Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
ABOUT BOOKS AND READING
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What are you reading or what books have you read or heard about? (Part TWELVE) Ongoing general thread.
Joy H. wrote: "Nina wrote: "Joy, You are nine years younger than I am so no wonder you don't have great grandchildren. My oldest great grandchild will be nineteen in April. He is a freshman at Fordam."Wow, Nina..."
Joy H. wrote: "Nina wrote: "Joy, You are nine years younger than I am so no wonder you don't have great grandchildren. My oldest great grandchild will be nineteen in April. He is a freshman at Fordam."He was lucky, he got a four year scholarship.
Wow, Nina..."
Nina wrote: "... My oldest great grandchild will be nineteen in April. He is a freshman at Fordam. He was lucky, he got a four year scholarship."He must be VERY smart, Nina! I'm not surprised. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. :)
Joy thanks for the compliment but he gets his talent from his mother who has rr-happed now two house one on the Long Island shore and other more back in the country with the help of her husband and also she teaches at U. of New Haven and is raising two children and is an accomplished artist. And who I admire our teachers. Think of the many lives you have influenced. Countless.
Nina wrote: "Joy thanks for the compliment but he gets his talent from his mother who has rr-happed now two house one on the Long Island shore and other more back in the country with the help of her husband and..."That's impressive, Nina! What does "rr-happed" mean?
Joy, I was hurryng off to supper and should have written re-habbed not re-happed. They restructed the inside and outside of that house with a bit of help from contractors. Sometimes they lived in a motel with the kids. They now rent that house. It is across the street from the houses that face the sound. The next house is over one hundred years old and huge and they divided it in half and one half they built it into two apartments and have them rented after finishing the entire insides. The other half they have as they own living quaters. Also, my granddaughter taught Interior Design in a city in France for one semester. She took her then 11 year old with her. The school gave her lessons he would be missing and he actually did quite well and had a wonderful French education as he was enrolled in school there. Later on her husband and the older boy who is now in college joined her for a week and her sister who teaches in Vietnam also joined her for a week. Busy "kids" as they all are now. Her mother is the children's librarian and her dad teaches French at a high school and sometimes teaches at night at college.
Nina, you have quite a family! Very impressive.
Joy when my daughter lived in France and we'd go to the grocery store with the chidlren I was so impressed that at the check out counter they had children's hard back books for sale and often my grandchildren got to pick a book. They really weren't that expensive.
Nina wrote: "Joy when my daughter lived in France and we'd go to the grocery store with the chidlren I was so impressed that at the check out counter they had children's hard back books for sale and often my gr..."Nina, I'll bet the kids loved to go to the grocery store for those books! :)
Just finished, "Some Luck," by Jane Smiley. It was kind of interesting as for several chapters it was from the viewpoint of infants but I had trouble eventually with the suspension of disbelief. I hope my six didn't view me that way.
Nina wrote: "...I hope my six didn't view me that way. "Nina, I once heard something to the effect that our last report cards will come from our kids. Something to think about.
Earlier today, I finally started on a novel by one of my Goodreads friends (and my co-moderator in the Supernatural Fiction Readers group), Paula Cappa, Night Sea Journey. It's one that I bought some time ago, but (like many books I've bought over the years!) just never gotten around to reading until now. This will be my first exposure to her long fiction, though I've read and beta read some of her short stories (most recently Hildie at the Ghost Shore).
Werner wrote: "Earlier today, I finally started on a novel by one of my Goodreads friends (and my co-moderator in the Supernatural Fiction Readers group), Paula Cappa, Night Sea Journey. It's one ..."Thanks for posting, Werner! Hope you will enjoy the book.
Today I learned about The Richard Burton Diaries. Sounds like it could be VERY interesting!I discovered it at FunTrivia.com when it was mentioned in a quiz as follows:
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QUESTION: "Who said of Elizabeth Taylor, 'She is beautiful beyond the dreams of pornography'?" --- Answer: Richard Burton
"After Burton's death, thousands of his innermost thoughts were found recorded in reams of handwritten notes, diaries and pocket books, and this was one of them. In a heartbeat it captures the passion that Burton had for Taylor in a relationship that was as fascinating, fractured and turbulent as his own career. Burton would also say that Taylor was not beautiful and that 'she has wonderful eyes, but she has a double chin and an overdeveloped chest'".
ABOVE WAS FROM FUNTRIVIA.COM
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I think Elizabeth T. was a beautiful child and teenager. Yes, she did become untractive in later life though. I read once that the reason Richard Burton had a wonderful speaking voice was because as a child he would listen to the miners singing as they trooped off to the mines and he would imitate them. Also, i watched one of the best movies I have seen in a long time last night. In case you haven't already seen it, watch "Finding Neverland," based on the life of J.M. Barrie(Peter Pan.) Great acting by Johnny Depp and Dustin Hoffman and Kate Winslet.
Nina wrote: "I think Elizabeth T. was a beautiful child and teenager. Yes, she did become untractive in later life though. I read once that the reason Richard Burton had a wonderful speaking voice was because a..."Nina, that's interesting about Burton's voice. It certainly was memorable.
About the movie, "Finding Neverland", I watched it in March 2014, as my records at Netflix records show. I gave it 4 stars and do remember enjoying it.
I found the following: Finding Neverland. It doesn't seem to be a book as such but an article about the film. The GR description says:
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"High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Finding Neverland is a 2004 British/American semi-biographical film about playwright J. M. Barrie, directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay by David Magee is based on the play, The Man Who Was Peter Pan, by Allan Knee.
"The film was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Depp's portrayal of J.M. Barrie, and won one for Jan A. P. Kaczmarek's musical score. The story focuses on Scottish writer J. M. Barrie, his platonic relationship with Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, and his close friendship with her sons, who inspire the classic play, Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up (by J.M. Barrie )."
FROM: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
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I'm listening to the audio-version of the biography entitled, Steve Jobs, (2011) by Walter Isaacson. What amazes me is all the arguments he got into at work, and all the disagreements and breakups he had with his fellow workers. Yet he managed to be a success.
Jim, Wondering if you ever read Kurt Vonnecut's "Breakfast of Champions?" And Werner I thought your review of the book, Crown of Aloes," was outstanding. Yes, I want to read. And right now I am reading, "Object Lessons," by Anna Quindlen and so far so good. Have any of you read it yet? I think she is an excellent writer so interesting to just see how she puts words together to make sense of them.
Nina, I will check that book out. Object Lessons by Anna QuindlenI'm on page 150 of Time and Again, the book about time travel. I'm not making much headway. It's good but it's not compelling. I need "COMPELLING"! lol
I'm also trying to read Gracelin O'Malley by Ann Moore. Slow-going there too. Too many uninteresting details for me.
A lot of my time is given to FunTrivia.com these days.
http://www.funtrivia.com/team_info.cf...
I'm learning so many fascinating new things.
For example:
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Which herbivorous African mammal is a cousin of the giraffe and has distinctive black and white stripes on its hindquarters?
Answer: Okapi=======> SEE PICTURE AT WIKI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi
Which animal CANNOT jump?
Answer: Elephant
Elephants CANNOT stand on the bottom portion of their feet. That portion is only fat, and cannot support the elephant's weight. Because of this, elephants stand on their toes, and therefore cannot jump.
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Nina wrote: "Jim, Wondering if you ever read Kurt Vonnecut's "Breakfast of Champions?"..."I believe so, but not in a long time. I read most of Vonnegut's books back in the 70's. I can't remember anything specific about that one off hand. Welcome to the Monkey House,Slaughterhouse-Five, & The Sirens of Titan are the only ones I've read in the past decade or so.
Here's an interesting quote from Vonnegut:"Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything." ---Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Nina wrote: "Jim, Wondering if you ever read Kurt Vonnecut's "Breakfast of Champions?" And Werner I thought your review of the book, Crown of Aloes," was outstanding. Yes, I want to read. And right now I am rea..."Thanks, Nina! If you read it sometime, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Nina wrote: "... And Werner I thought your review of the book, Crown of Aloes," was outstanding. ..."Werner, I meant to make note to read your review of Crown of Aloes by Norah Lofts. I will do that.
I noticed your "like" a few minutes ago, Joy; thanks!
Joy H. wrote: "Here's an interesting quote from Vonnegut:"Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything." ---Kurt Vonnegut, Jr."Wasn't he a wit?
Joy, the Anne Quindlin book is set in the Bronx. So far so good. Love the characterzation of the Irish and the Italians from the grandparents all the way down and not too many to keep track of like some books.
Werner wrote: "Nina wrote: "Jim, Wondering if you ever read Kurt Vonnecut's "Breakfast of Champions?" And Werner I thought your review of the book, Crown of Aloes," was outstanding. Yes, I want to read. And right..."Werner when I get around to reading it I'll let you know.
Joy, Speaking of being impressed with Dick Van Dyke's age and him doing things(I also loved him) my husband will be 90 in May. He is getting more tired as the days end but in the meantime he fixes my daughter's plumbling problems and almost any of his friends computer problems, gets on ladders to clean gutters/shovels sidewalks/walks faster than either of his sons or daughters or friends his age and younger. He is not young but probably you would think he was ten years younger if you met him on the street. He has had, almost twenty years ago, three heart attacks and open heart surgery but he's alive and for that I thank God. So, maiybe considering the alternative he and Dick are not too bad off.
Nina wrote: "Joy, Speaking of being impressed with Dick Van Dyke's age and him doing things(I also loved him) my husband will be 90 in May. He is getting more tired as the days end but in the meantime he fixes ..."Nina, mabye 90 is the new 60! :) More power to your husband!
Joy, I just finished reading "Object Lessons, " that I recommended to you earlier and I did like it. I won't say much in case you decide to try it. Mostly, it is about an Irish and Ilatian family and their trials but not all sad but introspective. For the most part it is from the almost thirteen year old girl's viewpoint set in the summer of 1960 in tge Bronx. Strange today I received a letter from a very good friend of mine and she wrote that she still uses the birthday book I gave her in 1982 and that I had written in this book on my birthdate these words. " I like myself when I'm with you. " I don't remember writing that but I actually like my quote.
I just finished The Modern Scholar: Behold the Mighty Dinosaur by John C. Kricher. I gave it 5 stars here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks for posting, Jim. I admire your energy for writing reviews!
Fascinating review of something I knew about about but very little really. Wouldn't it be fun to discover some of their bones in your backyard as someone in the outskirts of Chicago once did. Actually it was a town of Wheaten Ill and they had a museim showing some of the bones. I always wondered why more wasn't written about this find. We were fortunate to see the bones. Thanks for posting your review. You have such a fabulous way of drawing us in to your subject..
Thanks! It really helps when the author or, in this case, professor is good. I read somewhere that this is a college level lecture course, but I found it pretty easy to get through although I didn't even try to remember all the weird names. I think anyone could get through it easily. It was really interesting.
Joy, You and I were mentioning "Wind in the Willows," recently and just yesterday my husband put my old episodes from VCR to a DVD and I will have to watch it again as I was just so fond of those stories. Speaking of stories/well not stories but movies we watched one last night I thought perhaps you and Werner might like if you haven't already seen it, "Words and Pictures." Intereasting.
Nina wrote: "Joy, You and I were mentioning "Wind in the Willows," recently and just yesterday my husband put my old episodes from VCR to a DVD and I will have to watch it again as I was just so fond of those s..."Nina, yes, I saw "Words and Pictures" last year. I gave it 4 Netflix stars. Can't remember much about it now though.
Enjoy WITW!
Nina, I haven't seen Words and Pictures, but I'll keep it in mind!
If you like the meaning of new words and word play you will enjoy Words and Pictures movie. It is kind of fascinating.
I'm listening to My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke which is narrated by him. There's an introduction written & read by Carl Reiner, too. Fantastic so far.
Jim, I remember listening to that audio book. It was very enjoyable. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
I just finished The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande & gave it 5 stars here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It's super interesting & very relevant in our increasingly complex lives, plus it gives a lot of insights into the medical profession. Some are pretty scary, too. Not all doctors & hospitals use checklists, but their success rates speak for themselves. I think it's going to become the first question I ask a doctor from now on.
Sounds worthwhile read /thanks for bringing it to our attention. I am now curious what question you will be asking the dr. We feel blessed, my husband and myself with our doctors.
Jim wrote: "I just finished The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande & gave it 5 stars here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... "
Checklists are a big help to any procedure in any field. I believe in using them.
Last night we watched the movie, "The One Hundred Year Old Man Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared," which was taken from the book of the same name and that is where the sameness ends. Instead of the hundred year old man having all his adventures they made it that he did these things as a youngster and young man. Some few things remained in the story but what a farce that turned out to be.
Nina, I looked at the descriptions and watched a trailer. Sounds silly to me!http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2113681/?...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-100-...
Joy, I really did enjoy the book although you must have a suspension of disbelief and I laughed when I would think I shouldn't have but I really thought the premise was unique and fun. But I agree not everyone would like this story.
Nina, I've been kind "stuck" in one book lately. Have a few stacked up waiting. Don't know if I should add another to the stack. :)
PS-I think I'm spending too much time watching the presidential candidates in TV. :)
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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Jim, thanks for the good advice. :)