Socializing III Showing 651-700 of 1,957

[Kathleen (itpdx)]

Very interesting--I have read 20.

[Rebekah]

Bea wrote: "I do think the weather patterns are changing. For me, here in SC, that is not really good news as I much prefer the coolness of fall and mountains. Last summer it was close to or over 100 many days..."

Are you near Spartanburg? I took my twins and my niece’s triplets to King’s Mountain several years ago. Our ancestor fought there as “Overmountain Men” from Tennessee

[Bea]

Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA.

[Rebekah]

Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I live near Chattanooga

[Rebekah]

Valerie wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "I received this in an email. Would you agree? I’ve not read them all, but I do plan to read one of them for this challenge. How many have you read? I counted 22 for me.
http://www...."

I bought Fifty Shades, but haven’t it read it yet. I think it requires a certain mood to read it from what I hear.

[Rebekah]

Valerie wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "In the completed tasks thread Valerie wrote: "I didn't know that I should mention that I am completely off my posted plan, but I see Elizabeth did above. ."

I did check ..."

Same here. I keep adding and adding. But my problem is the opposite. I have plenty of books in my house to fit the challenge a few times over but my downfall is seeing other people post books and I think that those books sound real interesting and start adding more. Or I’ll find a book on my subchallenge would be a great book with combos for the main challenge. I have yet to stick with all the books I slot into my reading plan for each season. I’ll find more books, or I’ll see interesting books people post. Or when I look to see the number of pages or what year for a book, I can’t help being attracted to the list on the right side if the page “Readers Also Enjoyed”

I would say I succomb to peer pressure when it comes to books and book lists

[Valerie]

Rebekah wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "In the completed tasks thread Valerie wrote: "I didn't know that I should mention that I am completely off my posted plan, but I see Elizabeth did above. ..."

This makes me laugh - this is exactly me. While I really get a lot of enjoyment out of the RwS group, it has been detrimental to my overflowing book shelves! The virtual and the real! The worst, for me, is when we get styles for reviews. Over time you get a vague idea of group members tastes, so you can determine if you will like a book or not from the review!

I"m not sure this will work out, but my plan for next season is to only use books I own in hard copy. Hopefully, the tasks will match genres I prefer. ;) I have to make a serious stab at reducing the # of books on hand.

[Karen Michele]

Count me in as someone with the same happy problems!

[Kathleen (itpdx)]

I have made progress on reading books I have on hand. I joined this challenge to help me decide which book off my self I should read next. I have some shelves that are beginning to show some space. The problem I am facing is that I look at my "to read" shelf and order it by rating and then look for books that qualify. I have a number of books that have a rating under 3 that I may never get to. I allow myself some "discoveries" each season--books that I would not have found if I hadn't read a review or found on a list of qualifying books. I try to get those from the library.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

A couple of years ago, I set as one of my annual goals to reduce the number of onhand/unread books. I was thrilled when, at the end of that year, I actually had 25 fewer books on hand than when the year began. So I set the goal for the next year, but realizing I might achieve a smaller reduction. That year was an epic fail, when I not only failed to reduce my stock on hand, but increased it to beyond where it had been the prior year.

I have decided that my having more unread books on hand than I can read in the next several years is not a sin. Nearly all of the physical books I have I have purchased at the library book sale for a nominal amount. Same for digital books, although those might have cost me slightly more.

In the grand scheme of things, the amount I spend on books is trivial. It gives me pleasure to have things ready to read. Sometimes I find myself really hungry for a particular book, and there is likely to be a task here to accommodate that hunger. The one big thing I know is that I read more since joining RwS in 2010.

[Rebekah]

Valerie wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "In the completed tasks thread Valerie wrote: "I didn't know that I should mention that I am completely off my posted plan, but I see Eliza..."

I wish you every luck. I’ve been doing this 10 years and have yet to stick to books I already own though I try to make a valiant effort. I usually start out making the sub challenge at least with my own books, but I think I always cave in. Still, this group has really expanded my reading into books, genres and authors I never knew before. So it’s ok

[Rebekah]

Karen Michele wrote: "Count me in as someone with the same happy problems!"

💯

[Rebekah]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "A couple of years ago, I set as one of my annual goals to reduce the number of onhand/unread books. I was thrilled when, at the end of that year, I actually had 25 fewer books on hand than when the..."

It’s good to know we’re not alone in our addictions. When my husband sees me come home with more books or that I have downloaded more, he’ll say “oh you actually found a book you don’t own already? “ but I remind him, “be glad it’s books I crave and not expensive jewelry or designer clothes! And it is still cheaper than therapy!”

[Rebekah]

I think I commented on this before but my family have bought me board and card games with a book theme, but then refuse to play with me!

[Rosemary]

Rebekah wrote: "I think I commented on this before but my family have bought me board and card games with a book theme, but then refuse to play with me!"

Haha I guess they know you will win!

You should let them all group together and be one team against you alone.

[Rebekah]

Rosemary wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "I think I commented on this before but my family have bought me board and card games with a book theme, but then refuse to play with me!"

Haha I guess they know you will win!

You ..."
I’d probably still win! Not bragging but I don’t have a bunch of readers, well they mostly stick to the one genre. My husband reads maybe one Tom Clancy or John Grisham every few years. The rest of the time he reads WSJ, Business Insider, websites about business etc.. My grown daughter reads a lot but mostly fantasy and historical fiction. My grandson is really into Gerald & Piggy and Thomas the train. My son reads mostly graphic novels having to do with War Hammer or Minecraft and his twin sister reads YA dystopia with occasional animal stories. The twins are reading The Great Gatsby in class now so I decided to read it too. Their expert critique is that it is a “stupid book about stupid people” “spoiled brats, I don’t like those people and don’t want to read about them”
Last year it was Siddhartha which was very painful. I had to agree, I found it complicated and the central character wasn’t that likable. Also I have complaints about teachers that teach literature. They want the students to find symbolism in everything and give their opinion of what the author is really trying to say. But it is so nebulous and arbitrary from the teacher, that when I help them with homework, turns out I made it worse because the “the tree didn’t symbolize growth, it symbolizes the family” —— oh excuse me! I’m wrong. I guess I am just blindly reading without receiving the “real message” of the book. But when I talk to authors, they usually say they weren’t putting in any symbolism and seem surprised when I tell them what the teacher says what the author is trying to say.

Oh well. I just want them to learn to love reading and I think a lot of high school lit classes end up doing the opposite. They won’t go near anything that is on a school reading list even though there are many wonderful books on that list.

[Rosemary]

Yes, it's a pity. I remember hating books like that, just because it wasn't the right book for me at that time. But there were others we studied that I loved. And I think if the school offers enough of a mixture, it could be a process that helps kids see what they like?

I did a degree in literature and that had the effect of making me read nothing but detective stories for 10 years afterwards :) but in the long term it worked out okay, and I'm glad now that I did it.

[Valerie]

It is a small amusement to me that I have been sitting #2 on the readerboard for the start of this season (through a couple of updates). This is unusual, and will change soon. I'll be sliding back down to my usual spot in the pack.

[Lynn]

Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I live near Chattanooga"

My daughter lives in Chattanooga, TN. I live about 75 miles north of Chattanooga. : )

[Lynn]

About having so many books around my house....... I just tell my husband that when the Zombie Apocalypse comes everyone will be bored and will want books to read. They will be like gold and we can trade them for food. : )

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

hahaha

[Rebekah]

Lynn wrote: "About having so many books around my house....... I just tell my husband that when the Zombie Apocalypse comes everyone will be bored and will want books to read. They will be like gold and we can ..."

And we can play my board and card games! ( Smile)

[Rebekah]

Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I live near Chattanooga"

My daughter lives in Chattanooga,..."
So then you probably know Signal Mountain. I say we are literally above Chattanooga.
So Sweetwater for you? The Lost Sea? Most of my dad’s ancestors come from Monroe County, especially Tellico and Citico. All those Former Cherokee towns they overran. My father, sister and a bunch of cousins live in McMinn County and we have a cabin on the Hiwassee River in Polk County.

[Rebekah]

When I first joined Goodreads in 2007, I was living in New Delhi, India. When I joined RWS we had moved to Sugar Land, Texas near Houston where my mother’s people are from. Since then we have lived in Doha, Qatar and now in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. When I started my twins were in kindergarten and my oldest daughter was in high school along with my niece we had custody of. Now my twins are juniors and taking the ACT for college, my niece is 31 and married with a 1 yr old, my oldest is 29 and the mother of my 8 year old grandson. Lots of ups and downs but I think seasonal challenges have been the most stable thing in my life! (Smile)
I’ve not always completed them all for megafinish, but I think I have participated in every one.

[Rebekah]

Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I live near Chattanooga"

My daughter lives in Chattanooga,..."
Let me know next time you are visiting Chattanooga. We could meet at a book store and try to resist buying books! Or trade books! Or go to McKay’s!

[Lynn]

Rebekah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I live near Chattanooga"

My daughter lives in..."

Three brothers and one sister (Dougherty) came from County Donegal in 1790 and bought a mountain on the VA / TN border. The line was eventually finalized, so it is in Washington County, VA now. I grew up in and currently live in Coffee County, TN.

[Lynn]

Rebekah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I live near Chattanooga"

My daughter lives in..."

McKay's is one of my favorite places in the world. I lived in VA for 20 years and traveled home to see family. The Knoxville site was a stop on every one of our trips home to visit family. But I have also been known to spend a few dollars at the Nashville and Chattanooga sites. It would be fun to meet.

Yes, I do know of Signal Mountain. My daughter was a UTC student, then moved into a trendy downtown loft in an old bread factory. Now she and her fiance are setting up a household in Ooltewah.

[Rebekah]

Valerie wrote: "It is a small amusement to me that I have been sitting #2 on the readerboard for the start of this season (through a couple of updates). This is unusual, and will change soon. I'll be sliding back ..."

Don't think you will leap forward and take the lead?

[Rebekah]

Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I live near Chattanooga"

My d..."

Gee, Those Doughertys missed the Revolutionary War! My Tennessee forebears stopped in Virginia for a few years before heading illegally across the mountains into what would later become Tennessee, in CarterCounty, Part of the Watauga Settlement. The were mostly in Augusta Co and Rockbridge Co, VA. Most of them were from Ulster, North Ireland or from Scotland, except for one German in the mix. They all fought in Revolutionary war and then were given land grants for doing it as they slipped further and further South.

I grew up (5-11 grade) in Middlesboro, Ky at near Cumberland Gap, TN and Ewing VA. One of the three TV stations we had back then came from the Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City Area. More your neck of the woods. I've gone to Elizabethton a few times for research and force history on my children.

I'll go to the edge of the mountain here and holler a hello to your daughter in the direction of Ooltewah. Does she know it is Cherokee for Owl's Nest?

So McKAy's it is! Just say when!

[Bea]

Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My brother and his family live in Bristol, VA-TN on the TN side. I went to school in Nashville, TN for nursing.

My ancestors pretty much populated the southwest corner of VA. One even was the first one to fire a shot at Kings Mountain.

[Valerie]

Rebekah wrote: "Valerie wrote: "It is a small amusement to me that I have been sitting #2 on the readerboard for the start of this season (through a couple of updates). This is unusual, and will change soon. I'll ..."

Ha, ha... no. Aside from the ~8 RwS members who are consistently big point scorers, I am slogging my way though a low scoring NF (for our trip). I also decided that now is as good as time as any to read Pale Fire for my A-Z classic author list. My reading 'tear' is over for now! Then we'll be on our trip. I do expect to read some, but probably not at much as I would at home.

[Lynn]

Bea wrote: "Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My brother and his family live in Bristol, VA-TN on t..."

That is so cool about the Battle of King's Mountain, Bea!! Have you every heard the word "Melungeon"? One of my families, the Collins were known to be, notorious for, being Melungeons.

[Lynn]

Rebekah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I live near Chatt..."

That is so cool to have people at Watauga Settlement. My
Doughertys were recruited by William Penn's assistant and brought over from Ireland to populate the buffer zone between the settled cities in Pennsylvania and the Native Americans. After a few years, that area became too crowded and my family came south to the land newly opened by Governor Gooch.

[Bea]

I love history! Seems like Lynn, Rebekah and I have plenty for the early years of the US in our families!

[Ed]

Lynn wrote: "Bea wrote: "Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My brother and his family live in Bristol..."

I recently read Out of the Woods by Chris Offutt...and there are several stories which include references to the Melungeons...and at least one character, as I remember who so identified.

[Lynn]

Ed wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Bea wrote: "Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My brother and his family li..."

Thanks for that link Ed. I will have to check that out. There are two different ways in which the word is used. My geneological use involves five families of a particular Native American tribe near Richmond, VA who were descended from native Americans and probably Jamestown settlers who disappeared into the woods. Collins, Gibson, Mullins, Goins, Bunch. I am descended from the Collins.

Later days Melungeon became a pejorative, and was flung at people not of Native American heritage. I think it originally meant "mixed" heritage from the French words Melange. That is my interpretation, and there is disagreement on that origin.

But there are several stories from Appalachia that will mention the mysterious Melungeons.

[Rebekah]

Bea wrote: "Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My brother and his family live in Bristol, VA-TN on t..."

Another nurse here! I went to University of Texas Medical Beranch - Galveston.
I have to go to Vanderbilt tomorrow for appointment. Did you go there for school?

[Rebekah]

Valerie wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Valerie wrote: "It is a small amusement to me that I have been sitting #2 on the readerboard for the start of this season (through a couple of updates). This is unusual, and will ch..."

Let us know how it goes!

[Rebekah]

Lynn wrote: "Bea wrote: "Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My brother and his family live in Bristol..."

I know about the Collins! There were some in Middlesboro, Kentucky. A lady in my DAR chapter I met here in Chattanooga is descended from the Collins Melungeons in Middlesboro.

[Rebekah]

Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Same state but opposite sides. I am near Augusta, GA."

But still in Mountains, I guess. Not too far from me. I..."

Are we one big happy family or what?! On my mother’s side, my ancestors, the Vernons came with William Penn and settled in Chester Co.! I also am descended from James Claypool, a personal friend of William Penn. There are letters between the two of them plus he would write others about his plans of going to join Penn in “the colony”. Then..... my ancestors that came from German Swiss were Mennonites ( Harness, Harnish and Heistandt) that we’re being tortured for their beliefs and took up Penn’s invitation to go to PA for sanctuary. Their descendents married the Quakers descendents, got involved with abolitionists in Kentucky and bleeding Kansas. One day I’m going to write a book about all these people. Wataguans, Quakers, Hillbillies, Texans etc....

I recently was helping a young man with his genealogy from slaves in Virginia that were sold and taken to a slave market in New Orleans. Thirty years later they were landowners in Mississippi. Very interesting to research and quite a story!

[Rebekah]

Lynn wrote: "Ed wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Bea wrote: "Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My brother and hi..."

Have you read about the DNA studies? If I remember right there was Turkish/ Mediterranean lines found? I just read My Melungeon Heritage: A Story of Life on Newman's Ridge. Are you familiar with it?
Funny but living near Cumberland Gap, I never heard that term until I read Big Stone Gap in 2000. Another town not far from Cumberland Gap, TN and Middlesboro, Ky. However, reading it, I knew that I knew people who were of that heritage very well, but never used that term. They were always “Indian”

[Rebekah]

I think it’s really cool that my oldest daughter who is in DAR with me has my roots that go back to Watauga, William Penn, Scots deported after Battle of Culloden, Northern Irish, a Dutch Patroon who was an original landowner in New York, persecuted religions, second and third sons of British aristocracy, deported workhouse inmates, Cherokee from the Overhill towns and so on also is a first generation American on her father’s side as he immigrated from Syria and became a US citizen. Gotta love that melting pot!

Love all the individual true stories of real people dealing with the events of their time but most amazing of all is how the pioneers dealt with so much and we praise our forefathers but our foremothers did all that and more while being constantly pregnant over nursing as well as keeping a bunch of kids alive!! I read how men arrived overseas with wife and family and then I see a child is born that same month! Then they go on the Wilderness Trail by foot and a month after that, another baby is born! The men leave to go fight a battle at King’s Mountain , leaving women at Fort that gets attacked by the Cherokee and you find a child was born six months later! Amazing women!

Ok. I’ll let someone else have the floor now!

[Cory Day]

Rebekah wrote: "I think it’s really cool that my oldest daughter who is in DAR with me has my roots that go back to Watauga, William Penn, Scots deported after Battle of Culloden, Northern Irish, a Dutch Patroon w..."

Upon reviewing census records a year or so ago, my mom realized her mother was likely adopted and may not even have known. Last week Mom got the adoption papers in the mail, so she has a whole new family history to explore.

On my dad's side, I've always found it fascinating that my many-times-great-grandfather and uncle William Bigler and John Bigler were governors of two states at the same time (long before George and Jeb Bush!!!). What's even weirder is that my dad looks a LOT like the California governor, who is a much more distant relative than the Pennsylvania one. Regardless, the interest has to be combined with some disappointment in knowing William supported the Fugitive Slave and Kansas-Nebraska Acts and John supported anti-immigration laws against Chinese migrants. Looking back can be a mixed bag!

[Lynn]

Rebekah wrote: "Bea wrote: "Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My brother and his family live in Bristol..."

I went to Vanderbilt, Class of 1984. I teach 8th Grade English/Language Arts.

[Lynn]

Rebekah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Ed wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Bea wrote: "Wow! Whoever would have thought I would meet people on her whose ancestors might have known mine!!!

I grew up in Chilhowie, VA - Smyth County. My b..."

I corresponded with and also spoke on the phone with Jack Goins who spearheaded the Melungeon DNA study. My Collins family line (Lewis who was brother ? to the notorious Vardemon Collins) has been proven to be a very conventional R -Y Chromosome consistent with the land documents from Louisa County, VA that point to Jamestown Settlement origins. It was a Y chromosome study and we are descended from Sarah Jarvis my 6 times great grandmother, so my DNA was not useful, but my mother's genealogy was. I own the oldest picture of a Melungeon of the period and my 7 times great grandfather Jarvis was the lawyer in Sneedville, during the 1810 and 1820 census times. People came to Sneedville on the Non-Negro colored line (Indian) of the US census and left a few years later in the white column. Also Jarvis and who knows how many others that he helped were "adopted" as adults to change their heritage. We know Jarvis was "adopted" in his 30s and he thoroughly hid his true name. Non-Negro Colored meant Indian roles. One of the names they were covering up was Collins. I was able to prove that link to Jack and help shed light on some of the politics. Realize this was all just before the Trail of Tears 1835.

The Portuguese comes from a court case. Just after the Trail of Tears laws were becoming more restrictive and people with black or Indian ancestry were forbidden to vote or own land. Someone was being sued. Someone contested that they were not really white and thus not entitled to own land that had been in the family for a while. Well, the judge ended up ruling that they were not Indian or Negro, but they were Portuguese which was European. The Portuguese would explain their dark complexions enabling them to keep their land and continue to vote. I think everyone knew it was a fiction, but it became legally established.

[Lynn]

Cory Day wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "I think it’s really cool that my oldest daughter who is in DAR with me has my roots that go back to Watauga, William Penn, Scots deported after Battle of Culloden, Northern Irish, a..."

Very interesting about the brothers both being Governors!

[Bea]

Rebekah wrote: "Another nurse here! I went to University of Texas Medical Beranch - Galveston.
I have to go to Vanderbilt tomorrow for appointment. Did you go there for school?"

Yes, I graduated from Vanderbilt in '71 with a BSN.

[Rebekah]

Bea wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Another nurse here! I went to University of Texas Medical Beranch - Galveston.
I have to go to Vanderbilt tomorrow for appointment. Did you go there for school?"

Yes, I graduated f..."
I went to my appointment there today! Thought about you and Lynn, although I was in the Medical Center

[Rebekah]

2019 Pulitzer Prize Winners
Anyone predicted these? Anyone surprised?

Fiction The Overstory by Richard Powers

Drama
Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury

History
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight

Biography
The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart

Poetry
Be With by Forrest Gander

General NonFiction
Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America by Eliza Griswold

[Rebekah]

Finalists
What did you think about these?
Fiction
The Great Believers
There There

Drama
Dance Nation
What the Constitution Means to Me

History
American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic
Civilizing Torture: An American Tradition

Biography
Proust's Duchess: How Three Celebrated Women Captured the Imagination of Fin-De-Siecle Paris
The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam

Poetry
Feeld
A E Stallings - the book is titled “Like” but couldn’t find it on Goodreads

General NonFiction
In a Day's Work: The Fight to End Sexual Violence Against America’s Most Vulnerable Workers
Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore