Member: mirrordrum

Thank you, very kind.

posted by justjim at 3:07 am (EST) on Nov 8, 2009

More photo goodness. You don't want you kitties around these bad guys.

posted by justjim at 7:36 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2009

Lol thanks so much! What great resources :)

posted by flemmily at 11:59 am (EST) on Nov 6, 2009

I'm excited! It's up, did you see it?

posted by flemmily at 5:28 pm (EST) on Nov 5, 2009

Anna Dominoes is simply stunning -- and so is your photography! Thank you for sharing.

posted by SugarCreekRanch at 1:49 am (EST) on Nov 1, 2009

I love the expression "have a nutty"! That's a new one for me here in Chicago.

Also love all your thoughts on The Doomsday Book. I don't have a single answer, having had similar questions about interfering with (changing) the past and the butterfly effect (did you ever read that Ray Bradbury story - great!)and the conundrums caused by having a character do X in the 14th century so that others can find the record of it in the 21st century, and so on. Supposedly Einstein's theories permit time travel, but it's hard to see how to overcome the types of problems you mention - if we travel to the past and do certain things, then I guess the resulting future has "always been that way"? Mind-boggling.

What I liked most about the book, although it sounds a bit callous, is having such a sympathetic 21st century "tour guide" to the years of the black plague, which are so extraordinary to contemplate, and Kivrin's relationships with the contemps, especially Father Rolphe (is that spelled right?), who thinks she must be an angel because of the way she is and the way she arrived, out of thin air in a halo of light.

It makes me think of Geraldine Brooks' excellent "Year of Wonders".

"Say Nothing of the Dog" is probably even more mind-boggling regarding time travel, with its concerns about time "unraveling" and - well, I should shut up about that until you've read it! Hope you enjoy it - I did.

- Joe

posted by jnwelch at 12:18 pm (EST) on Oct 29, 2009

I tot I taw a putty tat! Nice shots, I like the Egyptian Goddess one.

Here's a handy link for HDR tutorials (second post in thread). I'm JustJim on that site as well.

posted by justjim at 10:07 pm (EST) on Oct 28, 2009

Glad you liked Connie Willis's Doomsday Book; I read a lot of sci-fi and that's one of my favorites. I've also read a lot of Agatha Christie, and Sad Cypress is one of the best. I imagine we've talked about Louise Penny and her Inspector Gamache series. If you like cozy mysteries with well-drawn characters, hers are the best I've read in quite a while.

Still enjoying your silly contributions to the Silly Game!

Best - Joe

posted by jnwelch at 11:05 am (EST) on Oct 28, 2009

The preserving in small batches book got wishlisted because of a mention in the cookbookers group. I did cook from the pressure cooker book the other day and that turned out reasonably well (I didn't die in a boiler explosion at least).

I have also been messing about with photography a lot more recently. Got me a new Nikon D5000 and some bits and pieces and a Wacom pen and touch graphics pad for my Photoshop Elements work. Check this one at Flickr.

Better go, new game started!

posted by justjim at 12:19 am (EST) on Oct 28, 2009

I meant that all (P.S.) books have thingys at the back of the book, but all books which have thingys at the back of the book don't have (P.S.) in the title. Another thing I've noticed is that, while (P.S.) will be printed in a catalog, such as amazon.com, it won't be printed on the book. Hmmm. I suppose it's not actually part of the title, then -- just to let you know that it has thingys at the back of the book. Perhaps it has to do with the publisher. (?) I hardly ever look at the thingys at the back. Occasionally I will read an author interview, but as far as the discussion guides go, no. I now read strictly for pleasure and don't desire to dissect every little smatter of symbolism, though when symbolism jumps out and smacks one between the eyes, one doesn't need to dig for it using someone else's questions.

Cheers!

Harriet ;-)

By the way, I think thingy(s) is a perfectly acceptable word substitute.

posted by Boobalack at 5:12 pm (EST) on Oct 25, 2009

I am looking forward to your return! :-)

posted by SugarCreekRanch at 12:00 pm (EST) on Oct 23, 2009

Mystery solved! Today I received this book: The Patron Saint of Liars (P.S.). It has an explanation for the "P.S." Seems it is something like a "P.S." on a letter, after all. The "P.S." is at the back of the book and contains interviews, insights, etc. There is still another mystery, though. All books which have these items and more at the back do not contain "P.S." in the title. Hmmm.

posted by Boobalack at 4:26 pm (EST) on Oct 20, 2009

I bet that's right. I think I've only seen that on paperbacks. Bel Canto (P.S.) is a paperback but not what I think of as a regular-sized one. Thanks.

posted by Boobalack at 9:29 pm (EST) on Oct 10, 2009

The only one I can recall at the moment is Bel Canto (P.S.) by Ann Patchett, but there are more. They are all in this form:

Book Title (P.S.) by Author

and seem to be part of the title.

posted by Boobalack at 6:45 pm (EST) on Oct 10, 2009

Another question. What does (P.S.) mean after the title of a book, or rather as part of the title? Thanks.

posted by Boobalack at 6:20 pm (EST) on Oct 10, 2009

Hi Mirrordrum,

Yeah! The Things They Carried just blew me away. I have a copy of that book travelling the world on BookCrossing bookray. I rated it ten stars!! :)

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2000...

I was really fortunate to have seen Tim O'Brien in person just this past weekend at The National Book Festival in Washington, DC. He had me almost sobbing when he read "Letter to Timmy":

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.ph...

I'm also a child of the 60s, having been in every anti-war protest as well as having partied with GIS either going to or coming from Viet Nam. What I've learned from that era is that we must support our men in uniform no matter what, but I always pray that our commander-in-chief makes wise decisions and not uses our military men as pawns.

I just started Going After Cacciato and am already enthralled. I have two more of O'Brien's books on hand, not only on my TBR list, but within arm's distance of my computer! :)

By the way, a really amazing book about Viet Nam is a book called Loon by Jack MacLean. It traces the author's life as a Marine during the Viet Nam era. I won the book on LibraryThing Early Reviewer and think it is probably the best of the ER books I've won. If you can get hold of that book, do so. It's a great read.

Best,
Madeline

posted by SqueakyChu at 10:07 pm (EST) on Oct 1, 2009

Hi! I'm glad to know there should be four books in my husband's A. A. Milne "set." Maybe I'll try to find 1961 versions of the other two.

For Dorothy Dunnett - The first book of hers I read was "Niccolo Rising." It was a History Book Club offering back in 1988, before the company was bought out by Book of the Month Club. That one was so good, I started trying to find others of hers, and the first one I came across was "The Game of Kings," which is the first of her Lymond Chronicles books. I like the Lymond books better than the Niccolo books overall, but, with only one exception, everyone I've tried to get interested in Dunnett has had trouble starting with The Game of Kings, so maybe I should have been pointing them to the Niccolo series all along. But...Niccolo Rising isn't in audio...so you should start with The Game of Kings, and the audio version from Recorded Books Direct is excellent! It's also great because you can rent it, and not have to commit to the high purchase price, though I do have my own copy. The other audio books in the Lymond series are narrated by Andrew Napier, and he's the best narrator I've ever heard! Right now, I'm reading her novel based on the life of the historical Macbeth, "King Hereafter." At over 700 pages in very tiny print, I don't recommend it for your first Dunnett book!

Regards, Jan

posted by janoorani24 at 1:12 pm (EST) on Sep 28, 2009

Regarding A. A. Milne: I'm just curious how many books you have in your boxed set of A. A. Milne from 1961? My husband only has two - "Now We Are Six" and "When We Were Very Young", and they aren't in any kind of box. I have a 1928 edition of "Winnie-the-Pooh" that belonged to my mother's older half brother who died as a child. It is in very bad shape, but still a treasured book. My daughter has a "new" edition that I bought for her in Cambridge, England 1n 1995. It has no markings, but I almost wish it did, they would be such great reminders of her as a 4-year-old!

My oldest daughter was once enrolled in a preschool in Albuquerque. I am a librarian and commented once that I would be happy to donate some books to the school, since they didn't have any. I was told not to bother because the children would just tear up the books! I commented that maybe they should teach the children not to do that, but they were uninterested. My daughter was moved to another preschool.

Cheers! Jan

posted by janoorani24 at 3:20 pm (EST) on Sep 26, 2009

I've not read much Peter Beagle, but I loved it, especially A Fine and Private Place. My daughter gave me The Fantasy Worlds of Peter Beagle many years ago, and as you probably know, it contained that one and three others. There's a new one, We Never Talk About My Brother, which I gave her, and it's on my wish list at amazon.com.

I just added B B's B & B to my wish list. There are other books with B B's in the title. Have you read any of those?

I don't know why I keep buying books, as there are so many in my bookcases I haven't read and probably won't be able to read before I die. Oh, well. Such is life in the fast lane.

I must correct my statement about reading a lot of dark material, lately. I have but in between there have been lighter ones. Just haven't read much actual comedy. If "Mrs. Rochester" is any indication, that book should be a hoot!

Several have recommended the Gaiman book to me. The problem is that there are so many books I want that it's impossible to get all of them. Le sigh.

posted by Boobalack at 9:51 pm (EST) on Sep 15, 2009

Thanks. I get it, now. Was kind of wandering around in that neighborhood but hadn't quite put my mind around it.

I haven't read The Kindly Ones, yet, but you are right about the Greek "Kindly Ones" -- The Furies. It's bound to be gruesome, and I'm not sure about reading it, now that I've got it. I glanced through it and was expecting something a tad different.

My dad was in WWII, also, but he never said much about it.

Thanks, too, for the rec. I've been reading a lot of dark material, lately, and think I need a good laugh. ‹(^¿^)› I'll put that on my list of to-buys.

posted by Boobalack at 4:25 pm (EST) on Sep 15, 2009

I loved Mrs. Rochester!

Surely you will think I am dense, but could you tell me what your answer in #152 has to do with my question in #152? I simply could not figure it out. Thanks.

posted by Boobalack at 2:55 pm (EST) on Sep 15, 2009

Great use of BBB and B in the Silly Game! I particularly liked the three interrupting his authoring with Scrabble, but they're all very funny.

posted by jnwelch at 7:35 pm (EST) on Sep 14, 2009

Thanks, Ellie. I finished Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast and enjoyed it. The "psychanics" at Rubyfruit Jungle stuck out for me, as did the hilarious/sad chicken costume on Halloween episode, among others. A good, quiet, thoughtful, different kind of read.

- Joe

posted by jnwelch at 1:37 pm (EST) on Sep 14, 2009

Mrs Rochester is my new favourite character! I haven't even read the books yet but I put both BB's B&B and BB's B&B PB on my wishlist. Thanks for bringing them to my attention via the Silly Book Game thread.

posted by justjim at 11:25 pm (EST) on Sep 7, 2009

Lemon soaked lemon cake - enjoy!

posted by justjim at 11:36 pm (EST) on Aug 29, 2009

P.S. The link below turned live! Hurrah!

posted by jnwelch at 9:45 am (EST) on Aug 29, 2009

Thanks, Ellie, what a great book recommendation! I have ordered Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast from Amazon.

I thought you'd be someone who'd enjoy Exultation of Larks, but I see you already have it. One I didn't see in your library that you might have fun with is Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson:

http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Pettigrew-Liv...

Darn, couldn't make it be a live link. Sorry!

I'm the least interesting in the family. I'm an intellectual property lawyer, copyrights, trademarks, knock-offs, sleight-of-hands (or is that sleights-of-hand?), that kind of thing. In a prior life I managed bookstores in Chicago, and before that one in Soho (NYC). I still write poetry, although not as well, I don't think, as that slam poet son of ours. (Adrienne Rich Diving into the Wreck in your library had a big impact on me).

What do you and your partner do when you're not on LT? Your excellent photo above makes it look like something to do with theater for you, but I'm probably way off the mark.
- Joe

posted by jnwelch at 9:43 am (EST) on Aug 29, 2009

More gems in the Silly Book Game today! Thanks for the chuckles.

Thanks also for the kind remarks about my family photo - they are indeed people you'd enjoy meeting. Wife's a professional storyteller, daughter a writer who will be teaching young kids when she completes her degree, and college student son a very good performance (slam) poet who just competed in the nationals in Florida. All of them avid readers! - Joe

posted by jnwelch at 5:43 pm (EST) on Aug 28, 2009

Very sorry, but from now on I am not permitted to talk to anyone outside of forums and can no longer play Crambo!

posted by Calwise at 7:26 pm (EST) on Aug 25, 2009

Thanks for everything, I'll leave updates from now on. I'm so glad there's someone here who can help me figure out how things work at LT.

Thanks again,
Calwise.

posted by Calwise at 1:20 pm (EST) on Aug 22, 2009

You are, as usual, kind and gracious, but I think that you give me too much credit. I didn't know until two seconds ago what a chinquapin was!

posted by justjim at 9:38 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2009

Thanks, mirrordrum. BTW, my name's Joe, not Jim - poor Bob got it goofed up but I've let him know. Glad I made your day! You sure added a good laugh to mine!

- Joe

posted by jnwelch at 12:58 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2009

Just wanted to mention that, like others, I've been enjoying your posts to the Silly Game, which have made me laugh out loud more than once - most recently re those going to bed with Mrs. Budge at Fairview. :-)

- Joe

posted by jnwelch at 11:33 am (EST) on Aug 21, 2009

I've been on a bit of a fantasy run for a while and am looking for a good read of the hihstorical fiction type. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Calwise.

posted by Calwise at 7:19 pm (EST) on Aug 20, 2009

I enjoyed both this book, and Astonishing Splashes of Colour. Let me know if you like Natural Flights...it's on my wish list.

posted by LynnB at 2:25 pm (EST) on Aug 20, 2009

Also, I found the crambo game searching for forums you had posted in. Thanks, it's the best sideline game on the LT site

posted by DirtPriest at 12:32 am (EST) on Aug 17, 2009

I forgot that I wanted to add a few thoughts to our little chat a few weeks ago. You said Descartes was over your head, well, I didn't know he was the guy who said 'I think, therefore I am' until I was long out of school. I always thought he was just a famous mathematician. Imagine my surprise when there was a whole chapter about him in Philosophy in the Flesh! Also, why are half of the smart people in the world Cal grads or professors? If you care, this is your year to win the PAC-10 football season and go back to the rose bowl. USC has no quarterback and from what I gather, Cal is set up with a great team this year with the crucial great running back. Please beat USC. I am quite sick of them.

posted by DirtPriest at 12:29 am (EST) on Aug 17, 2009

Tomorrow comes apace. And maybe we'll have new books to hand.

posted by jennieg at 4:28 pm (EST) on Aug 11, 2009

I thought you might enjoy my 50 book challenge thread
http://www.librarything.com/topic/64120

On philosophy and squirrels, I would say that the man walks around the squirrel mathematically. Philosophically, who knows? If a person walks around a tree that has a squirrel in it hiding from him and yet he can't hear that squirrel scrabbling around the tree then he might just get pounced on by a panther. Ask Tarzan! The whole business is like the tree falling in the forest question. If I can't put the question in equation form, sometimes all I can do is try to make some humor and call it good enough until tomorrow.

posted by DirtPriest at 11:51 pm (EST) on Aug 3, 2009

I guess there's no edit on the board here. I added that book you recommended to my index card list of stuff to look for and I'll track it down before too long.

posted by DirtPriest at 10:07 pm (EST) on Aug 2, 2009

Psychology isn't exactly my main focus in the science area but I picked that up through a political discussion group here in town. We had all read Lakoff's 'Don't think of an Elephant' earlier and had a nice chat about framing political debate and putting your opponent in a spot where he has to say no, you are wrong. That makes him look like a weiner and gives you a perception advantage, even if you are both equally right. It is also the opposite of a good old Socratic argument, making your opponent say yes and aggreeing with you on his way to a contradiction in his own logic. such fun! I like Lakoff's ideas about the embodiment of the psyche. Like how language use includes things like 'The cat is behind the tree' but a tree has no behind if you think about it, or the good is up, bad is stinky metaphors. Or the container schema 'The butterfly is in the garden'. What really defines the word 'in' in this case is how your mind perceives the garden space as a 3D object, hence the embodiment. The summaries of major philosophical systems like Plato, Aristotle, Kant, or my man Descartes (I'm a math guy who loves those Cartesian coordinates) are also helpful to a layman, as are the ways he points out embodiment (or lack of) in those modes of thought.

posted by DirtPriest at 10:05 pm (EST) on Aug 2, 2009

Ain't LT great? My copy of Will's Decline and Fall vanished some years ago (it may just have disintigrated), but I remember it fondly. I think he did the illustrations, too.

posted by jennieg at 5:45 pm (EST) on Jul 23, 2009

Here's a you-tube video about one of the first book lessons in medieval times.

posted by moibibliomaniac at 4:55 pm (EST) on Jul 20, 2009

If there is such a thing as having a previous life, I, for sure, was a bibliographer because I enjoy researching and cataloguing books. You, most likely, was a librarian in a medieval library because you enjoy the magnificence of the architecture and the smell of the books.

posted by moibibliomaniac at 1:07 pm (EST) on Jul 20, 2009

Actually, this book was published in 1990. It is a facsimile, or a reproduction, of the original stories which appeared in The Strand in the 1890s to the early 1900s. I brought three or four volumes of The Strand with me when my military tour in England was up in 1989; but, I sold them about ten years ago. I didn't pay much for them and didn't sell them for that much either. Nowadays, they are worth a pretty penny.

I shouldn't tell you how much I paid for the Facsimile Edition: fifty cents at a local Habitat for Humanity thrift store a month or two ago.

posted by moibibliomaniac at 10:17 am (EST) on Jul 20, 2009

Here are some images of Sherlock Holmes for you.

posted by moibibliomaniac at 10:52 pm (EST) on Jul 19, 2009

Ummm--- I used to be a Martha Grimes fan. Anodyne Necklace was the first I read and is still my favorite. Eventually she got so silly that I stopped reading (unfortunately, I had stocked up on them as they came out). On the other hand, I've heard that she has more recently reclaimed some of her earlier spark. Steven Saylor, whom I still adore, praised Lamorna Wink when it came out. So I'll try again one day, but I declare if we get lost in Aunt Agatha and fairy cakes, I'll put the whole shebang up on pbs!
Oh! I had forgotten Stone Angel by C.O'C. I do enjoy Mallory. The Stone Angel that I recently read is a wonderful novel by Margaret Laurence, a Canadian novelist. I think that I even reviewed it, I liked it so much. Her A Jest of God is high on Mt. Bookpile. (I'm a Dune fan too although the later books don't grab me so much.
I see that I probably should join the Nero Wolfe group (and the D.L. Sayers group and the N. Marsh group if they exist).
Cheers!
Peggy

posted by LizzieD at 10:21 am (EST) on Jul 17, 2009

From the book game I see that you read *G, E, Bach* in the 80's. I'm impressed whether you were or not! I pick it up and put it down since I have no math background, but an enduring love of music. Now that I've arrived here, I find myself and my friend kokipy right up there in your weighted list of members with your books. Lots of mysteries in common, lots of shared favorites. Well met, I say!
Peggy

posted by LizzieD at 10:27 am (EST) on Jul 16, 2009

The dictionary is the one-volume compact edition of the OED. It came with a loupe. I'm going to add a few words to describe each image.

What you see behind the bookstand is a book press, used in repairing books.

posted by moibibliomaniac at 4:18 pm (EST) on Jul 12, 2009

Here's the newest addition to my library.

posted by moibibliomaniac at 1:42 pm (EST) on Jul 12, 2009

LOL, today I was going to recommend that you join the Green Dragon Pub, and I see that you just have! Hope you like it in there, we have a very silly time and talk about some great books now and then. ;)

posted by MrsLee at 11:47 am (EST) on Jul 5, 2009

:) Thanks for the reply. I understood that message a lot better. ;) The street vendor I was talking about is 'Cut-me-own-Throat Dibbler' who is in almost all the books which take place in Ankh Morpork, and versions of him appear in the settings in foreign countries as well. I haven't read any of the witch themed books yet, I'm saving them for last because I know I will love them. I should say, I've read one or two of them, at first when I wasn't reading by theme order. The next Discworld I will read will be "Pyramids." I'm reading them slowly and interspersing them with other books so I don't get through them too fast. I appreciate them more if I don't read them one after the other. I've read through the Guard books, the Rincewind books and most of the Death books, so I'm very near to beginning the Witches sequence.

I don't have access to them on audio, but if I ever do, I'll be sure to listen.

posted by MrsLee at 7:01 pm (EST) on Jul 3, 2009

No hassle at all--my Trixie Belden books are in the bookcase nearest to me. The first night on the road, they "frizzle" a jar of chipped beef in a little oil, add a can of mushroom soup, and serve it with canned peas. "Yummy-yum," exclaims Trixie. They served it with buttered toast.

The next night Miss Trask made roast potatoes to go with the hamburgers and tomatoes. The next night, a restaurant. Then the cafeteria at the camp; then Miss Trask bought ingredients for a salad to have with canned ham broiled with pineapple and buttered rolls for dinner. Then the cafeteria again, and several meals or snacks or whatever at the farm where Jim was picking beans.

So, despite the idea that Honey and Trixie would do the cooking, it looks as though they made exactly one meal (beyond sandwiches) in the trailer. And it was the chipped beef on toast that you have recalled not so fondly! (I have to admit that, while I don't like mushroom soup, or mushroom anything, I do enjoy the Stouffer's version of creamed chipped beef--on toast, in fact.)

Elizabeth

posted by ejj1955 at 1:11 am (EST) on Jul 3, 2009

As I thought, we share some of my very favorite authors!

posted by MrsLee at 2:52 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2009

Hello, you left a comment on my page, but I wonder if you meant to? I don't think I was asking about audio versions of Pratchett? Or did perhaps not all of your comment show up? Anyway, it's lovely to find another soul who loves both Pratchett and Stout. :) Now I'm going to look at the over 100 other books we have in common.

posted by MrsLee at 2:50 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2009

Hi, mirrordrum. Thanks for your kind comment. I've also been listening to Peter Firth's narration of the Regeneration series. I always have an audiobook going for my workouts and driving time, as well as a couple of print books. I really loved the first book; I'm a bit less enthusiastic about The Eye in the Door so far, but maybe it will pick up. I do know that the third installment, The Ghost Road was a Booker Prize winner.

I used to be one of those who pooh-poohed audiobooks. While I do think that you sometimes lose the intricacies of style and structure, I really enjoy the experience. Many times, if I am particularly moved by an audio version, I'll reread a book in print so as to focus on the details.

I've read Tremain and listened to Tremain--sometimes both for the same novel. I can recommend the audiobook of Music and Silence, read by Jenny Agutter, and Restoration, read by Paul Daneman. Mostly I download my audiobooks from audible.com to my iPod; the membership is a little indulgence that has really been worth the expense.

I checked on audible and see that there is an audiobook of Year of Wonders, although I haven't listened to it. The narrator is Stina Nielsen.

Thanks for the Penelope Lively recommendation. I haven't read any of her books before but have The Blue Flower in my TBR stacks.

I'd be quite happy to give you some additional audiobook recommendations, if you'd like.

Hapy listening!

~Deborah

posted by Cariola at 12:52 pm (EST) on Jun 30, 2009

I have been enjoying your quotes on the silly book game, too. In fact, it's amazing to me how much you can get an real impression of a book from a few random quotes, taken completely out of context! There have been quite a few books quoted lately which I looked up only because of the dialogue used in that game. I also am enjoying the wit of the players!

posted by aviddiva at 6:53 pm (EST) on Jun 19, 2009

Re: Christopher Brookmyre. He's an author I've just discovered recently myself and have only read the one book so far. Some of his titles definitely stand out and when I read the blurb on the back of a couple of his books I just had to try one out as the humour seemed right up my street. Will be reading some more without a doubt, just waiting for the 2nd of the Jack Parlabane series to arrive and that will probably go straight to the top of the TBR pile when it does. Hope you enjoy listening to your purchase.

posted by AHS-Wolfy at 9:37 pm (EST) on Jun 17, 2009

Inviting some people to the thread I just started. Thought it might be of interest to you.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/66785

posted by callmejacx at 10:04 pm (EST) on Jun 13, 2009

Thanks for reccomending Enchanted April. I loved the movie and have watched it many times. It actually inspired me to try to get my tiny garden beautiful -- which I have been working at since I retired. I don't know why I never read the book.

Sadly my library does not reflect all the books I have read. I try to keep up with the many books I have read over the years but if I can't remember the story, and I no longer have the book, I do not include them. I have read many of Rex Stout's books and will probably re-read those I cannot remember. I do walk the streets of New York with some of his (and other writers)) stories in mind. However, since all the cases I prosecuted took place in Manhattan, I usually remember my own cases instead. In fact, my grown-up children and their friends think I should start a tour group of famous crime scenes -- since that is usually what I regale them with when they are in town.

My romance novel addiction has come late in life and I try books recommended to me here on LT and also whatever I find in thrift stores and garage sales. Sometimes its hit or miss but unless the book is really bad, I usually read it.

With regard the the Morgan Library and Potter's illustrations, it seems J.P. Morgan was a great collector of original manuscripts, first editions, etc. And, of course, he had plenty of money to spend. The library continues the tradition. The last time I was there, {they change the exhibits every 3 months or so), the library had 2 whole rooms full of original Babar illustrations that made it here from France. One of my favorite things that I ever saw there was an orignal Elmore Leonard manuscript, complete with notes in the margin and the old typewriter he used. If you ever come to New York, don't miss going there. It's one of our best-kept secrets.

posted by mamalaz at 7:37 am (EST) on Jun 13, 2009

Here is a new new view of my library.

posted by moibibliomaniac at 5:55 am (EST) on Jun 11, 2009

Ellie???

I'm going away for a long weekend, but next week I plan on updating the images of my library, to include my library table, library chair, and the three bookcases in my closet that I'm currently rearranging. I will use my Kodak camera instead of my webcam so the images should be a lot clearer. If you give me your email address, I will send you a few of the images of the library table when I take them next week.

As for the history of the table, I bought it at a consignment shop in Belleair, Florida last December for $175. There are no manufacturer labels or markings anywhere on the table.
The only mention on the web of a table similar to mine is from a piece on Woody Guthrie and Oklahoma by Richard Von Busack. If you scroll down to the JThe town has a Curves now and, across the street and up a few doors, the Coffee Barn, a nouveau kind of coffee shop, in a location Starbucks hasn't found out about yet. A poster of Gustav Klimt's famous The Kiss hangs on the cafe's wall, and a coffee table is painted to resemble an immense book titled Design and Culture in the 17th Century.

posted by moibibliomaniac at 11:48 am (EST) on Jun 4, 2009

Nice to hear from you Ellie! I'm rather ashamed to admit that I know very little about Patrick O'Brian - probably because I'm not usually a big fan of seafaring adventures. So taken was I, though, with the thought of anyone debauching another person's sloth, that I have just ordered the first in the series to give them a try. Even if they turn out not to be, necessarily, my 'thing' I do hope I'll make it as far as the second one! Like you, I'm having a quiet reading day today - there's nothing like it, is there? To-ing and fro-ing between A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and Justine Picardie's, Daphne ( a novel based on a period in the life of another of my favourite authors, Daphne du Maurier). Just hope it doesn't send me tearing back for yet another re-read of Rebecca - I have for too many new books to get through.
Thanks for being in touch - was I anywhere close with my guess about your Greek connections?
Sloth

posted by Booksloth at 8:28 am (EST) on May 31, 2009

Hope it's okay to drop by and say hello and welcome to LT. I was drawn to have a look at your profile because of what you said about your father's nicknames for you and your mother. It made me assume (probably wrongly) that your dad must have been Greek and I have an immense love of Greece and all things Greek. Then I took a look in your library and noticed how many great books we share in common; some of my all time favourites are in there - things like 84 Charing Cross Road, Dickens, Steinbeck (probably my greatest literary love), Alice Walker, Forster, Austen, Iris Murdoch,Achebe Cavafy, I could go on and on and on . . . . Then to complete the coincidence, I noticed all those stars you gave to The Name of the Rose and I'm watching that on TV right now as I write this!

I do hope you'll enjoy your time on LT - I've been here for about a year and a half now and I've found it terribly addictive. I spend far too much time her and get far too many book recommendations and, because I can buy so much faster than I can read, I've now got a huge pile of books waiting to be read, that would take me a couple of years if I did buy another thing during that time! Still, LT's definitely been a positive influence and it's wonderful to have so many book-minded people to chat to! Hope you have fun here.

posted by Booksloth at 8:43 pm (EST) on May 30, 2009

I work for the Talking Book Program in Texas. I haven't checked out those narrators, but we get a lot of requests for anything narrated by Mitzi Friedlander. I had a patron tell me she'd listen to her read the phone book. Hope all is well and happy reading.

posted by ShannonMDE at 5:14 pm (EST) on May 29, 2009