nannybebette---the 4th inning

There are not that many posts in my last thread. It is just taking too long to load.
Welcome. I hope you enjoy your stay.

My 1st thread is here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/58024

My 2nd thread is here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/66879&...

My 3rd thread is here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/69911

The 1st 100 books of 2009:




1. Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors
2. Collected Poems of Robert Frost by the same
3. King's Oak by Anne Rivers Siddons
4. Nora Jane-a Life in Stories by Ellen Gilchrist
5. Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg
6. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
7. Digging to America by Anne Tyler
8. Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler
9. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
10. Complete Poems & Plays, by T.S. Eliot
11. The River King by Alice Hoffman
12. Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman
13. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
14. Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
15. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
16. Sweetwater Creek by Anne Rivers Siddons
17. Up Island by Anne Rivers Siddons
18. Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky
19. Low Country by Anne Rivers Siddons
20. Sandpebbles by Patricia Hickman
21. Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons
22. Good Grief by Lolly Winston
23. Hill Towns by Anne Rivers Siddons
24. Ya Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells
25. Fault Lines by Anne Rivers Siddons
26. Pieces of my Heart by Robert Wagner
27. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
28. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
29. Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama
30. Language of the Threads by Gail Tsukiyama
31. Colony by Anne Rivers Siddons
32. The Last Valentine by James Michael Pratt
33. Do Dead People Watch You Shower by Bertoldi
34. Before You Knew Kindness by Chris Boyjalian
35. Thirteen Moons by Charles Fraizer
36. The Whole World Over by Julia Glass
37. The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg
38. Ordinary Life by Elizabeth Berg
39. Downtown by Anne Rivers Siddons
40. Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
41. Rachel's Quilt by Sheila Spencer-Smith
42. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
43. Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout
44. I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass
45. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowlings
46. The Sea Lady by Margaret Drabble
47. A Slipping-Down Life by Anne Tyler
48. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
49. The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
50. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
51. The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama
52. The Dream Comes True by Barbara Delinsky
53. The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by Jessica Anya Blau
54. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowlings
55. The Memoir Club by Laura Kalpakian
56. One Extra*Ordinary Day by Harold Myra
57. Night Train to Lisbon
by Emily Grayson
58. Your Labrador Retriever by September B Morn (my guess is a pseudonym)
59. Guide to Owning a Labrador Retriever by Richard T. Burrows
60. Music of Falling Water by Julia Oliver
61. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
62. The Precious Present by Spencer Johnson
63. An Absolute Scandal by Penny Vincenzi
64. The Complete Stories of TRUMAN CAPOTE by of course, Truman Capote
65. The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard
66. Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons
67. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
68. Eggshell Days by Rebecca Gregson
69. A Bluethroat Morning by Jacqui Lofthouse
70. Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell
71. Fox'es Earth by Anne Rivers Siddons
72. Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA by Kris Radish
73. Shop Girl by Steve Martin
74. Three Junes by Julia Glass
75. Body Double by Tess Gerritsen
76. Beloved by Toni Morrison
77. Adam the King by Jeffrey Lewis
78. The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky
79. Local Girls by Alice Hoffman
80. Spring and Fall by Nicholas Delbanco
81. the saturday wife by Naomi Ragen
82. Minotaur by Benjamin Tammuz
00. Crime and Punishment
83. Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
84. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
85. Big as Life by Maureen Howard
86. Studies in Classic American Literature by D.H. Lawrence
87. The Holiday by Stevie Smith
88. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
89. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
90. The Razor's Edge by Sumerset Maughm
91. The Fireman's Wife by Jack Riggs (ER)
92. Conscience Point by Erica Abeel (ER)
93. The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck
94. The Blank Wall by Elizabeth Sanxay Holding
95. The Penelopiad by
Margaret Atwood
96. March by Geraldine Brooks
97. The Moment Between by Nicole Baart
98. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
99. The Lost City of Z; A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
100. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

2nd 100 books of 2009:




101. Capote by Gerald Clarke
102. Forest Cats of North America by Jerry Kobalenko
103. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
104. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
105. The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne
106. What Jane Austen Taught Me About Love and Romance byDebra White Smith
107. How Sweet It Is By Alice J. Wisler
108. Looking After Pigeon by Maud Markson
109. To A God Unknown by John Steinbeck
110. The Embers by Hyatt Bass
111. Bantam of the Opera by Mary Jane Auch
112. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
113. Tess of the D'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy
114. Love Letters from Cell 92 by Bonhoeffer and Von Wedemeyer
115. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
116. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
117. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeliene L'Engle
118.A World of Love by Elizabeth Bowen
119. The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo
120. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
121. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
122. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
123. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
124. Blackbird: A Childhood Lost and Found by Jennifer Lauck
125. Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
126. Burning Bright by John Steinbeck
127. The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
128. Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
129. The Black Fawn by Jim Kjelgaard
130. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
131. Anna Karinina by Leo Tolstoy
132. Frost in May by Antonia White
133. Little Grey Men by B.B.
134. Battle Cry of Freedom by James M McPherson
135. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
136. The Rising Tide by M.J. Farrell / Molly Keane
137. The Land of Spices by Kate O'Brien
138. Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison
139. The Life and Death of Harriett Frean by May Sinclair
140. Jonah's Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston
141. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
142. The Short Reigh of Pippin IV by John Steinbeck
143. The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Whew!~! With that one I finish my 999 challenge that I started in May and bumped my challenge up to 200 books. Wish me luck.

144. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
145. No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym
146. Allegheny, Monongahela by Erinn Batykefer
147. Out of Love by Victoria Clayton
148. Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu
149. The Winter Lodge by Susan Wiggs
150. Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
151. All God's Children Need Travelling Shoes by Maya Angelou
152. The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks
153. Myself When Young by Daphne Du Maurier
154. The Loving Spirit by Daphne Du Maurier
155. I'll Never Be Young Again by Daphne Du Maurier
156. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James
157. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
158. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
159. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
160. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
161. The Beast in the Jungle and Other Stories by Henry James
162. All Passion Spent by Vita Asckville-West
163. Dracula by Bram Stoker
164. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
165. The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald
166. Without My Cloak by Kate O'Brien
167. The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
168. For One Sweet Grape or That Lady by Kate O'Brien
169. Virginia Woolf's Women by Vanessa Curtis
170. Goodnight Sweetheart by Annie Groves
171. Some Sunny Day by Annie Groves
172. The Grafton Girls by Annie Groves
173. As Time Goes By by Annie Groves

That last one is quite a tongue twister of a title, Belva!

200 books! And one of the most prolific posters on LT! Where do you get the time?

Just dropping by - and a HUGE thanks for the heads up on the alphabet reading group - I'm heading over to join up now (and check up on your new thread over there, obviously!)...

posting to keep you close... and starred...must write you!
You are in my thoughts... and have been.

Dropping in to see you, just as your post suggested we do. And you're starred again.

Belva, you may have read on my thread that I am attempting to read all of my TBR's in alphabetical order. The New and Improved organized me Rose colored as it may be.
I read 2 in this manner and then I got hijacked by a friends recommendation. Then another book whispered out to me from the new arrivals shelf at the library as I was minding my own business.
I do intend to continue my alpha order - all 180 of them, but I must expect delays such as when I get my hands on ARCs or whatever. I feel good knowing that if nothing else, I have a plan. Really!

Oh yeah! not to mention the 22 books I just purchased at the library booksale for a mere 10 bucks. Eeeeeesh

Hey, Belva!
I also watched a remembrance of 9/11. I think that it is important to look back and remember once a year. It was so sad though.

Good luck with your 200 book challenge. I have no doubt that you will make it! :) Take care and God bless.
--BJ

Was it called '102 Minutes' or something like that? It was on TV over here a few days ago and once I'd started watching it, it felt almost disrespectful not to watch until the end given the magnitude of what happened and the bravery of everyone who helped save lives that day. It was heartbreaking but really important to remember...

Dear Belva -

You are doing great with your thread and with your Challenge(s). I think you will make your goal of 200 books, not without some effort, but with true grace and grit.

I really like the review of Allegheny, Monongahela and the memory that the poem you shared with us brought up for you ...

*Those last two lines reminded me of my own mother, 40 to 50 some odd years ago when she would paint every summer. And she painted the inside of drawers, cupboards, closets wonderful, bright, fun colors. But the walls and the outside of the cupboards and closets/wardrobes were always white.* How wonderful to live with hidden surprises of color placed there by your Mother.

If you decide to pass the book along I would like to be placed on the short list from which you draw names. Thanks.

With love,

Ruthie

>#11:
No drawing of names Ruthie. The first one to ask is the receiver of said book. The book is yours, my dear.
Just P.M. your mailing address to me and I will have it off my shelf and onto yours before you can whistle "Dixie".
This year as I read books from my shelves that I don't "love" and will not wish to read again I am going to do this with. I could "member give-away" them, but that takes signing up, following rules, "them" having a hand in it and I am just too lazy for all that. Besides, this way I know who is reading after me and I like that. It makes me feel a little closer to my fellow LTer. Kind of a heart thing womansheart, don't you agree?
At any rate, I will get it off to you Monday morning.
hugs,
belva

>#4:
Good morning Bonnie. Thank you for coming by and being the 1st one to post on my new thread. Always nice when it is one of your favorite LTers!~!~!
And yeah, it is a tongue twister: Allegheny, Monongahela. I like how it flows off the tongue.
Hope you are having a great weekend. Supposed to be a hot one. I found out that our little guys are only playing one quarter of their football game, so I am not even going to the jamboree. Roger (hubby) is going because: 1) he never misses any of the kid's games; 2) he wants to scout the other teams
and 3) he loves football. I like it but don't want to go and be there all day just to see Tyler play one quarter. I'll wait for the "real game" days.
luv n later,

>#5:
Hi Robert. I rarely watch television, I am no longer working other than to take care of my 91 year old mother and my 2 grandsons who are now in school until 2:30 each day. I don't sleep a whole lot but am not getting much reading done lately either. Must change that so I probably won't be on here as much then. Right now I am helping Mark set up the group read for November, setting up my 10/10/10/ challenge and setting up an Alphabet challenge. The latter I will use to read "only" the books I already have on my shelves. And then the ones I "don't love" or think that I will read again I am going to give away----on here, as long as I can afford to be mailing them off.
Thank you for stopping by Robert. It is always good to see your name pop up in the "message".
hugs,

>#6:
My dear miss potten;
So good to "see" you. I am so glad you signed up for the Alphabet Challenge as well. I have a lot of friends over there and am so looking forward to it. Clearing out my shelves. My husband is very happy about that also as he was afraid I was going to buy more bookcases or ask him to build me some as I have boxes of books stacked all over the house. Way too many for one household. I have 8 books cases filled to overflowing and 3 huge shelves stacked up with books, my linen cupboard is full of books instead of linens, IDK. But I think the Alphabet Challenge is just the ticket. Read them and get rid of them if I don't "love them" or want to reread them.
luv u,

belva

>#7:
Kath, my dear friend. I have been thinking of you as well. So many heartaches recently. I hope you are hanging in there girl. P.M. me when you want to talk and I will give you a jingle.
I also hope you are reading something soothing, comforting, and inspiring.
much love,

>#8:
Carmenere;
Thank you for coming by. Always good to "see" you. Regarding your Alpha Order; you really must check out this new Challenge:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/alphabetchallenges

I have joined and I think when you go and check it out you just might find that it will work for you. And if not, you have lost nothing but moments.
Love the GIF!~! Made my day!~!
And 22 books for $10.00. Wow!~! Don't you simply love library sales? They are the bestest in the world!~! Unless, of course, you live in the U.K. where they apparently have thrift shops on every corner, constant jumble sales and can buy "books for pences". Ohhhhhhh, I rather like that. "Books for Pences". Sounds like the song in Mary Poppins: Feed the Birds-----------love that!~! Also would make a good name for a book thriftshop.
I know, I know----I am just being silly now.
Thank you for stopping by.
hugs,

>#9:
Hey --BJ;
My buddy, my pal.
Yes, it is important that we look back and remember and it is heartbreakingly sad to do so. But we lost almost 3,000 people in that 102 minutes. And over 300 firefighters and rescue persons. What a tragedy of huge proportions. I don't know how people who were there can get over something like that or if indeed they do. It probably becomes part and parcel of a person's being.
I hope you are having a good day --BJ and that you are reading a wonderful book.
much love,

>#10:
Hi ellie. Yes, it was called "Remembering 9/11: 102 Minutes and How They Changed America". Thank you for watching and remembering along with us.
luv n hugs,

belva

Hello belva, you seem to have a lot of new threads starting have I found them all?
So far I think I have tracked down 3 -50 books, Alphabet and 1010.!

Happy reading:)

Hmmm, another Belva Thread I haven't haunted yet... And it's pennies, not pences. Three pennies, three pence! Horrible word, when you stop to think about it! Pence. P-e-n-c-e. OK, I think the duvet's calling, I know I'm getting tired when I start spouting rubbish!

P.S. My books are currently piled on the floor in the living room and hall, on the kitchen table, in a bookcase in the living room, a taller bookcase in the kitchen, in my sister's room on HER bookcases (it was my room, my stepdad made me floor-to-ceiling cases and I demanded to keep a few shelves when she took over) and in two deep shelves in her wardrobe. Glad I'm not the only one being creative with my storage to cram more in! :-D

>#15:
calm;
Let's see:
my 50 book challenge,
my 999 challenge, which I have now completed,
my Alphabet Challenge,
my 10/10/10/ challenge, which won't begin until Jan 1st of 2010,
my I'll Read Yours if You Read Mine challenge,
Yup, I think that is all. So you only missed one and it, like the Alphabet one, I have just began. I haven't even got the books I need for that one, but I do have 2 challenges on that group.
Happy reading to you as well, calm. And thank you for stopping by.
hugs,

>#16:
miss ellie;
I thought we were pennies and you were pence. Ah well, one cannot be perfect and I am so bad I cannot even pretend!~! LOL
I say Ha!!!!!!!!! to your books all over the house and raise you a pile!~! And send your stepdad across the pond to my place. I have one floor to ceiling bookcase and would love to have about 5 more!~!
luvs,

belva

I am still 60 behind on the other thread, but 17 seemed manageable, so here I am!! Hugs. :)

Berly;
Where you been girl? I been missing and missing you!~!
Hugs right back at you.
I have been busy on the computer, but not so much on the threads. Helping the Markster with the November group read, setting up my 10/10/10 challenge, setting up my Alphabet challenge, etc. Now I am attempting catch up.
I hope you and yours are having a great weekend. The weather certainly is holding up nicely.
luv n hugs,
belva

Okey doke--I found this thread now :) I was so sleepy that I read your note on the other, and then Still posted a comment. Time for bed now. Night!

post from the other thread that Should have been posted here....Jonah's Gourd Vine is now moving off of the tbr bookshelves and into the tbrs (s standing for soon) pile on the floor. That might still mean January with all the schoolwork I've got, but now I'm really looking forward to getting to it :) I always enjoy reading your reviews, but it's doubly nice when the one that stands out most is already waiting somewhere in the shelves...

Belva--I have missed you too!! I am just behind on everything. Hoping to catch up a little with the kids back in school now. I am in the middle of about four books, and making slow progress on all of them. I have been forced to write about my daily life on my thread 'cuz I have nothing new to review!! It's nice to be back on your thread. I like the sound of the alphabetical challenge...must give that some thought. And, of course, I am up for the Belva/Mark November group read, whatever it is! :)

The Markster? Well, I guess that's me! I've been called a lot worse!
Berly- It looks like it will be People of the Book and will start November 1st. I am so glad you can join us!

Good morning Mark and all the rest.
So we are going with People of the Book? I rather thought that is the one it would be. The comments I was receiving were far and away for that one. I guess I need to be ordering it. I am looking forward to it. Only 1 1/2 months to go.
Hope all of you are having a good weekend. It is lovely out today and I hope that goes for where ever any of you are.
Thank you for popping by.
hugs all round,
belva

Excellent choice. I passed the book on to a friend when I was finished so I hope I have some good notes on it around my house otherwise I'll check it out at the library. Yes, absolutely beautiful Sunday, Go Brownies! (please excuse my enthusiasm)

Lynda;
I am happy you will be able to join us. I am sure that when you see the comments begin to come in, it will all be refreshed in your mind.
I was sorry the Browns lost today. Our Seahawks beat the Rams. What's up with that? We are really starting the season off strong this year. IDK.
later dayz,
belva

I think I got this from bonniebooks:

Describe yourself: Ordinary Life by Elizabeth Berg

How do you feel: The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky

Describe where you currently live: Hill Towns by Anne Rivers Siddons

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Your favourite form of transportation: March by Geraldine Brooks

Your best friend is: Beloved by Toni Morrison

You and your friends are: Local Girls by Alice Hoffman

What’s the weather like: Frost in May by Antonia White

You fear: Fault Lines by Anne Rivers Siddons

What is the best advice you have to give: Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg

Thought for the day: Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout

How I would like to die: Burning Bright by John Steinbeck

My soul’s present condition: Conscience Point by Erica Abeel (ER)

i honestly wish i could read as much as you but then if i did i'd have to build new bookcases, again. i'm currently stuck with a polish writer describing the city of warsaw. i do not believe i want to ever go to warsaw if this polish writer is writing truthfully.

anyway... just saying hi and hope your week goes well.

Hey, Belva!
I liked your answers above (#26). Have a great day!
--BJ

Belva- Nice job on Bonnie's Q& A! See ya friend!

Okay...Here are mine. This was fun!

Describe yourself: Lucky Girl
How do you feel: Always Looking Up
Describe where you currently live: Into the Beautiful North
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Last Night in Montreal
Your favorite form of transportation: A Reliable Wife. Wait, that’s me! How about a Reliable Car!
Your best friend is: (A)Treasure(s)
You and your friends are: Same Kind of Different as Me
What’s the weather like: A Thousand Splendid Suns (95 two days ago!)
What is the best advice you have to give: A Will And A Way
Thought for the day: Speak
How I would like to die: (With) Blue Shoes and Happiness

My soul’s present condition: Truth and Beauty

Carmilla: a Vampyre Tale by Sheridan Le Fanu

I was challenged to this read by Luxx on the "I'll Read Yours if You'll Read Mine" challenge group.
(Great, small and fun group, BTW)

my thoughts and comments:

Ewwwwwwwww-----------I do not do vampires.

I read it and I am glad I did because now I know I can at least handle a light vampire read.
I found I also did not hate this little tale. Neither did I love it. I found it to be very predictable but not boring. I quite liked the character of the first person, who is telling the tale; the victim. I also found the villainess to be a well rounded (though readable) character. All in all it was rather a non-frightening and non-intimadating read for me, which surprised me.
So now I can say I have read a story about a vampire.
Thank you Luxx for this challenge. I never would have read this tale had I not been challenged to do so.

belva

*stars thread*

I'm right in the middle of Le Fanu's The Wyvern Mystery and am not finding it a gripping read, for all that I love Wilkie Collins' Gothic melodrama. I've heard Le Fanu described as the Victorian equivalent of Stephen King... would you agree with that, nanny?

I do like vampire stories, so Carmilla will be going on my wishlist. Thanks for the review!

Oh---wisewoman, ***bowing down*** you are most welcome.
As to your question; I don't believe that from this one reading I could agree with that statement. I have found the Stephen Kings I have read to be rather graphic, whereas this particular Le Fanu was very subtle. I do hope you enjoy Carmilla. She is actually more of a novelette or story than a book. I think Luxx took it easy on me because I don't do "vampire" books, but after this one, I might do another if it wasn't graphic.
BTW, congratulations on your Hot Review for The Mind of the Maker. I have never met a "hot" wisewoman before. hee hee
Anyhoo, thank you so much for coming by, congrats again and I will see you on the threads.
belva

>#27:
Brian;
Yeah, but you probably work all day. I don't. I just care take my 91 year old ma and babysit 2 of my grandsons who are in school part of the day.
Is the book you are reading describing the city of Warsaw during WWII or just plain describing the city as it is?
Next time you are out here in the Pacific North West; if you have a day to spare, let's try to get some of the LTers on the West Coast together and ham it up for a day. What say?
Thanx for coming by and you have a good week as well.
hugs,
belva

>#28:
--BJ;
Hey there girlfriend!~! Wazhappenin'?
Thanx. That was a fun quiz. I don't know if I did it right. I used only the books I have read in 2009.
And I did have a good day. I took my granddaughter to the Doc and she seemed to think the lump in her throat/neck lymph is nothing to be concerned about. She palpated the area and couldn't feel it, but Haley says it has been there for over 2 years and has gotten quite a bit bigger. They could feel it at the hospital and sent her to this Doc. She is having her come back in next week and will try again, but seem fairly confident. They did a complete blood panel, so we will find out more next week.
Then I took her to dinner and we just had a nice visit afterward because neither one of us was as nervous as we were before the office visit.
Good night sweetie.
luv ya,

>#29:
Hey Mark;
I was just over at your place. Ha!
Thanx. It was a fun Q & A.
See ya at your place and on the threads.
hugs,

belva

Hi, Belva!
I am glad that things are looking good for your granddaughter. Something like that can be so scary.

I was also glad to read your review of Carmilla. That is a book I had never heard of before LT and now I am interested in it. I am about to start Dracula with the Halloween group read. I have heard great things about that one as well. Right now I am starting Part 7 of Anna Karenina. I might just go ahead and finish the book like you did. The last part is pretty short.

Now that both my kids are off so far to college, I have been feeling somewhat at loose ends. So today I joined two -- count 'em, two -- classes at Church. One is for 8 classes and the other for 24 classes. I hope that I learn alot and meet some new people. :)

Have a wonderful rest of the day, and I will see you tomorrow! :)
--BJ

I would be happy to just be able to find a church that fed me.
luv,
belva

Thanks again belva, I look forward to reading it.

I'll send up a quick prayer for your granddaughter.

What churches do you guys attend? My husband and I recently found a church we love, a nondenominational Bible church, and we are definitely getting fed there! We love it. But good churches are so hard to find...

Oh Belva, your threads move faster than I can keep up with! Finally got through the rest of your 3rd thread and am all caught up with this one. Just 3 things:

1) The Land of Spices sounds great, I've added it to my TBR.
2) I loved that poem you posted in your previous thread, especially the line "couldn't pour piss from a boot with instructions on the heel". I need to find a way to get that into my daily conversations.
3) That "I'll Read Yours if You'll Read Mine" challenge sounds neat...not sure I'm brave enough to do it, though. I have no problem telling others what to read, it's the other part that scares me ;) Way to go for sticking it out with the vampire book!

I'm really looking forward to this group read coming up, thanks to you and Mark for organizing it! I'll be finishing Anna Karenina this week (decided to do Part 7 and 8 together since 8 is so short) so I'll be ready for another one by November...and I'm sure this one will be a little livelier than the Anna was, judging by the group involved :)

Hello Belva, just checking in, starred your new thread. I too, am envious of all your reading time. But don't brush aside caring for a parent or grandchildren, sometimes these take more time than a job!

Will you provide a link to the group read? I read People of the Book and enjoyed most of it, and want to participate in the discussion (it is a good discussion book!)

Happy Reading!

>#38:
Good morning Amy;
It is so good to see you here again.
And thank you for the prayers for Haley (my granddaughter). It was so sad yesterday; when they went to draw the blood panel she held onto my hand so tightly and just stared into my eyes the whole time with tears streaming down her face. Afterward she said she didn't know why she had cried, it didn't hurt that bad, but she had never had a complete blood draw before. Just the finger poke. She said she thought she would have passed out if I hadn't been there. She did pass out when she went with her older sister for her blood panel. (Erin is 5 month preggers). I am going to be a great grandmother. We are excited.
My husband is a nonbeliever and I was raised Methodist but have been in the Assemblies of God for about 14 years now. However............. da da da; you know how that old song and dance goes. Am seeking a new one.
Good to "see" you. Hope you have an awesome day.
hugs,
belva

>#39:
Good morning spacespuds. Now c'mon. They don't move that quickly. This is just #3 or 4...I forget. Threads are like phones and cars. I just want them to work. They ring, you pick up. You call, they pick up. You start the engine, they go. You turn said engine off, they stop. With the thread you set it up and start talking and don't think about it anymore. What can I say. I am simple.
>#1: The Land of Spices was a great read. It made me come home and order every thing she has written that I could find. So now I have 5 more of hers waiting in the wings. I love it. I save all of my favorites for the wintertime.
>#2: Yeah, that was a very good line, wasn't it? The only ones I have heard that are more colorful I will P.M. to you as they are not fit for mixed company. Ya know St. Richard just might pop his sainted ears by. ***Not***
>#3: The "I'll Read Yours if You Read Mine" is really a fun Challenge. I finished my first one---the vampire book and in about 3 days will begin my 2nd. It is a (ewwwwwwwwwwwww, again) sci-fi. The only sci-fi I have read is The Time Machine, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the J.D. Robb series, The Harry Potter series and The Eyre Affair and none of those are truly sci-fi. The first ones are classics, the Robb's are just fun reads, Potter is Y.A. and The Eyre Affair is just different and a bit futuristic. So I really have no idea what to expect. But it is a Challenge so...............
You should at least come over and check it out.
You might like it, although your time is very limited I know.
Well, thanx for popping by.
I shall see you on the threads,
hugs,
belva

I just finished a nice little "summer" read entitled The Winter Lodge by Susan Wiggs. It was a very relaxing, comfy read.

Now onto The Player of the Games by Iain M. Banks; a challenge from inkspot on the "I'll Read Yours if You Read Mine" group. She challenged me to a sci fi because I never read them and I challenged her to a bit of fluff read: Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn by Kris Radish because she never reads that type of book. We shall see how we do. I hope I come out of this one as well as I came out of the "vampire" / Steinbeck challenge I had with Luxx. This is a fun challenge group and I am enjoying it a lot.

For anyone interested in checking out this small, fun group here is the link:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/illreadyoursifyoullr

I am also (well, I started last night) reading War and Peace along with the group read of that one on the 75 book gig. They began in January and plan to be done by year's end. I am going to read like *ell and try to catch up with and finish along with them. We shall see how I do here as well.
So for now, just the group read and the challenge read going. I guess that's enough for now.
belva

LOST & FOUND DEPARTMENT:
One lost mind, one lost read, one lost LT friend.

You will know this is to you when you read it:

To whom it may concern:
A few days ago I promised one of you that I would read a book along with you. It was part of a group read that I believe has been completed. Well, guess what? I not only cannot remember who I promised to share the read with, I cannot remember the name of the book. If you read this, would you please respond here or P.M. me? I do want to do it; I just have no memory of the specifics of it.
Thank you,
belva

#44... :D

i like this message. it's kind of poetic. and i don't feel so alone with my absent memory...

btw... it wasn't me or my book.

Damn!~!

Not I.

But, hmmm, was the book a mystery?

I think it was a classic, but IDK????????????

I still think it must be a mystery.

I'm teasing you...:)

Someone will stop by and let you know!

Joanne-----------
I am really tired and such a stooge!~!
R U ready to believe that I really did NOT get that?????????/ U had better be because it went:
spit--------zip----------right over my little pointed head!~!
That was a good one on me!~!
gotta luv u,
belva

Hi Nannybebette. I believe the book you are trying to remember is The Brothers Karamazov with Chrine. I think that I remember you two talking about it on another thread. *hugs*
Velma

Velma;
DO I LOVE YOU!~!~!
Thank you so very, very much!~!~!
I am really losing it.
My mother (91) and I are going through senility on the buddy system!~! hee hee
You are exactly right. It is all coming back to me now. Things are ever so clear!~!
Hey, if there is ever anything I can do for you, just give a shout.
Now, I will be able to sleep.
Thank you a million times over.
hugs,
belva

Hey Belva, I read The Brothers Karamazov this year with a group read on the 999 group. Y'all might like to look over the comments there as you read along. I think we commented after each "book."

Anyway, I popped over to tell you that today, for the first day in a week, my gums have stopped hurting. I have survived the dental event!! I am so happy and am a firm believer in salt water rinses. I am actually wanting to eat again, although that might not be such a good thing. :) Life is good. Have a great day and see you soon.
--BJ

You're welcome, Belva. Glad that i could help. *blows kisses*

Belva- Just stopping by to say hi! Glad you worked out your "dilemma"! I'm well into The Eyre Affair and it's been a fun inventive read.

> all recent posts by owner of this thread; aka nannybebette/Belva -

Just could not resist letting you know once again how much I enjoy and love you. You are so REAL in who you are. It is a warm fire of friendship to hold my hands toward.

Ruthie

>#54:
--BJ;
I am soooo happy that you are no longer in pain. I was trying to "leave you alone until you were better." Very good news. And I am sure you DO need to eat. You are probably a little weak by now.
Chrine and I are going to be going along with the sections of your group read of The Brothers Karamazov as we read it. Thank you for breaking ground for us.
Enjoy your day --BJ; you and your little dog too.
luv n hugs,

>#55:
Velma;
********blowing kisses back you way*******
warm hugs,

>#56:
Mark;
Good morning dear friend!~!
Hi right back atcha!~! Yes, Kirconnell came along and saved my bacon; er, er, the day that is. So the "dilemma" has been worked out. (or the mystery, Joanne-------little "turdbucket" that U R) So poor Chrine isn't to be left hanging by a thread so to speak after all. What a relief. Thank goodness there are lovely people here on LT to help save us from ourselves. Let's see; I have now been "rescued from delimmas" by: St. Richard, yourself Mark, Velma now, (if I have left anyone out, I humbly apologize) I have dug my own way out of a couple. Ahhhhhh; life is good.
BTW Mark; I am going to set up a general thread for the Group Read of People of the Book today. I will leave the others for you as you do that so exceptionally well.
Ahhhh, The Eyre Affair; yes it is a fun, funny, delightful read with a bit of suspence thrown in as well. I enjoyed it. But I am going to spread my Fforde's out a bit as I think this is a particular genre that I could tire of quickly if I just went bam, bam, bam, right through them and I have 6 more to go. I put the Nursery Crimes on my 10/10/10 challenge for 2010.
You have yourself a great day.
hugs,

>#57:
Ruthie;
Thank you so very much for those kind words.
That means a lot to me for you to share those emotions with me. And may I say "ditto; right back at you, warm fire and all."
big, warm hug,

belva

Just saying hey, belva. Hope things are ok with mom and Haley. Continue to be your tough cookie self and you'll get thru.
I had to smile at your episode w/bros karamazov. Us ladies who forget things usually have way too much on our minds. I know where you're coming from.

Thank you Carmenere, even if you are just saying that to make me feel better. I love you for it.
I hope things are going great with you as well.
Right now things are good with mom and Haley. I ask you: Who else of the face of this earth has a 19 year old working granddaughter who has a boyfriend and a life and still takes the time to call their "nanny" every day just to say that they love them and tell them what is going on in their life? I get a text now and again from the older sister just saying "Hi" and I appreciate that even. The younger one calls me and lets me know when her games are and I appreciate that. But Haley is just special I guess. I keep praying that all "this" turns out to be nothing.
Thank you for being so kind and funny.
I enjoy you a lot and look forward to your posts.
hugs,
belva

I do believe that I forgot to review Out of Love (wrong touchstone, so if you wish to see my review page you will have to go through my profile page to do that.) by Victoria Clayton.

My thoughts and comments:

First, I would just like to say that I loved this cozy, comfy read. I chortled, giggled, and sighed, (not quite moaning) my way through the entire book and raced to the computer at the finish to order everything Victoria Clayton that I could get my red little hands on!~!
So we have two very best friends who love each other dearly and tell each other every (and I do mean) everything. Min has the hots for this boy and wanted her friend Daisy to meet him so invites her to a ball. But Daisy must needs stay at the same home as the "boyfriend" due to space and propriety, etc. Well, long story short, Daisy gets drunk at the ball, must go home early, boyfriend takes her, they end up sleeping together, (rather?) unknown to Daisy due to her drunkenness, and she awakes the next morning with Hugh (creepy, but hunky boyfriend) in the sack with her and her very bestest friend in the whole wide world sitting on the window seat calmly smoking a cigarette and waiting for them to wake up.
Wow!~! I do love a book that begins with a "bang"!~! hee hee!
So Min is pissed and the girls have a row and don't see each other for 15 years when they suddenly come face to face at a reading in Oxford. They see each other from across the room; Min speaks of the quarrel and laughs. Time has moved on and so has she. The quarrel is let go and Min makes Daisy promise to come and have a long visit with she, her husband and their two children. And so Daisy does.
All manner of troubles and fun ensue and it just keeps getting better and better.
I cannot wait to read more of Clayton's work.
This book is written with a wit I would die to have and that I love to read. It is not your everyday simple love story. There is nothing simple about it. It is a hoot and a darned good read as well. I highly recommend it.

The general thread for the group read of
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks is here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/73347

Enjoy folks.
hugs all round,
belva

I couldn't sleep so I got up, ordered some books for group reads and took that "nerdy" test thingy and here is what is said:

"From this time forward, you'll hold the title:
Uber Cool History / Lit Geek"

Like, wow, man.

(I took it on Stasia's thread and I didn't think she would want it there.)

Belva dear - that last book sounds brilliant but the touchstones here and on your ABC thread are taking me to a helpful guide to 'coming out'... :-D

Thank you ellie. I will see if there is anything I can do about that or if it is just a "because" because thing.
Good morning my dear.
Hope you have a great day and are reading something good. This sci-fi- book that inkspot challenged me to is actually a brain bender. I am having to work at it and think really hard. I've never read anything like it before. I am liking it, but barely able to understand it. There must be a sci-fi- aficionado on L.T. I will hunt around.
Have a great weekend and I'll see you on the threads. Thanks for the head's up.
hugs,
belva

"uber cool history/lit Greek"

Wow! I'm impressed. I'd keep that title around, maybe use it on a thread, make myself a book mark. I think you should also create a placard to hold up (include appropriate expression of boredom, amazement, puzzlement, etc.,) when your husband asks, "What's for dinner?"

LMBFAO!~!~! ROLF!~!~! LOL!~!~!
Bonnie, you are hysterically funny this morning. Did you take your "funny pill" or something?
So.....how are you doing up North? It is a beautiful sunny day 100 miles South of you.
My head and tummy are a bit off yesterday and yet today so I am going to take it easy and read War and Peace today. I think I only have to read something like 11 pages a day to finish by year's end. And I am also reading (but it is my bedtime read) a sci fi The Player of the Games by Iain M Banks, my first real sci fi. It's a brain bender for me. I am really having to think my way through it but am almost half way there. The funny thing is that although it is a real challenge for me, I am enjoying it.
What are you reading right now?
How are the boys doing? Do you get to see them very often or are they back in school now?
Well, thanks for popping by and beginning my day with that bit of humor. You funny girl!~!
I'll see you on the threads.
hugs,
belva

My pirate name is:

Mad Bess Flint

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

on this sci-fi reading... i've never been much of a sci-fi reader but last year a friend urged me to read philip k dick. the first book i read was one of his non-sci-fi books, humpty dumpty in oakland, (thought i'd ease my way into him). then i read ubik and was blown away. forget the classifications or genres, philip k dick was an amazing writer. period. simply unbelievable but believable or possible, a bit mind blowing, great characters, ideas that could leave you quivering... well, you'd have to read him to understand. valis is next on my list.

just a suggestion 'mad bess flint'... arrr!

Ye are so twisted Banoo. Love it!~!
Okay; onto ye olde TBR listing Philip K Dick goes.
It may be a while, but I will let ye know how I like him when I try him.
Thanx for the rec. Have yerself a great weekend.
hugs,
mad bess flint

o way I am catching up... so I just decided to skim and wave... let you know I am thinking of you..

Hey, Belva!
I decided to put the link to the Halloween group read on your thread, too. Here it is:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/73071#1502811

I will see you there! First book is Dracula, followed by Poe.
--BJ

>#73:
Kath;
I have been thinking of you as well. I hope things are going better for you at work. What a situation. I hope you are reading something very calming and good and hopeful to help keep you blood pressure down.
luv u,

#74:
Hey --BJ;
Thanks for the link. I have been lurking and skulking about over there, so yes, I will see you there. Hope things are great with you. The mouth all better?
luv ya gal,

belva

So yesterday it was pouring down the rain; I was sick; (am feeling a bit better today), so I spent most of the day in bed reading and napping. Missed the kid's football game and his papa said he did awesome! He plays center and he broke through the line and got 3 sacks and 7 tackles. What a kid!~!
Anyway I got a few more pages of War and Peace under the my belt (up to pp 163 now), but wasn't in the mood so I grabbed a Y.A., (never read 'em unless it's a beloved from my past) and a Virago and took them to bed with me. So yesterday I read:
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and
All God's Children Need Travelling Shoes by Maya Angelou. I enjoyed both of them and just read and napped the day away.
I hope all of you are having a good weekend and have something good to read.
belva

Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski

my thoughts and comments:

This one is a Newbery Award-winning classic. (Umm humm. Says so right on the cover.) I enjoyed it tremendously.
It was copyrighted in 1945 and tells the story of two neighboring families living in the lake region of Florida in the early 1900s after the Seminole War. Most of the people in this region had moved down from the Carolinas and were known as the Florida Crackers. They had wonderfully colorful speech patterns, a wealth of idioms, and brought with them many a folk song, superstition and integrity of character (or not, as in the case on one of the neighbors).
This is a cross section of America. An American way of life not known to a great many of us, a poor but very colorful way of life.
The main character is a 10 year old girl named Birdie Boyer and the story is told through her eyes. Her family is a farming family attempting to grow strawberries, orange groves, and sweet potatoes among other produce.
The neighboring family, the Slaters, raise cattle and pigs. Or to be more precise, they have cattle and pigs. They pretty much just let them free range and raise themselves until it is time to round them up and take them to be sold.
The cattle and pigs continue to get into the crop fields of the Boyer family and trample the berries, eat the fruit trees down to nubbins and wreak all kinds of havoc. This does not sit well with Mr. Boyer and he speaks to Mr. Slater, who cares not one whit. So Mr. Boyer decides to fence in his property. Mr. Slater threatens him that if he does, something bad will happen. And so it goes.
The book was a quick read and it was easy to relate with and get to know and care about the characters. I quite liked it and think that anyone else picking it up would as well. I will be looking for more of Ms. Linski's books.

Morning Belva- Nice review on Strawberry Girl. It sounds appealing. Thanks to you, I started Travels With Charley and it's been so good. The paperback is an older copy and the pages have a musty smell. I may have to run to the liberry and grab a less odious version. I replied to your message about Edna Ferber. Did you see it? hope you are having a great day, friend!

Hey Mark.
Thank you and yes, I did get your message. Thank you again.
I am so happy your are enjoying Steinbeck's Travels With Charley. That is one I haven't had the pleasure of reading but I have it and it is on my 10/10/10 challenge for next year. I think that my work here on L.T. is complete as I am beginning to see Steinbeck's name parodied all over this website. I have done well. I am breaking my arm patting myself on the back. hee hee
I hope you are having a great weekend with your family. I am feeling a little better today than yesterday. At least I am out of bed for the time being so that is a good thing.
Since you are enjoying Steinbeck; do you have a copy of his The Moon is Down or have you read it? Also do you have a copy of The Grapes of Wrath or have you read it? You can P.M. me and let me know. That would be great.
Catchya later buddy,
belva

All God's Children Need Travelling Shoes by Maya Angelou. (and yes, she actually put 2 ls in traveling)

my thoughts and comments:

Maya Angelou has 6 volumes of her autobiography books out and this is #5.
All God's Children Need Travelling Shoes is a very well written piece, as are all of her works. It is informative, colorful, interesting, full of bigger than life characters and small events that color the book and seem large.
She wrote this volume about her time in Ghana, about when she "wanted to go home" to Africa. It is rich in detail, rich in friendships, and I love her descriptive phrasing in this book.
She took her 17 year old son and moved to Ghana planning to stay. It didn't turn out that way but her stay there was very interesting and I enjoyed this work of hers very much. It helped me to understand the woman she has become. However, I would probably only recommend it to loyal fans of Angelou.

Hey, Belva!
I hope that you are feeling better now. My mouth is great. Just one more visit, but that one is going to be ok!! Your grandson sounds amazing. I think my Texas Longhorns need him!

Loved your reviews. I have been interested in Strawberry Girl for years. I know someone is reading all the Newberry award book around here, but I can't recall who. Is it Whisper? I might do that sometime because they are usually always good.

You are doing great with W&P. The pace picks up some once all the characters have been introduced. After Dracula, I need to read some more of it, too.

I am going to see my college girls later this week and through the weekend. I am pretty excited!!! Have a great day!
--BJ

Belva - now I'm not very well! I hope we haven't been passing some horrible bug around via all these happy meetings on LibraryThing! My stomach feels dreadful and I'm shaking like a leaf - but I'm hoping it'll pass by bedtime (well, the latest manifestation of bedtime possible since it's really bedtime now) so I can work Tuesday as normal before my day off on Wednesday. My silly stomach has been much better since I started these new over-the-counter tablets, so I'm wondering if this is a bug of some sort... Me hopes not. :-(

I think I need a Belva hug... :-)

belva, I've been known to dip into sci-fi from time to time (used to read nothing but as a teenager, but now I've ventured out into other genres). I read The Player of Games fairly recently, and thought it was really quite marvellous. (I'm glad you're liking it too!)

But, I do have to agree, it wasn't an easy read, there was a lot of thinking needing to be done. (Which is my favourite sort of sci-fi, although I have no objections to a space opera, if well done.)

My advice: just go with the flow of the book. Things will be explained, things won't be explained. The stuff that isn't explained, well, you've probably got the "gist" of it anyhow.

>#81:
Hey --BJ;
I am still pretty much under the weather, but my mother, the kids, grandkids and husband have all had it and it was about a 10 day thing for each of them so I am afraid I have a bit of a way to go before I am done with it. But I am taking it easy and just doing what needs to be done, drinking my fluids and getting rest. I am afraid I am not getting much reading done but the books will still be there when I am ready for them and I am reading a bit each day.
Do enjoy your family when you are all together. I know you will. You must miss them so much.
Thanx for stopping by.
love ya,

>#82:
Good morning miss ellie;
I hope I didn't send this stuff over with the book my dear. :-(
I am sorry you are ill as well. Hurry and get better. I know mine is a bug as it has been through the entire family. I am the last of the bunch to get it.
You take care of you and I will chat with you later.
(((((((big warm hug)))))))
luv ya,

>#83:
Hey wookiebender;
I am enjoying my first real sci-fi. I didn't count the Fforde as a real sci-fi. It was more of a spoof, I thought and I liked it a lot as well.
I am doing as you suggested and just going with the flow of the book and if I can think my way through and get "it", that is all good, but if it is over my head and I don't get "it", I just continue the read. I would like eventually to read the rest of his books because I really like the way he writes and I am getting the "gist" of it.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by. I have been feeling so crummy that I have been just pretty much lurking round and about and popping up now and then. It's not so much fun when you are ill but I don't want to miss anything either. Ha!~!
Take care and have a great day

belva

I think I have too many books going at the same time right now. I am reading War and Peace and trying to catch up with the group read. I am now into the 3rd Book or Part.
I am also reading Dracula as part of the Halloween reading group list and then will move onto Poe, but that may be all I do of their list as I do not wish to buy more books right now unless they are ones I want to keep and love.
I am almost finished with The Player of the Games; part of a challenge through the "I'll Read Yours If You Read Mine" group. This was a challenge from inkspot. She and Luxx really have challenged me on my comfort zone in this round. Luxx had me reading Carmilla, a vampire tale, which it turned out I did like. So I have read my first vampire tale (other than Dracula, which I consider a classic) and now I am reading my first true sci-fi and strangely, I am enjoying it very much. I really like the way Banks writes.
I am also reading Cranford as I was in need of a cozy, comfy read to help with my aches and pains but cannot read much at a time with this headache.
I hope all of you are well and reading something good. I will be happy when I am finished with this bunch (and The Brothers Karamazov, which is on it's way and I promised Chrine I would read with her.
I think I am ready to get back into some nonfiction and read a couple of books on the Civil War and WWI or WWII.
later dayz all; I am off to bed.
belva

I am sending prayers your way for a speedy recovery! God bless!
--BJ

Gees, Belva! You're reading all that when you're sick?! My head hurts just reading about what you're reading! ;-) I think I'll go treat myself to some fresh OJ in your honor. You take care of yourself!

Feel better soon Belva! Sounds like you're much worse off than me, mine's just a stomach thing that seems to enjoy cropping up at interesting times these past couple of days - like just as we're about to leave the shop to go home, or just as I'm about to go to bed, or just as ten customers at once are about to descend on the counter... I think the worst thing is that because the building our shop is in also houses a restaurant and a few residential apartments, it's like Fort Knox trying to get upstairs to our bathroom in a hurry. A bolted door, then a locked one, then a flight of stairs and another door!

The good news is that I've managed to stay calm and hold it together without taking all my tablets (which then set everything off balance again in a day or two when they wear off completely). So HOPEFULLY this thing will either go mad and burn itself out on my day off tomorrow (so I can go back to work okay on Thursday), or better still, just go away now so that I can enjoy some nice food tomorrow (I've got choc chip muffins and garlic chicken pizza on the way!) alongside my movie-watching and book-reading laziness. Here's to us, dear Belva, and much feeling-betterness very soon.

P.S. BJ - HOW HUGE ARE YOUR THREADS?! I starred #2 yesterday so I could find you again, started reading #1 this morning at the shop, and by closing time still hadn't finished that first one. When I finally catch right up I'll attempt to curb my exhaustion long enough to post something!

Belva- Hope you get well soon! Miss you friend!!

Sorry to hear you're unwell. Sounds like you know what to do and are doing it. This too will pass. Virtual good vibes heading your way.

Belva,

If good wishes were medicine, you'd be better by now!!

Rest up and I hope you feel better soon!!

Thank you everyone for the get well wishes. I am working on it.

In other news I got an email today from Amazon.com that An Echo in the Bone shipped out today so I will finish what I am reading at the moment; continue my group reads; dig out all of my Outlander series books and start all over from the beginning and finish with the new one. That should see me through to the end of the year?????????? We'll see. IDK.

Again, thank you all for your precious words of kindness and caring. Those and a cup of tea really have helped.
much cyberlove to all,
belva

Hi Belva, just wanted to check in and wish you a speedy recovery. This cold-like bug that is hard to shake seems to be going around in my corner of the world as well, my mom is currently out with it too. It sucks, but at least you have lots of good books to get you through. Feel better soon!

Belva, hope you are feeling better.

If you are rereading Outlander, I guess I should take that as a recommendation? I am going to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and was thinking about what book(s) to take. Nothing too heavy but something big to last the long plane ride. I was thinking of starting Outlander. I don't know any RL people who have read this but many virtual people looove it. Should I stop thinking about it and just pack this one?

I must also tell you, I am seriously thinking of adding some Steinbeck to my must read pile as sadly I have not read him before - nope not even in school. Best one to start with??

Regarding my heart before my head; Steinbeck: Begin with something short and light. Travels With Charlie, Cannery Row, Tortilla Flat, and of course The Red Pony would all be good starting places. I would even put The Red Pony in the hands of my 11 year old grandson at this point if he were willing. It has some sad moments but is not too heavy; it is easily readable; it is laid out very clearly; it is wonderfully characterized so that you feel and know the characters intimately almost immediately. So I guess that is where I would begin---with The Red Pony. Talked myself right into that decision, didn't I.
I am going to run over and check out your library before I answer the Outlander question.
Be back shortly.
b

Okay, I have perused the first couple pages of your library and can see that you do read love stories, adventure stories, etc. I think you might like it. And I am not simply rereading Outlander; I am rereading it for the 7th time and I have purchased and given as gifts 5 complete sets of this series to date. This particular one, in my humble opinion, is the best of the series. It always leaves me wanting more.
(Kind of like when you read Gone With the Wind. Each time I read it, I always want Rhett to turn around and come back down the walk, but sadly he never does. Ohhhhhhhhh, I would lay down in a dark alley for that man.)
So I guess my advice would be to just pack Outlander; one less thing you have to worry about. And it isn't deep so any distractions on the plane won't interfere with your reading of it.
If I don't talk to you before you go, have a great time while you are there. It is still going to be really hot so take sunscreen.
hugs,
belva

Though I was one of those who loved it, I think Sydamy is just going to be annoyed by Outlander because she doesn't like romance novels. That said, it's a perfect vacation read!

You sound much better Belva. Glad to see you're getting back in the swing of things.

I don't really hate romance. Jane Austen, good romance, harlequin, bad romance. Chic lit, Bridget Jones and the like are good for you every now and then. Adventure with a dash of romance a la The princess bride or Time traveller's wife are the best. I think I'll go and take Outlander and hopefully fall in love with Jamie. I'm not leaving until Oct, but I'm very excited. The weather check this week has 37 Celcius as the highs, in Farenheit that is.....really really HOT!!!

Hi Bonnie!~!~! ***waves***

>#97:
Carmenere;
My headache and dizziness are much better. I am still achy all over, getting the chills and sweats but I can tell I am getting better.
Thank you. It is nice not to be just lurking, but actually conversing a bit. I cringe to think of the posts I need to catch up on.
hugs,

>#98:
You may or may not fall in love with Jamie. He is pretty hunky. You will find that Clare is a very classy chick. I like her a lot. There is so much built into her character. I hope you enjoy it.
later babe,

belva

I just completed my second challenge on the "I'll Read Yours if You Read Mine" group.
inkspot challenged my to read a sci-fi (which I never read) and I challenged her to a book written by women for women. I chose for her Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn by Kris Radish and she chose for me The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks. We were both pretty much: "Ewwwwwwwwww!" But:

The Player of the Games; my thoughts and comments:

I was really amazed at how very much I enjoyed this read. Part of it was over my head, part of it I had to read and reread and ponder to "get it", part of it I just had to attempt to understand and let it go. So I just rather let the book flow over me and I am so glad that I read it.
It is a very futuristic book on gaming, where the game eventually becomes a life-game. Everything in the book (practically) is a character; the space ships, the drones, the automated people, almost everything.
I cannot begin to comprehend the mind that could come up with something like this. The main character, Gurgeh, travels over 2 light years away "just" to play a game. All in all he is gone about 5 years, is almost killed in the process, meets many "kinds of people" and see many "styles of living".
I think my favorite part of the book is when his friend from his home "planet" morphs from male to female to get preggers again. I think "he" has a total of 7 children.
Anyway, as you can see this book is very difficult for me to explain. Let's just say that I enjoyed it very much and let it go at that. Quite like my other challenge, (which was a vampire tale) I think I could read and enjoy another sci-fi book.
belva

Hiya Belva!

I enjoyed reading the discussion about Outlander. I haven't read it but I did buy a copy a month or so ago as I thought it sounded rather intriguing. So I'm glad to read that you are such a fan (7 times!) of the series and I am looking forward to it even more now!

And it sounds like you're feeling better - yay! :)

Hey Belva- I'm with Joanne! I have a copy of Outlander but have never read it! Maybe one day??

Mark, I just can't imagine Outlander holding the same appeal for you! It's such an obvious romance, but much, much better than a Harlequin-type romance, Sydamy. If you liked The Time Travelers Wife, you'll love Outlander. Money-back guarantee! Right, Belva? ;-)

Ooooh, I loved TTW so I'm going to add Outlander to my wish list. Glad you mentioned it.

Glad to see you back with us, Belva! The recovery's always the best bit of being ill anyway, right? - where you're feeling better each day but are still perfectly justified in being very, very lazy and making people bring you tea and toast at regular intervals! ;-)

>101 Copperskye::
Good morning Joanne. How's trix?
I am feeling better. Pretty much just the achiness lingering now and I made the mistake of taking Tylenol last night before going to bed, forgetting that it wires me, so I have been up since 2:00. But am getting better and that is what is important. Tired of being sick. Ugggg.
I think you might enjoy Outlander. It is not only a romance, but a great adventure tale as well. And one learns so much about herbal and natural remedies and how life was lived in the early times in Scotland. I was fascinated by many of the underlying stories.
Give it a try someday anyway.
I hope you have a good one and thanx for popping by.
hugs,

>#102:
Hey Mark;
Maybe one day............Let your wife read it first. She will most likely enjoy it a little more than you, although I do know men who have read the entire series and really liked all of the books. Like I was telling Joanne, it does have a great adventure story but the love theme runs throughout the books, as does the time travel. You could give it a try; doesn't mean you have to finish it.
big hug buddy,

>#103:
Good morning Bonnie;
It is all foggy and overcast down here this A.M. How about up there?
I think if Sydamy enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife, there is a HUGE chance that she will enjoy Outlander. The stories are very different, however. There is high adventure in Outlander which I think will grab her and suck her in even if the love theme doesn't. And I think Sydamy will enjoy the Wicca parts. I did and the main character in that thread of the story sucked me into her story as well. I found her quite the fascinating character.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I can't wait to get back into the series with all this chatter going on. And must needs that I finish at least one more book first.
I have found that I can do fine with 2 books going at the same time. But I am no --BJ!~!
I can't do 6 or 7 at once. I put Cranford down when I realized this, as I was only a very few pages into it. I have finished my two challenges from the "I'll Read Yours if You Read Mine" group and will wait on another for the time being. So now I am down to Dracula for the Halloween Thread Reads and the group read of War and Peace. Once I finish Dracula, then I will grab Outlander. And I think I will be all good then. I honestly do not know how our little --BJ does it!?!?!? Something special about that girl.
love ya bonnie,

>#104:
Carmenere;
Good morning my dear. I think you will really like Outlander. And I see that you are reading Daughter of Fortune. Another really good one!~! Allende writes a nice tight read, doesn't she?
You have a good day my dear and I will see you "all over the place" as per usual. hee hee
hugs,

>#105:
My dear miss ellie;
How goes it? Yes, indeedy, the recovery is always the best part of being ill. In fact, I find it the only good part of being ill. Would that I had those to fetch for me. Not so fortunate at my house. Everyone else gets waited on when they are ill, but not the "mama bear". I remember being deathly sick with pneumonia once; being too stubborn to ask for help and going without food or drink for 3 days until my brother and sister-in-law came by. They put a crock pot of homemade chicken soup and a carafe of water by my bedside. My husband felt so bad. He just didn't think. I thought: Yeah, that's right. Like the year I crushed my hand and was in a splint from fingertips to elbow and our only heat source was a wood stove. He went into elk camp for a week, left no wood split and took the axe and the hatchet both with him. He thought they might need wood and kindling. "He just didn't think." It got down to 47 in the house. My father-in-law came by that time and took care of things, but I did call him because I had 3 small children in the house. Hubby is just absent minded sometimes. *hit just happens, ya know.
But I enjoy my own tea and toast so it is all good and I have not been so ill that I haven't been able to take care of myself or the kids.
Well, my dear; how I do ramble on. You have yourself a good day. The boys will be here directly so I am gone.
hugs,

Thank you all for stopping by. You made my day much better for having done so.
belva

HOW far into that double posting was I going to read before I realised it all looked a bit familiar! *blushes*

So long as you have tea and toast from somewhere all will be okay... Otherwise I shall have to take up my friend Natalie's hobby (unbelievably, she is not alone) of 'posting toast'. Don't ask!

Ha!~! Thanks, I didn't even realize I had double posted.
And I must ask.................."posting toast", "toasting post"???????????????

Definitely not toasting post, though I dare say it would be easier, if less delicious with butter and marmalade.

Posting toast is exactly what the name suggests. On goes a stamp, on goes an address label... and a large amount of sympathy for the postal workers. And I thought I was a few fries short of a Happy Meal!

Well, I disappeared into schoolwork and a flu for a week, and I come back to the surprise that you read something from my horror literature syllabus! I actually feel a bit as if I've slipped into a separate timezone. Hmmm. I'm glad to see you enjoyed "Carmilla" though :) Supposedly, it's the creepiest tale from his In a Glass Darkly collection, though I have to admit some of the others scared me a bit more, perhaps because I Have read too much vampire randomness... In any case, I just had to comment that it was a pleasant and shocking surprise!

Why, thank you my dear.



I had no idea that I was yet (at my age) capable of shocking anyone. I find I quite like it.
Yes, Carmilla: a Vampyre Tale was my first go round on the vampire circuit. (other than Barnabus Collins; what was the name of that little TV vampire soap opera back in the 60's? I keep forgetting about that one. Oh, yeah, Dark Shadows.
I am happy to see you are getting over your flu. I am just about over mine also. It really feels good not to be sick, doesn't it?
Hey, wwd; with Halloween coming upon us, would you be kind enough to share some of the titles of that little "horror literature syllabus" with us and give us some creepy ideas for holiday appropriate reads?
Thank you for popping by:-)
hugs,
belva

belva dear... hope you are better?
I have a similar pneumonia story.. 3 days til my sister came and .. well..
anyway... hope all is well with you...
hugs

We got a call from Alaska last night at about 7:30 (Alaska time --- 8:30 our time) that my niece, Chrissy, was in a horrible auto accident. She was alone and when found, only responded with a minor squeeze of her finger. She flipped her car 3 times and was ejected out onto the pavement onto her back. She was bleeding from her ears and was unconscious. They sent her by medivac to Ketchikan and at the time we got the call she was in the air being airlifted to Harborview in Seattle. They didn't know anything about the extent of her injuries at that time.
Her mother, Julie, was allowed to be on the helicopter with her which is rather unusual, but then things are different in Alaska. Her dad, Ron, was going to have to take a commercial flight out and he couldn't get one that would get in any earlier than this afternoon at 4:00 P.M. When I spoke with her mother this A.M., she said it is not good. Chrissy has lost a great deal of her skull and her doctors are giving her only into the single digits of a percent of a chance to survive this. She is only 19 or 20 and in her 2nd year of college. They are not even worrying about her other injuries at this time. They are simply trying to keep her alive.
We are so helpless in situations of this sort, but not hopeless.
I would ask, please, that all of you who are believers, please say a prayer for Chrissy. We are praying for a healing if that is His will, but that His will in this be done as is what we always desire.
Thank you and my L.T. love is with all of you this morning as we go through this very difficult day.
belva

Oh, Belva, I'm so sorry. I'm sending you a personal message. If your brother-in-law needs someone to pick him up at the airport and take him to Harborview, I can do that.

I'm so sorry, Belva. I send my every hope that your Chrissy will come through this. Perhaps you can draw some little comfort from knowing that all your friends here are beside you in spirit even if we are far away, and that we are all quietly sending our prayers and very best wishes to your family.

every possible healing energy, positive energy going to Chrissy..
huge hugs going to you~

You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Teresa

Oh Belva, I don't even know what to say. Your family will be in my prayers, please let us know how she's doing when you can.

definitely praying for Chrissy & your family.

Oh Belva - I'm so sorry. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. Joanne

Belva, prayers and good wishes heading your way from the other side of the world.

checking in with another hug

thinking of you and Chrissy.

Update on Chrissy.
I just spoke with her mother and the doctors are bringing Chrissy out of the induced coma every hour to check her responses. So far her pupils are still intact, which is a good sign and they respond to light and such. She does respond physically to stimuli, but will not wake up or attempt to speak or respond to the doctors or family. She is on full life support at this time and it is a wait and see game at this point. They said that at the 48 hour mark, some decisions might have to be made and we are working on the lower 24 hours now.
I appreciate all the prayers, good positive thoughts, and positive energy my dear L.T. friends are sending this way.
Thank you to all who have made offers of help. It is greatly appreciated. I love you all.
belva

That is so sad for you and your family. May you all feel God's presence through this terrible time.

We cross-posted, Belva. As soon as I sent my message I thought of a local happening this week. A high school girl was hit by a car on her way to school. Her situation was much like Chrissy's with unresponsiveness, etc. Well, in this morning's paper, there was an update and she is showing improvement. I hope Chrissy has a similar happy ending. XOXOX

Belva--I am so sorry I have not posted in FOREVER. I am dealing with my own relative's illness here, but it is not nearly so immediately life-threatening as your niece's situation. I miss you and think about you a lot. My very BEST wishes to you, your family and Chrissy. With lots of love.

Belva, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Belva-- I am so sorry, there is really not much I can say. You, your family and especially Chrissy are in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Belva, I am keeping your family and your neice in my thoughts and my prayers.

Glory and praises to the Lord.

Chrissy awoke this evening while her (favorite auntie) was with her. She was unable to speak, but the doctors rushed in and removed the ventilator for 1/2 hour and she was able to breathe on her own. They gave her verbal instructions (ie if you can see us, hear us, and understand us; give us a thumbs up), etc. and she was able to do everything they asked of her except for speaking.
The part of the brain that they had to remove is about a double thumbs width square and is the part of the brain that affects mobility and speech. So we know there is a long road ahead of us. But she is cognitive and responsive. This is very good news. She isn't out of the woods yet and they say it will be a long road, but the doctors are confident enough of her recovery that they are at this time doing surgery to mend and set the broken bones (thankfully there were no internal injuries).
They left her conscious for 1/2 hour to check her responses and then put her back into the drug induced coma as they don't want her moving around and they want her to remain calm. Then they took her down for surgery.
So the family is very hopeful tonight and part of us are going home. The hospital was full of Hulls as there are remnants of 7 sibling families here plus the mother's side and the boyfriend and his as well. Chrissy is very well beloved to all. So many of them had to fly down from Alaska.
Thank you again for all of the caring thoughts, prayers, positive wishes and energies sent her (and our) way. I appreciate my L.T. family so very much.
hugs to all (and I am reaching out there for yours),
belva

just checked in belva and want you to know that prayers will still be said for your family.

*hugs*

That is excellent news, Belva. God is good.

Dear Belva--I just returned from a time away from LT and am so sorry to hear about Chrissy. But I'm also very glad to hear that she is taking the first steps to recovery. My thoughts and best wishes are for Chrissy, you, and the rest of the family.

Deborah

Things are looking up, Belva :)
and I am confident that this will continue ..
hugs

Belva- Thanks for keeping us updated and glad the situation looks a bit brighter! You are in my thoughts, friend!

Great news, Belva, and I'm sure it must be some relief for all of you. I will continue to keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

I'll continue to pray for Chrissy and Kimmy (our local young lady recovering slowly from similar injuries). Thanks for sharing that wonderful news.

Belva-- That is really encouraging news! And thanks for taking the time to write the update. My morning is brighter for it. Continued prayers and best wishes.

Belva,
I was so sorry to hear about Chrissy's injuries and I am praying for her. God bless.
--BJ

Chrissy update:

Chrissy is much the same as last evening except that they were unable to do her surgeries because she has developed a fever in her brain. So they are using icepacks and doing whatever else they can to bring that fever down. Apparently until the fever is gone, they cannot do the surgeries she requires to set the broken bones.
We continue to be optimistic and in constant prayer for her.
Thank you so much for your prayers, thoughts and concerns.
We are ever so grateful.
belva

Belva, I haven't popped in on this thread for the longest time, so I'm sorry I didn't wish you and your family all the best earlier. What horrible and shocking news for you all, I do hope that Chrissy's recovery continues apace.

Just popping in with more good wishes....

Belva, I wasn't on LT all weekend, I'm so sorry to hear about your niece. Your latest update is encouraging. All my prayers and good thoughts are with you and your family.
xoxo

Thanks for the update, Belva. You all remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Teresa

Thanks for the update, Belva. You all remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Teresa

Update on Chrissy:
We are in a holding pattern here now. Her fever is all but gone. They have her back in the induced coma for rest and immobility. Today they will remove all of the tubes, etc to take her off life support as she has been able to breathe on her own for up to 1/2 hour each time they have removed the ventilator. The doctors say she is making "guarded progress". If she can continue to breathe on her own without choking and coughing all will be well there. If she does begin to choke and cough, they will do a tracheotomy as she actually no longer needs full life support to sustain her. And they want her lungs working on their own as much as they can.
Other than that things are about the same.
Last night when they brought her up to check her responses, her nurse told her: "I am going to pinch your ear and if it hurts I want you to hit me." She pinched Chrissy's ear and Chrissy tried to hit her. She missed, but that is all right. We are feeling pretty optimistic about her surviving at this point in time. We will worry about the rehab, etc, later on down the road when we need to. Baby steps are good for now.
My L.T. love and thanx to you all for the positive thoughts, energy, prayers and concerns that have been coming our way. They have not gone unrewarded.
blessings,
belva

Okay, let's try to crawl back into our own life for a while.
I have left off Dracula and War and Peace for a bit and have been indulging in some comfy, cozy reads. September was Daphne Du Maurier Author of the Month Read so:

Myself When Young by Daphne du Maurier

my thoughts and feelings:

I loved this volume of Daphne Du Maurier's. She wrote it at about age 70 from diaries she had written as a young girl and on into her early 20s. She tells of her family, their homes, the countryside in Cornwall where she spent a great deal of her life, her years in school and her close relationship with a teacher that continued all throughout their lives.
I think I especially loved how she spoke of her love of the land, sea, the plant life and her surroundings. She was a very adaptable creature and learned to be happy wherever she was and whatever her circumstances, which were not always ideal. When her father passed away he left them without much and from that point on Daphne, her sister, mother and a friend were very dependent upon her brothers for their housing and livelihood.
She speaks of trying to write and how difficult it was for her most of her early years and the fact that she gave up on all of her writings at one point or another.
I am glad that I read this book before beginning her others which I am going to try to read in order. It has given me an insight into this author that I never had before.

Belva- Big wave to you, friend!! Thanks for the updates on Chrissy. Hopefully the worst is behind her!

Right backatcha buddy!~! ***waves***
Thank you. We are very hopeful. Nice to get my nose back into books.
big hug,
belva

Hi Belva, So nice to have your books to get lost in! Please continue to let us know how things are going with Chrissy. Joanne

Hey Joanne;
How are things with you? I feel like I have been away forever. Other than continuing to read my books, post "Chrissy updates" and my reads, I have hardly read a single thread. But they will be there when I get to them.
Yes, it is lovely to have books to get lost in. Better than Calgon!~!
Thanks for stopping by and for everything.
hugs,
belva

As this is Banned Books Week, I picked up Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston is an author of the Harlem Renaissance age and first came to attention with her essays and short stories. Her first novel: Jonah's Gourd Vine I read during my All Virago/All August month and loved it. I couldn't believe it was a first novel. This one I loved even more.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

My thoughts and comments:

Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is a masterpiece. I began this book last evening and finished it this morning. I felt sad when I put it down realizing that this exquisitely gifted author had given us such a small amount of literature. And yet also, when I put it down I sat smiling with joy at the piece I had just read.
"Their Eyes Were Watching God" is basically a love story, but not. It is basically a coming of age story, but not. It is basically a story of black humanity after their liberation from slavery, but not. This book fits into no category that I know of. It is the story of a young black girl, Janie, growing up in free Western Florida and raised by her "Nanny"; her mother having run off shortly after her birth. She was the progeny of her mother and a schoolteacher who had raped her. Her grandmother raised her with a lot of love, devotion and protected her from all that she could.
When the girl came to her middle teens and became interested in the opposite sex, her grandmother arranged a marriage for her in the hopes of keeping her chaste. It was a loveless marriage to a much older man and as time went on he turned from treating her very well to expecting her to chop wood, plow and work right alongside him. When her grandmother died Janie ran off with another man who came through town and promised her the moon.
Joe Starks did indeed give Janie almost everything she could want; everything she could want but himself. He took her to a new town inhabited only by black people where he decided that they needed a mayor to run things, that they needed more property to build rental housing, that they needed a general store and a post office. And he proceeded to work his way into their hearts as he had done Janie's and he accomplished all that plus he built her a big beautiful home. As time went by she became less and less important to Joe Starks and he became more and more important to himself. Janie's heart began to turn and while she still loved him, she began to see him as he truly was.
Stark became ill and Janie nursed him until he realized that she felt contempt for him and he refused to allow her in his sick room. Others from the community came to nurse and feed him, but his illness continued to his death. He left Janie well off and she mourned for a time and then seemed content and turned all comers away. She had no interest in another man.
Then she met "Tea Cake" and the story from here on is almost pure joy. For me, this was what the book had been building up to all along, though I didn't realize it until I got here.
Hurston's words flow poetically from page to page. Her turn of a phrase is so beautiful that I found myself reading entire passages over and over again just to hear the language and phrasing. Her metaphors are wonderfully fitting to the situation in the story and the book is full of them. The book is very easily read and I highly recommend it and any of her writings.

nannybebette I am so impressed--over 200 books and the years not over yet! That is awesome. Me I'm the slowest reader on the planet. I'm lucky I finish 20 books in a year. You have some excellent books listed that I have added to my evergrowing wish list.

>155 rainpebble:: Yay! I was the first one to "thumbs up' your lovely, passionate review of Their Eyes Were Watching God. I've been saving this book for some quiet time when I can give it the attention it deserves. Now I'm hoping that time comes soon.

Beautiful review, Belva! This one moved up several notches on my TBR, I've had it on the list for years but nothing has compelled me to get it like your review.

Thank you all so much.

************she blushingly said***********

Since this is "Banned Book Week" and it is on the list; if any of you have it, I would grab it.

hugs all round,
belva

The Loving Spirit by Daphne du Maurier

I fell in love with this book just pages into it. The Loving Spirit is Daphne Du Maurier's first novel and amazingly enough I liked it better than quite a few of her latter ones.
The story is a very romantic tale told through four generations of the Coombe family. And the author has thusly broken it into four books to offset each generation. It's all about the sea and the land and what draws one to the sea and how it can be or become generational. She quotes Emily Bronte several times throughout the book and one can definitely see the influence of that author within this one.
Book 1: Janet Coombe; the main character wishes she had been born a lad and wants the freedom to do all the things that are acceptable to lads but not lasses. She wants desperately to go to sea and only menfolk can go to sea. In this book she also tells of Janet and a much older male cousin becoming intimate friends, which is frowned upon by her father. Janet marries Thomas, a shipbuilder and as they have their family she develops a strange relationship with one of her sons, Joseph right from birth. It is as if they are tele-connected in some way that she is not with her other children.
Book 2: Joseph Coombe; the main character in this book is the intimate son of Janet. He does what his mother wanted to do and could not. He becomes a sea faring man. He sails the seas in a family built ship named after his mother and called the "Janet Coombe". The figurehead is also a likeness of his mother. Joseph seems to feel his mother's presence with him as he is sailing.
Book 3: Christopher Coombe; the main character in this book is the son of Joseph Coombe and desires, as his father wishes for him, to become a seafaring man and take over skippering the "Janet Coombe". However he finds it not to his liking and jumps ship in London. He works, marries, has children, and writes home about his life but his father cannot forgive him for abandoning the sealife and disowns him to self and family. His sister, after some many years writes to him of his father's sickness and Christopher decides to take his family and return home to Plyn, Cornwall.
Book 4: Jennifer Coombe; the main character in this book, Jenny, is the daughter of Christopher Coombe and was only six years old when her father died. And yet it falls to her to bring the family back together to a productive life and to finish the "Coombe" saga.
This is a romantic, adventure of the highest kind. There is something for everyone in this book. I loved it and cannot wait to read it again one day soon.

Hi Belva, congratulations on your hot review! Very well deserved, may I add!
*hugs*

passing through to blow a kiss and check on Chrissy's progress... and belvas reading adventures....

Loved both reviews. Now I have more tbr!!
--BJ

#155... you're hot! to the tbr list it goes belva. thank you for sharing that great review.

Belva- Great job on the reviews and landing another Hot One!! You go friend!

Add me to the list of folks enjoying your reviews Belva - great job!

I think The Loving Spirit may have to be promoted up the TBR pile...

I have read some du Maurier of course, but I do not think I have read that one.. I may have to add it to the list...

Hi Belva. I haven't been on LT for a while so am just catching up with threads and wanted to wish you, Chrissy and your family all the best.

I also love your review of Their Eyes Were Watching God and will keep an eye out for it at the library.

Belva-- I recently picked up Their Eyes Were Watching God because I had heard the title somewhere but knew nothing about it. After that review, I can't wait to read it! Thanks.

Belva
I'm stopping by to say congratulations on your hot review listed on today's home page!

Belva
I loved your review. I have a two volume edition of Zora Neal Hurston's works from Library of America. She worked with anthropologists Ruth Benedict, Franz Boas and Margaret Mead. Some of the articles in the nonfiction volume of her works are fascinating. She died in St. Lucie County Welfare Home and was buried in an unmarked grave.

Thank you everyone.

>#172:
Bill;
I've not read the particulars yet, but I did read that she died unknown, penniless and alone. That has happened to too many of our great writers and, to me, this woman was a GREAT writer.
What you have shared is heartbreaking. And I didn't realize that she had worked with anthropologists and some biggies too. I think I will look for the nonfiction anthology of her work.
I find her writing fascinating. Jonah's Gourd Vine was wonderful also.
You know, they have funding for older actors out of work, they have funding for older artists who no longer work, and certainly for Veterans. Why do they not have something in place for writers? It is such a tenacious vocation anyway. I would just like to see them cared for and not end up in some "potter's field".
Thank you for your input. Most interesting, as always Bill.
hugs,
belva

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

I read this for Banned Books Week and I think that I enjoyed reading about Kate Chopin and her life far more than I enjoyed reading what she wrote.

My thoughts and comments:

In The Awakening Edna Pontellier lives what was at that time an upper middle class life, I would think. She is married to a husband who treats her well, has two children, several servants and is rather comfortably well off. However she finds her life boring and wants to be more independent. She loves her children but is not emotionally connected with them.
In trying to change her life to become what she feels she needs to be in order to become whole and independent, she yet looks to other men and in the end she turns out to be what appears to me a weak, feeble, simple minded and silly woman.
The book just didn't work for me.

#174... hey belva... this is a book i recently picked up for cheap at a used book shop because it was about the south. sorry it didn't work for you. hope it works for me one day. i did go out yesterday and buy the hurston book. will crack it open eventually. i'm currently reading a gothic, victorian-like ghost story. it is good. don't know what will end up in my hands after i finish it. it's kind of exciting not knowing what i'll be reading next. the anticipation is tingly feeling. hope all is well and weller.

Thank you Brian.
And I, too, hope it works better for you than it did for me. (the book, that is)
And it is always exciting to not know what you will be reading next. I own just two more books that are on the Banned Book List. The Catcher in the Rye and To Kill A Mockingbird. I thought that I would for sure pick up the latter, but when it came time to grab another, I grabbed Salinger's. Ya just never know. The mind is a most marvelous thing.
hugs,
belva
P.S. Hope you love the Hurston book.

Belva
To Kill a Mockingbird is my #1 all time favorite book ... ever!

Oooooh, how I hated The Catcher in the Rye for taking up valuable hours of my young life... Maybe one day I'll come back to it without the weight of expectation and its own bookish ego hanging over it and appreciate it more.

I seem to do this a lot with 'change your life as a teenager' books - The Bell Jar, The Color Purple, even poor old Alice in Wonderland... Here's to hoping you like it better than I did!

miss ellie'
I did enjoy it. It took me about 2 hours of valuable time to read it, which was just about right since it had very little to say. But I did like it. It wasn't at all what put me off it all this time.
I hope you are doing well and have a beautiful day off soon.
hugs,
belva

Linda;
I just twenty minutes ago read the opening pages of To Kill a Mockingbird and I already like it. I think it will take a few more pages for me to know if I love it, but with that rec, I know I will enjoy it considerably.
Well, I am going to catch up on a few threads and then get back to it. I think today is the last day of Banned Books Week so I only have 5 1/4 hrs.
hugs Linda,
belva

Hey Belva! I'm so glad you enjoyed Catcher in the Rye - as I said, I think perhaps I expected too much of it first time around and perhaps on a second reading I'd enjoy it more...

This weekend's been pretty darn fantastic actually - yesterday was blustery and cold but we had a great day in the shop sales-wise. Today is Sunday, it's a shorter day, the sun is shining, and I have just discovered, entirely by chance, that my finances have suddenly and spectacularly righted themselves. I haven't had a smile this big on my face for months! All of which means, of course, that I can celebrate by having an Amazon blowout and doing a really good Food Shop of Deliciousness this week!

Hope all is good in Belva-world - and that Chrissy continues to make progress - oh, and could you PM me your address by any chance? We have some beautiful new bookish cards in the shop and I want to send you one!

Belva & Ellie- Re-reading The Catcher in the Rye many years later, was a completely different experience. I truly loved it with more "mature" eyes. I also adored To Kill a Mockingbird and the experience was even richer the second time around. Take care friends!

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favourites, I'm really looking forward to your thoughts on it!

#181:
ellie;
Sounds like a fairly perfect week in the shop.
And I am so happy that your finances have finally righted themselves for you have been concerned for quite some time. This is really good news. We like the Big Smiles on miss ellie's face for whatever the reason!~!
I did P.M. you my addy and will be excitedly looking forward to a little surprise card in the post. I like little surprises. I think all of us do.
Things with Chrissy are rather at a stand still and it is a wait and see. The doctors say that is not always a bad sign. They have brought her up from the induced coma and she has remained in her own coma. So they are doing physical therapy on her as her feet and hands are trying to close and they don't want that. She still opens her eyes occasionally but will not wake up at this point. But she does reach out and stroke and try to play with a little stuffed teddy bear that sits on the side of her bed. So we know that part of our Chrissy is still in there. We are ever hopeful.
hugs,
belva

>#182 & 183:
Mark & spacespuds;
I loved both books. The Catcher in the Rye really took me by surprise. I was expecting some dark, risque novel and was quite nicely surprised.
To Kill a Mockingbird, I think, is in a class of it's own. I found it lovely, heartwarming, with characters one could draw near to, throbbing with life, true to life (for the times), endearing and quite brilliant!~!
I don't really want to go back to War and Peace and Dracula at this point as I seem to be slogging along through, but I think I will just bite the bullet now that Banned Books Week is over and finish them. Perhaps my plate will be clean by November first when we begin People of the Book. That would be quite nice.
Thanks to both of you for stopping by.
You too miss ellie.
The Canadian geese are flying through the valley. I absolutely love when those two times of year approach and they come. Sometimes they remain for a few days at one or the other of the lakes or ponds in the valley. What wonderful creatures they are.
hugs to you both,
belva

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

My thoughts and comments:

I read The Catcher in the Rye for Banned Books Week and when I had finished with it I just sat there with it in my lap wondering why I had resisted this book for forty some odd years. I think I was expecting something dark and quite risque. I got neither.
What I got was a slice of a few days in the life of probably what at least one student out of every high school graduating class will find themselves going through. The questioning of their sexuality; the questioning of their intelligence; the questioning of familial love and respect; the questioning of what their future will bring; the questioning of their teachers; the questioning of themselves at each and every turn in their lives; along with the insecurities that all of us have at that age.
I found this to be a realistic book, I was able to relate to the main character and the other wacky students, his teachers, and the events throughout the book. I enjoyed the book tremendously and found it to be a quick read. I was surprised at the analytical quality of the book in that there was none. It was just pretty just much all laid out there for you to read. This is the first Salinger I have read and believe me, I will be seeking out more.
I quite liked The Catcher in the Rye and I wish that I had read it during my much younger years so that I could reread it with the fresh eyes and mind of an adult. I highly recommend this book to any of you who haven't read it, and for those of you who read it as a youngster, I would recommend that you reread it through your now adult eyes.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

My thoughts and comments:

There have been so many good, great, and wonderfully written reviews on this book that I don't really see one more making any difference.
What I will say is that this is a book that does not leave your heart nor your mind when you have finished reading it. It is a work more brilliant than brilliant. The characters become immediately enmeshed in your heart and you care about them so very much. Even Mrs. Dubose and Aunt Alexandra; and Dill had me wrapped around his little finger from his first appearance on the page.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a beautiful work of prose and I won't soon forget it. Now I understand why my 91 year old mother reads it several times a year. It is, simply put, a book one falls in love with.

Belva- Beautiful thoughts on both books! Hope you are having a great day!

*blows belvadear a kiss* *wanders off*

Thank you Mark. Back atcha buddy!~!

And Kath: Mwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!~!

belva

As Henry James has been chosen as "Author of the Month" for October, I thought I would begin with the only one I own while I await The Bostonians from the library.
So this afternoon I sat down with a small volume of his shorts. The Beast in the Jungle and Other Stories. Now, just let me say that I have never before read Henry James and from reading this small selection I would have no trouble telling you why I have never before read him. However, I feel that would be unfair to Mr. James so I will go ahead and read The Bostonians and THEN I will share with you why I have never before read him.

**Kath**, **Ruthie**;
I think I am feeling some vibes here.

And that's all I have to say about that.
belva

#191... hi belva. hope you enjoy HJ :). i kind of didn't. that's why when reading that book the uncommon reader i fell in love with the following inner dialog of the queen:

'Am I alone', she wrote, 'in wanting to give Henry James a good talking-to?'
It was Henry James she was reading one teatime when she said out loud, 'Oh, do get on.'

oh... please 'do get on!'.

Think town, farm TOWN...remember cyber valium

Hello! How are you? I am writing you in the middle of the night because I am up with my youngest waiting for the ibuprofin to kick in and for his fever to go down to normal fever level. He is watching cartoons....sometimes cable is so great! Never really cared for Henry James. Loved To Kill a Mockingbird and especially Catcher in the Rye. I have been following the October scary reads thread (that's not exactly the right name) and remembering Dracula, House of Seven Gables, etc. I didn't feel like rereading those, so I just finished Odd Hours by Dean Koontz, which I really enjoyed. Best wishes to you and Chrissy.

Congrats Ellie!! #181

#192 -- Now that is a funny quote!

Okay, he's below 103. Good 'till morning...Night!

>#192:
Banoo;
I hated the H.J. :-( He has one (count them; 1) more chance with The Bostonians. If I don't like that one, I am ditching him. The one I read is getting bookcrossed or mooched out of here fast!~!
Thanx for trying to make me feel better. And to think I read him because I was trying to put off Dracula, which I am enjoying but my copy is a mass market copy and the print is tttttiny!~! And I am finding excuses not to finish War and Peace, which I am not enjoying so much. Perhaps because I just read Anna Karinina. I do like the storyline, but it takes sooooooooooo long for anything in his (Tolstoy's) books to happen and I think I am just bored and need to put it away.
Have a great day guy and enjoy your week.
I am hearing a lot of good things about The Uncommon Reader. I will have to give that one a go eventually.
Catch ya later Brian,
belva

Kath;
You are too much. You and your farmtown and virtual neighbors. If only I had the time. But a girl can dream (when she's feeling blue), right?
Hope you are doing well and reading good stuff. Don't do the H.J. Not so good stuff, yet.
hugs n stuff,
belva

Berly;
I hope your little one is much better very soon. His fever must have been way up there if it is better at 103 degrees. You will probably be staying home from work today because their fever has to be gone for 24 hours before they can go back; right? You can watch toonies all day long with him. Yeah, cable is great for that. Felix in the middle of the night!~! Whoo Hoo!~!~!
I tell you, Berly, if the H.J. I read (and the intro said it was some of his "superb"stories), then I think I hate his writing. I am going to try one more of his. The Bostonians and that is his last chance with me. I am too old to fart around and read stuff that doesn't appeal to me.
I love, love, loved To Kill a Mockingbird!~! (thanx Whisper1) and I really liked Catcher in the Rye an awful lot too. I don't know why I didn't read either of them years ago. I think I actually knew the Catcher in the Rye kid. I think everyone knew one of him. Loved it.
My granddaughter has read Dean Koontz's Odd series and really enjoyed them. Have you read the entire series? He kind of scares me. He and Robin Cook because everything I have read of theirs, (and it's not much) is something that I can see with some tweaking, could really happen and it creeps me out. But hey, you and Haley just go on enjoying them.
I hope you and the young 'un get some rest today Berly. Sickness---------no good.
love,
belva

Hi, Belva,
Just popping in to say that I am still praying for Chrissy. I also love To Kill a Mockingbird. It is an amazing book.
--BJ

Oh Boo! My son has the dreaded swine flu. He is under serious quarantine at my house and taking all sorts of meds because he has the additional risk of asthma and it would be bad if he got his sister sick because she has a heart condition. Sigh. I am going to have serious cabin fever before this all ends! Reading The Lost Symbol and it is a page-turner! I hope Dan Brown, my fellow Amherst classmate, appreciates my efforts to financially support him.

Sorry to hear about your children, Berly. I hope they both recover well.

Oh, Berly, what awful news! My sister's eldest came down with swine flu earlier this year, and came through with flying colours - but I remember my sister fretting about the high temperature, and that's the first thing I thought of when you mentioned it above. (There you go, diagnosis over the internet. ;)

Belva, I've read a couple of Henry James novel(la)s - Portrait of a Lady and The Turn of the Screw. I read Turn of the Screw a long time ago, so can't recall it all that well, but I did rather like Portrait of a Lady although it was dreadfully slow and dense at times. (I agree with the Queen in The Uncommon Reader, I'd forgotten that quote, but it's a lovely one.)

I do have a few to get to this month (apparently I've been collecting his books, although I don't seem to be reading them), so we'll see if I can still read Henry James now, or if one needs to be younger and have more spare time.

>#201:
wookiebender;
Thank you for trying to encourage me with Henry James. I will begin The Bostonians today so we will see how that goes. I am, right now, in the middle of Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own which is actually an essay and very short so by this evening I should be able to begin H.J.
You are very sweet to encourage me along. I have dropped War and Peace for the time being and will pick it up at some point in the future. It was just slogging along which with all that has been happening within the family bored me to tears, literally. I am still reading Dracula as I am very much enjoying it, but just in snips now and then as the mood hits me. And I am looking forward to reading The Uncommon Reader. That quote (by the by) is what I have been feeling for Tolstoy's War and Peace. Anna Karinina didn't sit like this with me, but I think it must be the mental and emotional place I am at the moment.
Thank you for stopping by wookie.
hugs,
belva

My dear Berly boo ;
I am so very sorry that your little one is so ill and that the health of your daughter is at peril as well. Will you be able to keep her at home while he is ill or will she have to go to G'ma's or somewhere?
I hope you have a lot of books at the ready.
If not, P.M. me a list and I will fill it at the library and run by your house and throw the bag at the door. You are closer than Chrissy's hospital and I am not going up there today so just let me know.
I will be remembering all of you in my prayers and you will be on my heart until all is well again.
much love,
belva

All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West

my thoughts and comments:

What a beautifully written novel this is. All Passion Spent is about a woman in her late eighties whose husband has just passed away and who finds herself suddenly with the freedom to do as she likes with the remainder of her life. Up until now, she has lived for her husband and her six children.
The children expect her to sell her home, which she does, and share the remaining years she has with them; rotating months between their homes. But Lady Slane has a very different idea for the years she has left. She wants to live very privately in the countryside with her one devoted servant and far from all of her family. She yearns for peace and quiet. So ignoring all of their demands upon her, she does exactly that.
Not a lot happens in this novel, but it is not what happens that invades the mind and spirit of the one reading it. It is the getting there, the prose, the language of the book that is taken into one's heart, mind and spirit to be treasured and held there that matters. This is simply a beautiful story and one I won't forget for a long time.

*sending energy for all of those who need it.... *
and giving serious attention to what is being said abut Dan Browns book...
Adding All Passion Spent to my wishlist

Kath,
You, my dear, are a dream of a friend. Hope all is well with you and yours.
luv n hugs,
belva

I am reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown right now and am rather liking it. I am at the part where Langdon has just discovered what the bad guy wants and that he has said item on his person. I have visited Washington a few times and my Dad and BIL are both Masons. I eat the history right up so the story is not dragging for me. Boo to all the people who can't get into this story.

Perhaps I shall have to give it a try. I am one of the few who "confusedly" enjoyed The Da Vinci Code and actually really Angels and Demons. Maybe this winter when I don't have so much going on and so many books lined up I will read The Lost Symbol.
My family are not Masons, but as my first husband's had been and he was, I know quite a bit about them. I have also studied up on the Masons a bit. The history parts never did drag for me.
With these books, here again, I think there are those who forget or cannot get past the fact that they are "reading fiction". I just think that causes a lot of grief for readers. It makes it more difficult for them to take a book lightly. (Can't name any names or it will be back to the "vestibule" for me and I have worked my way up to "paying & shipping".
belva

CHRISSY UPDATE:
I have been rather quiet on the Chrissy subject lately as the news was not good. They brought her up from the medically induced coma only to find that she was in her own coma. That was several days ago. She quit responding to the doctors, nurses, and her parents. Her eyes were still reacting as they wanted them to. But she had developed pneumonia and that was not good.
They had the big "meeting" day before yesterday and told the parents and grandparents to begin to prepare themselves for Chrissy to be transferred to a nursing facility. This was devastating news to the family. It meant that the doctors were giving up hope on her.
Then this morning we got a call from her father. Chrissy opened one eye and tracked it all the way across the room to where he was standing, tried to smile and lifted her arm and gave him a thumbs up. So now we are on cloud nine. Chrissy is still in there; or part of her is!~! We know there is a long way to go and perhaps she will do a lot of slipping and sliding along the way. But we are going to continue to pray that nothing catastrophic happen along that path. The pneumonia is way better.
That is all I know for the moment.
Thank you all again for your good and positive energy sent Chrissy's and our way, for your positive thoughts, for your prayers and all.
belva

Prayers are sent....
I can only imagine how difficult this is for all concerned.

belva, thanks for the Chrissy update. The whole thing must just be heartbreaking for you all, but she does seem to be holding on. A thumbs up! Brilliant.

I read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code - didn't everyone? It was a page turner, but there was some awfully clunky writing that drove me nuts (enough with the exposition! on with the plot!) and I'm not tempted enough to try any of his others. So The Lost Symbol will have to remain lost to me.

Belva- Thanks for keeping us informed on your niece. I hope things are moving in a positive direction. Big hug to you friend!

I am so glad that you had some good news about Chrissy. I continue to pray for her.
--BJ

Belva - my thoughts are prayers are still with you and family. Thanks for the updates, I too hope that things continue to look up.

wookiebender (I LOVE that name!) - too much exposition and not enough plot was my exact problem with The Lost Symbol too. It wasn't nearly as bad in Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, from what I remember, as it was in this new one. It just dragged on and on and on, no sense of urgency whatsoever.

Belva, thanks for the updates. Know that I'm still thinking of you and your family.

>#210:
Linda;
Thank you for the prayers. Please keep them coming. It is a very difficult time, but we are still reading. (Reading is my safe place.)
much love,

>#211:
wookiebender;
hee hee; I love the name as well. Wherever did you find it or how did you think that one up?
Yes, our Chrissy is not a quitter. She is not giving up. As long as she holds on, we hold on.
Yes, I think everyone read Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and some loved it, some liked it, some hated it and some were just ambivalant about it. But that's okay. We all have our druthers and sometimes are just curious as to what all the hype is all about.
Thank you for stopping by.
hugs,

>#212;
My dear friend Mark;
Thank you for coming by to help me stay "up." I appreciate you and your kindnesses more and more. I will take that big hug and hold onto it. They all help.
thanx and hugs n luvs to you as well,

>#213:
--BJ;
My dear friend, thank you so much for always being such a positive influence on me as well. I appreciate (always) your sunny ways and your positive attitude. Watching you helps me to be more of that spirit. You and Mark are my heros, in that respect.
I love you,

>#214:
spacespuds;
Thank you for coming by and for your thoughts and caring. I do so appreciate it. We'll just keep on reading and doing the things we need to do. Somehow trying to "stay" in my life helps tremendously.
big hug,

>#215:
theaelizabet;
Thank you for being there. I do know that you are thinking of us and I so appreciate it.
big hug your way as well,

belva

Good news about Chrissy, I hope she keeps fighting. Carry on reading. Wishing you good things in your life.

Earlier this morning I finished Dracula by Bram Stoker.

my thoughts and comments:

The Count is definitely a book of another time, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. I expected it to be creepier, but as I was yet a teenager the last time I read it, it most likely affected me very differently. I enjoyed the characters in the story. I found it a little long winded at times, but books of that era pretty much are so I am not complaining, just commenting. I would have liked to see more little underlying stories but I thought it quite good and will give it another read in a few more years with a different copy. My copy is a mass paperback with the tiniest print imaginable that goes right to the spine of the book. Makes for very difficult reading. This copy is on it's way to Good Will.
happy gouling peoples,
belva

More good wishes for Chrissy - it made my day yesterday hearing your good news! All hopes for her continued recovery - and your ongoing strength and positivity - from Derbyshire, xx

Speaking of Chrissy;
That evening after she woke up, (she is still drifting in and out of the coma, but it's to be expected as she does still have some swelling on her brain) when the head of the Neurology Dept. came in to see her he asked her mother, Julie, to "put Chrissy through her paces". Julie asked her to blink for him; she did, she asked her to move her eyes side to side; she did, she asked her to lift her arms; she did, she asked her to give him 3 thumbs up; she did it; she asked her to give the doctor the "peace sign"; she tried to grin and flipped him the bird!~! We don't know if she did it on purpose, but her grandpa seems to think she did as she was attempting to smile at the same time.
They also removed all the tubes and the nurse told her: "Chrissy, I am going to take all of these tubes out sweetie, and it is going to hurt. I am sorry." When the tubes were out, Chrissy said: "This sucks." So our little girl is in there. Maybe not all of her and maybe not all of the time, but Chrissy is in there.
So many blessings along with the sorrows. That makes up our lives, doesn't it?
Thank you again for all of your good wishes.
belva

I finished A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf this morning.

my thoughts and comments:

What a lovely book. It is an essay on why men were always more intelligent than women; on why men were always better writers than women; on why men wrote and women didn't; on why men were educated and women were not; on why one could not be an author if one or one's family did not have money; on why one could not be successful as a writer unless one had the privacy in which to write.
It sounds so cold and calculated and statistical. However I found it to be a very warm and inviting read. I have never read Virginia Woolf previously. But I love her writing. She is a very lyrical, honest writer; she doesn't hold back nor pull punches and I hope that she has a novel out there somewhere that I can find and read. In the notes at the back of my copy it only listed essays and critiques she had written. I don't know, but I would imagine that Virginia Woolf was a fascinating woman.

Belva my darling dear, Mrs. Dalloway is one of Virginny's all-time out-of-the-park homers, and it's short. Also, though less short, the delicious Orlando shouldn't be missed. Lovely, lovely writing in each of them.

Starting there will lead to wonderful places, I predict.

xoxo

"....the delicious Orlando shouldn't be missed." Agreed.

Thanks for the update, Belva.

Thanx for the recx my dear friends. I am gone posthaste to Amazon.com to so order.
lovingly yours,
belva

Hey, Belva. I haven't had much to say about the books you're reading, so have kept quiet. I think A Room of One's Own is an important book for women to read, especially before they get married or partner up.

Glad to hear all the good news about Chrissy. That sounds good that she can talk and respond. Does she have any family who already lived down here? Or has all her of family come down from Alaska?

Just a quick message to say I continue to hold Chrissy in my prayers.

I must say I enjoyed Mrs Dalloway and have heard wonderful things about To the Lighthouse and Orlando. I also have The Waves and A Room of One's Own to read, but didn't rate Between the Acts, which I hadn't heard of previously but had to read at university... Just my 2 pennies' worth!

ETA: What? No touchstones AT ALL? Maybe this time...

Aha, that's better!

That's wonderful news about Chrissie.

I am thrilled to hear that Chrissy is coming back to you... slowly maybe.. but it sounds like she is on her way. huge hugs

I like The Dan Brown books you mentioned.. Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.. and look forward to eventually getting to The Lost Symbol.

Chrissy's story is amazing! May she continue to improve everyday.

I've just now added every book mentioned by Virginia Woolf. I only have one of hers, which of course, I haven't read yet. And it looks like it will be awhile before I get to the W's on my ABC Challenge.

:)

Hi, Belva,
Thanks so much for continuing to update us on Chrissy's progress. I am still rooting for her and praying for her. God bless.
--BJ

First of all, continued best wishes for Chrissy and big hugs to you.

We have weathered the Swine Flu in my family (thanks for all the good thoughts) and everyone is back at school. I am catching up on all that fell behind...

Enjoyed The Lost Symbol quite a lot. I loved hearing all the history of the Masons and our country's first leaders as well as the symbolism in the Washington monuments. The story takes place in a 24-hour period, so it's pretty fast-paced.

Also loved (from many years ago) Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse and A Room of One's Own.
Completely (!) different kind of literature. :)

Happy reading Belva!

>102 msf59: - Mark -

Hi, Belva. I am finally catching up with your thread and saw this post to Mark ... so I want to let him know that my husband, RedHillsReader, on LT, does NOT like girlie books, but, he loved Outlander and others in her series also.

I think these two characters will live forever in my imagination ... Jamie & Clare. (Hope that's the way they spell their names ... it has been s-o-o-o-o long since I read the books.)

Go for it, anyone that is waiting. If you liked The Time Traveler's Wife you will most likely love Outlander. The history and research done for the book are excellent, also.

A Diane Gabaldon fan of many years ...

Ruth/womansheart

Yep! I am with ruthie....

you will like Gabadon's books..

Hello Belva, Hope things are still looking good for Crissy.

Too Many Books!! I have Outlander on my shelf. I bought it a couple of months ago and I really can't wait to start it. I keep running across such enthusiastic comments. My library books keep getting in the way and I wish I could read faster! Oh, well, not such a bad problem to have... :)

I am always wishing I could read faster, too!!

Just stopping by Belva, to say that I am back in town and had the most wonderful time on my trip. I got to see both girls, and my baby has fully recovered from the flu. She looked great! You know that wonderful feeling you get after you have been sick for a while and then at last you are all better? That was her. We all went to see U2 in concert in Houston which was really fun. My first time to see Reliant Stadium. Anyway, hope all is well with you and thanks for the well wishes. God bless.
--BJ

And you're starting 'BJ's Book Group' to rival Bonnie's, right - starting with Moby Dick?!

Belva, has the card arrived yet? Just checking in cos with all the postal strikes that have already caused chaos and more on the way, it seems that half the things I've posted recently may not have even left Derbyshire already. We're having to try and put people off placing book searches through us at the moment, things are taking so long to arrive and if they DON'T, the other bookseller has to pick up the bill and I hate doing that...

Hey, Ellie,
Sorry about the strikes that you are having to deal with. I am starting a group read of Moby Dick next year because I have been wanting to read it forever but am afraid that I won't make it alone. I don't know about Bonnie's group. I better go check her thread out. I am so behind on LT. I just hope to be more on top of things next year! :)

Belva, sorry to interrupt your thread. Hope all is well with you and yours. :)
--BJ

miss ellie;
The card has not arrived yet, but I have had items take 6 weeks to arrive from U.K. so not to worry. I am not impatient.

Thank you everyone for stopping by. I am sorry that I have been such a poor communicator these days, but heart and head are simply elsewhere and most days the body as well.
Never fear, I have not forgotten any of you. I love you all and appreciate your caring so much about my family. I feel more love and concern here than from my little community of 1200 persons. And I am still reading and listing my reads; just not really reviewing.
I will return wholeheartedly when my life allows.
Thank you all.
belva

Belva, your place is with Chrissy and your family right now, and we understand that. Don't worry, we will be here when your life returns to "normal" and you get back to encouraging your friends on LT. For right now, just focus on what is most important in your life and know that we are all thinking of you, Chrissy, and your family. I'm just glad that you are able to keep reading. What a comfort that can be.

Belva--This is supposed to be your happy place, where you can hang out with friends. Don't worry about posting reviews. Read books and threads guilt-free!! Best wishes with a few hugs and a dollop of laughter.

Yeah, enjoy yourself whenever you can, Belva!

I think it's wonderful how a book can bring so much comfort and happiness in troubled times. My worst times ever in my life have been when things have gotten so bad that I couldn't concentrate on a book, couldn't read at all - it was like a comfort blanket had been stripped away. So keep reading Belva, it's the very sweetest form of TLC!

And I agree with you about the community here. It's amazing - and incredibly heartwarming - how wholeheartedly LT-ers rally round each other in times of sickness or unhappiness or just at the end of a rubbish day - you simply don't see it often in other places, online, offline, anywhere any more. No wonder we all spend so much time here! :-)

Belva- Thanks for dropping in! Big hug to you my friend!

Just stopping by your thread to join in the chorus of love and well wishes for you and yours, Belva.

>244 elliepotten: - Ellie -

Thank you for your remarks about what you see and experience happening with so many of us on LT. It is wonderful to meet, get to know, and love and support friends here.

Maybe some of this comes from sharing the experience of reading so many of the same books, or maybe readers are somewhat introspective people, but, at the same time, they enjoy connecting with other people who read. Maybe our ability to be understanding and compasionate is heightened by so much reading and then sharing with each other. Maybe it offers a more level playing field without appearance and status entering into the friendship(s) since we mostly don't know what each other looks like or what we "have."

It often reminds me of what it might be like to have an on-line public house that we could just drop by for a pint, or a chat with a friend or a chorus or two of some old favorite song sung without concern for the performances, but for the fun of it. Here on LT we can offer some hope to each other.

Here's to Belva, our friend and furthermore ... here's to each of us.

WH/Ruth

I'll raise a glass to that!

Belva, as you can see, we are all here waiting for you with open arms. Hope you will be back with us soon with more good news.

Very beautifully put, womansheart! Still thinking of you and saying prayers for your family, Belva. Take care.

Quite a lovely circle of love and concern here. Very nice. My best to all and have a wonderful Saturday!

I'm off to watch some marching bands on a glorious fall afternoon.

Please add my hugs and warm thoughts to all the others that are being sent your way, Belva. Hope our prayers and wishes help you stay strong for yourself and your family.

For One Sweet Grape or That Lady by Kate O'Brien

my thoughts and comments:

I would call this a historical novel but the author, in her foreword, calls it "an invention arising from reflection on the curious external story of Ana de Mendoza and Philip II of Spain."
The story line follows a time frame of between 10/1576 to 06/1592 in the history of Spain under the rule of Philip II and during the time of the Armada disaster.
This beautifully written dramatic novel about a woman's love, a statesman's intrigues, and a sovereign's strange jealousy is the story of Ana de Mendoza, Princess of Eboli, who risked her reputation and her life for the one bit of happiness that only love could bring to her.
Kate O'Brien brings to life the indecisive but likable King Philip II, his brilliant minister of state, Antonio Perez and the magnificent woman whom both of them loved.
Although Ana was never the mistress of Philip, the bond between them was deeper than friendship. After her husband's death the King requested that she move from her home estate to come and be near him at Madrid and it was there that she met again Antonio Perez, her husband's protege and now Secretary of State and soon to be her devoted lover.
The main part of the story deals with the King's handling of this "situation" when he learns of it.
I liked and cared about all of the characters in this book and when one of them did something unwise there was something in my gut that simply cringed. Some of Ana's children were interesting and some not. Her duena is a wonderfully drawn character, as is Ana. At it's close, this book had me running to the computer for two reasons. One; to do a review as there were none, and two; to look up the real history of the lives and times of these Spanish and Castilian personages.

favorite quote: "Antonio turned, walked to where the wine was, and refilled his glass. He came back, drank a little and smiled at Ana.
"Speak, you," he said. "You say you're a virago. Come on -- now is the time."

Belva- Nice review, friend! Glad to see you back in action!

As mark said, very nice review. Not my cuppa tea, but glad you enjoyed it so much.

Belva wrote: favorite quote: "Antonio turned, walked to where the wine was, and refilled his glass. He came back, drank a little and smiled at Ana.
"Speak, you," he said. "You say you're a virago. Come on -- now is the time."

I hope she give Antonio a slap across the face, and of all the nerve, didn't bring her a glass of wine!

Virginia Woolf's Women by Vanessa Curtis

my thoughts and comments:

I have been interested for some time in reading more of Virginia Woolf's works and so I wanted to read more about the woman herself. This book, with quite an ambiguous title, gave me a lot of information on the lady in question and as the title tells us, also how some of the women who were part of her life throughout and/or at different times affected her and her work.
The women in the life of Virginia Stephen Woolf seem all to have been fascinating women; from her mother, grandmother and sister to the female friends, confidantes and lovers. Those ladies included in this study are her mother Julia, her sister Vanessa, her stepsister Stella, her grandmother Maria, family friend Violet Dickinson, society hostess Ottoline Morrell, fellow authors Katherine Mansfield and Vita Sackville-West, painter Dora Carrington, and composer/sometime conductor Ethel Smyth, among others.
Virginia's life was filled, literally, with tragedy from a very early age on. She lost so many of her loved ones and suffered from depression and mental illness throughout her entire life. She was finally able to find stability and happiness with her husband Leonard, whom she married in 1912. Their marriage was seen as unconventional due to the fact that it was based more on intellectual companionship than physical love and passion. They did, however, share a mutual loyalty, commitment, frankness and love.
Although Virginia suffered greatly throughout her lifetime, she brought much joy and pleasure to her family and those who loved her. She took her life in 1941. Virginia Woolf was 59 years of age.

That sounds like a good one. Added to the Tipping TBR Tower!

I confess that I haven't read anything by Virginia Wolfe. Like Berly, I'm adding this one to the "tipping TBR tower!"

Berly, when do you suppose our tower will actually tip?

Yeah, that sounds better than the biography of V. Wolfe that I've read, because it sounds more inclusive.

#258 Linda, I take great comfort in the fact that even after many centuries the Leaning Tower of Pisa is still leaning....

Hi, Belva -

I am stopping by to remind you that I (along with many, many others) are here, thinking lovingly of you. I hope you are well supported, well rested, well fed and well read.

Love and tender hugs to you and yours -

Ruthie

re #102 Popping in to say, back from vacation and while I haven't finished Outlander (I have about 50 pages to go) and I am loving it! It is a little bit of everything, adventure, history, and romance. I am so glad there is an entire series to read as I do not want to stop reading about them. So make room on the bandwagon, I'm climbing aboard!

Whoo Hoo!~!
So glad you are enjoying it. I will say that I think this particular book is the best of the series, though I enjoyed all of them. Did you like the wicca bit? I did. I found her fascinating.
Well, Chrissy's dad just walked through the door so I am gone.
hope you enjoyed your vacation. You will have to share about it later.
big hug,
belva

CHRISSY UPDATE:
Chrissy is out of the coma and is responding to stimuli. She has only uttered the words: "This sucks." and: "Enough". So she isn't really talking but they expected that. However she is getting really good at talking with her eyes, her fingers and and with body motions.
They have moved her from the intensive care wing down to the third floor (neurology) and have her in a type of bed that she can sit up a bit in and that supplies support. She does tend to topple over a bit or her head will sink down on her chest but when someone tells her to pick her head up or to sit up straight, she struggles, is very shaky and it takes her a while but she is able to do it on her own. Her eyes are both open now and she is tracking perfectly with them. She is so close to her mom but it is funny how she is always looking for her dad. And when she sees him her eyes are just steady on him.
She can hold cards in her hands (awkwardly) and play gin, she wrote the word: "HEY" yesterday, she can read her cards and letters. If they print up an email letter she can read it really fast and when they ask her questions afterward; she has it all!~!
So far they have been unable to find any gaps in her memory. The doctors who gave her less than a 10 % chance of even making it are calling her their "miracle patient" and doctors from all the other wings are coming in to see this child/woman who is beating all the odds.
It has been an amazing answer to prayer and to the power God has put into the hands of these physicians.
They had her up on her feet yesterday for a minute and a half and she actually took a step with each foot. She can play that thumb war game where you hold hands and put your thumb on top of the other persons and they take their thumb from under yours and put it on top of yours.
Just everything is looking good. She is making strides every day. She has to wear a helmet any time they have her out of her bed because so much of her skullcap is gone but they will put that bone back in a couple of months. And it doesn't look like she is going to have to go to a long term care facility. The family is so grateful for the timing of her coming out of her coma and responding to the doctors. No one wanted her in a long term care facility.
So a lot of relief; a lot of exhaustion; a lot of emotions coming out now that everyone had held in for so long. It has been wonderful how the whole family has pulled together. I am so proud of all of them.
Thank you to all of my L.T. friends who have cared, prayed, thought positive thoughts for Chrissy, sent your positive energies this way and for all of the lovely messages. I appreciate all of you and all you have given. I see life slowly coming back to normal and I am not obsessing quite so much. It has helped me such a great deal that you were all here for me. I love you all.
belva

deep sigh...

Love and hugs back on you my friend....

Thank you Kath.
I feel like belva is coming back from somewhere dark and far away as well.
hugs n luvs to you too.

Great to hear about Chrissy's amazing recovery, Belva! And thank goodness for family that have been there for her every step of the way!

Many hugs! She walked! Goodness!

That's brilliant Belva, good thoughts still coming:)

Belva--Your Chrissy update just moved me to tears. I hold the greatest hope in my heart for your beautiful niece and send energetic hugs of happiness to you. With Love and Laughter, Kim(berly)

Oh my, such wonderful news. Faith and love go a very long way! I hope the good news continues and will still have you and your family in my thoughts.

Wonderful. God is good.

Great news, Belva! You all must be very relieved. Onward and upward :)

Excellent news, Belva my friend! Thanks for the update!

Oh I was so happy to read your post today Belva. Smiles all around.

It is so wonderful to read of Chrissy's progress. She is a miracle girl/woman.

Constantly continue to send love and healing to you and your family.

I'm glad that she is doing so well at ths point. It is just amazing.

Love and more love to you, Belva.

Ruthie

I just got back from my prayertime at Church and saw your good news. I am so happy for Chrissy and your entire family. Continued prayers coming your way. God bless.
--BJ

So glad to see the good news! Still praying for Chrissy's continued progress, and hope everything well with you & yours.

Wonderful news about the miracle patient! You must all be feeling so relieved.

That's fantastic news Belva! I think you've spread a smile of relief across LT with your positive updates of late, we've all been rooting for you and Chrissy and everyone in your family!

And if you're interested in Virginia Woolf, Hermione Lee has written an excellent biography of her. She was a professor at my university (before my time, sadly, though she did come to do a talk while I was there), and I've seen her on television, she seems to be quite the expert!

Wishing you continued thumbs up news :)

Starting the morning with a quick drive-by to say "Sending you and your family warmest love and continued healing to Chrissy".

She is a strong, resilient young woman and that is not surprising given the good genetic material she is working with and her spirit of victory and life.

Love to you and yours, Belva -

Ruthie

I am very thankful to read the good news about Chrissy. I reread the first words about her accident. That much progress in less than a month is a really good sign. Her recovery is a blessing.

Thanx all.

The newest word on Chrissy:

They are going to replace the pieces of scull they removed from Chrissy's head probably today. They had told us it would be 3 months or so. I think this will be wonderful for her personally; you know how vain we women are. No more chance of infection now than later but a chance so we will be thinking positive thoughts there.
Chrissy can get out of bed and onto a potty close by, stand to brush her teeth and take a couple steps. Not alone; she needs help but she is getting there. We are so pleased and proud of how hard she is working. She still isn't really talking but can communicate in other ways and we are just taking all we can get.
Things are looking up all the way around for her. We have been so blessed.
belva

Best , best wishes for a successful operation and a continued miracle recovery.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading but not posting anything about my books so just a bit of an update. My reading choices have been mainly comfort "food" for my brain and heart so:

I'll Never Be Young Again by Daphne du Maurier: The first half of this travel book was slow and sluggish going for me but the second half more than made up for it and I enjoyed it very much.

A quartet of WWII Liverpool homefront books by Annie Groves: Goodnight Sweetheart, Some Sunny Day, The Grafton Girls, and As Time Goes By. These were rather like a 400 page book-a-day series. Very light, cozy, comfy reads that fed my heart and soul. Also I found them to be very interesting in that I am familiar with homefront stories of America but not so much with Great Britain. So I actually learned a quite a bit of U.K. history from them. I really enjoyed these books and while they are a series, the main characters changed with each book and the previous book's main characters popped up just now and then.

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott: I loved this light, very clean and innocent story by the author of Little Women. I had never read it before and found it quite old fashioned, just like the title reads and quite suitable to my momentary needs.

The Blue Flower and The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald: The Blue Flower is a rather strange true tale set in the 18th century about Friedrich von Hardenberg; a passionate, impetuous student of philosophy who later gained fame as the romantic poet Novalis. He falls in love with a little twelve year old girl and waits for her to grow up so they can marry. I liked it but just found it stranger than fiction.
The second book by Fitzgerald; The Bookshop, I found much more to my liking. It is about a widow who decides to open a bookshop in a fishing village and all of the people who are antagonistic about the building she purchases for this use and also those who are supportive. I enjoyed this book by Fitzgerald.

Without My Cloak by Kate O'Brien: One of my two new favorite authors, (the other being Vita Sackville-West) I have yet to read one of her books I don't absolutely love. This particular story is about three generations of newcomers to a community who come in and make it there own. It begins in 1789 with the first generation made up of a single man who comes into town with a stolen horse. By the end of the book, the family have become quite the community leaders. I very much liked this book by Kate O'Brien.

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James: The fictional story of a find of Jane Austen's memoirs after hundreds of years which reveal a life-changing love affair that she had. I found this little book to be witty, well written and very engaging. I quite liked it and this one will go back onto the bookshelves for another read on another day.

I think this catches me up. I have now begun a new three book series of 600 page, book-a day Annie Groves books that begin in 1902 Lancaster and London areas. I am only a few pages into the first book and am looking forward to getting into them.
Happy reading all,
belva

I have been doing quite a bit of reading but not posting anything about my books so just a bit of an update. My reading choices have been mainly comfort "food" for my brain and heart so:

I'll Never Be Young Again by Daphne du Maurier: The first half of this travel book was slow and sluggish going for me but the second half more than made up for it and I enjoyed it very much.

A quartet of WWII Liverpool homefront books by Annie Groves: Goodnight Sweetheart, Some Sunny Day, The Grafton Girls, and As Time Goes By. These were rather like a 400 page book-a-day series. Very light, cozy, comfy reads that fed my heart and soul. Also I found them to be very interesting in that I am familiar with homefront stories of America but not so much with Great Britain. So I actually learned a quite a bit of U.K. history from them. I really enjoyed these books and while they are a series, the main characters changed with each book and the previous book's main characters popped up just now and then.

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott: I loved this light, very clean and innocent story by the author of Little Women. I had never read it before and found it quite old fashioned, just like the title reads and quite suitable to my momentary needs.

The Blue Flower and The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald: The Blue Flower is a rather strange true tale set in the 18th century about Friedrich von Hardenberg; a passionate, impetuous student of philosophy who later gained fame as the romantic poet Novalis. He falls in love with a little twelve year old girl and waits for her to grow up so they can marry. I liked it but just found it stranger than fiction.
The second book by Fitzgerald; The Bookshop, I found much more to my liking. It is about a widow who decides to open a bookshop in a fishing village and all of the people who are antagonistic about the building she purchases for this use and also those who are supportive. I enjoyed this book by Fitzgerald.

Without My Cloak by Kate O'Brien: One of my two new favorite authors, (the other being Vita Sackville-West) I have yet to read one of her books I don't absolutely love. This particular story is about three generations of newcomers to a community who come in and make it there own. It begins in 1789 with the first generation made up of a single man who comes into town with a stolen horse. By the end of the book, the family have become quite the community leaders. I very much liked this book by Kate O'Brien.

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James: The fictional story of a find of Jane Austen's memoirs after hundreds of years which reveal a life-changing love affair that she had. I found this little book to be witty, well written and very engaging. I quite liked it and this one will go back onto the bookshelves for another read on another day.

I think this catches me up. I have now begun a new three book series of 600 page, book-a day Annie Groves books that begin in 1902 Lancaster and London areas. I am only a few pages into the first book and am looking forward to getting into them. They are entitled: Ellie Pride, Connie's Courage, and Hettie of Hope Street.
Happy reading all,
belva

Hi Belva, so glad to hear about the on-going recovery of your niece.

I have read some of Annie Groves books as well and really like them. I agree they are a real comfort read. May I suggest an author that reminds me somewhat of Annie Groves. Lilian Harry often writes about the British Homefront during WWII and her series of books about The Corner House Girls is really well done.

That's some good news about Chrissy. Prayers work and mine will continue for your family.

I am amazed at how much Penelope Fitzgerald can pack into those small volumes of hers. I also liked The Bookshop best of these two. The Blue Flower creeped me out more than a little. I have The Gate of Angels in my book stash. Maybe I'll pull it out for my trip to Colorado next week as it will fit in my purse for airplane reading.

Hey Belva- Thanks for the encouraging update on Chrissy! So glad things seem to be moving in a positive direction. Also, it's nice to see that you are quietly knocking out the books! Take care, friend!

Just a very funny aside regarding the Chrissy thing.
Yesterday the therapists were coming down the hall and Chrissy heard them (she thinks these two guys are pretty cute and you can tell----she does have a boyfriend of 3 years, but it's okay to flirt) and motioned for her helmet (she is bald and doesn't like them to see her head), and her pants. She grabbed her walker, slid off her bed and down the hall she went to the nurses station where the therapists were. The nurses and therapists all gave her a standing ovation. She was so proud. (and flirty!~!)
She is still not talking, but they have her humming and trying to make noises. And she had the surgery to put "part" of her skull back on today. They will be doing more of that later. While they were in there (surgery), they checked out her brain very carefully and say they can see no reason at this time for her to not make an almost complete recovery and live a full and fruitful life.
Yea Chrissy!~!~! We are so happy she is such a stubborn girl.

Such a great story, Belva! So glad to hear how well Chrissy is doing.

Hi Belva - Thanks for the Chrissy updates - such good news!

I loved The Bookshop!

Hi, Belva -

Just want you to know it is so wonderful to read about Chrissy and the progress she is making. She will be in my thoughts as she recovers from the surgery today and I hope that the success of this one will lift her spirits some more.

Thank you for your updates and staying in touch with your friends here on LT.

Sending lots of love,

Ruthie

Wonderful news and cute story. May she continue to improve every day!

That's so wonderful, Belva!

Belva!

I continue to hold you, your family and Chrissy in my prayers!

Belva,
I am so happy for your family that Chrissy is doing so well!! What a blessing! I am continuing to pray for her and your family. God bless.
--BJ

Belva--Thanks for sharing the story--who knew that being a flirt could be such a positive influence!!

It's so wonderful to hear about Chrissy's recovery. Hugs, hugs, hugs.

Thanx everybody. It is really wonderful!~!

New thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/75949#1573476