Readerville Veterans discussion
What are you reading?
Yeah, I got my half-century papers this year too. Messed with my mind a little, but I think I'm over it.One incidental thing I'm really liking about The Goldfinch is that the paper is really nice. Creamy.
That really floors me but I think it had to have been a joke.
Lisa, it messed with my mind about 4 months ago, but that has mostly settled out. It's odd isn't it? Getting older? Better than not, most days, but age is so implacable and so unavoidable. Karen, are you commenting in our age? If so, gracias. Youthful verve rules!
I'll be vervier in a few weeks when school's finished. This semester is just knocking the stuffing out of me. but yeah, viva 50! Onward and upward.
Lisa wrote: "Yeah, I got my half-century papers this year too. Messed with my mind a little, but I think I'm over it.One incidental thing I'm really liking about The Goldfinch is that the paper is really nice..."
I really love creamy paper. It makes me like a book a lot more. Paper that feels like newsprint is unreadable to me. Same with sans serif typeface. I'm a high-maintenance reader. Although I've really been enjoying my new Kindle. I broke my 2nd generation one and now I have a Paperwhite, which I love. But still need to fondle the real thing--I think that e-readers has improved the physical quality of paper books.
Oh you youngsters. Next spring is my 60th and I try not to laugh thinking about the unreality of that because I tend to pee my pants when I laugh now. Or sneeze. Or get too cold. Or walk across a room after drinking a large latte. Sigh.
Oh LuAnn. I am not quite there (53) but I can't sleep through the night or stay awake through the day. I have become the nap queen. On the other hand, I am as horny as a teenage boy. Go figure.
Girls, I think the five of us really need to meet somewhere for a weekend. We would have so much $%^&* fun.
There's six of us isn't there? I'd be there in a heartbeat. Seriously.
I forgot to include myself! Senior moment. Ok, Karen is in Texas, you Canada, me TN, Lisa in NYC, LuAnn in NC, Nancy in Msss.
What is central or kind of central and easy to get to? Chicago?
Chicago would work perfectly for me. Minneapolis would work too, although it isn't as central.
I'd go anywhere to hang out with you all. Just give me a chance to scrounge through the couch cushions for spare change and I'm there.
I was just in Chicago. I love the idea of connecting. Central is good but if we're talking winter I'd suggest considering milder climes. If I had a bigger house you could all come here. Ooooo. This has possibilities!!!
Ok. Here's a wild thought. I've been hankering to do a pilgrimage to Flannery O'Connor Ouse in Georgia. Would something like that be of interest? Doesn't have to be there ...... Just a thought.
I'd go anywhere with you gals. I like the literary pilgrimage idea. There's also The Mount (Edith Wharton's) in Western MA. But COLD in winter.Let me think about this. I'm percolating.
I'm 64 and have been thinking about a pilgrimage to Emily Dickinson's house in Amherst (MA) and Edith Whaton's The Mount (also in MA).
My budget isn't huge but I'll stretch it as far as I can. I'd also love it if it happened sometime after the new year because, like Lisa, I need some time to search the couch cushions. Plus there are work/family commitments that make the next little bit tricky.
Oh, I don't want to go in winter. Spring, Summer or Fall, thankee.
How did I miss this conversation? It is time for us to all do this.I'm open to suggestions. But agree not to do something when it's super cold. Literary pilgrimages are great. I've done Hemingway in Key West, Mark Twain in Missouri, EA Poe in two different places, O Henry in Austin, I'm sure there are others. Steinbeck in Northern Cal but there wasn't much there.
Miriam, did not understand your comment. Sorry. In age range, I believe LuAnn and I would have been in same high school class if she had been in Smithville, Texas or I had been in Kankakee, Illinois.And I think I count 7. Let's see, Karen, Kat, Lauren, Lisa, Luann, Miriam, Nancy. K,L,M,N. Heh.
I actually know someone who has a house in western mass - maybe we could arrange to borrow which would make it cheaper............Wharton, Dickinson, lots of other historic/bookish activties....
W. Mass would be super easy and not too expensive for me. If anyone was coming into NY and wanted to drive up, I'd gladly carpool. Just sayin'.
This is sounding more and more doable. I haven't been in that area in many years. Wharton would be my absolute favorite. And I love the idea of sharing a house. Lisa, if I flew into NY would Kennedy be best?
JFK or Laguardia, one's as good as the other, Karen -- wherever you can get a decent price.
That's my question too ("would Kennedy be best"). I like the idea of flying into NY. I've never been and would probably add a couple of days to trip so I could see some art or listen to some music either on the way home or on my to our get together.
I live in Salem MA now (if you don't know), within a mile of a train station. It's a 15-20 min inexpensive train ride from Boston. We also have a couple of guest rooms--anyone is welcome to crash (four dogs, nothing fancy). If anyone wants to come here, we could drive together.
We are a 2.5 hr drive to Lenox (The Mount--Wharton); a 2 hr drive to Amherst (Dickinson Museum); and a 40 min drive to Concord: Orchard House (Alcott), Ralph Waldo Emerson House, The Wayside (Alcott, Margaret Sidney, Hawthorne), The Old Manse (Emerson, Hawthorne), Walden Pond (Thoreau), Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (where most of the aforesaid are buried).
And, I'm just sayin', cold weather isn't always (or even usually) unbearable, and prices in general are lower in winter. And indoors is warm. (But some sites might be closed in winter.)
There's a ton online. I'll post some links.
Here's some New England links and some Southern ones:http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/2012/0...
http://www.finetravel.com/unitedstate...
http://www.sheknows.com/living/articl...
This is a book that I might have to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Liter...
http://bookingauthorsink.com/resource...
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/09/23/...
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-cu...
http://www.southernliterarytrail.org/...
Ooh, thanks, Nancy. Didn't know you lived in Salem. I've been there. I remember a local telling me all the witch museums were awful but we went to one that I thought wasn't cheesy. Bought a book there about the witch trials.
Yeah, they are pretty cheesy. Salem has created a weird tourist industry out of the witch thing. Actually the 18th century international trade history is a lot more interesting (and less exploitive).
Nancy wrote: "Yeah, they are pretty cheesy. Salem has created a weird tourist industry out of the witch thing. Actually the 18th century international trade history is a lot more interesting (and less exploitive)."I remember the town as being lovely.Hope to get back.
Just found this this morning:
http://flavorwire.com/403319/50-place...
Nice link. I'm sure we can find a little get-together trip that will suit us.
Looks pretty clear to me we need to descend upon Nancy & Co. (and environs if she doesn't have room) for a tour or The Mount, Emily Dickinson Amherst and the witches ... um. May? What say you?
I have a June commitment to go Boston for niece's HS graduation. Probably could not swing two trips there that close together. Chicago still works for me if we do it after March. Lots if bookstores, food, etc. Do we want to tour or do we want to hang? I know I brought up the literary site theme but in some ways I kinda just want to talk, drink wine, talk, eat, laugh, and talk. If I can do some of that in my fat pants, even better.
I just realized I missed a ton of posts on this. Sounds like east coast is favored, depending on timing I might be able to do it. Like I said I just want to hang with you all. Where isn't as important to me.
There are so many great books I'm trying to get to before the Tournament of Books which also means I'm trying to second guess what might be in the tournament! Last year they posted the list on Dec. 20. On my TOB TBR are The Luminaries, A Tale for the Time Being, The Interestings, and The Good Lord Bird.
April wrote: "There are so many great books I'm trying to get to before the Tournament of Books which also means I'm trying to second guess what might be in the tournament! Last year they posted the list on Dec...."I always want to participate in reading along with that. I also envy Gayle B her ability to read the awards longlists. I am not really in control of what I read, when I read it--I kind of have to let the books tell me when it's time.
A lot of mine is controlled by when my library holds come in, and when review books are being published (although I've utterly screwed that schedule this year thanks to school, and will be lucky if any publisher ever trusts me again). Two of those that I'd really like to read (and have on hold) are The Luminaries and A Tale for the Time Being... and now I'm thinking The Good Lord Bird is going on the list as well. Has anybody here read it? It's the least buzzed book I've ever seen win the National Book Award, I think. (I already read The Interestings, which I really liked.)
I don't know about unbuzzed. It was the cover review with color graphic of the NYTBR several weeks ago.
I guess I don't really think of the NYT as buzz. Sad but true.
Lisa wrote: "I guess I don't really think of the NYT as buzz. Sad but true."Ha, Lisa. That's partially (or mostly) 'cause you live in NY!
Lisa, I'm loving A Tale for the Time Being.
April, hi! I haven't heard of that one. I'll check it out. Having trouble settling in to a new book after a couple of fabulous ones. Thanks for the inadvertent recommendation.Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I'm thankful for you all.
Nancy wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I guess I don't really think of the NYT as buzz. Sad but true."Ha, Lisa. That's partially (or mostly) 'cause you live in NY!"
Also because it's been a while since I thought of it as the arbiter of anything, really, other than a certain literary hive mind. I listen much more to the buzz on the blogs I read (or would be reading in mellower circumstances), social media, my friends. Then again, I know nothing this fall. Except for a lot about metadata.
OK, April, I put a hold on the Ozecki. I've been eyeing it. Had to sadly release We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves back into the wild (of NYPL), but put another hold on it.
Very very close to the end of The Goldfinch.
And I am thankful for you all as well. Wearing my Readerville t-shirt, in fact. (Apologies to anyone I owe a t-shirt too... it's coming, promise.)
Hey, Nancy! I'm reading through the finalists for the Man Booker. A Tale for the Time being is a finalist. I've just hit a streak of reallly great books.Lisa, keep me posted when you get to it.
Luann wrote: "I have a June commitment to go Boston for niece's HS graduation. Probably could not swing two trips there that close together. Chicago still works for me if we do it after March. Lots if bookst..."
I would be willing to go to Chicago and hang out, shop for books, see your actual faces.
I'm avoiding reading the end of The Goldfinch, so I'm not really anything except Entertainment Weekly. Nancy, I didn't love Wolf Hall has much as others here did -- I loved parts of it, but I found much of it a slog. I think we should figure out the location and date for our get together sooner rather than later. I need to start planning and saving. I've checked the cost of plane fare and Chicago, Boston, New York, Georgia -- it's all about the same price, so I don't care where we meet. I like the warmth but I'm not too fussed by cold and my primary reason for traveling is to see you all so let's pick a time and place that will work for the majority (or all) of us. I also think we should let people who are on Bookballoon but aren't here know, so they can come too if they'd like. (please forgive me being bossy, but I really want this to happen!)
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Goldfinch (other topics)The Secret History (other topics)
The Goldfinch (other topics)
The Luminaries (other topics)
Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier (other topics)
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Thank you Karen and Lisa. I'll be half a century, which kind blows my mind, but I'm quite relaxed about it.
Goldfinch is now home; the librarians and I were commenting on how heavy it is.