bohemima's bibliography

I'm so very pleased to have been fortunate enough to find this wonderful group.

I was much better at posting 2010 and really, really hope to do even better in 2011.

It's a fun place to be, isn't it? And you add quite a lot to that feeling of fun and community, Gail, so I'm glad to know you're back on board for the Magical Mystery Tour again.

Welcome back!

Why, thank you both. Magical Mystery Tour is very apt: I never know what terrific new authors/books/feriends/threads I might find here.

*tries frantically to get ancient song out of brain*

Glad to see you back with us again, Gail!

Thank you, Miss Stasia.

I've got to finish up my 2010 stuff: rest of the books I've read (not quite finished there), top reads of the year, do my TIOLI stuff, read other threads---gak! I've been sucked into a giant computer...

#6: I've been sucked into a giant computer

I know exactly what you mean!

Hi Gail - dropping in to star you and say hello :)

Time to gear up for the new roller coaster that is coming at midnight.

Planned January reads are:

Sense and Sensibility,
Inkheart,
Canterbury Tales,
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and
My Jesus Year.

All are new to me except the Chaucer.

I hate to set goals as they seem to be self-defeating immediately. I mean, just writing them down, or sometimes just thinking about them, makes me not do them. Contrary sort, I guess.

I do want to weed 25 off the shelves and out of the house. (But that's my other thread.)

I do want to do better at keeping up with group reads and staying on topic when posting, as I digress constantly. No surprise there to anyone who has seen any of my posts anywhere.

I do want to think more about what I read, instead of racing to the next book. That may be impossible for me, I don't know.

Hi Gail: Happy New Year!!

I think I'll be reading Sense and Sensibility for the Austenathon in January, too.

Dropping by to wish you a Happy New Year - all the best for 2011

Stopping by to say hi. I read The Canterbury Tales last year, and I love the Inkworld trilogy. I look forward to seeing what you think of these.

>>10 lindapanzo:: Linda, I hope that you and I will be able to help one another stay on track with the group read.

>>12 jayde1599:: Jess, my d.h. grew up in Gray many, many years ago. I'm from Mass. Can't wait to compare notes on Inkworld. I'm finding fantasy and YA to be really fun, relaxing sorts of read for me. Canterbury Tales may be a bit of a poser, as I'm reading it with a very intellectual group. Perhaps I won't be able to keep up. O.O

Hi, bohemima! Happy New Year!

My new 75 Books Challenge thread for 2011 is here,

http://www.librarything.com/topic/106099

Hope you visit me!

Happy New Year Gail! I like the alliterative thread title.

>>14 Porua:: Found and starred you, Porua. We seem to have quite similar reading tastes.

>>15 souloftherose:: I've always loved alliteration; it's a terrific mnemonic device for me.

Hi Gail! I saw your post over on the quieter LT thread and now have you starred! Here's my thread:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/104897

I read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat a number of years ago and loved it.

Happy New Year!

Hi Gail, I also dislike the responsibility of too many planned reads. I can do it for a few weeks at a time, and that's it!

I hate to set goals as they seem to be self-defeating immediately. I mean, just writing them down, or sometimes just thinking about them, makes me not do them. Contrary sort, I guess.

My husband would agree to that contrary part, especially after two days in the car over the 3-day week end!

If you get to it this month, I'll be watching for your review of The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat... I've had a copy of that on my shelves for years now and haven't read it, though I've heard great things about it. The concept it's based on sounds fascinating.

Ya know, as soon as I say something, I realize that maybe I was (gasp!) wrong. Thus:

Last year I has some sturm und drang (d.h. calls that pissing and moaning) about how maybe mysteries were losing their hold on me. Um, yes. I did sort of say that.

Well. As we wend through the tomes in 2011, my first completed read is (ta-da!)

Book #1: Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh.
As anyone knows, Marsh is a justly famed and respected writer of (almost) cozy mysteries from the Classic or Golden Age. Her books are witty, well-plotted, and full of that spicey sort of sarcasm that I enjoy so much. In this volume, Inspector Alleyn and his little band of cohorts solve an odd murder, and a particularly grisly, horrid second murder among students at a small sort of art studio. Agatha Troy is introduced for the first time here. The book is delightful: light enough to be non-taxing, but engaging enough to hold one's interest. So very useful for those difficult times of emotional stress.

As an aside to those who've sort of learned to know me (that is, the ones who still visit), my postings may be even more erratic than last year. DH has received a probable diagnosis of vascular dementia, with all that entails, so things can be a bit chaotic. But LT is a great stress reliever, so I'll be around and about.

Now reading Canterbury Tales and Sense and Sensiblity

Gail, so sorry about the diagnosis.

But glad to see you've been able to de-compress with a good mystery! I haven't anything by Marsh (as far as I can remember, I have a terrible memory for author names).

Take it easy if you can - thinking of you.

#20: Sorry to hear about your husband's health problems, Gail. I do hope that his treatment works out.

I've been intending to read Artists in Crime shortly: glad to hear it's a good one.

Gail, I'm sorry to hear about your husband's condition. Hope you're both doing okay since the diagnosis. (((Hugs)))

Thank you for the kind wishes. Well, a night in the hospital for a completely unrelated problem was truly surreal. Never a good patient, dh had a bit of a struggle, to say the least. But of course we keep moving on. Now that he's home, he's more or less all right--reading a book as I type.

One refreshing and kind of heartening thing to me lately has been that as I read Canterbury Tales I'm finding that I haven't lost the (totally geeky but particularly me) joy I've always had in translating stuff. I wanted to be a language major, but practical exigencies won out. Now with the B and N side-by-side (found that it really needs a paper copy to work) and a bit of mental elbow grease, I'm quickly regaining my facility with M.E. and liking it enough to think about Gawaine and the Green Knight down the road. I've had the Coghill translation around for years, but only read bits here and there. This isn't what you'd call an easy, breezy read, but I bet it was for those who lived back then.

I've been reading Sense and Sensibility on the Nook at night. I'm liking it so far, but not as much as I liked Emma. I had mixed feelings on Pand P, so I'm looking forward to that re-read as well. And, reading Inkheart too, which is really pretty good, but I'm not too far into it.

Hello! I love the mysteries of Dorothy L. Sayers and Mary Roberts Rinehart, but I'm ashamed to say that I've never heard of Ngaio Marsh. Artists in Crime looks as though it may be right up my alley. This is my first time doing the 75 books challenge.

I hope it's not presumptuous of me to offer my support to you in light of your husband's probable diagnosis of vascular dementia. My mother was diagnosed with it several years ago and two years ago my husband and I moved into her house to help take care of her. It's definitely been a learning and life changing experience for all of us. Hang in there.

Sandy K

((Hugs)) to you, Gail. I am glad your husband's hospital stay was a short one.

Gail

hugs to you. I'm thinking of you as you sort through this life changing experience.

Love
Linda

>25 sandykaypax:, 26, 27: Of course I wouldn't find any offer of support presumptuous, but a very kind thing indeed. I appreciate all kind thoughts. And you are so right: this is indeed a life-changing experience. Heart-rending, frustrating, maybe a way to pay back for some of the tremendously helpful and thoughtful things that were done for me by others down the years, which I just took for granted. There are occasional comical moments as well.

This has been coming on for some little time and naturally I tried to ignore, deny, gloss over. Never mind. We'll get through it.

Anyway, back to reading; it's quite hard for me to concentrate on anything for any length of time. However, I'm finding Inkheart pretty entertaining; I like a little YA stuff for down times. And now I'm sooo thankful for the mysteries I've been storing up in that bookcase! The Chaucer is good because you can pick it up, read a section, put it down and come back later, without losing any thread of continuity. So that was a lucky chance. The thing I regret is that this may put a damper, I imagine, on my TIOLI reading, which I love. I've set my inner goal at 90 books this year, but I'll have no regrets if I don't make it. So what? Who will care but me?

I really appreciate all who express(ed) kind thoughts regarding dh. This may be a bit harder than it looks from the outside.

Well, bless him, here's the Great Gift Certificate Splurge, Part 2:

Guards! Guards! I like Pratchett so far and am in need of humor.

The Master by Toibin: I really liked Brooklyn by the same author, and want to explore his work further. Also, I read Author! Author! by David Lodge last year, and this is supposed to be a much superior work about Henry James. I'll be interested in a comparison of the two.

Life in a Medieval City I love this author's work and want to read more medieval studies this year.

Shalimar the Clown My first Rushdie

The Doll People and The Meanest Doll in the World Just because

Atlantic: the biography of an OceanI can't resist anything by Simon Winchester.

A Matter of Justice Want to see what all the shouting's about in this series

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance How did I escape this all these years? eta touchstone

Hi! I'm just finding your thread. Please let me add my voice to those offering support and kind thoughts regarding your husband's diagnosis. It must be very difficult. I'm impressed with your reading list in the light of all you're dealing with.

The Doll People and The Meanest Doll in the World are incredibly funny books. You might want to read them to add laughter.

Hugs.

Dear Gail, I'm here for the first time this year too although I think that we've spoken somewhere else. I'm adding my prayers and support as you and your husband manage this diagnosis.
I've been a bit off mysteries - I think this was maybe the point of conversation before - but Ngaio Marsh is special. Along with D.L. Sayers and J. Tey she makes my all-time go-to books for when I need something light but immersing. She was so prolific that some are better than others, but I love Allyn, so I'm always happy.
I'm eager to see what you think about *Shalimar,* a Rushdie I haven't read. I find him wonderful more often than not. I continue to evade *Zen/Cycle*.....

*smooch* to my dear Miss Gail.

#29: I really enjoyed The Master. I hope you do too, Gail.

I've finished
Book #2:Inkheart.
If anyone would like it (highly recommended book), please send me a private message. Oh, U.S. only, please.

Now reading My Jesus Year from Madeline. Really, really interesting. And some others as well: A Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England and the marvellous The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.

Thank you for all the good wishes and kind thoughts. We have our ups and downs around here. The bad or sad part is that dh is extremely intelligent and at this time also extremely distressed at the aphasia, particularly, as he talks A. Lot. and gets stopped in the middle of a sentence because the word just won't come to him. He's feeling down but I'm trying to keep up his spirits as best I can. Reading provides a blessed and welcome refuge for me.

Still with the buying. I order and then they come in piecemeal, so it's like a gift every day or three. Today I got A Night at the Opera, which is huge and looks like lots of fun. I love opera but have little understanding of it, so this book may be a help.

Hugs to you and your dear husband, Gail. I hope the good days outnumber the bad days as you adjust to this change in health. We'll be here for you if and when you need to vent a little.

The books will wait for you, too. You might want to go back to some lighter reading for awhile. Maybe reading aloud to him occasionally would be good for both of you.

ETA what I wanted to say in the first place. I loved The Master. It actually made me want to read Henry James. As a footnote, I started Washington Square by James this afternoon and am enjoying it very much.

((Hugs)) from me too, Gail. I am glad you are able to find some refuge in your books.

>#36: Donna, I loved the ETA. So often that's exactly what happens with me: I get an idea, then chat a bit, then think, Oh wait. I came here to say something else.

>>#37: Thank you, Miss Stasia. Your kindness to all of us here has been and remains a true blessing.

Back to book mode:

I didn't get The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat for any personal reason. I like reading medical memoirs--doctors are so interesting, don't you think?--and because I just loved the title. The author, Dr. Sacks, is just as compassionate as you might imagine, and yet finds the humor in some heartbreaking, bizarre situations. The book can easily be read in discrete chapters with no loss of continuity, so it's a pick-up-and-put-down as the mood strikes.

And, while reading the medieval travel guide, I found something interesting: there was an horrific incident in the 14th century involving young men and mayhem against women. As the author says, if you have a group of bored, armed young men and you get them drunk, what can one expect? Apparently that's a lesson we're still not learning.

#38: Apparently that's a lesson we're still not learning.

There is nothing new under the sun. I am firmly convinced of it.

Just checking in, Gail to wish you both courage and patience and humor and kindness.
How well I know the lure of the little presents that come in the mail!!!
>38 Matke: & 39 You remind me of a high school junior who said to me after he totalled his car, "They gave me a fast, brand-new car and put no restrictions on me. I'm 16. What did they expect?"

Hi Gail. Just getting caught up on your thread (somehow it got un-starred after msg 13 (?)).

Sorry to hear about your husband. My mother has had Alzheimer's for years and for the first couple of years, she did very well on medication. I know there are different types of dementia so I'm not sure about vascular dementia and medication.

One thing that helped me immensely in the beginning with my mother was joining a support group. It made a big difference to know I wasn't alone and it was the one place where I could honestly talk about what was going on. It also gave me confidence that I could deal with whatever happened. I found a great group at an assisted living facility near me.

Glad to know reading is helping. (A book I found very helpful about dementia was The 36 Hour Day.)

Hey, Peggy, glad to see you here. Thank you for the kind words. I'm working on the courage and humor; the others are okay for now. I was always taught to be very, very tender and careful with the helpless, no matter what their weakness was/is. A kitten or an old person; it was all the same to my mother.

My latest little present in the mail was Shakespeare: (New York Review Book) by Mark Van Doren. Written in 1938, this is a collection of essays on the poems and each of the plays. Far from the fulsome praise we see in some quarters, based on what little dipping into it I've done so far.

I love old books; they have so much romance to me. I always wonder who has read them and what they thought about them.

And thanks as well to you, Pat. I'm looking for a support group now. Great idea about checking the assisted living facilities around here. Will let you all know what develops.

I love old books too and respect Mark Van Doren greatly. I don't know his *Shakespeare* though. *scuttling off to look*

Well, you know, Peggy, I of course had heard of Mark Van Doren all through my childhood, but my knowledge was sketchy at best. The I saw the movie "Quiz Show" (I'm always waaaay after theater release in my viewing) and was so intrigued by the Van Doren family, particularly Mark, that I started putting out feelers here and there on my booksites. I also have his atuobiography, but haven't read it yet...I know you are all shocked at my slackness.

Got distracted by a shiny and read book #3:
Have His Carcase
I know that Sayers is a fine, literate, witty, and extremely intelligent writer. The first three or so times I read her entire mystery ouevre I was completely impressed. Now...hmmm.

She displays lots of British upper-class prejudice; some of it is tongue-in-cheek, but some of it is really just casually cruel and quite off-putting to modern eyes. Also, in this book, I found the plot resolution terribly contrived but not impossible. The story of Peter and Harriet seems a bit forced to me. It certainly may be that I'm overly familiar with her work and thus now have a critical eye, where before I was just charmed by the wit and intelligence of it all. Not sure.

Today's little package in the mail was Reading I've Liked by Clifton Fadiman. It's not what I thought, but that's perfectly all right. It's an anthology of short selections from quite a wide variety of books, with a longish introduction by Fadiman. Looks like fun and it doesn't look taxing (well, apart from Thomas Mann selections). Some of the authors I've never heard of, so it should be an interesting thing to go through.

#45: I am anxious to see how you like the Fadiman book, Gail. I may have to track down a copy too. I love books about books :)

>>46 alcottacre:: Stasia, I would say that now books about books are my favorite category of reading.

DH is down with a severe UTI, very painful and distressing. He maintains good cheer, however. I'm just hoping that the at-home antibiotics work, as the thought of a hospital stay simply fills me with dread.

On the book front, book #4:
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is an amazing work. Dr. Sacks, the author, shows himself to be a man of immense empathy and kindheartedness, coupled with a scientist's delight in studying the unknown workings of the brain. I'd recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in mental health. I'll get a full review up at the book page in a couple of days.

Just dropping by to star you. I look forward to following your reading.

I hope that DH's UTI clears up, and a hospital stay is not needed. They are such soul-destroying places a lot of the time!

*smooch* again to dearest Miss Gail.

Hope your husband’s better now. *Hugs*

Thanks to you, lunacat, Rdear and Porua. He's doing better but it's slow, slow, slow.

I'm trying to do this:

My review of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is here

*happy dance*

It only took me two tries! Yes! Saves soooo much typing, copying, whathaveyou. Blessings on TADAD.

I did love the book cited in message 51. Do try it.

I'm glad for some progress for your husband. Just waving as I do a read-by!

#51: Nice review, Gail! Luckily, I get to dodge that particular book bullet since I already read it.

I hope your husband is recovering!

Thumbs-upped your very succinct review, Gail! I've already read it, like Stasia, so I dodged that book-bullet. *whew*

# 51 Good to know your husband is doing better.

Thanks to all for kind wishes for dh and kind words for the review. Today we went to podiatrist (dh calls him the "toe-ologist") and he had quite a lot of one large toenail removed because of terrible ingrown toenail problems. I'm glad he had it done now, as he's more or less laid-up anyway, and this will fit right in with the "stay in bed and get as much rest as you possibly can" regime that's the current mode around here. The pleasures of getting older...are sometimes obscure.

Making terrific progress with My Jesus Year which is quite different from my idea of what it would be. Oh, and on Saturday I received A Short History of English Literature by Robert Barnard, an author I know as primarily an offbeat detective story person. The history is really short, but would make an easy, fun introduction to the subject for high schoolers.

Here's a question for thought: If 25% of students entering college require remedial courses in math and/or English, would that not be an indicator that college is not, perhaps, their best choice? Leaving aside what it obviously says about our high schools. I saw this statistic not long ago and am still puzzled by it. Fully one quarter of entering freshmen are not qualified to handle introductory college material? How can that happen? What have I missed?

If 25% of students entering college require remedial courses in math and/or English, would that not be an indicator that college is not, perhaps, their best choice?

YES IT WOULD!

Hi! You've done some good reading! The Oliver Sacks book is an especially fine one, I think.

#58 I beg to disagree! :) It's quite possible for someone to be a weak student and need help in one area (say, math) and be a very good candidate for college studies in other areas.

I was a little "under the mark" in math when I started college. I did the remedial work, and went on to eventually earn a masters degree with good grades. (I did take degree programs with minimal math requirements.)

I suspect my son will be the opposite -- a whiz at math and computers, but always struggling with the language arts.

I think education should be designed to allow people make the best of their gifted areas, in spite of their weaknesses.

Hi Gail!! Just stopping to see how you're doing. Happy Reading!! Tammy

Sweetiedaaahhhling...link to review is broken...I think you need to check that you didn't post the "http" part twice.

xo

Let me tell you, rdear, that this sort of thing is enough to make an old lady lose what very little normalcy she has left. Trying one more time:

I really liked book #5:
My Jesus Year
which is an entertaining and thought-provoking account of a disaffected Jew who tries to recapture his enthusiasm for his faith via the odd route of taking part in various forms of Christian worship. My review is (fingers crossed); here

Heavens! Success!

Now, on to reading/finishing Sense and Sensibility. My current view of Austen is that her theme, usually romantic entanglements and confusions among the young and not-so-young, is fairly minor, and that her enduring popularity results from her excellent writing. Views subject to change, of course, as pursue her work this year. I did find Emma, which I read last year, maybe, to be timelessly funny.

Success! But, just so I'm clear, what old lady are we talking about?

Why, my love, that would be my not-so-sweet self. I type fast and poorly, so all html is a challenge for me. But I'm learning. I think.

Slow and steady, with lots of stops for proofreading...HTML is competely unforgiving.

Old *snort* I have dinner plates older than you are. They break more easily than people. Therefore, you are not old.

Heh. I've a few plates and other breakables around older than myself as well.

You are a day brightener, my fine young thing. And look at you; all those young cuties clamoring after you! Woot!

It makes no sense to me, but I can not find any grounds for complaint in it.

*smooch*

Okay, i am here

misplaced "note" or not..

(grammar can be FUN)

J

Good to see you, Jude!

I already have My Jesus Year in the BlackHole. Hopefully my local library will eventually get a copy.

I am with you on the HTML codes. Sooner or later I will learn them all - probably later than sooner.

I'm adding My Jesus Year to the wishlist - sounds really interesting.

> 58

If 25% of students entering college require remedial courses in math and/or English, would that not be an indicator that college is not, perhaps, their best choice?

(1) Not necessarily. A friend of mine with cerebral palsy had a math disability that kept him out of all colleges except for one in-state state university. With a math waiver, he was able to complete his MSW and has worked as a college guidance counselor for years.

(2) It may also indicate that proper diagnoses of disability/dyslexia are not diagnosed early enough (or ever, as in the case of one of my sons, I believe) thereby setting the students up for failure in college rather than have the high school counselor proactively suggesting alternative routes of education/vocational learning.

>72 scaifea:: Amber, how nice to see you here. I think you'd enjoy My Jesus Year. Parts of it are quite funny, but not in any sneering sort of way. The author is quite sensitive to the differences of religious experience.

I certainly see the points made above re: students entering college with math/English deficiencies. But, Madeline, in your scenario no. 2, wouldn't that in fact indicate that college isn't the best choice, but as you mention, alternative routes of education/training? And here I would hold high school counselors not doing their jobs at least partly responsible. I know there are other factors inovolved as well.

What struck me was the enormous percentage indicated. One-fourth of entering students is a lot of students. Surely many of those students would be better served in a different setting than the college one. It seems that the secondary education system is not doing an adequate job of either a. preparing students academically for college and/or b. providing information about alternatives. I've seen entering freshmen who lack the ability to write more than a single coherent sentence. Perhaps we need to ramp up our high school prep. courses.

And on the other hand completely, I know of several students, who had successfully completed two years of univeristy parallel courses at Community Colleges, who were refused admittance to the major public state universities for their final two years to earn their bachelors. Seems that we need to do at least a bit of work on these problems, from both angles: making upper education available to those who can use it, and providing job-directed training for those who prefer or need that route.

Another thought: would we be better served to have more colleges/universties that concentrate on science/maths (a la Georgia Tech and MIT), and others that concentrate on the arts, whether the plastic arts or literary pursuits (akin to Rhode Island School of Design)? Are we, as a society, moving away from the old idea of liberal arts education? Is it no longer relevant? Sad thought, but maybe true...

>58 richardderus: I was not going to butt in, but that's not my way. At my school we would send very few students to a liberal arts college if we didn't send unprepared ones. Even the children of professionals are unprepared for college work. There were days when I would have rejoiced for even a single coherent sentence.
The other thing I'll throw in the mix is what I remember from an article in the paper which I should have saved but didn't. A fairly large study had tested college students as entering freshmen and as rising juniors. 40%, if I recall correctly, showed no growth in logical thinking or in writing ability. That's scary! Further research showed that they had taken courses that required them to read fewer than 40 pages a week and to write fewer than 40 pages a semester. (That's a lot of 40's, so I assume that I'm not remembering well.) At any rate, I thought that was a disturbing continuation of what I saw in high school even if their criteria were unreasonably high or skewed. I think that we're in trouble, folks.

Peggy, you couldn't be butting in; I was inviting people to discuss this issue, as I'm very interested in it. And what you have to say is right on point. My next question about all this was/is: how many of the entering frosh make it to graduation? And has this percentage changed over time? Clearly I need to do more research in the area, but it is a bit scary to think there was no growth over three years.

I worked almost exclusively with younger children on the classroom level, but did much tutoring with high schoolers. I know the tech age has changed many things, but reasoning ability, and the ability to convey one's meaning is still critical, I would think, even today.

I was upset to hear in the State of the Union address that a big goal for America is for more and more of our young people to go on to college . . . as though only college grads are useful to society, and as if that is the only route to a successful life. Society needs people to be plumbers and carpenters and to work in all those trades for which college may not be the best preparation. And the right people entering those fields can often make a nice living and do work that they enjoy and are good at.

Meanwhile, many college grads are unemployed because the skills they learned in college are not sufficiently in demand . . .

I can't stay on the sidelines any longer. I too was saddened by the emphasis in the SOTU, on the need for college education as a ticket to success in society. I think we have lost the concept of the university level education experience as just that - an EDUCATION. We are now too often equating college with job training. It really depresses me to think that we as a nation cannot allow ourselves the luxury of educating a percentage of our next generation to be thinkers, planners, dreamers; that we cannot allow them to become educated.

Another part of the reason for the lack of progression evidenced in #75 is perhaps a result of the workload being carried by today's students. I finished a four year liberal arts degree in math in three calendar years, and because I was fortunate enough to attend a school that gave me a scholarship and a work study job, I only had to work for money for about 12 hours a week, and incidentally when I graduated I wasn't qualified to do anything, except read, write, think, make judgments, and enjoy just about anything the world could throw at me. So I joined the Navy (nuther long story, nuther time.)

Some of these kids today are strapping on enormous loads of loans, and working 2 or 3 jobs while only carrying 9-12 hours of class a week. No Wonder they can't learn! They may as well be going to a community college at night, and working full time at MacDonald's during the day for all the academic time they're getting on a big campus, The cost in dollars,time and stress has gotten almost overwhelming for the average college student.

I agree with Terri that the world needs plumbers, electricians, painters, musicians, cooks, computer technicians, and mechanics. If you take the time to chat with any of these, they are often as thoughtful, articulate, and gifted as any of the 'graduates' stumbling out of institutions of higher learning who continue to crawl back home to their parents because they can't afford to support themselves in the style to which they feel they are entitled. How many art history majors can our present world support? Yes there are lots of jobs in museums, galleries, and schools, but they aren't going to pay anymore than the plumber is making. And the plumber doesn't have $80K of college loans to pay back, so he can take his kids to the museums on the weekend to see the art work and not have to worry about paying back loans, or finding medical insurance, etc.

I'm not sure I have any immediate slick answers ( See what a master's degree can do for you? but I know that providing respect for all our young people, and encouraging them to learn as much as they can about anything that interests them will eventually pay off in raising up an educated electorate. In the meantime, we who read can support those who want to.

Ok......I'm stepping off the soapbox.....

>77 tymfos: and 78: Thanks! You quite clearly articulated some of my thoughts about education in general and the concept of college/university as a job training ground. I worked to put myself through school and while it wasn't backbreaking because of considerable help in many ways from my parents, it wasn't any picnic either. I think we need to revisit our priorities to see where we really need workers, and make training available for them, without feeling that a college or university is necessarily the best place for that training.

I wish we could come up with solutions, but my master's degree isn't too useful for that, either. ;>) Oddly enough, we have three daughters, an R.N. (community college), a systems analyst (one-year intense community college), and a web designer/technical writer (university b.a. in English). Guess who earns the least? But she wouldn't trade her education for more money, even though it can be hard for her financially. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances...

Time to get back to Book Talk, our Reason for Being:

I've had three nice presents in the mail during this past week. First, Richard sent along Open House. I read another Berg which of course I've now forgotten except that I enjoyed it very much.

Next, from Bookmooch, I received a nice copy of The Golden Compass, which I've been wanting for some little time. I like fantasy; who can resist a polar bear totem, and of course I want to see what all the fuss is about.

And today, I received English Grammar for Students of Latin from Amber to help me along with my Latin studies.

Such fun to get these things! Especially as I frequently have the attention span of a curious goat and completely forget that something's coming along for me.

When I was in h.s., my ambition was to be one of those instantaneous translators at the U.N. Life intervened in a rather garden variety of ways, but I've never lost my love of/interest in foreign languages. I taught myself rudimentary French as a child by laboriously translating a prayer book/missal one of my great aunts had brought back from Lourdes. My mother thought I was loooooony. Then I used the regular missal to teach myself rudimentary Latin, a huge help in high school classes. I'm sooo excited at the thought of taking it up again!

A bit more book talk:

I'm reading A Ghost in the Machine for one for one of my challenges this month. This is a huge (for the genre) 500+-page mystery/character study/police procedural set in England. I like Graham's writing, which is witty and sharp. But the main character, at least right now, is completely despicable in every way. That makes at least the first hundred or so pages a tough slog for me---kind of like and Elizabeth George book in that way.

Also reading Morning Miracle about the Washington Post. It's a good story well told. No elegance to the writing, but since it's about journalism, by a journalist, I can't expect to get that.

DH drove today (mmm...a bit nerve-wracking). He chose to celebrate a substantial tax refund by taking me for an early birthday run to the local bigbox bookstore. I won't post the list until my birthday, but it's substantial. Because, ya know, I don't have enough books.

drive-by smooch dear Gail

#81: I cannot wait to see the birthday haul!

The bigbox bookstore run sounds like it was great for both of you, and I'm glad you made it home with the loot! I'm looking forward to the list too.

> 74

wouldn't that in fact indicate that college isn't the best choice, but as you mention, alternative routes of education/training? And here I would hold high school counselors not doing their jobs at least partly responsible. I know there are other factors inovolved as well.

In our family situation, I pressed for having my son (son #2) tested when he was in high school. In eighth grade, he still hadn't mastered the multiplication tables. They refused to test him (FYI: he was in public school so that was *their* responsibility). They tried to keep him out of vocational education (giving a poor excuse until I forced the matter). I had to take him to a psychiatrist to get a "diagnosis" of ADD just to get him into a vocational course (a course involving mechanics). When I got to the meeting to force this issue, the counselor claimed he'd never received his copy of the faxed "diagnosis". I (fortunately) brought extra copies along to give to the people present at the meeting.

Honestly! This was my second failing attempt at trying to advocate for a child in high school. My first attempt with our older son (son #1) resulted in a psychological test and a diagnosis by the school of "he doesn't like school". Well, d'oh! What then? Forget about him? I compained to the school that the "counselor" never counseled him. Of course, the counselor was loved for being the coach of the woman's basketball team. Hurray! One day my older son came home from school telling me that an odd thing happened that day. His "counselor" stopped him in the hall to "say hi" to him. Is that career counseling? I hardly think so!

My daughter: She did rather poorly in high school but I no longer had the will or the energy to fight the school bearocracy.

I'd once left a team meeting for son #1 in tears and was told that *I* needed to get counseling. I responded that my son would succeed *despite* them. The experience was *horrible*. I am so glad my kids ar eno longer in high school.

The result: I gave up. Please note: The high school which both of my sons and my daughter attended was and still is a very high-ranking academic public high school. This school did not do well for any of my three children. Perhaps it was because my children were not motivated. Isn't that the school's job, though?

The outcome...

Son #1: He was mentored by an older student who worked in "Global Access" (the computer team). This kid showed him how to work on school computers: The result? My son became a computer support tech for our public school system. He is *the* tech support for four schools in our county. He was self taught after high school. He did not even have a community college degree (although he did start taking classes, but not in computers) when he was hired.

Son #2: He went to welding school and now works as a welder for a neighboring county. His dream was to become a robotics engineer. His hobby? He builds race cars, and together with a team of two buddies, they have brought home several trophies. Does this include math? You bet! Don't even ask me to try to understand all the gauges on his race cars.

My daughter? She was just accepted into law school this week! :) *proud mom smiles*

Sorry for the rant, but you get the picture. The bottom line is that education has to be tailored to the individual before tossing a student out into the world. That includes getting a clear picture of their ability to succeed in the future as well as a workable relationship with someone in the school who actually cares.

*end of rant*

> 74

It seems that the secondary education system is not doing an adequate job of either a. preparing students academically for college

Son #2 was pushed through four years of math when he was in high school, ending in pre-calculus in 12th grade. He had a math tutor all through high school. He was barely passing any grade of math, but the school did not want to fail him. Does that skew their statistics in bad way?

One math class even had him write an essay about "how I use math every day" for extra credit so that he could pass his math course!! An essay?! What does that have to do with math calculation??????? Why are the schools so loathe to fail students? Because they might actually have to provide resources to *help* them?!

By the way, when son #2 entered community college, his math level was tested. What was his level? Pre-algebra!!! His math level was eighth grade math in his first year at community college (after doing pre-algebra in high school). Might he have not understood the math all along? Most likely. Then he had to take two semesters of Math without credit before he could start taking Math toward his associate of arts degree (which he never achieved). He dropped out of community college in frustration (as did his older brother). At this point, he refused testing so, by virtue of his being 18 years of age, there was nothing else for me as a parent to do except verbally encourage him.

> 77

as though only college grads are useful to society, and as if that is the only route to a successful life. Society needs people to be plumbers and carpenters and to work in all those trades for which college may not be the best preparation.

There's a lot to be said for those poeple who work in trades to be able to have a college education. Community colleges are excellent in directing people into trades as opposed to simply gearing them for higher education.

Want to hear something sad?

My welder son (who dropped out of community college) has tuition assistance to take college courses. He was very excited about the opportunity to take a machining course at our community college. Now - for two semesters in a row - that class was dropped in the last minute because there were not enough students signed up. :(

> 78

as though only college grads are useful to society, and as if that is the only route to a successful life. Society needs people to be plumbers and carpenters and to work in all those trades for which college may not be the best preparation.

Amen to that, Tina!

By the way, do you know how much money plumbers make?!! :O

Oh, Madeline, I do indeed sympathize and empathize. I was equally frustrated when the middle daughter, admittedly no math whiz, suddenly began to get D's and F's in math in 6th grade. Through some sneaky connections (working in the system is of minimal value), I managed to get some testing done. Math score was 43 points below that indicated by IQ score. I saw a problem. I saw classic ADD behavior. School System answer? Well, she's not "failing" in math, she's getting by, and look at her other scores! Let's put her in Gifted classes and just let her mooch along in math. Results were not good, with reference to performance meeting ability. I begged, became angry, reasoned, nagged, all to no avail. Sigh. I do hate the public schools, with their emphasis on least common denominator and sports, sports, sports! It's only through sheer guts and parental help and concern that the "different" child succeeds. Kudos to you and yours for sticking it through.

Sigh. As we used to say, when watching 3(!) maintenance men changing a single fluorescent light bulb--one to change it, one to hold the ladder, one to look on and kibitz--while teachers waded through hundreds of papers and student concerns: "Your tax dollars at waste."

Okay. Back to books now...

:)

> 89

Well, she's not "failing" in math

Such a typical response! When I requested testing for son #2 in relation to his failing ability at math in high school, I was told that he did well in math testing when he was in sixth grade! He was only 12 years old at that time!! He had no further testing, but his 6th grade teacher did say to keep an eye on him because she already saw signs of him struggling in math.

I also wonder whether my son would have done better had I held him back from kindergarten for a year (i.e. put him in at age 6 rather than age 5). His birthday is in December so he was one of the younger students in his classes throughout his schooling. It's too late to second guess this, but I'd advise others to do just that.

I am really proud of our kids. They did succeed despite the aggravations of the public school system. I had my three kids in private school for elementary school and just my daughter through eighth grade. The boys later went to public school because their (Jewish) private school had no high school division. My daughter went to a different (Jewish) private school, but requested to be transferred out after 8th grade. I think the social pressure was stressing her at that time so I agreed.

Hey! I'd already spent a total of 20 (6+6+8) years of money for private school education for my kids.

>92 SqueakyChu:: And of course you'd contributed your share to the public education funds as well. It's truly maddening.

And then they wonder why so very many kids drop out from sheer boredom or frustration. People think that dropouts are at the lower end of the scale both educationally and socio-economically, but more and more that is not the case. Of course I can't speak about other areas of the country, but I'm seeing an increasingly disturbing trend toward caring parents homeschooling/private schooling their children, both here in Georgia and Alabama, and in Florida...and where I lived in FL was far from economically challenged. And thus we have a self-perpetuating problem: people don't want to use the public schools because they lag so far behind and have so many discipline problems, precisely because caring parents don't want to use the public school system...argggghhhhh. I don't know how to fix this, but if we don't start, as a nation and as local communities, to take an interest in what goes on in our public schools, we are in for some deep, deep trouble.

I can speak as a shining example: I dropped out of high school myself, with ONE credit needed for graduation. Of course I went back to night school for my Senior English, got the (regular) diploma, got the A.A., got the B.A., got the M.A....but what a sense of loss I felt (and sometimes still do); if only a guidance counselor had even noticed that I was alive, let alone having a few difficulties with one thing and another...never mind. It all worked out. For me. But for so many, that first mis-step leads to a lifetime of problems and struggle.

I studied my Latin today. Made me feel good, believe it or not. Then went to play a bit of bridge with DH. Lousy cards, but it was great to see him concentrating, enjoying himself, making good plays...

Ooooo....one daughter sent b'day presents...four smallish packages from Amazon. Hmmm...of course I'll wait for the day itself, as I have, oh, one or two volumes available to me in the interim...

with ONE credit needed for graduation.

You're not alone, Gail. Son #1 dropped out of community college because he didn't want to/couldn't do the accounting courses needed for his information technology degree. Years after he was already working in his career (he's now 30), I encouraged him to go back to school and simply change his major to general studies. When he did so, he found he only needed ONE credit to graduate, so he took tennins and got his-two year degree from the community college! :)

I don't think high school guidance counselors really get to know the kids in their schools (or at least in our high school). It seems all they do is plug classes into schedules. Son #1 took horticulture because that's all that was available...according to the counselor. My son never was...and never will be ...the horticulture type!!

Oooh! Let us know what you find in your packages...and happy birthday!

This is all so frustrating, so sad, so typical! Your children were blessed to have mothers who cared and tried to get the school's attention however little the system worked for them.
N.C. has an 8th grade competency test in math and reading which kids have to pass to graduate. Now. Would you care to guess the % of correct answers that constituted a passing grade on the math test 4 years ago? -----------------------------------------
Try 34%. Our high school has seniors still struggling to pass the thing 2 weeks before graduation. I tell you again that we are in trouble, and I have no clue where to begin to get us out.

I'm enjoying these conversations regarding education.

#77, I couldn't agree with you more!!!!

Linda, Hello! Hope everything is going well with you.

Peggy, on a somewhat lighter note:

As we drive along Highway 280 here in AL, heading up toward Auburn, we pass a sign that says "NCST Next Right". After some thought, we decided that it stands for North Carolina State Test, and if one fails, one has to remain in AL.

Didn't realize NC had some serious problems as well. Why isn't this a priority? The states make cuts where they can least afford to do so---student/teacher ratio, book budgets---while keeping dozens of professionals in meaningless office-type positions. Put them all back in the classrooms, please.

Oh. Wait. Just re-read your post carefully. 34% is a passing grade? Eh? What's the point of having the test, then? You could just about pass the test by guesswork.

Did you all know that the word in Latin for "animal" is...animal? Just thought I'd pass that along.

I'm *still* reading the same two books. Here it is, the fifth, and I have yet to complete even one volume. Sigh. I'm waaaay behind last year's pace in reading. I'm not sure if I have the Book Funk that's going around, or I can't concentrate, or what. Well, never mind. Nobody's counting but me. Of course, a tiny part of this may be a result of the fact that my LT time has increased exponentially this year.

"NCST" = North Carolina State Test! Hilarious!! We are tested to death. Along with Texas, N.C. was one of the first poor academics states to jump on the test wagon. What follows is my opinion only. The mandated end-of-course tests are very narrow in scope and can be targeted by even a mediocre teacher. The competency test, on the other hand, is a real test, and therefore, they have to keep dropping the bar. I'm sure that's a shallow take, but I have a jaundiced eye because my two courses were usually the first academic, non-EOC courses that my students ever took. They expected not to have to study or learn anything because they were not being "tested." I finally got tired.
Gail, I haven't complete anything this month either, but that's my usual mode. I'll finish 2 or 3 within days of each other and then go weeks before completing another one. I just don't like reading one or two books at a time.

Wow...what an interesting discussion about education, both public and higher ed. I am a big supporter of education of some kind following high school as my teenagers will attest to. But, what is the best path is for each person is highly individual and should be. There should not be a formula for every student to follow....

In the Fall, I worked at a community college (in the library) for one semester. It was one of the best experiences in my life...I worked with students with a huge variety of goals....some to finish two years of vocational training and get a job, some going on to a four year college, some hoping to attain graduate degrees. I was everyday inspired by these students, many of them middle aged and working on a second or third career or retired and just wanting to learn.

Although I am at times cynical about our education system and what I see as the lowering of standards (at least in NY state where I live), this experience did give me hope.

I'm an avid supporter of community colleges. Some of the best classes I've ever had were taught by wonderful professors who enjoyed the community college atmosphere.

I was interested in American Literature and took a three credit course at a local community college. It was an incredible experience. Likewise, another professor at that college gave me the love of Tudor history.

Working now at a private university wherein the tuition is astronomical, some of my co workers look down on the community college concept, I merely shake my head at their lack of knowledge and open mindness. Snobishness in academia is such an ignorant thing.

My daughter is a junior in high school and we are beginning visiting colleges in hopes of narrowing her list of schools to apply. When I share with many people the colleges she is interested in, none community colleges, but a mixture of private and state institutions, I often get a negative reaction to the SUNY(state) schools on her list. Indeed...many in and out of academia are education snobs...where SUNY costs come out to around $20,000 a year and the private schools to $50,000 to $60,000 a year or more! The realities of paying the tuition bill makes one much less snobbish!

> 100

Some of the best classes I've ever had were taught by wonderful professors who enjoyed the community college atmosphere.

Linda, I so thoroughly agree with you. My very best professors were those I had at our local community college. Personally, I think college students get the most bang for their bucks with community cooleges.

> 101

I don't envy the process of parents now trying to help their kids decide where to attend college. What a fortune it costs!

"Snobishness in academia is such an ignorant thing."

Indeed. Let me tell you, being a faculty member at a small, exclusive, *very* expensive private college can be hard at times when you're the daughter of a midwestern farmer and a first generation college graduate. Part of what makes me not in the least sad that I'm leaving my job to raise my child is that I get to leave behind the snobbish atmosphere. Now, having said that, I must also say that of course not all college professors are like this (I certainly don't put myself among them!) and there are some of my colleagues with whom I get along very well because they are very grounded and in no way uppity. But that other kind is definitely out there.

Just picking up on a couple of remarks here:

My three favorite professors were from the community college level; one taught philosophy and logic; one taught English Literature (his favorite phrase was, "Repetition is the mother of knowledge"); and one taught U.S. History. All were witty, intelligent, caring, terrific teachers. Coming in a very close fourth would be a university professor who taught, among other things, a seminar: The Modern American Novel. He had the delightful and appropriate name of Wally Reader. Great guy, good teacher, with a real gift for oral reading.

Costs seem to me to now be almost prohibitive. I think the student willing to do the work can get a truly good education in either the public or the private university. I have seen and do see the snobbishness of the private schools (a generalization, I know). It's kind of startling, disappointing, and as Linda pointed out, ingnorant. On the other hand, when I saw where you teach, Amber, I nearly fainted from awe and, yes, let me admit it right up front, envy. Sigh.
Never mind.

Apparently I completely forgot to list book #6:
Sense and Sensibility
which I read for the Austenthon run by Stasia. I had hard work getting interested in the book at first, but as I moved along, I began to like the characters more and more. I do find some of the plot turns trite--easy to say 200 years after a book is written, isn't it?--but Austen's engaging writing and quick wit make up for that. This is obviously an early effort, but still worth reading a couple of times in your life.

Book #7:
A Ghost in the Machine
is another book which takes a longish time to get going, but it pays off with a knock-out last five pages. Part cozy village mystery, part character study, part gothic, this is a book that will repay your attention. Full review is here.

Book #8:
The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England is a most engaging llok at life in Chaucer's time, without any of that dry, tedious stuff about government minutia weighing the book down. Full review is here.

#106: Thanks for the reminder that I need to get back to the Inspector Barnaby series, Gail!

Hello Dear One!

I know you have an upcoming birthday. I hope Saturday is as special as you are!

Linda, what a great gif! I love how it moves.

Stasia, Inspector Barnaby comes in fairly late in this book, which is moderately disappointing, but even so this really odd book is worth reading.

Right now I'm (re)reading Morning Miracle, which I got through the E.R. program here. I hate it when I get a book for free and then have to give it just a so-so, or worse, a negative, review. I'm afraid that's going to happen here, though. The author jumps all over the place telling the story and makes it very difficult to keep track of what's what and who's who. Maybe the second read will help me to get the events and people clear.

Got D.H. on the healthy track and immediately succumbed to those stress-induced disorders, hiatal hernia and IBS. Literally one end to the other. Blech. Symptoms are at least temporarily under control now. Perhaps Yoga is the answer?

*stiffly bends one knee* Gail, yoga, and its breathing techniques, are key factors in my ability to move at all. I watch and follow along with a PBS show called "Sit and Be Fit" since actual yoga is no longer on my list of abilities :_( but the breathing exercises are *crucially* important to my overall rude good health.

Seriously! I'm not ill except when auntie gives me something from coming into contact with her excreta...or when I don't do my breathing and stretching exercises, when I can get a cold or something. Even then, although I whine a lot (I *am* a man, after all), I'm never all that sick compared to the times before breathing and stretching.

Get thee to a yoga class! IBS and hietal hernia problems won't be anything like so bad!

Happy Birthday, I hope tomorrow is a special day for you!

Happy Birthday! I hope you have another wonderful year of good books!

Richard! My dear. I used to do the Sit and Be Fit, but sadly it's not available here right now that I'm aware of---must check early morning hours. I also used to do the Sun Salutations pretty faithfully and felt much more grounded and centered with them. I kept up the breathing exercises for quite a while, but when that little crater opened under our feet I lost balance and calm for a bit. Trying to get back to normal--or as normal as it gets around here--as I can. It's so silly to let the tense times do this to me; I mean it's not like I haven't had this all my life. Mother said I always threw up the night of my birthday, just from the excitement, even before I can remember doing it. Imagine how charming that must have been for her.

Judy and Mamzel, thank you for the birthday wishes! I'm looking forward to a quiet and calm day with books, coffee, chocolate, and music. Ahhh...

I won't be here tomorrow, so I'll slide in my birthday wishes as well. I wish you the day you desire - sounds good to me! Happy birthday, Gail!

Many happy returns of the day, dear President Lincoln Gail, in 25min!

Happy Birthday, Gail. I hope it is a dandy one for you!

Happy birthday, Gail.

Have a fabulous day!

Happy Birthday, Gail. Your "quiet and calm day with books, coffee, chocolate, and music" sounds perfect. Enjoy it to the fullest!

Thanks to all of you for your kind birthday wishes! So sweet and heartwarming. It makes me realize how many friends I've found here at LT.

Now, to return to books; this is, after all, what we're interested in--except, of course, for the chatting, the recipe exchange, the chance to comfort one another, the hanging about waiting to cause a spot of trouble or a burst of laughter:

The DH shopping trip list:
Guns, Germs, and Steel: I like history and different viewpoints, whether I agree with them or not;

The Three Weissmanns of Westport: a modern tribute to Austen; what better thing to pick up in our year of Austenthon?

End of part one; touchstones are driving me insane...

DH shopping list, part 2:

My Reading Life by Pat Conroy: I've enjoyed many of Conroy's works over the years, I love books about reading, everyone's talking about it;

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie King: So many people have liked and recommended this that I began to feel completely out of the loop, so I chose it;

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbon: the Modern Library Abridged Edition; I've always wanted to read this and it seemed like a good chance to get it;

Wait for Me! Memoirs : I've a passion for all things Mitford and quite a nice little collection of the stuff--this makes a great addition to the pile;

Fall of the Roman Republic by Plutarch: I've loved the cranky, informative, snarky Plutarch ever since I read Plutarch on Sparta, I'm interested in Classical Studies.

That's it for the DH list, except for the fact that he kindly ordered my Volumes 2 through 6 of Winston Churchill's World War II history (I already own volume one). Truly an amazing haul.

But wait! There's just a bit more. I told one of the children to "just check the Amazon wishlist and pick something. I'll be surprised and pleased, since I've not looked at it for a while."

Imagine my surprise when I opened the following:

The House of Mitford: see above, Wait for Me!, for why this was on the list;

Children of the Sun: A Narrative of "Decadence" in England and After: the true story of the Bright Young Things between the wars; oh my;

Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead: I consider Brideshead Revisited one of my ten favorite novels; I'm extremely interested in Evelyn Waugh; I was thrilled to get this book and, frankly, had completely forgotten it until I opened the package.

The Touchstones are excessively touchy and annoying today.

For once, I feel overwhelmed by so many books around me. A very different feeling. Embarassed by riches.

Never mind the Touchstones, you have an amazingly generous family who found a wonderful list of books for you! I'm excited to see that you will read Guns, Germs and Steel, one of my favorite books of '09, I think. LT is on a bit of a Mitford tear. I have The House of Mitford on the way from an AMP seller as well as The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell which Becky is currently reading. I'll read whichever of them arrives first so that I'll have a basis for dipping into Letters Between Six Sisters which is waiting patiently on the slopes of Mt. Bookpile. Now I'm off to see whether there is a Mitford group here.
(Happy Birthday evening, dear Gail!)

Just popped in here and I see that it's your birthday! Hope you are enjoying it! What a great haul of books you've got there. I, too, am a bit of a Mitford-ite and I am jealous! The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate are on my top fave books of all time list. A dear friend turned me on to those books and we used to annoy everyone else by walking around quoting them all the time.

ENJOY!

Sandy K

Wow! What a great haul for your birthday, Gail! Enjoy!

Such a great haul! How very delightful for you!

And no, there was not even a trace of envy in that statement. No no. Perish forbid!

It was awfully sweet of my family to gift me with all these lovely books, especially since this is a year in which I'm trying very, very hard not to buy books for myself. I've got to weed out some of the books I've been keeping for the WWBF!

Book #9:

Morning Miracle which was a major disappointment. I really wanted to love this; I tried to read it twice to get a handle on it--after all, it could be me and a lack of paying attention--and it was still terrible. What a shame to waste such a compelling story in this confused mess. Full review is here

eta: on one of my tries to get the review thingie correct, my link went to "The Basics of Rabbit Breeding". Oh dear.

Oh, I'm so miserably behind, and I'm so sorry I missed your birthday! At any rate, Felicem Natalem, a little on the late side!

I missed your birthday, too, so sorry to be late! Belated birthday greetings!

Sorry Morning Miracle was such a disappointment.

#127: Too bad about Morning Miracle, Gail. I hope your next read is a better one for you.

Thank you, Amber and Terry, for the birthday wishes. I am so ancient now; all good wishes are greatly appreciated!

I'm reading two books now: Cloud Atlas, on loan; and What Fresh Hell Is This, a biography of Dorothy Parker. I'm loving C.A. so far, although I'm not too deeply into it yet. I enjoy most metafiction (is that the right word for this book?) and am always charmed, amused, and amazed by authors who can assume many different voices within a single work and make each one seem authentic.

The Parker book is something else again. It's not badly written, at all. But Parker herself, while amusing in small doses, is revealed, at least in the early going, as a thorough beast who delighted in the vindictive, venom-laden arrow. And she was two-faced, a trait I dislike intensely. However, the book is interesting and certainly presents her in a fair light, giving full credit to her good qualities.

Also working on Latin; not as easy as it may seem, but entertaining nevertheless.

No idea if CA is metafiction, Gail, since I have no idea what that is!

I'm closer to finishing *CA* than you are, Gail. I am not sure yet what's happening on the meta-fiction front. Does anybody turn out to be "real" besides the reader? I am pretty much saving the group discussion until I finish the book. Nice to have it available, and I'll be more than happy to natter on about it with you if you want!

#132 Stasia, according to the OED metafiction is "Fiction in which the author self-consciously alludes to the artificiality or literariness of a work by parodying or departing from novelistic conventions (esp. naturalism) and narrative techniques; a fictional work in this genre or style."

A really great example of metafiction is If On a Winter's Night a Traveler.

I too have been saving the group discussion thread for Cloud Atlas until I finish the book. It's so good, I'm taking my time, re-reading sections, but until I can get my elderly mom re-planted in her home in baltimore, and get back to a more peaceful reading environment, I'm not making much progress. I'm looking forward to your take in the end.

>133 LizzieD: and 135: I'm so glad to have both of you reading this at this time and saving the group discussion till you're done! It's an amazing work, but, um, a bit disconcerting.

>134 MickyFine:: C.A. reminds me very much of If On a Winter's Night a Traveller, in that it's in the same sort of discrete sections, each purportedly by a different "author', if you will, but less self-conciously so---still not sure. It's a puzzling experience, but enjoyable.

I'm playing catch-up this evening, and I see I missed your birthday. Belated congratulations. I hope you are busily enjoying your embarrassment of riches. One can never have too many books!

I really enjoyed Cloud Atlas and am still thinking about it. I hope that all of those wisely taking their time with the book will post their thoughts on the CA group read page. This is one book that begs to be discussed.

Hi Gail

Simply stopping by to say I'm thinking of you. Congratulations on all the lovely book additions!

I have read through Cloud Atlas twice now, but could not make it through If On A Winter's Night even once. I wonder why that is?

>137 Donna828:: Hey Donna! Good to see you here. I got so caught up in C.A. last night that I stayed up till 1:00 reading it. Fascinating. I'm dying to see the discussion, but don't want to spoil any little surprises for myself.

>138 Whisper1:: Linda, Welcome! You know, for once in my life, I feel as though I possibly have too many books. Wait...nah. I just need to read faster!

>139 alcottacre:: Well, Stasia, from what I've read so far, Calvino's book is more confusing, with little to no connection between the sections, where there are clear(ish) connections between the diverse sections of C.A. Also, there is that separate introductory section all about reading and readers in Calvino's book. By itself, that intro. makes a magnificent little essay, but within the context of a, um, I guess you could call it a novel, it's kind of off-putting. C.A. is much more subtle in its manipulation of the reader and the writing process. IMO.

Or maybe you just weren't in the right mood for it. ;) I liked it a lot, but it took me several different attempts over a period of years to make it through; so much of reading enjoyment depends on the reader's frame of mind when approaching a book.

Have you read any of Paul Auster? He writes the same sort of odd, to put it mildly, fiction. But to me, C.A. is the superior book of this type that I've read so far. Another author of this type is Siri Hundstet (spelling?), Paul Auster's wife. I found her work better than Auster's. I sort of felt that Auster was just engaging in a big put-on.

I have not yet read any of Auster's books. I have read several good reviews of them here in the group though, so I imagine I will get to them eventually. I had never heard of his wife before I don't think.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Calvino. I am not sure I will ever attempt that one again. I really do not like books that make me feel utterly and completely stupid.

I hope to read Cloud Atlas soon. I think it’ll be an interesting experience.

I read If on a Winter's Night a Traveler last year. I liked how it showed that reading may mean different things to different people.The book’s discussion on some of the fundamental ideas about the process of writing and reading I found interesting.

On the problematic side, all of the chapters are supposed to be broken off at a moment of great tension but I did not feel any tension at any of the cut off points. None of the stories seemed that exciting to me. All of the first chapters are o.k. but once any of them ended I moved on to the next one, not caring.

This wasn’t a difficult read for me. I was fairly entertained and the book did provide me with some food for thought. I just wish the unfinished chapters were as engaging as they are purported to be. Because otherwise the whole idea of searching for the truth behind the unfinished books begins to feel a little shaky.

Stasia, I hate that feeling of not being able to understand what on earth is going on or what the author is trying to do, as well. My defenses immediately go up and I manage to turn it around, thus:

"Stupid book. Numb author! What does think he's trying to do? Porbably one of these highbrows looking down on the rest of us. Hmmmph."

Of course I know it's a defense, but it usually makes me feel better anyway. ;>)

Porua, I though the Calvino was all about reading and the connection between readers and writers, with not much to do with plotting---just an attempt to show the reader how easy it is to be drawn in. That was just my take on it, though.

# 143 Calvino addresses the reader directly as ‘You’ so I was assuming he wanted the reader (which is this case was ‘I/Porua’) to feel drawn into the narrative but that is exactly what I didn’t feel. I’m usually the kind of reader who feels very much drawn into the stories I read. In the past, I have been accused of taking fiction too seriously! But in If on a Winter's Night a Traveler where the writer seemed to want the reader (me) to feel involved with the narrative, I didn’t feel involved.

#143: I hate that feeling of not being able to understand what on earth is going on or what the author is trying to do, as well. My defenses immediately go up

I am glad to know it is not just me!

>#144: Porua, I think you'll find Cloud Atlas much more intriguing. The separate (sort of) stories are really, really interesting. I am loving this book! And there's no direct contact from the author, who must be an extremely intellingent and well-read man. Lots of times I find that books with a lot of buzz are disappointing, but that's definitely not the case here. Even the dystopian section, which is where I am now, is great, and I'm not usually a fan of that type of story.

I just finished it, Gail, and I'm too gobsmacked to know what to think. (That's not a hint of some great resolution in the end; just my being overwhelmed by the whole experience.) I'm off to read the group-read threads. OH! I enjoyed it a lot!!!

Gail, I'm sorry I got so behind on your thread. So sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. I don't have much to add in the way of practical suggestions but I will be thinking of you both.

Glad to hear about the birthday book haul and that you're enjoying Cloud Atlas.

Hey, Heather and Peggy! Good to see you both here even intermittently.

Still plugging along with Cloud Atlas, but I anticipate finishing it tomorrow, which will make it an addition to the tioli, under the two previous challenge thing. It's one of the most surprisingly good books I've come across in a while, and a very frightening one as well.

DH is really having a good run here. Recovery from the last incident is strong, and he's more like himself than he's been in months. We're planning a short (about 5 days) trip south at the end of the week. Dr. said to enjoy and treasure these times, and believe me I am.

Of course, just as I finished the last sentence, dh had a bit of a low sugar episode--diabetes being one of the things we deal with together--so went to make sure he got the p'nut butter half sand. and milk and a bit of a lie-down. I keep p'nut butter crackers and glucose tabs with us in the vehicles, just in case.

A book I've found that I'm enjoying for a variety of reasons is A Night at the Opera. What a great guide! I love opera--and music of all kinds except a very few types--but know little about the technicalities and what to look for in a performance. This book is just the thing for that.

Good grief, I've finished book #10:

Cloud Atlas

which is truly one of the most artfully constructed, fascinating, thought-provoking books I've read in quite a while. Stories which are complete unto themselves, and yet intertwined with all the others in subtle and complex ways. I can't imagine doing a review without giving away key plot turns and elements of the themes. All I can say is, if you haven't read it, you really should. It will change the way you think.

Next to that book, Dorothy Parker just seems trivial and petulant, so I've put her aside for the time being, to be returned to later, when I've had a chance to adjust to less complicated issues. May read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or may just kind of relax with some mysteries and some e-books I've got hanging around.

It's always to have one's own opinion confirmed again. Cloud Atlas is something else! Wishing you and your DH a wonderful trip. Hope the South (as far as you go, anyway) will be sunny for you!

I've been seeing a lot of good reviews for Cloud Atlas. I think I just have to give in and get it ;)

Hey Gail, I just sent you a Mooch. :-*

>153 richardderus:: I'm not seeing a mooch, yet, Rdear, but my books are your books. Just let me know what you'd like; we can always do a lend/lease sort of thing.

Tomorrow is our day to get away from all routines. I've gone so far as to decide to bring only the ereader and no actual books.

*Ducks the suprised looks, whispers of wonder and/or scorn*

And we'll see how that goes. I've never been away from home without at least one book. This could be hard...

I did the same last weekend. I only took my Kindle and I was fretting about not taking any "real" books. My husband just shook his head and asked how many books I have stored on my Kindle. That shut me up.

Enjoy your break!

Simply stopping by to wave hello.

#156: Me too - Hi Gail! :)

I just survived three weeks on the road with basically my NOOK and my MP3 loaded with audio books. I did have two paper books that publishers had sent that I had to do reviews for, but I only got to one of them. I could have done quite nicely with just the ereader and ear books. I was pleasantly surprised!

Well, we're back from our brief foray back to the south--I mean, really south: Florida. We only made it to Panama City, but that was fine with me. Had some grandious seafood in Dothan Alabama, at Crystal River Seafood, a small chain with great, nongreasy if you can believe it, fried ocean stuff and hush puppies and fried green tomatoes and all like that there. Ate a dinner there and a lunch the next day; well, at that point I thought seriously that I would burst, so called a halt to that nonsense and settled down to veggies for the rest of the trip. Also none of a particular artificial sweetener and took loooooots of stomach meds and it seems more or less under control now.

I did great with just the e-reader! Started and finished Book #11:

100 One-Night Reads: A Book Lover's Guide
by a couple of brothers named Major. Some of them were a bit of a stretch, more than a single night's reading, I would think, but some great familiar titles and some I'd never heard of as well. It's a fun book and well worth buying in some form as a reference. Then went on to one of the books listed for
Book #12:
Washington Square

It was really an easy read for a James book. The plot was a familiar one of the deceived young woman, the grasping suitor, and the father who knows better. The characters are obnoxious in the extreme, except for the young lady, who is brave and dignified.

Welcome home, Gail! I hope the stomach upset was worth the food that inspired it. It's hard to be "good" on vacation. ;-)

I can't tell if you liked Washington Square. It really was a simple story. Join us for the mid-March group read of The Portrait of A Lady if you want a dose of the real James. The link can be easily found on the wiki.

>160 Donna828:: Who cannot like James? (I know--millions!) I enjoyed the book very much although it seemed like a novella, it was so short, and easily comprehended. It struck me as I was reading it, though, that there are few likable characters in James's work. That may be an impression from having read not enough of his work, but still...Nevertheless, he manages to get inside his characters and make them very real, with mixed motives and real, um, nastiness in lots of them. I found the link for Portrait of a Lady and am planning to read it this month with the group (usually I'm way ahead or way behind on group reads). I've not read The Golden Bowl from his late period, but there was an excellent t.v. adaptation of it years ago with I think Barry Morse as the leading male character. Very creepy in its exploration of the underside of human nature. Kind of interesting, that: nowadays we see violence used to an extreme to depict human ugliness; James succeeded very well at exposing that ugliness with nary a violent act in any of his work.

Book #13:

Innocent

Scott Turow's follow-up to Presumed Innocent. Hmmm...not sure about this book. It's certainly a page-turner; kept me up late last night. But it lacked the impact of the first book. A good, but not great, suspense novel.

I do wish that I could get into the schedule with the rest of you. I reread Portrait of a Lady a couple of years ago and pined to talk about it to somebody. I think I got a rather condescending conversation going over at booksnobs, but it wasn't what I wanted, and now it's too early for me to reread again. I'll watch for the thread though.
And I was even less impressed with Innocent than you, Gail, but yeah, I guess it was good.

Peggy: hahahahaha: booksnobs! Love that. I was disappointed in the Turow book, I think, because I re-read the first one just to get myself up to speed, and it was much, much better. I've read all of his books; I think he does the seamy, cheaply corrupted, inner city sort of thing pretty well, and I love the Sandy Stern character. But this book didn't have that marvelous "What!?!?" sort of ending. Well, live, read, and learn.

Right now I'm reading a bio. of Bogart that my daughter sent me as a surprise birthday present: Tough Without a Gun. She and I are huge fans of movies from all eras and also of Bogie himself.

NOTICE:
Earnestly seeking job as reader/movie viewer/music listener. Diligent, dedicated, don't mind repeats. Please respond if you need such.

That would be my ulitimate dream. But then I realize that Rdear is a far better critic than I (as are many others here), and once again my hopes are dashed. *sobs*

I'm constantly astonished and humbled by the cleverness of other people. Fortunately I'm also amused by their cleverness, so that takes a bit of the edge off. A bit, mind you. I'd love to be able to come up with stuff like "booksnobs" or that marvelous bitch in a bonnet, which makes me laugh aloud every time I go there.

Which brings me to the point, sort of; are we still going to read Pride and Prejudice this month? That should be something: P. and P. and P. of a L. in the same month. It would be neat to contrast them, the styles, what they have to say about the human condition, etc.

Oooh, can't wait to hear about the Bogart bio! I love him. Really a fine, fine actor. I think my favorite performances of his are in The African Queen and The Petrified Forest. Of course, I love him in Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon, too, who doesn't?

Sandy K

Have you read By Myself and Then Some by Lauren Bacall? It is excellent!

>165 sandykaypax: and 166: While the writing in the Bogie book isn't going to set the world on fire, still it's fun to read and get back into the groove of all those great movies and the actors (and the other usual suspects) from that period. Lots and lots of information here. More on this later. Linda, I've been meaning to get to Bacall's book for years. Love her: her style, her wit, and of course her looks.

I am happy to say that living with oddness has its humorous moments. One of the problems dh has is that his dreams are extremely vivid, to the point of momentary disorientation. I often awaken to him doing strange things. I never know what the answer will be to the gentle "What are you doing, Sweetheart?" in the middle of the night. Last night the answer, in the tone of *What! How can you not know?* was, "I'm looking for ants." Fortunately for the both of us, he's easily reassured with a soothing, low-toned response. Example: "There's no ants here. You're in bed. Time for sleep." A doubtful "Okay" and in just a few moments, he was sound asleep again. I am so thankful that I find these sorts of things funny more than sad; I think it's because they're momentary (at least for now) and soon over.

Gail, keeping one's sense of humor is essential. I've found it's really helped me. I am a notorious dreamer and sleep-talker. However, I never sleepwalked, although one of my sisters used to do that when she was younger.

Sandy K

Life level: slightly agonizing

Reading level: good and getting better

I finished the Bogie book,

Book # 14: Tough without a Gun

and learned some things that I either never knew or had completely forgotten. It's a very light, in fact just a tiny bit cheesy, piece of Hollywood history--but how could Hollywood history be other than cheesy?--and will make a great relaxing read for anyone interested in movies from the thirties, forties, and fifties, or in Bogie or Bacall or Hollywood in general. One thing is for sure: Bogie made more of a cultural impression, I believe, than any other actor that immediately comes to mind. I mean, we all know Grant and Stewart and Gable, but they didn't become the symbol that Bogie did. Maybe Eastwood, very slightly possibly Brando, although I always consider Brando a superb actor and nothing more. Anyway, it's a good way to pass the time.

Then went on to

Book #15: Gallows View

which is a somewhat above average mystery, being the first installment of the Alan Banks series. I'll post my review tomorrow at the book site.

Am now reading the very entertaining and amusing Mrs. Ames, by E.F. Benson. I love it so far.

Gail, I stopped by this morning to say hi after a long time away(trying to catch up on threads). I always enjoy reading your insightful book summaries and reviews.

In response to your comment -Life level: slightly agonizing- I'm so sorry for what you are going through! I'm glad you can find some solace - however fleeting - in reading. Thinking of you!

Sorry to hear life is tough at the moment Gail :-( I hope Mrs Ames helps.

Life can be so bittersweet. Gail, I admire your ability to smile at the absurdities that are thrown at us. Your husband is lucky to have you in his corner. May you both find something to smile about today.

Oh yes, that is a great idea about comparing The Portrait of A Lady with Pride and Prejudice. I may have to depend on my own faulty memory for the P&P portion of the comparison as I won't be able to fit in a reread this month. Ack! Too many books...

The Bogie book sounds delightful. I really should read more on old Hollywood as it's a topic I find fascinating. Glad you're enjoying your current read.

Review of Gallows View is here.

Wow! Success on the first go-round. Following richard's advice of sloooooow and accurate typing worked; I may learn how to run this computer yet.

Still reading Mrs. Ames. I like it better than the Lucia series, and I really like those as well. Even though it was in written in 1912(!), it portrays very well the character disputes and jostling for position so common in small communities, with a very large dose of humor.

Then, I hope to read both Portrait of a Lady and Pride and Prejudice this month. That may be a bit too ambitious. We'll see how much reading I can squeeze in, between gardening--it's spring here--and a few other odds and ends I'm tied up with.

Book #16: Mrs. Ames
I finished this completely satisfactory novel and my review is here . I loved this little book.

Book #17: Means of Evil
On the other hand, I thought this book a very run-of-the-mill collection of mystery short stories. From my experiences this year and last, I think that mystery short stories have to be really well-written to hold my interest, and that the format is a difficult one for an author to work with. My very brief review is here

Fingers crossed that I did this correctly.

Well, glory be! Success again. You see how very easily I am pleased and/or amused.

Life level: moderately maddening

Reading level: Really quite good

Book #18:
I've read Death in the Stocks
an old one by Georgette Heyer, but haven't written a review yet. Now I'm getting into the big old classics for this month; I just hope I can make some sense of them.

Good news: Gardening is coming along; the birds are going bonkers and showing off breeding plumage; the weather is pleasant.

Not-so-good: DH couldn't quite manage his jacket zipper; got to Home Depot the other day and couldn't--could NOT remember what he was there for. We had quite a discussion yesterday regarding the problems and the frustration that he's feeling because of the problems, and how it's slopping over into other areas--I mean how he's diverting his anger toward other things. Sad but, I think, a bit helpful for him to be able to acknowledge that things aren't quite as good as one could hope. On the other hand, we chatted a bit about how very much worse they could be. It all reminded me of the Monty Python song: "Look on the bright side".

Gail: I so much admire your strength, and your support of your husband. I suppose we're stronger than we know, and it only gets tested when things get tough, no? You and he are continually in my thoughts.

I love the Life level/Reading level updates; such a healthy good-humored way to think of things. Oh, and Yay for gardens and berserk birds!!

A thumb for Mrs. Ames and Gail! I'm not quite finished, but was confident enough about where he is going and what I want to say about it to read your review. I agree with Amber right down to the ground, and must say that you're one of my new heroes.

Life level: Well, it could be a lot worse

Reading level: Excellent! Not only reading Henry James, but just discovered S.J. Perelman, who is hilarious and can be read one short sketch at a time.

>178 scaifea: and 179: Not quite as easy as it looks; isn't that always the way? But I'm in now way heroic, believe me; I have my moments of just tearing up and sometimes of wanting to bang my head on the wall, but I keep the little weeps to myself and try to avoid walls as much as possible. Getting outside really helps, as I can work off quite a bit of anxiety, and other less attractive emotions, while pulling up weeds, patiently deadheading the pansies, digging in the dirt, or just sitting and looking at everything that goes on right under our noses while we waste our time on worrying about either what already can't be helped or what the future may hold.

I had the privilege of doing a close edit/critique of a quite good, although unpublished, young poet's work. That was fantastic as a.) it was a great poem and b.) it gave me enough of a challenge that I forgot everything else for a couple of hours. I love editing, especially if the work has some quality to it.

Amber, you asked me why I liked Jude the Obscure over on your thread, but unfortunately I'm not sure of the answer. One thing I remember thinking was that his job, that of a stone-cutter, was so horribly appropriate. And I loved the whole Wessex thing. I guess Jude himself just appealed to me as a person--you know, someone I might know and talk to...

The only feature I don't like about LT is that it limits the length of my posts in my own thread. I kind of resent that.

Anyway, wanted to write a bit about Portrait of a Lady. If you've not read up to Chapter 12, please skip the next paras.

I was a wee bit afraid of his notorious long, maze-like sentences, so I hesitated to get started. However, this particular book just flows along in a very smooth stream; it's relaxing to read and doesn't force the reader to go back thinking, "Wait. Who is this sentence about and where did I get lost?" The main character, Isabel, is a bit full of herself, however justifiably, but is in search of something--she doesn't know quite what--to either become involved in or to study or to somehow give her life a bit of liveliness. Obviously used to being the smartest person in the room, she has a hard time making accurate judgements of the motives of others (I'm finding that to be a consistent undercurrent in James's work), and is a bit too opinionated yet inconsistent from day to day or even hour to hour.

Something that bodes ill: her aunt, the sponsor of this trip to Europe, is not altruistic and has her own sort of shabby motive for "taking up" Isabel; also, she's fiddled the facts a bit and I. isn't aware of who is paying for what; I. wants to be completely independent, but the aunt is secretly picking up quite a bit of the freight. To be continued...

Life Level: Sad

Reading Level: Very enjoyable and indeed sanity saving.

Still reading the amazing P. of L. (touchstones not working today at all for me). I know that James's latter period work is very different from his middle period, but this is really surprisingly easy all the way through. I thought perhaps he was enticing us with some soothing, simpler sentences, but the work remains fun to read, and I'm at Chapter 24.

One thing I love to read is old books that were popular back in the day---thirties, forties, fifties. Sometimes they hold up; other times, not so much. My current dip into the past is Reading I've Liked by Clifton Fadiman. I know he's got a rep. as the King of the Middle Brows, but who cares? I don't aspire to anything else; I read for fun, entertainment, information, escape, to discover how the human race manages to jolt along, whatever. Anyway, this book, which is a collection of pieces from the first four decades of the last century, mostly fiction, has an introductory note with each piece and a long intro. to the whole by Fadiman. Turns out he's very funny; sometimes insightful, sometimes numb--you know, just like the rest of us; and has really catholic tastes, appreciating everything from Thomas Mann to Ring Lardner. I've only read the introductions so far, but they're enjoyable in and of themselves as a picture both of literary tastes and of public mores in 1941.

Courage, friend. I wish you the ability to make the most of sad days too and to find occasion for thanks and laughter. Your LT friends hold you close, and that includes me.

Oh Peggy, you said that so beautifully. I wholeheartedly agree (i.e. include me in that close-holding group too, please).

Hi Gail! I like reading popular books from the 30-50's, too. I love classic film, so sometimes I'll look for a book that a film I've seen was based on. Some that I've found that way and enjoyed were Show Boat and So Big by Edna Ferber, The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe, and Please Don't Eat the Daisies by Jean Kerr. The Clifton Fadiman book sounds like something I'd like.

I like to get outside in nature, too, when life gets overwhelming. I'm not really much of a gardener, but even just a drive through the park is calming to me. There is so much that I could write about dealing with my mother's dementia, but I won't, I'll just say that it can be an emotional roller coaster for both the person suffering with dementia AND the caretakers/loved ones. I struggle with judging myself for my "inappropriate" emotions, like anger. Focusing on the beauty in every day, like you mentioned above, is helpful for me.

Sandy K

Life Level: Getting rid of the "Oh poor me" routine and back to more of "If you don't laugh at least once a day, life's not worth living" idea

Reading Level: Slightly disappointed

Sandy, it is so, so true about the anger, of which I have an unjustified but unavoidable boatload. In addition to the dh situation, there's an almost unbelievable (to me) situation going on with one of the children (I can't talk about it, don't ask) that is just breaking my heart; I can't talk to her about those feelings because it's really beyond her control and the last thing she needs is some sort of guilt trip form me, but I'll tell ya: it ain't easy. Anyway, I appreciate all the kind thoughts expressed here and really I am doing a bit better, I think.

On the reading; Portrait of a Lady is beautifully written, but perhaps not the best choice for a depressed person. I'm noticing again how unlikable many of James's characters are. On the other hand, I'm seeing a good bit of humor here, which is a very pleasant surprise. And his insight into motivations and emotions is amazing.

Pride and Prejudice is good, funny and all, but the final resolution, which I remember well from my first read, is almost unbelievable. Nevertheless, I'm finding it a nice way to pass the time.

Hi Gail, I love your thread with your frankness about what is going on at the "life level" tempered with the "reading level." I'm also liking The Portrait Of A Lady and seeing rays of humor in it. As I near the middle parts, I can see Isabel's life isn't as rosy as it first seemed. Hey, what life doesn't have its pitfalls, right?

I wish my mother and father could have talked more about my mom's descent into AD. It was the "elephant" in the room and euphemistically referred to as 'your mother's memory problem.' As you know, it's more than that, and I admire the way you and your brave husband are handling it.

See ya on the James' group read thread.

Donna, thank you for that reminder of dh's bravery in the face of what must be excruciating for him. Sometimes I take ownership of this whole thing, and of course that's not right. It is, after all, much worse for him, as he's almost unbelievably independent and self-sufficient and resents/has remorse about/ becoming more dependent on me. But I did make all those promises, and I was 37 at the time, so I pretty much had my eyes wide open. We've always had that attitude of, "Hey, I've got your back, Babe," with and for each other, so this is just a bit more intense than before. And you know, he goes around here making plans (and helping me to carry them out) so that "if something happens to me" as he says, I won't have any more worries than can be helped. He's so protective of me, even now.

Back to #186: to get back to the old, thirties, forties, fifties books--I'm not sure why I like them so much. I do know that one thing I like is the self-deprecating humor in memoirs/almost-but-not-quite memoirs. I've read the Kerr book and have So Big around here somewhere. Another thing that interests me is being immersed in what people were reading back then. I guess we all have a sort of nostalgia for old times. One modern author who reminds me of those books is Fannie Flagg. Every time I read one of her books I'm both amused and beguiled by her humor, her compassion, and her uncanny eye for everyday emotions, hopes, and fears.

Also, I cam across a message about the old Richard and Frances Lockridge mysteries today. I used to love them, along with the Asey Mayo Cape Cod mysteries and another author, maybe Del Shannon. Must look all of these up.

Addenda to #188: That would be Dell Shannon, with two "L's": I looked up Del Shannon and got "My Little Runaway". Well. However nostalgic that may be for me, it's not what I had in mind, which was a mystery series featuring one Luis Mendoza and taking place, I think, in California. And the Asey Mayo books are by Pheobe Atwood Taylor, for those into mysteries.

It struck me suddenly today: My adult life has largely been taken up with a vain but valiant and never-ending search for a hairdresser who will cut my hair the way I want. Either my hairdressers are A.)too expensive, B.)crazy substance abusers, or C.) People who will not (perhaps cannot, to be completely charitable to a fault) manage to copy a cut from an exact picture, both profile and full-face, of a simple, undercut style with deep bangs. This is a pic. of myself, mind, not some model whose face-shape bears about as much resemblance to my own as an elephant's.

The search continues. Updates to follow.

Gail, I share your pain about getting the haircut you want. What really gets me is occassionally I get one that really works for me but the next time I go to the same hairdresser they can't seem to repeat it. I often think of trying someone new but alot of them are more expensive and I like the person who cuts my hair better than the 3 people I tried before I found her. I'll be eager to hear about your updates.

AARRRRRGH! HAIR!!!! My hairdresser is a friend and probably the best in town, but ---- It's always the same haircut. I say, "I don't like A, B, and C. Please do something else." She cuts it exactly the same way, parts it on the opposite side or something, and says, "BETTER." It never, ever is. Oh woe. I would think that at 66 I'd have gotten over it.
Now you're singing a good old song to me, Gail, with Luis Medoza and Asey Mayo and the Norths. Those were good old days.

Pat and Peggy, I've always been of the opinion that a woman (and perhaps a man as well, who knows?) wants precisely the hair she doesn't have. Just human contrariness, I guess.

Peggy, weren't those fun books to read? I can remember even where I was, what the weather was like, the whole ambience of my life comes back to me just by picking up one of those delightful old books.

Great day at bridge--dh made several bids, one extremely difficult, bid well, was completely focussed--what a heart-lifter for me.

I was discussing Portrait of a Lady with Ilana, and while she expressed it far more elegantly, we agree that these folks need to get jobs so that they will stop messing with other folks' lives. Man! Manipulative, even with good motives sometimes.

I think this is the first mention of bridge I have read on this thread! Have you had a chance to read Louis Sachar's The Cardturner? It's surprisingly good and gives the reader the option to learn a little about the game. It has been checked out a couple of times in my library and the kids seem to really enjoy it. I hope it leads them to learning the game some day.

>193 mamzel:: Mamzel, I've not heard of that book. I love Louis Sachar, though. I used to read Sideways Stories from Wayside School and Marvin Redpost: Is He a Girl to my third graders as our first two read-alouds every year. At the end of the year, we'd read Holes together. The kids truly enjoyed his work, as did I. I'll have to look the bridge book up. Thanks for the recommendation!

Almost done with Portrait of a Lady. Got a bit sidetracked by a couple of other things. At least now I know that I'll have time to finish Pride and Prejudice for this month's challenge. And do a tiny bit of comparison between the two works as well. I mean, they are both about marriages, good, bad or indifferent.

Just getting warmed up for April reading. We're having a small b'day party this month, as dh will be 75. I've limited my tentative reads a bit:

The Iliad--I got about a sixth of the way through last time; maybe I'll make it all the way this time;
The Anatomy of Ghosts--I'm shamefully behind on an ER book there;
1776--it's a recent acquistion and perhaps I can move it along after I'm done to someone else;
The Headhunter's Daughter--another ER but much more recent, and it looks good;
Nemesis by Christie--just because

There are no group reads I'm particularly interested in right this second, so this list seems do-able to me, although I dunno about the epic. Still, I can at least start the darned thing. I've got that great Fagles translation, so that may help me to stick to it.

Life Level: Startlingly Super

Reading Level: Itchy

Amazingly enough, after a terrible, terrible week last week, this immediately previous week has been great. Took a day car trip, had another of those in-bed, in-the-dark discussions of feelings, difficulties, etc. For the first time, dh admitted to a considerable degree of fear. Just getting that off his chest seemed to relieve his stress level tremendously and thus his mental condition picked up quite a bit. He's had a really good week, with less sleeping, etc.

On the reading front, I've one chapter left in the James and then must finish Pand P (who said that about being compulsive?). But I'm kind of at sixes and sevens because I'd like to read about 15 different books immediately if not sooner, and so have a multi-horned dilemma: What do I read first? And how many can I handle at once?

I'd like to read about 15 different books immediately if not sooner, and so have a multi-horned dilemma: What do I read first? And how many can I handle at once?

Gail, that exactly my problem as well! An excess of riches in the TBR pile that makes it hard to decide what to read first. I don't mind reading more than one book at a time but they have to be the right combination.

I'm so glad your husband is feeling better. It's amazing what a good talk can do. Hope the birthday party is a big success.

Good news! Thank you for letting us know!
I am always in that exact dilemma, except with me it's 40 or 50 must-reads right now. If you discover a solution, I'll buy it!

I'm so glad to hear that you and your husband are having a good week!

And I can relate to the book dilemma. Totally!

Life Level: Still Satisfactory

Reading Level: Irritating

One thing I don't like about myself is my seemingly insatiable desire for books. I don't like it because I always look at the ER books here and pick out three or four that sound interesting. And then I'm disappointed quite often by the book I've chosen; of course by the time it gets here so many books and postings have gone under the bridge that I've completely forgotten why it looked interesting to start with! Anyway, that's my current dilemma: I'm reading, or trying to read, an ER selection and I just don't like it. At all. It's adequately written, but very pedestrian, imo. So now I feel as though I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth and that I should just get on with it. I guess I will.

Book # 19: Portrait of a Lady
I loved this novel, even though I found Isabel's motive for her marriage to be unsatisfactory at best. I mean, it didn't fit with the rest of her character that I could see. Nevertheless, it's a marvelous book, so well-written that the reader doesn't notice the complexities of the prose nor James's prediliction for double and triple negatives and verbosity. This is my second James in quick succession, and I really enjoyed both of them. I can't imagine why I've been avoiding him all these years.

I'm delighted that you're turning into a James fan, Gail! I, on the other hand, could see Isabel as being young enough to fall in love with her image of Gilbert, and he certainly facilitated the process.
I wish I were not so book-greedy too. I had hoped that I might mature with age, learn that owning books is not necessary, --- hasn't happened. I'm thrilled with my ER for March though (Jamrach's Menagerie), so I'll jump right on it when it gets here. And I'd like to announce that I did not ask for anything on the February list because nothing grabbed me strongly, so that's a step toward maturity right there.
So --- how goes *Dance*? (Oh, please don't make me pick it up yet for another reread!)

Gail, I can completely relate to your desire for more books. Despite having more than 200 recently purchased (last 2-3 years) books in my house I often have no interest in reading any of them. It's always the books I don't have that I want. But, like Peggy, I didn't request any ER books in February and am now happy to consider that a sign of maturity as well.

The ER books are becoming a problem for me. I have 3 of them that I still need to review and don't feel like reading and another one for March on the way. I really rebel against having to read a book and should probably take a break from the ER program but it's so tempting to get a free book.

I'm glad you liked The Portrait of a Lady. I haven't read any Henry James but am currently working my way through The Master, Colm Toibin's fictionalized account of James' life which started out great but at page 75 or so slowed down for me. I'm hoping it'll start picking up again because I hate not finishing books.

Gail etal, it took me almost 18 months to break the code on ER books. I look at the list when it first comes out, making a note of all the ones that LOOOK interesting....I let that sit for a week or so, then I go look up the books on Amazon, or Good reads, or even the public library or other LT (Particularly if this is a reissue as a paperback), then I make myself pick one and only one book. If there isn't a burning book on the pile, I back off and HORRORS----I don't request any. For the past four months now, I've gotten the book I requested (I'm sure because it's the only book they can give me) and I've loved all of them -- because I was really sure that was the book I wanted.

I have not missed getting "free books" because after a while, I came to realize free wasn't worth it if I was forced to read a book that didn't interest me. This is not to say that I won't get stuck with one that's not what I thought it would be, but I'll deal with that when it comes around.

I thoroughly enjoyed Washington Square although not so much his Daisy Miller. Unfortunately, I've been scared off The Ambassadors by the introduction to my edition. The writer kept going about how difficult a book it was and how it would be struggle to read. When I do finally get to it, I'm just going to take a running leap straight into the book.

Your review reminded me that I really do need to get to The Portrait of a Lady (and The Wings of a Dove).

Gail, I'm with you (and others) on the book gluttony thing. I did take a 6-month break from the ER program for the very reasons you cited. I broke down this month, though, and got one that has been highly praised here on LT - I Shall Not Hate. I'm looking forward to it.

>204 Tanglewood:: Tanglewood, I'm totally avoiding The Ambassadors due to its "tough" reputation. Having just finished Portrait of a Lady, I can say the only thing scary about it is its length.

Somewhere else, Lucy (sibyx) mentioned that she only allows herself to request a new ER book if she's completed her review of the previous one. I think I'm going to try this and focus on requesting a new book as a reward for finishing my reviews. Unfortunately, self-discipline is not my strong suit.

Donna, I also got I Shall Not Hate for March and based on all the great reviews on LT, I too am looking forward to reading it.

Pat, we are definitely sisters under the skin! "I really rebel against having to read a book," you wrote. Exactly. I can have been burning to read it for months until it arrives and I have to. With ER, I manage to get over it. Tina, I have also come to the point of asking for only one which I really, truly want. Most of the time if it's not the most popular book of the month, they let me have it. On the other hand, in March I would have been deliriously happy with any of the three I requested, so I'm thrilled to have gotten one of them. And, I do make reading an ER book and getting it reviewed a priority, so I've had two going at the same time only when a second one arrived before the one the month before. That's also happened a couple of times.
Oh, Donna, don't avoid The Ambassadors! Somebody has misled you! It's The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl that you should avoid unless you have proved to yourself that you are a James freak.

Terri, Peggy, Pat, Tina, Michelle, and Donna: (if I skipped someone, forgive me; it was accidental)

I actually devoted a nanosecond's thought to the ER question,(instead of just spouting off because I'm irritated with the current selection) and found that I'm probably at better than 50% "like" on the books I've received so far. Mrs. Ames and the Louise Penny books have been, of course, wonderful. I do like the idea, so clever of you Tina, of keeping down to one request per month, thus improving one's chances of getting a book one will like, rather than one that just seemed interesting at the moment. Dh, my chief enabler in my ongoing addiction, has recently looked into the cupboards and at the doubled-up shelves and said, "Um, maybe we've gone overboard, do you think?" I do honestly try to give away those I'm sure I'll never read again. I have a few that will go to the library (nice hardcovers) either for their sheves or sales.

Re James: One thing I really try to avoid is the introductions to classics, both because they often contain real plot spoilers, and they can bring too much influence to my own ideas of the book. I've got The Ambassadors on my ereader and will get to it soon, which means before the end of the year. Someday I'll try The Golden Bowl simply because it has such a creepy plotline.

Hey, Gail! Just checking in.

I admit to barely skimming through..but I wanted to be able to find you again, so I am posting.

Hi Gail. Hope you're having a good weekend. Is this the birthday party weekend?

Oh, welcome back, my dear Stasia.

Why, hello, Kathleen, so good to see you here!

I am having a good week-end so far, thank you, Pat. B'day party is the 15th. His b'day, his brother's b'day, and my late brother's b'day, all on the 15th. Weird.

It seems to me that Portrait of a Lady and Pride and Prejudice are more worthy of a comparison study than I thought, which of course means I have to think things over before talking about it. Now that I've made that statement, it occurs to me how unusual it will be for me to think before I write...or talk.

Life level: Moderately serene (of course, that's just for today!)

Reading lelvel: Scattered

My complete review of Portrait of a Lady is here,

Book #20:Pride and Prejudice
and my review is here.

Both of these books deal with young women and their marriage choices. James and Austen explore also the incredible amounts of misunderstandings between people, including complete misreadings of motives, emotions, and characters. The James work is much more serious and ultimately tragic, but the Austen work is lighthearted, with happy endings for all. While the P.and P. made me laugh and smile, especially through the last 50 pages, it seems unrealistic and slightly contrived. Which is not to say that James's plot isn't contrived, but it seems to be more true to life and to the characters he's presented.

As a palate cleanser, I read
Book #21: Nemesis
by Agatha Christie. A very late entry in the Miss Marple series, this book isn't the equal of the Golden Age classics, but still worth a read, especially if one wants to relax a bit. My full review is
here.

Now reading The Anatomy of Ghosts, which has suffered from comparison to my two group reads last month. It's not that bad at all. Just not a big old classic that will be read a couple of hundred years from now.

Hmmm, I have The Anatomy of Ghosts in the BlackHole already. I will be interested in seeing what you think of it when you are done, Gail.

Edited to try and make sense

Starting this post over.

Book #22: The Anatomy of Ghosts

It took me forever to finish this book, as I found the beginning, and indeed more than the first half, to be considerably disengaging. However, it picks up toward the end, and those who enjoy historical mysteries may find it worthwhile. My complete review is here.

Now I can get on to other things, including two more ER books, The Iliad, and of course get back to Latin studies, not easy for those of us with little self-discipline in the reading department.

We are supposed to have self-discipline in the reading department? I never got that memo! :)

Hi Gail, just catching up on the threads. Good to see your life levels have been better the last couple of weeks. Hope the birthday party goes well.

Live LeveL: Somewhat Stressed

Reading Level: Modestly Marvelous

>218 alcottacre:: That was the memo we glanced at, laughed aloud, and threw quickly into the trash.

>219 souloftherose:: Hi Heather. Good to see you here! I'm a bit apprehensive about the party but think it will go okay; it's just family.

Book #23: The Headhunter's Daughter

I got this in the ER lottery, and it was a little gem. The plot's thin, but the characters, the setting, and the whole ambience made up for it. I'll be looking for more from her. My review is here.

Book #24: Odd and the Frost Giants

No formal review for this very short myth told by Neil Gaiman about a little boy named Odd who saves the Norse gods from the grip of the Frost Giants. Enjoyable but a bit shallow.

Yikes! How did I get so far behind on your thread. It is good to know that you found an ER book that was good. My experience, with the exception of one book, hasn't been that positive. So many of the books I've rec'd. have been mediocre.

#220: I received Myers The Witch Doctor's Wife through the ER program and liked it, so I will see if I can get a copy of The Headhunter's Daughter. Thanks for that recommendation, Gail!

>221 Whisper1:: Hi, Linda! Well, I've talked a bit above about the ER gamble. I'm not sure if it's my somewhat high and often mistaken hopes for these books, or if it's simply a roll of the dice...probably the latter. A few I've received have been great; a couple have been just not worth the effort of careful reading in order to produce a fair review; most have been slightly above average. What bothers me is that I really do read the descriptions provided, but somehow those don't match the product I get. I mean, the book turns out to be very different from what I expected; I don't mean that the book is praised and then I don't like it--that just happens. Anyway, I didn't see one book this month that I wanted for more than a nanosecond, believe it or not. In some ways that was a relief.

>222 alcottacre:: Stasia: I got you with a blue bullet! *does happy dance*

Book #25: Foreskin's Lament

Madeline, bless her, was kind enough to mooch this book to me after I expressed interest in reading it. Unfortunately, I really, really disliked it. The author, who suffered quite a bit at the hands of an unpredictable, belligerant, often drunk father, proceeds to turn himself into an angry, belligerant, often stoned replica of the man he hates. It's very sad, and I know Auslander needs help, but the book is so full of pain and bitterness that it's difficult to read. Full, though short review is here.

Gail

I'll skip Foreskin's Lament. Sadly, my ex husband is very much like the character of Auslander. His father was a drunk who was abusive. My ex never left it go. Consequently, his life and those around him were impacted negatively. He is 99.99% angry and will remain that way to the grave.

It is sad because there is/was so much potential.

oh linda.. that is so sad...

Linda, I know exactly what you're talking about. And it is terribly sad to see so much energy wasted on all that anger, which can consume the one who is angry, but may have little to no effect on those who caused the anger. There are a lot of angry fellas (and I can presume women as well) out there. One wants to help or just be kind, but they're so very prickly...

OK, I think I will skip Foreskin's Lament too. I know I already had it in the BlackHole, but based on your review, Gail, I do not think it is going to be a book for me.

I hope you enjoy your next read more!

I second what Stasia said. Anger is killing, and for sure, men don't have a monopoly on it.

True Peggy! Very true!

Time, I think, for a new thread. It's right here

I hope.

ETA: Yep. Did it right, first time. Whoa!

> 202

The ER books are becoming a problem for me. I have 3 of them that I still need to review

Ditto for me! Three is the exact number that are sitting at home staring me down. Two I started and stopped midway. This month I didn't request an ER book. I used to religiously complete them and review them. Now I feel as if it's an obligation I'd rather not have. I'm going to be *very* choosy about picking futur ER books and probably, like you, will narrow my selection down to one or none.

> 223

About Foreskin's Lament:

I guess I kind of looked at it the way a psychotherapist would. I tried to see what was causing all of that anger without placing a judgement on the writer. It is truly an offensive book and not one I'd recommend for the faint of heart or devout of any religion. The bottom line, though: it is so very, very sad and full of pain and hurt.

just wondering where you are.....

I force myself to read ER books first.. LTER and Vine..
it keeps me honest. i have about 3? vine books never reviewed, and one is likely to be eventually, and one is a well.. maybe..

:)