What are you reading or what books have you read or heard about? (Part TWELVE) Ongoing general thread. Showing 1,301-1,350 of 2,793

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "Broadsides from the Other Orders: A Book of Bugs by Sue Hubbell was wonderful. She reminded me a lot of Rachel Carson in her poetic enthusiasm for bugs..."

Thanks for posting, Jim. Sounds unexpectedly interesting. :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "I think I read Sue Hubbell's Book of Bees and loved it. Such a good writer. I was into reading all about bees after reading it. I had a couple of bee skeps but no bees were in it."

Nina, thanks for teaching me a new word, "skep".
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dicti...
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&a...

[Nina]

Looking at those photos makes me want another one. I gave mine away when we moved to a condo. One of my British distant cousins told me her brother took his skep and bees to college with him.

[Nina]

Yes, I agree with you. One of my favorite authors.

[Jim]

I just reread The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells with a group & it was well worth the time. I found the second half of the book far more enjoyable than the first. It's a pretty depressing story all told, but a great foundation for the genre. I gave it a 3 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "I just reread The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells with a group & it was well worth the time. I found the second half of the book far more enjoyable than the first. It's a p..."

Below are links to film adaptations of that book:

The Invisible Man (1933) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024184/?... - "A scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane."

The Invisible Man (2018) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051906/?...

[Linda]

Library book club is reading "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

I'm going to look now and read reviews on the book. Anyone read this yet?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Linda wrote: "Library book club is reading "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize. I'm going to look now and read reviews on the book. Anyone read this yet?"

Yes, I read Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Linda]

Liked your review, Joy.

I read 10 pages last night and was drawn in immediately. The lady who recommended the book said she loved the book and hoped we all felt the same.

[Nina]

I looked at the other reviews and found that I'd written that I didn't like that book/too depressing and that was in 1908. It seems I wasn't alone as the one positive review was yours Joy. It is good to read the "other" side. We'll see which side Linda is on.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

About Olive Kitteridge, since it's really made up of short stories, I probably overlooked the ones I didn't like and concentrated on the ones I liked.

[Linda]

I'm stuck in the middle of this book. The first two or three stories were good. I'm up to page 60. It's not a book that I can't put down. Actually easy to put down and walk away.

I'll keep going along on this one since it's not torture to read. Hopefully, I'll find some stories that are good. Jury is still out on this one.

[Jim]

I lazed around far too much this weekend so I could finish Imager. I gave it a 4 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also listened to 2 audio books while playing in the shop & getting chores done.

The first was H. Beam Piper's Little Fuzzy. I've been meaning to get around to it for ages & finally did. Wish I hadn't put it off so long. I gave it a 4 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The other was an audio only anthology, Stories from White Hats: Epic Western Tales of Legendary Heroes, put together by Blackstone Audio. Each short story was written by a different author & read by a different narrator. Another 4 star effort that I reviewed here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Linda wrote: "I'm stuck in the middle of this book. The first two or three stories were good. I'm up to page 60. It's not a book that I can't put down. Actually easy to put down and walk away. I'll keep going ..."

Well said, Linda! I know exactly what you mean! :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "I lazed around far too much this weekend so I could finish Imager. I gave it a 4 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I also listened to 2 audio books wh..."

Jim, you're a hard man to keep up with! Thanks for posting about these books.

[Jim]

I was disappointed with Dinner with Churchill: Policy-Making at the Dinner Table by Cita Stelzer. Not enough about the policy, too much about the food, but not a single recipe! I gave it a grudging 3 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "I was disappointed with Dinner with Churchill: Policy-Making at the Dinner Table by Cita Stelzer. Not enough about the policy, too much about the food, but not a si..."

Gee, Jim, Churchill was such a colorful person. I'm surprised the book wasn't more enjoyable. I don't think I would have enjoyed the food parts. :) I don't mind anecdotes and trivia. I've been reading the anecdotes in the following books and have enjoyed so many of them:

Hollywood Anecdotes
Presidential Anecdotes
It was fun to read how politicians have been insulting one another since the country began. So today's politics is nothing new! LOL

Both books are by Paul F. Boller Jr..

[Jim]

Treasury of Norse Mythology: Stories of Intrigue, Trickery, Love, and Revenge by Donna Jo Napoli was a quick, excellent review of the subject. Wild! I gave it a 4 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "Treasury of Norse Mythology: Stories of Intrigue, Trickery, Love, and Revenge by Donna Jo Napoli was a quick, excellent review of the subject. Wild! I gave it a 4 sta..."

Thanks for the link, Jim. Norse mythology has always been a blank space in my mind's library. I knew it existed but it has always seemed inaccessible and impenetrable (like so many subjects nowadays!) Our public library carries only the hard copy but one can listen to a sample at audible.com:
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_h...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PS-I'll bet Jackie loved Norse Mythology!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PPS-Here's a page which might quickly explain Norse Mythology.
http://thenorsegods.com/the-nine-worl...

The names are so strange that they make it hard to make a dent into the whole picture, but this explanation may chip away into the dense body of information.

[JAKe]

I just want to say that I am an author and my new book, "A Secret Lies Deep," draws upon scenery and landmarks located in Glens Falls. I did alter the names of things, but I believe you will recognize many things in my descriptions.
My inspiration for looking up your city as I started to write my book centered on my using a living history museum as a critical element in the story. So, when I did a search for living history museums, Glens Falls museum showed up. The eastern location of the museum lent itself nicely to the story plot.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hello, Jake. Yes, we are very proud of our public library, Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls. I'm sure it's a lovely inspiration for you book.

[Linda]

Jim wrote: "I was disappointed with Dinner with Churchill: Policy-Making at the Dinner Table by Cita Stelzer. Not enough about the policy, too much about the food, but not a si..."

Jim, was watching on Netflix, "The Crown"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/

which sparked my interest about Churchill. Have you read any books about Churchill you enjoyed reading? Perhaps I should look for Churchill biographies.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Yes, Linda, I read The Private Lives of Winston Churchill by John George Pearson.

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jim]

No, Linda. No other books about just about him. I've run into him in other books, of course. Can't think of anything good off hand, though.

[Linda]

Jim wrote: "No, Linda. No other books about just about him. I've run into him in other books, of course. Can't think of anything good off hand, though."

Ok, thanks Jim for responding.

[Linda]

Joy H. wrote: "Yes, Linda, I read The Private Lives of Winston Churchill by John George Pearson.

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

"Private Lives" - great review, Joy. I'm adding to my list of books to read. Thanks very much. -

[Linda]

A short work week for me as I was off both Monday and Tuesday. Work today and then Friday and off again for 3 days!

Plan for the weekend is to do some birding. Going online now to check out the snow geese migration. Did you ever see hundreds to thousands of snow geese in the sky? With a sunny day, a blue sky and the whiteness of the snow geese - almost looks silverfish white as they fly in the sky. Witnessed this a few times and go out searching for more sights.

Have a good day everyone. Stay warm.

[Jim]

Sounds great, Linda. I think I saw something about this being the big birding weekend. We just watch for them around our place. I have the Purple Martin houses up, but no sign of them yet. Should be any day now, though.

[Nina]

Reminds me of standing on our deck at Lake of the Ozarks one Easter morning and watching hundreds of sea gulls flying in and out of the falling snowflakes. It really shouldn't have been snowing but it was and I'll never forget that viewing. This morning my husband was watering our redbud tree with sprinklers and a robin say there under the water for one half hour. Then a lady cardinal joined him.

[Nina]

As for "coming out," do thing Sororities and Fraternities follow the same pattern?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "As for "coming out," do thing Sororities and Fraternities follow the same pattern?"

I don't think so, Nina.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Linda wrote: "A short work week for me as I was off both Monday and Tuesday. Work today and then Friday and off again for 3 days! Plan for the weekend is to do some birding. Going online now to check out the s..."

Hope you'll see some good birds, Linda.

[Nina]

I thought sororities were somewhat similar as mostly girls are surrounded with others pretty much like them and they do vote to see who gets in/three blackballs and you're out. One of my friend's granddaughter was to be initiated at University of Kansas a few years ago and her father was a state senator and when they asked what her father did she answered he was a farmer because they lived on a ranch. She didn't get in. The next year she said he was a senator and that did it. Well, that might be just one example but it gives you the idea. Actually, I was in a sorority in high school until my best friend got blackballed and so after that I quit..

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "I thought sororities were somewhat similar as mostly girls are surrounded with others pretty much like them and they do vote to see who gets in/three blackballs and you're out. One of my friend's g..."

Interest story, Nina!

[Linda]

Jim wrote: "Sounds great, Linda. I think I saw something about this being the big birding weekend. We just watch for them around our place. I have the Purple Martin houses up, but no sign of them yet. Should b..."

Then perhaps I'll get lucky and see some birds and/or snow geese. I read that the numbers of Purple Martins has declined. Have you noticed a decline?

[Linda]

Nina wrote: "Reminds me of standing on our deck at Lake of the Ozarks one Easter morning and watching hundreds of sea gulls flying in and out of the falling snowflakes. It really shouldn't have been snowing but..."
Sounds like a good viewing! A good visual memory which I love.

[Jim]

We haven't had as many at our place, but their numbers vary from year to year, similar to the hummingbirds with the added issue of sparrow depredation. Fewer PMs mean less to keep the little feathered rats at bay which makes their houses less secure. I'm going to keep a close eye out this year &, if I catch them early enough, I'll pull down one of my houses if there aren't enough to take up most nests in both.

[Nina]

One interesting thing I heard on a segment on the Today show this morning was that feeding ducks bread should be taboo. The study showed that ducks that eat the bread think this is home and don't migrate and also they gain wait and have problems being able to lift themselves in order to fly. Also, if the bread molds and algea appears it can make them sick.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

On Lake George, while camping, we used to throw pieces of bread into the air from our rubber raft and crowds of sea gulls would circle above to get the bread. Quite a sight. My Uncle Henry showed us how to do that. He was so much fun.

[Jim]

I agree that people over feed the ducks. They were doing the same thing to the goose that nested next to our building. Idiocy. It got moldy & had ants crawling all over it. I'd chase her off her nest occasionally to clean up. That ticked her off, but so did filling the water dish.

Seagulls are such opportunists. There was a point in Maine where we were feeding them like that. They'd come down & take it right out of our hands. I lured one in, caught it by the foot, & held its wings in. Then I snuck up behind one of my maternal aunts (both were there). I thought it would nibble her hair & give her a scare. Instead it bit her ear so hard it drew blood. Whoops!

The 3 wicked sisters have never let me (or anyone else) forget that one. When Marg was complaining about Brandon doing something once, my aunt said to make sure he never got a hold of a seagull. So Marg told her about him letting the water snake loose in the house & how much time I'd spent hunting for it. My aunt said paybacks were hell, but I deserved it. (Never did find the snake, but we checked carefully before walking around for a week!)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Scary tricks. :)

[Nina]

Your uncle sounds like a fun guy. Nice to have that memory of him.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Your uncle sounds like a fun guy. Nice to have that memory of him."

Yes, he brightened our lives so many ways over the years. I always got excited when I heard he was going to visit us. A very witty and clever man. He played the piano like a dream.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PS-Here's a photo of my Uncle Henry in a hammock at a Lake George campsite: http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1837...

[Nina]

His picture reminds me of another saying "the life of Riley."

[Nina]

I wish people still played the piano at get togethers like the old days. Did you sing along?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

He played mostly classical music, Nina, but I always loved sing-alongs in any case.

[Linda]

"Olive Kitteridge" - the last 50 pages or so keep me reading. Insightful. There are narratives or paragraphs I reread to absorb the thought and wrap my mind around the words.

Speaking of words, had to look up a word: schadenfreude. "You came here for a dose of schadenfreude, and it didn't work."

Here's a piece I liked. "It was as if marriage had been a long, complicated meal, and now there was this lovely dessert."

Keeps me reading!