Just Talking Showing 3,001-3,050 of 3,141

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I can now use November to read those books I really want to read but have been putting off all year - so haven't a month where I don't have much interest will work out okay for me this time around.

[sabagrey]

Sometimes it happens that I really look forward to a group read, but once the month has arrived, I have so much other stuff to read (and do) that I am tempted to drop out.

[Michaela]

I have more or less given up on nominating, as there´s hardly a chance to read what I like, and as I´m busy with other books too, I either read those or I see what is chosen and read what I like of the group reads.

[Terris]

This month I have read all the chosen books. What a relief! And in November there is only one I haven't read (and I don't plan to read it). So, it's really nice to be able to go ahead and read what's already on the long list that I have planned!

[Cynda]

The later in the year, the more focused I am on reading my personal challenges and meeting reading goals. This month I only nominated one book, one I will read between now and end of year, so I can discuss book if it wins the group vote.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I also love that some of the group reads were ones that I hadn't planned on reading, and then find a new favorite from that read. So I never say never...

It is so nice to find books nominated by others that hadn't been on my radar.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I agree, Katy. I have found some terrific reads that I doubt would ever have made my list without a group nomination. Oddly, it is often one that doesn't get enough votes to ever be the group pick.

[[deleted user]]

Michaela wrote: "I have more or less given up on nominating, as there´s hardly a chance to read what I like..."

On more than one occasion, I voted for the book you nominated, and would read it as a buddy read in case it didn't win the poll. Have you ever considered or tried this option?

Something I'm noticing: a book wins the poll with 50 votes, but then there's only two people posting a comment in the relative discussion, which can hardly gain momentum and go beyond saying what page you're at.

[Cynda]

I like using our group, also our buddy reads, to fill in my bingo card. Increases my sense of community effort and appreciation of the group.

[Klowey]

Fed wrote: "Michaela wrote: "I have more or less given up on nominating, as there´s hardly a chance to read what I like..."

On more than one occasion, I voted for the book you nominated, and would read it as ..."

I was in a buddy read for a nominated book that made it to the final 7, but did not win in that final poll. So a few of us read it on the side as a buddy read.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Buddy reading is a great option and often spurs a much more robust discussion than the group reads do. I have done more buddy reads this year than group reads and have enjoyed them all.

I have also noticed the discrepancy between the number of votes a book gets and the number of participants. Very often the person who nominated never contributes to the discussion. Strange, but true.

[Heather L]

I am careful about nominating books and don’t do so every month because I feel that if a book you nominate wins, you are obligated to read it and contribute something to the discussion—even if it’s only a post to say you read it and whether or not you liked it. I try to read at least one group read each month, and usually manage to fit two in. I sometimes don’t get to them until late in the month, though, depending on other groups’ reads or challenges. I don’t always post right away after I have read it, either. Sometimes you have to let your ideas on something percolate a bit. And then there are months when the discussion is so active it’s hard to keep up.

There are some months, though, when none of the monthly reads appeal, or I can’t get the one book/short story that does interest me. That has happened a few times. So far this year I have read 20 group reads (including one so far this month) and started listening to another last night. There are two others I’d like to read for this month, but it depends on how the rest of the month shapes up.

[Linda R,]

Karen wrote: "Did anyone else see the article in Reader's Digest July/Aug edition called "Instead of College, I Read These Books"? It had a list of 153 classic books that a teacher gave her students further thei,,

I brought the issue and read over the list. I found I had read half of them already. So I took down a list of the ones I had not read and started reading them this week. I am starting with Bulfinch's Mythology. So, yes, people do read these posts and take action. Thank you for posting the info!

[Michaela]

Fed wrote: "Michaela wrote: "I have more or less given up on nominating, as there´s hardly a chance to read what I like..."

On more than one occasion, I voted for the book you nominated, and would read it as ..."

Yes, good idea, Fed. I had planned it, but have to look which ones I´ll ask for on the buddy read thread. :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Linda R, wrote: "Karen wrote: "Did anyone else see the article in Reader's Digest July/Aug edition called "Instead of College, I Read These Books"? It had a list of 153 classic books that a teacher gave her student..."

I saw it Linda. I had 58 unread on the list. Might be a good project for the future to see how many of those I could knock-off. There are a few there that I might not have any interest in reading.

[Linda R,]

Sara (taking a break) wrote: "I saw it Linda. I had 58 unread on the list. Might be a good project for the future to see how many of those I could knock-off. There are a few there that I might not have any interest in reading...."

My unread list totalled 70, but you are right some of these on the list may be "dated" or reflect the teacher's personal likes and not really be worthwhile reading.

[Sam]

I like buddy reads for selections that don't win but only when they are minor classacs since I like seeing all the major reads on the bookshelf. A buddy read won't get it there.

I prefer the discussion most of all because it keeps the book alive, IMO. The most mundane note, or the opinion that is completely contrary to mine is preferable to an quiet discussion. I hope readers aren't too intimidated to voice opinions or afraid they will be challenged. I wish we could encourage participation and show disagreement does not need to be competitive and simply reflects different tastes.

[[deleted user]]

Sam wrote: "...I wish we could encourage participation and show disagreement does not need to be competitive and simply reflects different tastes..."

This often comes to my mind whenever small social gatherings or mail exchanges in classics like the Brontës' or Proust's, and in memoires by their contemporaries, allow me to witness how ideas used to be discussed at the time. I often have the feeling of people, then, generally being more comfortable to politely disagree, compared to today's standards where – at least to my eye – two extremes might be more frequent: arguing fiercely and agreeing unreservedly.

And if I suspend the judgement on the hypothetical differences of times and customs – as I also like to do – those works still offer inspiring examples of the art of conversation.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Heather L wrote: "I am careful about nominating books and don’t do so every month because I feel that if a book you nominate wins, you are obligated to read it and contribute something to the discussion—even if it’s..."


I agree with everything you said, except 20 group books?? Wow I am impressed. I have only read 11 group reads so far this year. I hesitate to nominate a book unless I have read it or feel very confident in the author because I have read other works by him or her that I liked. I do try to look at every group read discussion thread. Of course, for those books I have not read yet, no comments.

As to interests - I try to connect any nomination I make to a Challenge. Could it be helpful in completing something? In that light, if you have not read your "Group Participant Pick" for Bingo yet, I just read

MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker (1968). It is the book the movie and TV series was based upon. It is based upon the author's true life events. I used it for humor in the Member's Choice Challenge in the Challenge Buffet. It is not great literature, and rather dirty in places, but I am glad I read it. With All Quiet on the Western Front winning Revisit this month, I stayed in the same genre but more recent.

[Heather L]

Lynn — Thanks, though it’s actually 21 now, as I’m just finishing up The Talented Mr. Ripley. Most of the group reads I’ve read have been from the short story/novella or old school shelves. Four plays, one long poem, a couple short stories...six were actually rereads. I never seem to get to the longer works, even when it’s something I really want to read.

[Luffy Sempai]

Lynn wrote: "Heather L wrote: "I am careful about nominating books and don’t do so every month because I feel that if a book you nominate wins, you are obligated to read it and contribute something to the discu..."

I remember the movie MASH prompting a girl or lady to protest against the misogyny in that movie, on IMDB (when there was a forum there). She defended herself quite well. She became a friend of mine for a while.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Luffy wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Heather L wrote: "I am careful about nominating books and don’t do so every month because I feel that if a book you nominate wins, you are obligated to read it and contribute something..."

Yes, ribald humor often is protested. I can't help but sympathize with the men caught in that situation (combat). The author tried to be true to life. Yet, you are correct. For some people this would not be a good recommendation.

[[deleted user]]

UK – Libraries at risk of cuts despite 'unprecedented' rise in users (BBC article)

I've worked in libraries for 38 years and we've not seen the numbers of people, the broad cross-section of people who will tell us they are struggling," says Joanne Shannon, library services manager at Cheshire East Council, who manages 16 libraries and a mobile rural service.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-636...

[Squire]

It's sad. The branch library near my house (in the States) closed a few months ago and became a skin cancer therapy center (the third one in a 6-block radius!) The city claimed it was budget cuts, but the people out of a job said that it had become waystation for homeless persons and was negatively affecting businesses in the area.

The next closest branch is 7 miles away. sigh...

But the main library branch hosts Gerald Dickens (great grandson of Charles Dickens) in his one man show of A Christmas Carol every year and he stays at my hotel! I look forward to discussing a new Dickens book I've managed to read every year with him.

[Luffy Sempai]

Squire wrote: "It's sad. The branch library near my house (in the States) closed a few months ago and became a skin cancer therapy center (the third one in a 6-block radius!) The city claimed it was budget cuts, but the people out of a job said that it had become waystation for homeless persons and was negatively affecting businesses in the area.

The next closest branch is 7 miles away. sigh..."

This is indeed sad. Hope you are willing to join Kindle Unlimited or its like.

[Cynda]

I feel a very small part of your pain Squire. The small public library I usually go to has lost some club chairs. Someone from the main library came by and removed them, saying they were too worn. The chairs were not replaced.

Two chairs that graced the two ends of the New Books shelves and the two doors of the children's room. New books and young children-- What's not to love.

One chair was situated in front of a tall window located in the study section of the that small library. Sunlight and quiet are quite enjoyable when one sits reading in a big reading chair.

I am still considering making my complaint known. I think I will have to. I was not comfortable where I had to sit the last time.

Of course these chairs were worn a bit. They were rightly worn.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

I loved our public library as a child. It was a quiet place for reading. A decade or two ago it became a free video store and a place for loud public meetings of groups. Books seem to be an afterthought. I also believe they have children's programs in the morning when I would never be there. Sigh, I miss the old quiet reading room days of our library. I really never go there anymore. In our county of almost 50,000 people there are two public libraries. One is about 4 miles from my house and the other is 20 miles from my house.

All my new books are purchased electronically whether physical or ebook. We used to have two local book stores. They went out of business, and we got one chain bookstore. It also went out of business in the last decade. It was a thriving place that was always packed with people, but still could not stay in business. No local book stores anymore... and I mean I would have to drive over 100 miles to find a brick and mortar book store. I occasionally do that.

[Luffy Sempai]

Lynn wrote: "I would have to drive over 100 miles to find a brick and mortar book store. I occasionally do that."

That's a lot of mileage. The small island where I'm a native is about 40 miles long. This puts things into perspective.

[[deleted user]]

Lynn wrote: "I loved our public library as a child. It was a quiet place for reading..."

Thank you for sharing, Lynn! I loved the [melancholy] story. And love libraries. I don't use digital and buy just 1 paper book/month; everything else I read is borrowed.

Things here – that means Italy – seem a bit different from the picture you painted. Here's the data for my province, relative to 2019:

• 4800 sq.km, 1.3 mln people (± like Rhode Island);

• 242 public libraries in 206 towns (1 library every 5300 people);

• 5.5 mln documents owned (23k/library);

• 200k users, 73% female.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Fed wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I loved our public library as a child. It was a quiet place for reading..."

Thank you for sharing, Lynn! I loved the [melancholy] story. And love libraries. I don't use digital and bu..."

That sounds lovely. What a good system.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Fed wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I loved our public library as a child. It was a quiet place for reading..."

Thank you for sharing, Lynn! I loved the [melancholy] story. And love libraries. I don't use digital and bu..."

Only buying one paper book per month seems very reasonable. I have really been excited to find Gutenberg.org and other online sources of ebooks. If not, my house would be overflowing. As it is I have tall floor to ceiling bookshelves in three rooms of the house!!

[[deleted user]]

Lynn wrote: "...As it is I have tall floor to ceiling bookshelves in three rooms of the house!!"

Heaven! :)

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Fed wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I loved our public library as a child. It was a quiet place for reading..."

Thank you for sharing, Lynn! I loved the [melancholy] story. And love libraries. I don't use digital and bu..."

Interesting statistics Fed. My county is 435 square miles or 1126.62 square kilometers. We are considered rural. I prefer to not live in a large city. We have two small towns in the county. The county government runs the school system and the library system.

This is the library near me. It is a lovely place, it has just become very noisy. It is located next to a children's playground and baseball fields. Across the road is a public swimming pool and a public gym.

https://lannom.org/

In the summer people who have been playing at the park will come into the library for the air conditioning.

[[deleted user]]

Lynn wrote: "I prefer to not live in a large city..."

Same here! But I travel to our main library once a month. It opened as a public library in 1750:

https://www.bresciatourism.it/content...

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Fed wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I prefer to not live in a large city..."

Same here! But I travel to our main library once a month. It opened as a public library in 1750:
https://www.bresciatourism.it/content......"

Oh my. That is amazingly beautiful.

[[deleted user]]

No noise: children are dealt with in a medieval way.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Fed wrote: "No noise: children are dealt with in a medieval way."

LOL

[Terris]

Does anyone else write reviews and put them on Amazon (mine happen to be for NetGalley), and Amazon sends a message that says "Your review cannot be posted. It appears your content did not comply with our guidelines." ????? So what did I do wrong?! Of course, they don't tell you, they just want you to read all the guidelines again. I don't swear, I don't threaten anyone, I'm not trying to sell anything -- so what's wrong with my review??
I just wish they would send the review back and highlight the part they don't like, so they could teach me what not to do next time :/
I just re-do it the best I can and take out the most interesting parts (!) and remove the "thanks for the ARC" part, in case they don't like that -- and send it back and hope for the best. That usually works, but it seems different every time. Sometimes, they just accept the original with no questions -- but the next time...... !!!! :p

Does anyone have any helpful suggestions?

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

If you are getting your books from Netgalley, are you trying to post reviews before the publication date?

[Greg]

Terris wrote: "Does anyone else write reviews and put them on Amazon (mine happen to be for NetGalley), and Amazon sends a message that says "Your review cannot be posted. It appears your content did not comply w..."

That sounds so frustrating Terris! It would definitely be good to tell you why. Maybe they have an automatic checker that's a little buggy? Anyway, hope it gets better!

[Terris]

Katy wrote: "If you are getting your books from Netgalley, are you trying to post reviews before the publication date?"

They are from NetGalley, but not posting before the publication date.

[Terris]

Greg wrote: "Terris wrote: "Does anyone else write reviews and put them on Amazon (mine happen to be for NetGalley), and Amazon sends a message that says "Your review cannot be posted. It appears your content d..."

Thanks for listening, I just needed to vent a little bit ;)

[Lena]

I’ve gotten that message. I just skip that review. I’m not changing my opinions for them.

[Terris]

Lena wrote: "I’ve gotten that message. I just skip that review. I’m not changing my opinions for them."

I think you're right! I don't think I will change anything in the future :)

[[deleted user]]

What it's like to read without sight — What happens to our brains when we learn Braille, asks Red Szell in this video for BBC Culture's A Sensory World series.

[Includes comments on the experience of 'reading' through audiobooks.]

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/2...

[Cynda]

Just stopping by for moment. We are having our family party tonight on Christmas Eve. Sometime during afternoon I will be home reading. So if anyone else is reading Christmas day and wants to talk books, I will be around. I altered my account so that anyone can message me to tell me they are reading too.

[Reed]

I’m not reading Christmas books but, I read different varieties of books about everything for young adults only

[Kathleen]

Ever since the new book page, I've noticed about half the time, when selecting a book page, I see "Sign In" at the top, and it treats me as if I'm logged out. I see from Goodreads help that this has been going on for almost a year now, but I don't see any word of fixes.

Does anyone have a workaround? I just want to post a review. :-/

[Kathleen]

Kathleen wrote: "Ever since the new book page, I've noticed about half the time, when selecting a book page, I see "Sign In" at the top, and it treats me as if I'm logged out. I see from Goodreads help that this ha..."

I found a way! Under Currently Reading on my Home page, I selected Update Progress and got there that way. There's usually more than one way to do everything. :-)

[Squire]

As I get older, so does my book collection. I've noticed, with an increasing amount of distress, that some of my older HC books (30+ years) have fading print. While reading Foucault's Pendulum earlier, I encountered several pages with fading print, as well as in others.

I try to take good care of my books. I have books from the 1800s that have perfect print (maybe with some mold spots on the outer edges of the pages).

It can get depressing.