Just Talking Showing 1,801-1,850 of 3,141

[Emerson]

Everyone, I am looking for someone who would be ready to comment on a bit of writing, about three pages. I would be most happy to read and comment that person's own writing in exchange.

[Hayley]

I'll be happy to.

[Emerson]

Thank you Hayley, if you send me an email address by private message, I'll get back at you within a week. Anything you can say will be helpful.

The question still stands, I could use different opinions. I am at the beginning of a novel project and I need a little help to settle myself before I go back into "writer mode" deep into my rooms, away from the world.

[Melanti]

Has anyone here read The Decameron before?

I was thinking of nominating it for a different group's group read, but it's much too long for that group.

Does anyone know if the individual stories stand alone well? Would it be possible to read 3 or 4 individual stories?

[Claudio]

The novellas stand alone well. Each story of the Decameron begins with a short heading explaining the plot of the story. You may choose the comical one, the erotic, the serious (very rare, "Griselda" the best) .

[Melanti]

Thanks for the info!

Great to know, even if I just end up reading it by myself.

[Brina]

Which Ali Smith book to read first? Would love suggestions.

[Cynda]

Pink wrote: "I don't think your nuts, I think a lot of people don't like it. My kindle app on my phone never synced with goodreads, so I've never had that problem. Although I personally don't like how my intern..."

Also medical information. HIPPA Law that is supposed to protect my medical records from outsiders--meaning anyone not providing me medical care. I get postcard adverts from insurance companies saying that they have particularly good coverage for this medical problem or that medical problem I have. It is a postcard, easily read by many people, Thank God most of my medical problems have no real stigma attached to them.

[Pink]

Brina wrote: "Which Ali Smith book to read first? Would love suggestions."

I've read 3 of her books with mixed results. Autumn is my favourite so far, but it's very tied up in post Brexit British feelings, I also enjoyed How to be both. Her writing style takes some getting used to, but I think you can start anywhere, so I'd say go with whatever plot appeals to you the most.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I’m sorry to say this is not a great month of books for me. Lolita, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Moby-Dick have left my book wow factor flat, no enthusiasm generated. I won’t be reading Dead Souls any time soon. Which leaves me with our short story Benjamin Button. It, thank goodness, gets two thumbs up and a loud hooray of appreciation. I hope everyone else is fairing better.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I'm still struggling through Moby-Dick or, The Whale but am enjoying Why Read Moby-Dick?

[Pink]

Some months are like that Bob, but I'm glad you liked Benjamin Button.

Katy, you can get there with Moby Dick! Just one chapter at a time!

[Nell]

Brina, just dropping by (late) to second Pink re. Ali Smith's Autumn.

I've had a bad run of luck with my recent reading, too, Bob. I'm sorry!

[Brina]

Glad it comes recommended. I added it to my year's reading plan. Yeah, I have one to keep me organized. Madonna in a Fur Coat is waiting for me at the library tomorrow so I will be getting that as well.

[Nell]

I have a reading plan also - but I do mine in trimesters. I tend to read seasonally.
Madonna in a Fur Coat was excellent, can't wait to hear what you think of it!

[Brina]

I have one because I'm an impulse reader and i need a plan to be able to finish my challenges. This is the first year I've done it and it seems to be working-- 3 left for bingo, 2 for women's century, and 10 for author challenge. Once I get my challenge books out of the way then I can read what I'm interested in.

[Nell]

That's fair! I'm an impulse reader as well. I usually set up my three months with eight or so books that I plan on reading that fulfill my challenge, and then slot in a few other books that interest me that I don't want to forget about to bring my total up to twelve. Then I read around those! Working in a library makes it difficult to completely remove impulsive reading.

[Brina]

I think goodreads makes me impulsive because there are always interesting books available. I'm devoting June and July to classics because I'll have more time to read. I used to be the person who went to the library clueless. Now I go each week with a huge holds list. The plan is to keep me sane.

[Nell]

I definitely understand that. I pre-catalog new arrivals so I always know what's coming in and I think that's probably my major downfall...hence the need for a little flex-room in my plan. (You're my favourite kind of patron, though!)

[siriusedward]

on thousand and one nights .some series of videos ..

https://courses.edx.org/courses/cours...

maybe one has to sign in to access the link ?

[Melanti]

Amazon's found a new way to use all that data we so kindly give them.

They're using the data from Kindle & Audible (probably using Whispersync data) to track what people are actually reading to come up with an alternative to best seller lists.

Their new list shows what people are actually reading, as opposed to what they're buying.

https://smile.amazon.com/charts/2017-...

Of the 20 on the list, 5 are (still) Harry Potter. That's really amazing to me! Here it is, 20 years after book #1 was released and it's STILL ranking as the 8th most read book this week.

And it looks like they're flagging some other interesting tidbits: "All Ears" - a book that's more often listened to than read. "Unputdownable" - book that judging by reading times, people tend to fly through/not put down.

[Pink]

Hmm sounds intriguing, I'm going to see what other books are being talked about and read, though usually they're books that I don't particularly like.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Another excellent list to show just how far off Main Street I mentally reside. Take out Handmaids Tale, American Gods, the Potter books, and recognizing a few authors’ names, I am unfamiliar with any of these books.

[Melanti]

Bob wrote: "Another excellent list to show just how far off Main Street I mentally reside. Take out Handmaids Tale, American Gods, the Potter books, and recognizing a few authors’ names, I am unfamiliar with a..."

Add Stephen King's It, which I'm sure you've heard of and you're 40% done!

Really, other than those, there's a couple older books but half the list is new or pre-releases (Kindle First program).


I'm like you. I've heard of several of the authors but havne't heard of the new releases.

[Nente]

Would be interesting to see also a most-rereadable category - the Harry Potters' popularity might be in a large part because of that.

[Cynda]

I am so looking forward to re-reading Othello. Iago is eviiiil. I might even splurge on a book I, Iago. A backstory of a peculicar little boy. Sounds al dente. Like I could put my teeth into that story.

[Brina]

With family visiting the last few days I took a reading and brain break. But I actually pre planned 3 of 4 challenges in this group for next year and would have planned Bingo if the board was done ;) and organized the rest of this year. So I got work done even if I didn't read anything. Doing some light reading the rest of this month because I guess I really needed a brain break.

[Krista]

I am on the hunt for 11-22-63. With the book being 800+ pages (why King why?!) I would prefer buying a used copy to read at my leisure.

[Nente]

I really have to get to Stephen King one of these days, if only to know what everyone else's talking about.

[Lena]

I recognized this from The Decameron before I recognized the old SNL people. Some stories are unforgettable!
https://youtu.be/o-q5iROzPNY

[Lynnette]

I was recently doing a little research and found this. Thought you might be interested. It is a list of best selling fiction. Keep in mind that some of these are older books and have been released into public domain so sales are not easily found especially digital copies.
Anyway, I thought the list was interesting.

Don Quixote 1612 ~ 500 million
A Tale of Two Cities 1859 ~ 200 million
Le Petit Prince 1943 ~ 140 million
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 1997 ~ 107 million
The Hobbit 1937 ~ 100 million
And Then There Were None 1939 ~ 100 million
The Dream of the Red Chamber 1754 ~ 100 million
Alice in Wonderland 1865 ~ 100 million
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 1950 ~ 85 million
She 1887 ~ 83 million

If you are interested in the entire list and resources for this, check out this link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

How many do you own? I own 7 of the 10.

[siriusedward]

1. Harry Potter.

I have read And then there were none , Alice in wonderland ,Le petite prince, Hobbit and Two cities...

[siriusedward]

Nente wrote: "I really have to get to Stephen King one of these days, if only to know what everyone else's talking about."

I can't read it.Horror is not for me.

[Pink]

I'm surprised to see She so high up the list. Has anyone read it?

[Brina]

I've read Harry Potter and And Then There Were None.
I own Don Quixote and need to get motivated to tackle it. Kids have a copy of Alice in Wonderland.

[siriusedward]

Bob wrote: "When it comes to technology put me in the paranoid and worrying about Big Brother category. For the most part I’m a private person and I don’t like the evasiveness and lack of transparency of techn..."

I too am in the paranoid criteria.

[Loretta]

Lynnette wrote: "I was recently doing a little research and found this. Thought you might be interested. It is a list of best selling fiction. Keep in mind that some of these are older books and have been released ..."

Interesting list Lynnette! Thanks for posting! 🤗

Out of the ten you listed I own:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

[Loretta]

Pink wrote: "I'm surprised to see She so high up the list. Has anyone read it?"

Never read it Pink!

[siriusedward]

Melanti wrote: "Pink wrote: "Although I personally don't like how my internet browsing shows up in advert suggestions on here. ..."

Some websites lets advertisers set cookies on your machine so the advertisers ca..."

Thanks Melanti .

[Lena]

I've never even heard of She. Interesting.

[Brina]

Same here. If it ever becomes a buddy read I am up for it.

[Loretta]

Low marks from Goodreads members on the book.

[Melanti]

Lynnette wrote: "How many do you own? I own 7 of the 10. ..."

Own? Well, 3 in paper and 3 more in ebook . Read? 9.

Pink wrote: "I'm surprised to see She so high up the list. Has anyone read it?"

Yep. It's um... rather dated, to say the least. Hilariously so. It was all the rage back when it was published, though.

Men's adventure genre, with lots of imperialistic, misogynistic, racist views, etc.


It's the origin of the phrase "She who must be obeyed", by the way.

[Sarah]

Lynnette wrote: "I was recently doing a little research and found this. Thought you might be interested. It is a list of best selling fiction. Keep in mind that some of these are older books and have been released ..."

I own 8/10. I had never heard of She or The Dream of the Red Chamber, so I suppose that's ok.

So far I have read 7/10. I own but have not yet read Don Quixote.

[Pink]

Melanti, that sounds bad, but I'm intrigued to try it...one day.

[Lynnette]

I read SHE years ago. By H. Rider Haggard. There even was a terrible movie made. He also wrote King Solomon's Mines & Alan Quartermain. Recognize Alan Quartermain?

[Brina]

I recognize King Solomon's Mines. It was nominated as a group read a few months ago but did poorly in the polls. Sounded interesting.

[Melanti]

Pink wrote: "Melanti, that sounds bad, but I'm intrigued to try it...one day."

Well, as long as you go into it expecting a pulpy adventure with no real connection to reality, it can be fun. Just don't expect high literature.

Have you ever read Edgar Rice Burrows? Somewhat akin to that.


I found She to be unintentionally amusing with how over-the-top some of those attitudes were. King Solomon's Mines is better in that regard. But, again, don't expect high literature out of it. It's pure adventure story.

[Lynnette]

Apparently 83 million people thought differently about SHE. lol I could tell you scores of classics that I am not fond of. Depends on your perspective when you are reading it. And what else is out there at the moment.

[Kathleen]

Interesting list, Lynnette! I own 6, and had never heard of The Dream of the Red Chamber. Glad to see DQ at the top. :-)

Haven't read She, but doesn't sound good to me. Glad to know that is where "She who must be obeyed" came from though--thanks, Melanti!