books on it. I've been building up that section of my library, although I've taken a rest in order to add more fiction.

Joyce
Hi!

To answer your questions here--which seems more direct--no, I haven't read anything else by Annie Proulx, but thanks to teelgee, I'm going to pick up Accordion Crimes after the holidays.

As for Martha Grimes and company: I've done reviews on every book I've read for months now, and have about half of Martha Grimes ,almost all of Harlan Coben, and many of Jane Haddam's books reviewed. so, if you wish, you can go to my profile page, click on reviews, and check them out. Unfortunately, it's not possible to sort by author yet--just title. so either you're going to have to scroll down through a lot of stuff or else check out titles. I'm reluctant to repost on my 50 (read; 100) Book Challenge thread, simply because I want to keep that for either new books or serious rereads, such as The Leopard, The Shipping News, etc. There are too many of Grimes, Coben and Haddam and right now, since it's spring here, I'm really short of time.

IMHO, I think The Leopard is an incredible work. I've been trying to write a review of it for two days now, and am finding it difficult because it operates on so many levels. It's not a fast read, but it's worth every moment of time you put into it.

And yes, I agree, LibraryThing is indeed a disaster!! :-) so many books, so little time! there are literaly dozens of books I now own that I never had even heard of before joined.

I apologize once more for being unable to fulfill your request but truly, I don't have the time.

I have to come back and check out your library!

Joyce
Well, Linda, I know I am not supposed to read the suggestions for LT's Secret Santa, but I couldn't resist, and yours made me giggle! Thank you for reading my reviews, and thanks for leaving an awesome suggestion. I will let you know what my Secret Santa gives me!

All the best,
Jill
Finished Belles on their Toes this weekend and thought I'd leave a comment here in case you don't get over to my posting in the 50 Book Challenge.

As with most sequels, it's not as good as the original; but then, Father Gilbreth was such a vital part of the family that he was sorely missed in this second book. Still, I enjoyed reading about the further exploits of the Gilbreths and how they survived without Father. I did feel that the later years of the family (before the younger children left home) were not covered as well. Guess that's to be expected since the authors were no longer at home, but out making their own way in the world. I just missed the detail of the earlier years.
Good evening. Thanks for e-mail. I have found very interesting: rating, list of fiction and list of Faulkner books.
I really enjoyed your pair of poems on bones. Two vignettes on domestic life suffering some dysfunction. I particularly liked those little foxes -- greedy little bounders! Thanks for posting.
Hello. I do read and speak Slovak - although through Czech.

Unfortunately, there isn't much Slovak literature in English. Recently, In Search of Homo Sapiens: Twenty-Five Contemporary Slovak Short Stories isn't a bad survey though it is a little expensive if you want to hold a copy in your hands. The rest is a bit older - That Alluring Land by Timrava is out of print but might be interesting if you can find a copy. Other than that - try here for a list of pre-1989 stuff:
http://uwashington.worldcat.org/wcpa/ocl...
Thanks for the compliments, your kind words inspired me to do some updating yesterday and use some of the HTML tricks that have been shared for highlighting text.

What a wonderfully relaxing photo, btw, looks like a perfect spot for an afternoon's picnic and a good read.
Michael Crichton definitely counts! Thanks for telling me about him. :)

~Lilly
Hi, visiting your profile page is a joy. Thanks. Nice to meet you in the groups. Cheers, Karen
Welcome to Books Compared, and thanks for joining the discussion. I can't wait to see what you'll contribute as a comparison review, because the single-book reviews you've written are insightful and beautifully written! Sorry I'm so late with this welcome -- I was in rural Texas for 2 months and didn't have regular access to a computer.
I loved the Color of Water also. I had forgotten that I read it, probably a couple of years ago, until I saw your posting. So many books, like old friends, that belong to different times and places and only occasionally flit across the mind.
Hi there, letting you know that you'll be able to write a notice about why Andre Dubus and Andre Dubus II are different. Tim announced Author disambiguation notices in his blog recently.
I don't know anything about the authors so will leave it to you to write the notice.
Hope it helps tidy up the situation for you. Cheers, ryn
Wow, you inspire me. Im a fellow pennsylvanian with a bachelor's in english. Just discovered this website and slowly entering my books. Nowhere near as many as you have. My compliments.
I feel validated by the faulkner. I grew up in pa and I too am a devoted faulkner fan, so much so I took two trips to Oxford and Rowan Oak. Its worth the trip if you ever go. The people are friendly and helpful and used to us outsiders.
Hi Linda!
I just saw you were looking for English and Slovak speaking people, since my parents are French and Slovak I may be useful... except that I live in Paris, which - last time I checked - is quite far from Pennsylvania!

If you need me to translate some letters or book titles (the entire books might be longer), I will be truly happy to help!

Zuzka (slovak version for Susan)
Hi -
I just found your comments on my Flickr bookpile shots - hadn't looked at them since the contest! Just wanted to let you know I replied.
Thanks so much for responding. I have the Stephen Oates bio but haven't read it yet.
Wonderful list of Faulkner books. Please tell me what bio of Faulkner would you recommend? I have one but I can't remember which one it is, and I also have [Eudora Welty on William Faulkner], which is a very pleasant salute to this master writer.
I've always loved covered bridges. I used to live in the mountains here in Virginia and we had two covered bridges. One of them was "stranded" after the river meandered off, on its own. It was kind of sad, but still neat.
Nice Picture!
My boat didn't sink. I were marooned. Marooned, I tell you! And now I dream of cheese. Toasted. Mostly.
I think I figured it out. I've been cataloging books using my home computer--a Mac--and have had no problem adding and adding books. Today, though, I decided to do a little cataloging while in my office, and so used a PC and HA--I got a message saying I could only add x number of books on a free acct. So, I forked over the $25.

Yet another reason to be a Mac addict!
No signed copies around, Phil Stone's widow had them all-- when I was a college student I visited her and spent an entire night paging through a first carbon of The Hamlet, inscribed to Stone's son (Faulkner's godchild) and containing Faulkner's handwritten corrections.
I was surprised to see someone who owned more Faulkner than I did....
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