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[Pink]

Speaking of clearing out your bookshelves...I've just gone through a few of mine and found about 50 books to clear from my shelves. I'll give some to friends and family, then the rest can go to charity. My tbr bookshelf doesn't look quite as bad now!

[Kathleen]

Thanks Bat-Cat. What a great idea, and I love the idea of "book in freedom!" Hope this spreads--will have to do my part ...

[Tytti]

People have been doing this for years:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/

[Melanti]

You guys should check out http://www.bookcrossing.com/

It's the same sort of concept.

I've never used it myself, but it sounds fun.

[Pink]

Tytti and Melanti, great minds think alike! I love that so many people want to share their passion for reading!

[Bat-Cat]

Thanks Pink, Tytti and Melanti. I guess I've been in the dark about this sort of thing. Anyway, it sounds so cool to me and I definitely feel a pull in that direction. The Book Crossing website looks interesting but I think I will opt for just letting the books go without wanting to track them. I will keep you posted if this project actually comes to fruition. Perhaps I could get a few bags ready and release them in parks around town for Labor Day weekend. We shall see!!! ;-)

[Brina]

In another group I'm in, we started a thread "read books seeking new home"

[Tytti]

Bat-Cat wrote: "The Book Crossing website looks interesting but I think I will opt for just letting the books go without wanting to track them."

I just received a notice saying that the last book I freed will travel a bit first and then go on holiday in Budapest and also where it will end up afterwards. It's actually a very good for that because one of the reasons I freed it without reading was that it has such a small font that I will rather borrow it from the library as a normal sized book. But obviously that makes it useful to carry around.

[Bat-Cat]

Tytti wrote: "Bat-Cat wrote: "The Book Crossing website looks interesting but I think I will opt for just letting the books go without wanting to track them."

I just received a notice saying that the last book ..."

That is pretty cool. I will have to rethink the whole thing before I make a final decision. That's for sharing that! ;-)

[Brina]

I just became a moderator of a baseball book group I'm in and am using how this group is a run as a model because everything is so efficient. Glad to have such good mentors here.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Brina wrote: "I just became a moderator of a baseball book group I'm in and am using how this group is a run as a model because everything is so efficient. Glad to have such good mentors here."

You are so welcome!

[Sarah]

The Death of Ivan Ilych is $1.95 on Audible US right now as part of a big sale they have going.

[Melanti]

Sarah wrote: "The Death of Ivan Ilych is $1.95 on Audible US right now as part of a big sale they have going."

I looked at that, then ended up buying a whispersynced version at about the same price. But it's good timing for the group read.

There's quite a few classics included in the sale, though, including several previous group reads. Also, Breakfast at Tiffany's, which is looking like it might win the short story poll for October.

I already bought several books from the sale but am contemplating several more.

P.S.. I don't know if this sale pricing is available for non-subscribers, but things do show up sale price when in Private Browising mode, so it's worth a shot for whomever likes Audiobooks.
https://www.audible.com/mt/DD-Sale-2016

[Sue]

Only one day left to vote for October reads and most of the polls are very close. 2 of the categories are only separated by 1 vote!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Sue wrote: "Only one day left to vote for October reads and most of the polls are very close. 2 of the categories are only separated by 1 vote!"

Yes and sometimes they are tied! Such good choices.

[Brina]

I already ordered my copy of Sleepy Hollow but the rest are going down to the wire. I will be watching the polls all day.

[Lena]

To whom it may concern: Sleep number beds are the bomb! It's been over a week and I no longer have any hip pain. My back improved as well.

[Brina]

Yay!!! I hear them advertised on the Cubs radio broadcast every day. So tempting to get one.

[Lena]

Take a test drive!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Lena wrote: "To whom it may concern: Sleep number beds are the bomb! It's been over a week and I no longer have any hip pain. My back improved as well."

Awesome!

[Emerson]

Saturday I'll go to a literary festival, I'm thrilled to hear Jón Kalman Stefánsson talk about Icelandic epic stories. Has anyone read Heaven and Hell, it was a five star to me!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Emerson wrote: "Saturday I'll go to a literary festival, I'm thrilled to hear Jón Kalman Stefánsson talk about Icelandic epic stories. Has anyone read Heaven and Hell, it was a fiv..."


What a fun festival to attend! And now I've got another book on my TBR list. Thanks

[Loretta]

Kathy wrote: "Emerson wrote: "Saturday I'll go to a literary festival, I'm thrilled to hear Jón Kalman Stefánsson talk about Icelandic epic stories. Has anyone read [book:Heaven and Hell|1846602..."

What's one more book Kathy?? :)

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Absolutely!

[Loretta]

Kathy wrote: "Absolutely!"

:)

[Emerson]

Kathy wrote: "Emerson wrote: "Saturday I'll go to a literary festival, I'm thrilled to hear Jón Kalman Stefánsson talk about Icelandic epic stories. Has anyone read [book:Heaven and Hell|1846602..."

You won't regret it!

[Steve]

I've scheduled a 90 min. session in an isolation tank for next Friday, just cuz. I'm totally stoked, but wondering what to expect. Read a few articles, and some of the described experiences sound intriguing. Anyone here done it? If so, what was it like for you? I'll be happy to share insights from my experience, if anyone's interested.

[Pink]

Steve wrote: "I've scheduled a 90 min. session in an isolation tank for next Friday, just cuz. I'm totally stoked, but wondering what to expect. Read a few articles, and some of the described experiences sound i..."

I have absolutely no idea what that entails!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Steve wrote: "I've scheduled a 90 min. session in an isolation tank for next Friday, just cuz. I'm totally stoked, but wondering what to expect. Read a few articles, and some of the described experiences sound i..."

I haven't heard of this -- so yes, let us know what it is like.

[Steve]

Pink wrote: "I have absolutely no idea what that entails!"

They're called sensory deprivation tanks. Back in the 60s, they were restricted to labs, but more recently "float" spas have opened up all over the place. We've a number in Portland. Tank time is supposed to relax, enhance creativity and a sense of well being, and more. Here's a wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolati.... The physicist Richard Feynman spent time in an isolation tank.

[Bat-Cat]

Steve wrote: "I've scheduled a 90 min. session in an isolation tank for next Friday, just cuz. I'm totally stoked, but wondering what to expect. Read a few articles, and some of the described experiences sound i..."

Wow Steve, that is SO COOL!!! I m both excited for you and envious at the same time. ;-) Yes, I have done it well over a hundred times. My husband and I used to own one - both for ourselves and as an adjunct therapy to our therapeutic massage practice. To say the least, we made it a point to take full advantage of the opportunity. What's it like? Since you have read up on it you have most likely read about a lot of the benefits - physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual. A super good book about it is The Book of Floating: Exploring the Private Sea by Michael Hutchison if you care to delve more deeply, no pun intended, into the subject. :-) Anyway, I am trying to remember what my very first experience was like since the enjoyment and benefits are definitely cumulative (at least for us they were). I think I was a bit apprehensive but mostly REALLY excited. Physically, the body starts to relax probably more than it has ever relaxed before. At times, my muscles would tighten up a little just before they released. It is truly a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful feeling. I found it much easier to keep my eyes closed so as not to challenge any latent claustrophobic tendencies I might discover that I had. I remember that at some point it feels like you no longer have a body (if you have ever experienced deep meditation it can feel similar to that). My advice is to just keep an open mind and allow yourself to be with whatever arises for you and enjoy it. Trust me, NOTHING bad can happen to you. I realize I am jumping around with this (it has been probably about 8 years now since I was in it so I'm trying to piece my experiences together for you albeit not very well - sorry). I am sure many more things will come for me later and I'll be sure to let you know if/when they do. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask away and if I can help I will be more than happy to do so. This will probably keep your mind going for little while anyway. Talk with you later. ;-)

[Pink]

Wow ok, I think I know the idea now, though I have to say that it doesn't sound at all relaxing! I hope you enjoy the experience and tell us how you get on :)

[Steve]

Bat-Cat wrote: "I think I was a bit apprehensive but mostly REALLY excited."

Hey Bat-Cat. Thanks for your insights and support. I'm also both apprehensive and excited. I'll do my best to keep an open mind, although my imagination has been known to run away with me. That's why reading about your experiences and those of others (there're a number of articles and studies online about this) is really helpful. A few minutes ago, I found a pdf of the chapter in Feynman's book Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character that covers the time he spent in the isolation tank. Great stuff. I just added Hutchinson's book to my To Read list (thanks). My biggest concern is wasting my first time in the tank just getting used to the contraption and the experience. Ideally, I'd like to just let it all go and enjoy the ride. Hope I don't have to wait for a second or third session to get there. Thanks again!

[Steve]

Pink wrote: "Wow ok, I think I know the idea now, though I have to say that it doesn't sound at all relaxing! I hope you enjoy the experience and tell us how you get on :)"

Hey Pink, we'll see about the relaxing part. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Melanti]

That sounds terrifying to me, actually.

I was unlucky enough to read a book that used one of those tanks as a torture/interrogation device when I was far too young to cope with reading about torture.

I STILL have nightmares about being in one of those tanks and it's been decades since I read the book.

[Bat-Cat]

Steve, that book that Melanti read is probably not the book to read prior to your appointment. Stay the course, you won't be sorry - may the force be with you!!! ;-)

[Brina]

What Star Wars conversation did I just miss??

[Lena]

Steve that is so cool. Did you ever see Altered States?

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I'm with Melanti, unless I've got complete control of the door, I ain't a going in. I like the dark, I like quiet, but I don't like claustrophobia.

[Steve]

Lena wrote: "Steve that is so cool. Did you ever see Altered States?"

No, but I've read a lot about it today. Can safely say, I'm not planning to regress genetically in the tank. And no hallucinatory drugs! :)

[Loretta]

Yea, that wouldn't be for me either. Can barely stand a CT scan, and that's partially open!

[Kathleen]

Yeah, I'm hyperventilating a little just thinking about it. I think I'll just read Richard Feynman--the parts I can understand anyway--and live vicariously. But it sounds like a wonderful experience if you can hack it, Steve!

[Steve]

Bob wrote: "I'm with Melanti, unless I've got complete control of the door, I ain't a going in. I like the dark, I like quiet, but I don't like claustrophobia."

You do have complete control of the door. In fact, you can float with it open and the light and even music on, although the whole idea is to reduce sensory input. But it's definitely up to user to strike some kind of balance that works.

[Bat-Cat]

In the years that we had the tank and of the maybe 30 or 40 people who used it, there was only one woman who decided she just couldn't/didn't want to stay in there - and she decided that very calmly (no panic attack or anything). Most of the people found it very peaceful and relaxing and the others chocked it up to an interesting experience. And yes, you have total control of the situation so if you want to leave you just leave - no pressure and no questions asked.

Yes Loretta, I have had a couple of MRI's that I wasn't very crazy about (I kept my eyes closed the whole time and practiced meditation and it worked for me - mind over matter sort of thing), but the tank is no where near that close and confined. There is lots of space even to float around - although you can touch the sides if you extend your arms.

[Gill]

Emerson wrote: "Saturday I'll go to a literary festival, I'm thrilled to hear Jón Kalman Stefánsson talk about Icelandic epic stories. Has anyone read Heaven and Hell, it was a fiv..."

No, but I've got an advance copy of Fish Have No Feet so I'm excited by that.

[Loretta]

Bat-Cat wrote: "In the years that we had the tank and of the maybe 30 or 40 people who used it, there was only one woman who decided she just couldn't/didn't want to stay in there - and she decided that very calml..."

The way you describe it Bat-Cat it almost, and really I said almost sounds pleasant, but I'm still not doing it! :). The floating around part sounds cool.

Oh, yea, me too, eyes closed, the whole bit! I even did visualization techniques to calm down, but to no avail! :)

[Sue]

Bob wrote: "I'm with Melanti, unless I've got complete control of the door, I ain't a going in. I like the dark, I like quiet, but I don't like claustrophobia."

I'm with you guys. I get scared getting an MRI.

It's sounds wonderful for those who don't have claustrophobia and/or control issues. I still look forward to hearing about your experience Steve!

[Loretta]

Steve wrote: "I've scheduled a 90 min. session in an isolation tank for next Friday, just cuz. I'm totally stoked, but wondering what to expect. Read a few articles, and some of the described experiences sound i..."

I look forward to hearing about your experience Steve! :)

[Bat-Cat]

Here is a fun little quiz that I happened upon this morning. Based on your answers to 5 or 6 questions it determines which Russian author you would be.

Here's the link: https://rbth.com/arts/literature/2016...

Have fun - I am Leo Tolstoy... hummmmm... perhaps that is why I love him so much. ;-)

[Susan O]

Bat-Cat wrote: "Here is a fun little quiz that I happened upon this morning. Based on your answers to 5 or 6 questions it determines which Russian author you would be."

I got Anton Chekhov. I've never read him, but maybe I should. :)