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Valerie wrote: "Well, you have to love a fresh set of eyes! I just made an assumption it was back to 800."It was supposed to be. I didn't look carefully before Kate posted, and we both missed it.
I've been doing some librarian work on Arthur Conan Doyle. I freely admit that all I knew of him was Sherlock Holmes. I am absolutely positively completely astounded at how much he wrote that was other than Holmes. His GR listing isn't a good place to see it, so I'm linking his wikipedia bibliography.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_...
There won't be a quiz, and I'm not thinking of a task. Has anyone read anything of his other than Holmes?
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I've been doing some librarian work on Arthur Conan Doyle. I freely admit that all I knew of him was Sherlock Holmes. I am absolutely positively completely astounded at how much he wrote that was o..."Impressive!
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I've been doing some librarian work on Arthur Conan Doyle. I freely admit that all I knew of him was Sherlock Holmes. I am absolutely positively completely astounded at how much he wrote that was o..."Goodness, I had no idea. I also only knew about Sherlock!
Another group I am in just recently and coincidentally brought up other Arthur Conan Doyle books (Catching Up On Classics). I have The Lost World (Crichton based his book on this one) and also another, The White Company, which has been nominated as a potential group read.
I have read two of his non-Sherlock short story collections and rated them 4 stars. I remember enjoying them. Round the Fire Stories and Round the Red Lamp and Other Medical Writings
Karen Michele wrote: "Another group I am in just recently and coincidentally brought up other Arthur Conan Doyle books (Catching Up On Classics). I have The Lost World (Crichton based his book on this one) and also another, The White Company ...."I've read both The Lost World and The White Company and liked them better than Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.
I've enjoyed the 21st Century written "Sherlock Holmes" stories more than Arthur Conan Doyle's. Of course, without Doyle's stories establishing the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson there would not be any 21st Century Sherlock Holmes.
I have read just one Sherlock Holmes and didn't care for it. But if memory serves, it was Holmes I didn't like nor the way he went about solving the crime and that the writing was fine. Thanks for some ideas here.
I said this a couple of seasons ago, but I'll say it again..... It really amuses me to see myself as the top scorer when the first readerboard goes up. 'Cause after that I have no chance against the super readers we have in the group. Just for a short time I can pretend I'm part of that group! ha, ha.....Taking a sharp left - I really hope everyone is well. I am trying to keep a positive attitude amongst all the anxiety, in that it will be extra reading time while we are 'social distancing'. I certainly have enough books in the TBR pile.
I saw your note about how many books you owned you had posted. I'm thinking of doing the same, but I'll include my Kindle books, because those are the ones that are tipping the scale into ridiculousness.Yes, I hope everyone is fine. We are, and as retirees and living in a relatively remote place, have less exposure. I'm just hoping it doesn't get here. That said, all airplanes from here first land in Seattle and it is the end destination for many. There are also many travelers this time of year to Hawaii. They'll come home, of course and (fingers crossed) hope they bring only themselves and intended purchases.
My husband and I by the recommendation of our children decided to stay home as of last Saturday. We are lucky to live where we do and to be great at reading and tv binging, plus to be able to enjoy the outside without coming in contact with others. My husband is almost 69 and has asthma and I’m 67, so we opted for safety especially with the slowness of testing. Our governor just announced that schools in our county will be closed until April 24, so we have big changes to our way of life in our state. I am sad not to see my son and daughter in law who live in the area with the most cases. My son drives a city bus and my daughter in law in a health clinic. My daughter and fiancé are in NYC and planning to marry in Seattle May 30, so that’s another factor for our family. We are just hoping that everyone puts the good of the communities first and we conquer this challenge soon! Take care everyone.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I saw your note about how many books you owned you had posted. I'm thinking of doing the same, but I'll include my Kindle books, because those are the ones that are tipping the scale into ridiculou..."Yes. What to do about that. I think I mentioned elsewhere I have a Kindle and a Kobo. Of course, the whole thing, all together (hard copies and e-books) adds up to a whole lot of ridiculousness...!! However, I thought for the sake of trying not to look like a hoarder I would only count hard copies. We had the library book sale last week - and I still couldn't resist. That said, I am making a dent in the pile(s) with this season.
My husband works at a private school (as an administrator), and he is thinking they will be closing soon. The kids there get a long March break, and so are away already - but of course they are a international student body, and it is a pandemic. Here in Niagara, I personally think folks heads are in the sand a bit (well, except for schools which announced closures after March break next week). I think it will be sooner rather than later that our (my) library shuts. We have a fair number of elderly patrons and I worry about them. Not that I'm a real youngster, but comparatively, I'm a spring chicken! ha, ha....
You want to talk youngsters? My husband's step-mother and her live in boyfriend are 86 and 88. They just returned yesterday from a month in Hawaii followed by 10 days in Kent, Washington. No one that age is without health issues, but they've gone to Hawaii every year for many years and the trip was planned well before even the outbreak in China. So they went, it never occurring to them they shouldn't. Honestly, I don't plan to see them for a couple of weeks. I think they're fine, but even at a healthy 74 myself, I'm not taking any chances.
Karen Michele wrote: "My husband and I by the recommendation of our children decided to stay home as of last Saturday. We are lucky to live where we do and to be great at reading and tv binging, plus to be able to enjoy..."I think that's a smart move, Karen. Better safe than sorry, as the saying goes. My friend who I walk with 3x a week has close family in the area of Seattle, and (formerly) lived very close to the long term care facility in Kirkland. Her husband is just finishing up a contract at Microsoft. He'll be home soon, but it is still worrisome. Hopefully, the change in weather will deter the virus. We have a visit to Scott's parents, booked in August, who live on Vancouver Island. Hopefully this will have resolved by then, and in the meantime they won't be exposed - the same for your daughter!
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "You want to talk youngsters? My husband's step-mother and her live in boyfriend are 86 and 88. They just returned yesterday from a month in Hawaii followed by 10 days in Kent, Washington. No one th..."On the one hand, you are right - don't take any chances. But on the other hand... they sound kind of rock and roll! Something to aspire to!
As a widow, I have made efforts to be out and about in order not to isolate at home. But, my inclination is to be at home reading or gardening...so I am not so worried about getting the virus while out. However, I rent a room to AirBnB and am fairly constantly having guests. So far none have been ill.Elizabeth, I am near you in age - 72 in May. Basically I am healthy and only take medication for cholesterol. Here's hoping that I stay that way.
Regarding libraries. Mostly I read books from 2 local libraries, but I have quite a few books at home that I intend to read...and have, for years!...as well as a lot of Kindle books that seem to languish.
Although I have not yet finished a book this month, I do still visit the site here. I am glad to hear that everyone is well. I teach Middle School full-time at a school with over 1000 students and my husband works in an Appleby's restaurant. We definitely are out and about. I currently have a cold and many of our students are out. There are 4 cases of the new coronovirus in our states right now, but we are going about our business. My daughter is getting married in Chattanooga next Saturday!
I do a lot of volunteer work with the League of Women Voters. Our primary election is in May. Yesterday had a phone conference meeting with the local group (our county has the highest number of cases in Oregon). This morning our state board meeting was online (we often meet online because of the distances in Oregon). Because we vote by mail, we are not concerned about disruption to the election but the League has a number of debates set up around the state and we are working to make them online. We cancelled a statewide meeting set for May. In the mean time our family is cancelling our trip that was set for the end of the month.
My husband works in insurance. One of his clients supplies lights for big events like SxSW, Coachella and Broadway. Their business is now essentially zero. Another is laying off 3,000 workers here in Oregon. My husband is working from home.
Our schools statewide are closed as of Monday.
I will be going to our local Farmers’ Market tomorrow, carefully.
I guess the world looks different when you are in an area where community spread has already been confirmed.
I live in a state where there have been 5 confirmed cases and you'd think that it was straight-up Armageddon here! I just went to three different grocery stores and the shelves were bare of (obviously) hand sanitizer/wipes, clorox cleansers, etc. and (WHY?!) toilet paper, but they were also out of bread, pasta/pasta sauce, potatoes, most of the canned foods, milk, orange juice, the meat aisle had been picked clean...people are getting *crazy* up in here!Meanwhile, I have to start working on a plane again next week and am not looking forward to it as there was already a confirmed case on my airline a couple of days ago. :-/
Ah well...if I end up quarantined, I suppose I'll have even more time to read ;-)
Kathleen (itpdx) wrote: "I guess the world looks different when you are in an area where community spread has already been confirmed."Or even if you're not. At this point in time we have not a single case. But guess what? Our economy depends on cruise ship traffic (not exclusively, but it is overwhelmingly our main "industry"). That means not just people won't get hired (think college students who work in the summer), but also a loss of sales tax revenues that support schools and first responders.
We are a small town, about 10k year-round residents. On any day from May to September, there could be an additional 8k-14k passengers plus crew members. This year they won't be coming.
Oh man! They are closing our libraries through March 31. Digital services are still available.
Kathleen (itpdx) wrote: "Oh man! They are closing our libraries through March 31. Digital services are still available."Yes, our regional libraries started closing yesterday as soon as the first confirmed case in Niagara was announced. The CEO at the library I work at decided in the evening, after we had shut, that yesterday was our last day. I have to say that yesterday was extremely stressful at work (and I had a seriously high stress first career - so it's kind of 'funny' to be saying that about a library). The anxiety level was kind of off the chart. At this point we are shut until April 6. However, coronavirus is just getting underway in Canada, presumably the peak will be in a couple of weeks.
I just came back from the library....and learned that today will be their last day until April 6. I may have to re-arrange some of the books on my plan. So glad I finally figured out how to borrow ebooks from the library. I'm not going to be surprised if the April 6th date gets extended. To me, it seems we are closer to the beginning than the middle of this thing.
Our libraries are closed as well. The good news is that nothing I already have is due until April 24.
I just borrowed a dozen books from the library yesterday. Then I rearranged my RwS plan since most of my book discussions are cancelled/postponed. I hope everyone stays healthy. I really appreciate all the healthcare workers that are helping the people who are ill, and are protecting the elderly in the nursing homes.
Connie wrote: "I just borrowed a dozen books from the library yesterday. Then I rearranged my RwS plan since most of my book discussions are cancelled/postponed. I hope everyone stays healthy. I really apprecia..."
Yes...three cheers for all the health workers. My niece just got her first nursing job....in a hospital adjacent to New Rochelle, New York.... the town that is on quasi quarantine.... and my Dad who is about to turn 90 next month...lives with her and my sister! I sure hope that works out for everyone.
All Illnois schools are closed from Tuesday until April 6
All my library books automatically renewed until May 1. I called the library this morning
I just checked, and the current status is that my library will remain open, but all meetings that might take place at that facility are cancelled until at least March 31. Personally, I expect that date to get extended.I just saw a doctor with (NIH? CDC? not sure, but one of those) say this could go on for several months. The interviewer said "Several?" and she acknowledged they simply don't know, but several months is not unreasonable.
So far my library is still open. The city manager in the suburban Atlanta town where I live says we have one confirmed case of coronavirus. I went to the grocery store yesterday -- along with everyone else who lives here! Ran into my youngest daughter's father-in-law, had a nice chat. Some store shelves are completely empty: milk, eggs, fresh meat (beef - chicken - pork), and, of course, toilet paper. That grocery store is closing early today, to re-disinfect the entire store and to "restock store shelves".
Thankfully my husband has a job as a software engineer, and he works from home 95% of the time. We'll be able to ride through March as long as we have electricity.
My poor daughter is upset. So many people are declining to come to her wedding on 3/21. They are cancelling the caterer and down-scaling the service. They are considering a small service (35 people) in an alternate location and then trying to move their venue reservation to sometime a few months later. They can have a delayed wedding reception. They will lose thousands of dollars .....they had paid the caterer $2000. The venue may be salvageable though. They were supposed to fly to Cancun after the ceremony on Saturday, but that is probably off too. Come what may though, I will be going to a wedding on Saturday.
I'm so sorry, Lynn. My daughter's wedding is planned for May 30th in Seattle, so we are holding out some hope. I can't begin to think how hard it must be to go through this for you and your daughter and family. I will be thinking of you all.
So sorry, Lynn, that her special day is impacted by the pandemic.
My sympathies Lynn. I got an email from my library today that they will be closes until May 1. I have to reshuffle some books.
Lynn, May your daughter’s marriage be blessed with many anniversaries where they can tell the tale of their wedding in the midst of a worldwide pandemic.
Lynn, I hope everything goes well for your daughter and her groom. This reminds me of the small weddings that were quickly planned during my parent's generation before the soldiers went off to fight in World War II.
Thank you everyone. Chattanooga has such beautiful overlooks that for now at least we are hoping to have about 20 family members at an outdoor wedding. The minister and photographer are both willing. I found out last night that my school is closed this week and the Governor of the state is strongly suggesting that all school be closed until April. That sounds good on one level, but I dread having to teach in the Summer to make it up! I do predict my finished book total will increase though...
Karen Michele wrote: "I'm so sorry, Lynn. My daughter's wedding is planned for May 30th in Seattle, so we are holding out some hope. I can't begin to think how hard it must be to go through this for you and your daughte..."Thank you Karen Michele....
Oh I'm so excited!!! You know about the Fugates of Eastern Kentucky! They are my cousins, probably 4th or 5th depending upon the generation. Luna is the person most famous for being blue. We have a genetic abnormality that causes methmoblobanemia =- that is we make a limited amount of an enzyme that is supposed to break down the old blood cells. We are "anemic" because we can't clear the old cells quickly enough. If a person has the abnormality on one gene of the pair then enzyme production is reduced 35-40% if on both like the blue cousins then it is reduced 60 +%.
I have had problems with pernicious anemia that could not be treated. It was more pronounced when I was pregnant. I think I have it on one gene.
Luna was treated with a compound called methylene blue. Turns out vitamin C will take care of it too. If the Fugates in KY had only had an orange grove they probably would have not been blue and never realized they had a problem.
The genetic abnormality goes back to Peter Martin who was the first to step on North America. There are records of twins born blue in Ireland and the doctor treated them with vitamin C, thinking that fresh fruit was the cure for heart disease. Only he couldn't replicate it with others. Those twins were named Martin. Before that the only other place it is found is just north of the Pyrenees which is where the name Martin would be found. My Peter Martin was a Protestant and the time of the twins in Ireland and the Northern Ireland location all indicate Heugenots.
Ok more than you wanted to know, I'm sure.
Lynn wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "I'm so sorry, Lynn. My daughter's wedding is planned for May 30th in Seattle, so we are holding out some hope. I can't begin to think how hard it must be to go through this fo..."That is all fascinating information! The book did name the enzyme issue and explain some of the details, but your information and family information tops it all! I did do some extra research after reading and looked up some pictures online, etc. It's amazing what Vitamin C can do as well. The book appears to be well researched.
Oh, Lynn...I know your daughter's wedding will be so special. It'll be beautiful to have it so intimate with just close family...the things that seem to make it "wrong" are often the things that make it most memorable. Sending you and yours all the love and good wishes...cheers to a beautiful wedding weekend <3
Anika wrote: "Oh, Lynn...I know your daughter's wedding will be so special. It'll be beautiful to have it so intimate with just close family...the things that seem to make it "wrong" are often the things that ma..."Thank you Anika. She just posted a picture of the marriage license with #coronalope
Tomorrow night I will be at my parent's house. I will have some access through my phone. I am not sure how long I will be there.
Being retired, and mostly a stay-at-home anyway, I have not been affected much. Unless you count that my husband stopped going to "coffee with the boys" in the mornings and I don't have the house to myself for a couple of hours every day.Statewide, people are to stay in their homes except for essential services (and, weather permitting, we can go outdoors for exercise, keeping the 6 foot minimum distance from others not in our own households). There is no travel between Alaska communities except for medical, groceries and fuel for at least 2 weeks more.
I also live in Illinois and work at a school. The students are doing e learning until April 8. Library is closed until April.
I meant to comment about your wiping down the returned books. Well, not about the wiping down, as that may be somewhat routine. It's the 3-day hold before setting them out again that must be a new procedure.
We can’t even return our books. They locked the drop box. All due dates have been extended. I am not sure what the expected reopening is. Our little library is in a community center which is closed.
Our libraries are also closed. The charity that I work for has closed all its shops and put us on the government 80% pay scheme. This is fine for me but I think some staff will face hardship. Still we are lucky to have that and to be keeping our jobs when the shops can reopen.I seem to have been busier than ever in the last week with a lot of closing down procedures and WhatsApp and Zoom discussions, but I hope to get in some reading going forward now :)
Libraries here are closed through May 4th. They may be closed longer depending on the situation.
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This season I had penciled in for 20.2, A Lesson Before Dying. Then I saw it had a Lexile of 750, and thought "maybe not". So I've put it back in. I might not get another chance.