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I read Vanity Fair a couple of years ago. I thought it was wonderful, so will lurk on your readalong if that's ok.
I'll lurk as well if that's okay? One of my favourites - a well thumbed tome. I know how I feel about Becky - but interested to find out other thoughts!
Mad as hell! Can anyone tell me why the Kindle edition of Edith Wharton's collected ghost stories is $4.40 (about £2.80) on Amazon.com, and £7.70 on Amazon.co.uk? This is an electronic download for God's sake.
Susan wrote: "Mad as hell! Can anyone tell me why the Kindle edition of Edith Wharton's collected ghost stories is $4.40 (about £2.80) on Amazon.com, and £7.70 on Amazon.co.uk? This is an electronic download fo..."It may not be exactly what you are looking for, but Tales of Men and Ghosts is free on the UK site.
Gill wrote: "Susan wrote: "Mad as hell! Can anyone tell me why the Kindle edition of Edith Wharton's collected ghost stories is $4.40 (about £2.80) on Amazon.com, and £7.70 on Amazon.co.uk? This is an electron..."This is a great mystery of life. One can order "stuff" from any Amazon site, but somehow one's Kindle has a nationality...I've had the same problem in the other direction.
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I cannot get over that a hard back is a tenner. And so is the eBook!
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It certainly explains why anything published by Penguin is way more expensive as an ebook than other publishers. Has anyone else noticed this? My hear sinks whenever I see that Penguin has the publishing rights to something, as I know the Kindle version will be beyond my budget. I wish Amazon could do something about this.
I always know when a book isn't grabbing my attention because I start loitering on the Vipers site!Currently reading The Thirteenth Tale (my non-Vipers read at the moment), and though it's okay it's just not gripping me.
Anyone else read it? Is it worth persevering?
My new Great-Granddaughter Georgia Grace is now officially a member of this world of ours. My Granddaughter and her Partner went to City Hall to register the birth today.
Thank you both. I have posted a picture so you can see how beautiful she is.
I meant to add my daughter's middle name is Grace too :)
I'm pleased she chose Grace too as it was my Gran's name and some of her ancestors,so it will keep the name going in our family now.
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Paul wrote: "Anyone have any plans for the bank holiday?"We have Labor Day coming up here in the USA... No plans for us though (other than to read in the garden!) It is cooling off here so I hope we can do more bicycling now.
What about you?
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I'm working Sunday and Monday nights, so not much of a bank holiday for me... At least I normally get to read a fair bit on my night shifts, so that's not so bad:-)
That last post has been sponsored by the word 'so'...
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What do you do?
I'm a carer, mainly palliative care for people who wish to die in their own home.
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That is a tough job. Rewarding at times, I can imagine, but I think that it will stretch your emotions to the limit
Yeah it can be tough, it's strange to only meet people in the last stages of their lives, makes you wish you've met them before and really got to know them. But it's also nice to be part of the service that allows people to have a "good death" on their own terms.
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Birthdays a-go-go here. We are doing a fairy hunt in the woods (!) today for a friend's daughter's big day - it is chucking it down with rain today here in London so not ideal! Then it is my boy's 4th birthday on Tuesday. We are bypassing a party in favour of a family day out - I figure we have plenty of years of parties ahead of us!
Palliative care is very important, we lost my mother last year (almost a year ago now) and for a while she was in a hospice. They staff were very kind indeed, and I think she got a few more weeks of life because of their care. I visited her there and she was, at one point, almost back to her old self, chatty and asking about everything. She even donated some family recipes to the chef as they had got chatting about food and the meals. I think she gave some books as well. Sadly when she actually passed away the hospice was full and she died in hospital. I have great respect for anyone who chooses to devote their time to care for others who are dying. Thank you Agata for your work in this field, you and your colleagues make a difference.
Agata - I second Alexandra's thanks. The work you do is so very important. I've survived cancer twice now, but come into contact with many who haven't been so lucky. Palliative care can make all the difference in the world to someone who's confused or scared. And maybe to all of us. So my thanks to you Agata. People like you make our world a better place :)
Yes, it is important to the families as well as the patient. To know your loved one is receiving care and being looked after with dignity and love is very important. In our case it was not possible for her to stay at home all the time as my father is disabled and we all live too far away to help every day. Having her in a hospice was a great relief. If someone chooses to end their days at home, surrounded by their own belongings and happy memories then they should be allowed to do so.
Agata wrote: "Yeah it can be tough, it's strange to only meet people in the last stages of their lives, makes you wish you've met them before and really got to know them. But it's also nice to be part of the ser..."As a District Nurse, a portion of our patients were for palliative care when we met them too. I found that old photographs around the house really helped me to see past the illness. One of my ladies had some glam shots done a few years before she had the Cancer and WoW what a difference. It was on the basis of this that when glam shots were offered free, when I was having some professional photos of my grandchildren and family done, I took them up on the offer. My profile pic on here is one of the shots I had taken then...... now I look like a really old hag!!! (anyone who agrees with me, gets shot!!)
I'd clocked that it was glamorous - just thought you must be a movie star! lol
Jean wrote: "I'd clocked that it was glamorous - just thought you must be a movie star! lol"Thank you Jean,they are nice to look back on. I have been on television. My colleague and I used to walk around a local park in our lunch break to try to keep fit and get away from the phones. It was a gorgeous sunny day and Jason Mohammed (one of our BBC Wales reporters) interviewed us for the news broadcast that night. Afterwards - as we were merrily chomping away on ice creams - in full uniform -we were hoping our Nursing Officer didn't see us..... she did - but just asked us why we hadn't bought one back for her!! This is my only claim to fame I'm afraid!!
Wasn't quite sure where to put this, but I thought some of you might enjoy it -- an article about posters by Maurice Sendak that were designed to promote reading.http://www.brainpickings.org/index.ph...
Carnival season has arrived again in North Dorset. {Jumps up and down, clapping hands in childishly excited way :D}. Mere Carnival tonight (just over the border in Wiltshire), Shaftesbury on 28th, and then Gillingham on 5th October.
My daughter's taking part in the Mere Carnival, for the first time. She is ridiculously over-excited.
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http://www.brainpickings.org/inde..."
They are a great set of posters Betty!
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Mere Carnival tonight (just over the border in Wiltshire), Shaftesbury on 28th..."
Who is more excited?
Paul wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Carnival season has arrived again in North Dorset. {Jumps up and down, clapping hands in childishly excited way :D}. Mere Carnival tonight (just over the border in Wiltshire), S..."
Ha ha - difficult to say! One year we'll get to Bridgwater, perhaps when the children are a bit older. They are just wonderfully magical. So much work goes into the floats and costumes. It's an amazing sight. Can't wait!!
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Mere Carnival tonight (just over the border in ..."
We normally go to see this when we're in Jersey: http://www.battleofflowers.com
Paul wrote: " "Elizabeth wrote: "Carnival season has arrived again in North Dorset. {Jumps up and down, clapping hands in childishly excited way :D}. Mere Carnival tonight (just over the border in ..."
We no..."
I've been to the Guernsey Battle of the Flowers, once, many years ago. It was beautiful.
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Mere Carnival tonight (just over the border in Wiltshire), Shaftesbury on 28th..."
What is her role? Costume involved?! Hope it's dry for you - still damp as you like here in Essex (though hopefully passing because it my son's birthday party today and we need outdoor time!)
She's taking part in the parade, in fancy dress (a ladybird) with the Brownie group she belongs to.
Elizabeth wrote: "Paul wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Carnival season has arrived again in North Dorset. {Jumps up and down, clapping hands in childishly excited way :D}. Mere Carnival tonight (just over the border in ..."
I went to the Bridgewater carnival years ago - absolutely brilliant! Good to hear the tradition's still going strong in the South-West.
Well that was a great start to the carnivals. A bit chilly this evening, but no rain. Hope the weather is kind to the rest of the carnivals.Bridgwater is on 2 November, for everyone who's interested!
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Just receive a review copy of this in the post this morning:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steelheart-1-...
Doing my Family tree, I found some of my ancestors were from Mere - who knows they may have taken part in this festival over 100 years ago!!
Mere is such a tiny place. Do you know whereabouts? If you had an address it would be interesting to see if it was still there. Some ancestors on my dad's side came from Gillingham, so we've gone full circle living here again.
I thought there was a library thread out there somewhere, but couldn't find it. Anyway, thought this might interest some of you:http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2...
The Book Vipers
Books mentioned in this topic
Anansi Boys (other topics)Dandelion Wine (other topics)
Fahrenheit 451 (other topics)
Les Misérables (other topics)
America Unchained: A Freewheeling Roadtrip in Search of Non-Corporate USA (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Victor Hugo (other topics)Minna Canth (other topics)
Marcus Brigstocke (other topics)
Dave Gorman (other topics)
Eimear McBride (other topics)
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I also have other group reads I want to join in on. Hmmmm.