The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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Croissants, Coffee & Tea -- Part the Eighth
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Linda2
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Dec 17, 2012 04:43PM
Can you imagine a school where all the teachers are armed?
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The mental health issues? The extent of violence within families? The role of violence in our entertainment and media? What are the various perspectives, including guns, from which problems like this need be addressed? I.e., the situation analyses before, or at least alongside, the solutions?After one of the mass shootings this past year, I was listening to a panel of those who devote a good proportion of their careers to gun control issues. Besides the diversity of views on solutions, what struck me at the time were the numbers of deaths in this country by guns -- not in the shootings that draw media attention, but almost as a way of life. I think perhaps we need a wider consciousness and consensus on what ARE the core cluster of problems to be addressed as communities. To what extent can we solve safety in our schools separately from broader contexts?
Rochelle wrote: "Lily wrote: "So who is the NRA? Or perhaps the question should be: Who are the NRA?"I'm presuming you don't mean that literally. I just read that they have 4.3 million members. There are some surp..."
Rochelle -- thanks for drawing our attention to the Wiki article. It is useful, although an article on the NRA is not necessarily one where I would place optimum trust on Wiki.
Here is another, probably equally suspect, but also useful, that touches on some of the "who" questions:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12...
What struck me on the first reading here was perhaps the need for organized money behind gun control.
Mod
Not in about a week, but she's preparing for her big Christmas party with the family.
Are any of you guys writing novels currently? I just did NaNoWriMo back in November... I'm wondering if anyone here has editing tips (and then, of course, publishing tips). What have your experiences been with trying to write professionally?
Rachel wrote: "Are any of you guys writing novels currently? I just did NaNoWriMo back in November... I'm wondering if anyone here has editing tips (and then, of course, publishing tips). What have your experienc..."I tried a short story when I was 13. It was awful; haven't written another in 53 years. :-)
What's NaNoWriMo?
NaNoWriMo is this writing "competition" where through the month of November the goal is to write 50,000 words. I put competition in quotes because everyone wins as long as you reach the 50k quota :)
Rachel wrote: "NaNoWriMo is this writing "competition" where through the month of November the goal is to write 50,000 words. I put competition in quotes because everyone wins as long as you reach the 50k quota :)"So I can write the word "write" 50,000 times, and that makes me a novelist.
Deborah wrote: "Is it just me or is Madge missing? Anybody heard from her?"Just wrote Madge. She's busy with several parties and reading. She's fine.
Haha yes! Theoretically you can write whatever you want! It's kinda just the honor system... plus now everyone that actually did it has a 200ish page novel lol. Now it's speed writing for those 200 pages might be awful... but editing is a beautiful thing.
Mod
Just wrote Madge. She's busy with several parties and reading. She's fine."
Thanks Rochelle.
Rachel wrote: "Haha yes! Theoretically you can write whatever you want! It's kinda just the honor system... plus now everyone that actually did it has a 200ish page novel lol. Now it's speed writing for those 200..."Are you joining us on our current or next read?
Rochelle: yes I am! I just started Cricket on the Hearth and I found myself a copy of the Woman in White (I'm very excited for that book!). I'll have to post something once I finish CotH. I have a question, speaking of Dickens -- do you happen to know if it's possible to find the essay that he wrote after visiting America? I think it was called the American Papers or something... I only know about it because I was doing a tour of this old jail in Philadelphia called Eastern State Penitentiary. One of the plaques on the wall was dedicated to Dickens and how angry he was after seeing the jail.
Isn't that jail in Philadelphia a fantastic place to visit (as a tourist?) I've taken lots of pictures there that are spooky.
Omg yes it is, Emily! I go there every year for the haunted attraction they have (it's one of the best ones out there IMO) and finally this year I decided to check out the daytime tour. It's great. There was a lot more info in the building than I expected... and what jumped out at me was that there were security guards there who ended up being incarcerated there. And then, of course, I was shocked to see that Charles Dickens not only knew of the place but that it was one of two places he wanted to come to on the U.S. (Niagara Falls being the other).
Rachel wrote: "...I have a question, speaking of Dickens -- do you happen to know if it's possible to find the essay that he wrote after visiting America? I think it was called the American Papers or something..."If this is what you are looking for, Rachel, for an online copy, try the links under "External..."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Notes
Rachel wrote: "Rochelle: yes I am! I just started Cricket on the Hearth and I found myself a copy of the Woman in White (I'm very excited for that book!). I'll have to post something once I finish CotH. I have ..."
Did you Google his complete works or his name + East Side Penitentiary?
Rochelle wrote: "Did you Google his complete works or his name + East Side Penitentiary? ..."Don't remember for sure, but I think I started with just "Dickens American Papers". Then I had to read through a few descriptions because it didn't seem to be an exact match. But I didn't go deep to find what I did.
Hello everyone - thanks for thinking about me! I am fine but rather busy with family events and stuck into some non-fiction reading for a change. I have been lurking:)I know Madge will have trouble relating to this.
I found the Connecticut shootings very distressing and the 'Christian' reaction to them, suggesting that the children were shot because religion wasn't taught in schools and that God therefore welcomed them etc., even more so - sickening:(:(. I profoundly hope that Obama grasps this particular nettle because now that he has nothing to lose he could leave heavier gun control as his legacy.
I was shocked to see that Charles Dickens not only knew of the place but that it was one of two places he wanted to come to on the U.S.Because Dickens' father had been incarcerated in Marshalsea Prison, where he visited him as a child, Dickens became very interested in prison reform and Philadelphia Prison was at that time considered very advanced in its treatment of prisoners through solitary confinement, horrible though that seems to us today. Prisons then crowded together all kinds of prisoners in one large cell, where they could be seen as a 'sideshow' on Sunday afternoons, rather like visiting a zoo:(. Dickens was shocked by what he saw in Philadelphia and wrote : "The system here, is rigid, strict, and hopeless solitary confinement. I believe it, in its effects, to be cruel and wrong." Solitary confinement was supposed to give the prisoner time to focus exclusively on their crimes and, it was hoped, induce their rehabilitation. The cells were centrally heated and had both running water and a flush toilet. Each cell had a skylight to let in natural light and to act as a reminder of God’s omnipresence and constant surveillance. Upon arrival prisoners had bags placed over their heads to disorientate them and were given numbers instead of names. About this Dickens wrote: "I hold this slow and daily tampering with the mysteries of the brain to be immeasurably worse than any torture of the body,”
Some new views of Pride and Prejudice.(Despite their threat, you can view the articles just fine without enabling cookies.)http://moreintelligentlife.com/conten...
and the previous article cited:
http://moreintelligentlife.com/conten...
MadgeUK wrote: "I was shocked to see that Charles Dickens not only knew of the place but that it was one of two places he wanted to come to on the U.S.Because Dickens' father had been incarcerated in Marshalsea ..."
Compassion for the poor or criminals was rare. Looks like Dickens was way ahead of his time, but his novels already show that.
Lily wrote: "Rachel wrote: "...I have a question, speaking of Dickens -- do you happen to know if it's possible to find the essay that he wrote after visiting America? I think it was called the American Papers ..."THANK YOU! Haha... I should've just googled it but I wasn't sure if I was remembering the name correctly for the title of the essay.
MadgeUK wrote: "I was shocked to see that Charles Dickens not only knew of the place but that it was one of two places he wanted to come to on the U.S.Because Dickens' father had been incarcerated in Marshalsea ..."
Yes, it was terrible... especially when the jail first opened in 1829. As we were walking through with the audio tour guide headphones (starring Steve Buscemi... lol) he explained that the only way the inmates were allowed out of their cells initially was through a back door found in every cell that led into a tiny exercise yard. They were treated like dogs.
Now, of course, Al Capone comes around and he gets to have this "nice" cell all to himself with his own personal belongings.
Al Capone's cell was really lavish and he was allowed to furnish it while all the other inmates got no concessions.
For those in the NYC Metro area: the latest version of Great Expectations is being repeated on PBS Tuesday night at 8. This is the one with Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham.
Thanks, Rochelle! I'm actually reading GE for the first time ever right now.
I've been pursuing Capote's A Christmas Memory for many years after its initial 1966 TV showing and several subsequent ones. It disappeared, and I think no commercial copies have ever been made. It stars the great Geraldine Page, and it's worth your while even with the poor resolution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKvWdI...
Has anyone seen the new version of Anna Karenina, which is framed as if in a stage play?
Rochelle wrote: "Has anyone seen the new version of Anna Karenina, which is framed as if in a stage play?"Something other than Tom Stoppard's script for the current film?
Oh, I realize from Lynnm's comment below, you probably mean, seen the new movie version. Yes, I have. I made a point of finding it back in November just before Thanksgiving when it wasn't in many theatres yet. Very worthwhile. The staging is a bit cutesy -- the kinder word is stylish. Seemed to be positioned as a vehicle for Jude Law as Karenin rather than the usual take on the story -- almost like an opera written for a star singer -- although the reviews don't seem to say that. Some presentation is lush; the Levin/Kitty story is downplayed. Still, a very worthwhile cinema treat to my mind.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OVER THE POND EVERYONE!
Mod
Happy new Year Madge and welcome back. I've missed you.
Happy New Year everyone!I liked this quote that I saw today:
“Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”
― Brad Paisley (a country singer)
Rochelle wrote: "Has anyone seen the new version of Anna Karenina, which is framed as if in a stage play?"I definitely want to see it - one of my favorite novels. But I will wait as usual for it to come to Netflix.
Lots of good films lately - Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, Lincoln, Argo.
And while it's received mixed reviews, I would like to see Promised Land - very much against fracking. Hopefully, it can get the word out.
Plus, I want to see Skyfall. Just love Ben Whishaw who is playing Q. He's in one of my favorite BBC shows - The Hour.
Lynnm wrote: "Happy New Year everyone!I liked this quote that I saw today:
“Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”
― Brad Paisley (a country singer)"
Great quote, Lynn!
Happy New Year, everyone!!!
I just had a tooth extracted, so I am pretty numb, but I'll crack my little bottle of champagne at midnight!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/gar...A reference to this article on Edith Wharton's interests as a decorator/architect were posted on The Victorians board a few months ago. I repeat if here for anyone who missed it and may be interested. It is fairly short.
Denise wrote: I just had a tooth extracted, so I am pretty numb, but I'll crack my little bottle of champagne at midnight! ""
A little alcohol is great for pain. I have a glass of wine when my back muscles are knotted up.
Talking about pain Rochelle, how is your knee now?
Lily wrote: "http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/gar...A reference to this article on Edith Wharton's interests as a decorator/architect were posted on The..."
Her writing and personality are so vivid for me that when I read she had been born 150 years ago, it jolted me. Can't be.
MadgeUK wrote: "Talking about pain Rochelle, how is your knee now?"I'm doing very well, although still in physical therapy 3x/week. Gave up pain killers many weeks ago, but I still have problems walking down stairs. That's always the last thing to master. Am thinking of pouring wine directly on my knee. ;-)
Another amusing commentary on P&P's 200th. The comment on "Pride and Prune Danish" had me ROTFL. Well, almost.http://www.thesmartset.com/article/ar...
Downton's coming back to us on Sunday, fans. Get out your best tea cups, put your kitty on your lap, and settle in for another few weeks. I've been visiting a Brit Downton group at my knitting site, where they've already seen it, and a few plot secrets have been revealed to me. I can be bought for a pound of very chewy oatmeal cookies or 2 ounces of FTGFOP1 Ceylon tea.And yes, they do parse all the vintage knits they see on the series, hoping to reverse-engineer the patterns. There are no fewer that 3 Downton knitting groups.
LOL. I've seen it too and you are in for a big surprise...stock up on strong tea.
MadgeUK wrote: "LOL. I've seen it to and you are in for a big surprise...stock up on strong tea."It's not a surprise any more. I read the spoilers at that group. But for me the importsnt part of a good show, like a good novel, is the journey, not the end.
It is a pity you have had it 'spoiled' because it came as a real shocker.Did you know that Fellowes is also writing a prequel about Robert and Cora's early relationship, how they met etc.?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/...
MadgeUK wrote: "It is a pity you have had it 'spoiled' because it is a real shocker." Years ago when we were on B&N Book Clubs, a young twerp revealed the ending of the novel Atonement. No "spoiler alert." It didn't really spoil the entire book for me, but, yes, I missed the jolt at the end.
MadgeUK wrote: "Did you know that Fellowes is also writing a prequel about Robert and Cora's early relationship, how they met etc.?http:..."
The most famous of the Buccaneers was Jennie Jerome Churchill. I read Ralph Martin's bio of her years ago, and I fell in love with her. It was done as a PBS 2- or 3-parter with Lee Remick, but I don't know it's been released on DVD.
Can't wait for the start of DA, but sadly, also saw some spoilers despite trying very hard not to see them. Next to impossible - they were everywhere.Perfect timing too - The Hour ended yesterday. Love that show - wonderful cast and excellent story lines. Too bad the ratings were low in the UK - doubt we'll get a Season 3.
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The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910
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