The Mookse and the Gripes discussion
General Non-Book Discussions
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Café Quito: 'pub' thread for general discussions
Ok - great if you want those features. I was glad when the page buttons disappeared. Paperwhite for me, I think!
I’ve spent too much time on YouTube looking at comparison videos and I’m starting to incline toward an Oasis. 8GB is presumably enough cause I don’t really do audiobooks (re: the discussion above).
All your books are stored in the cloud for access whenever you want them (and are connected to the internet). So the internal storage is only needed for the books you want to access offline or want to have a local copy of.
The big selling point of the Oasis was supposed waterproofing, which didn't click as a need for a lot of readers. Whatever you buy, good luck with it,
The Oasis also has a bigger screen and has a sepia light option which is lovely for reading at night. I like the option of page-turn buttons or touch screen. But yes, the big USP was supposed to be its waterproof -ness, but after spending all that cash, who wants to test it!
I like the sepia light. Neil, you don't have to use the buttons - there's still touchscreen. But if you're happy with the paperwhite there's no need to change. I wouldn't want to change back though, put it that way.
The sepia definitely sounds a good feature - that's my issue with the Paperwhite, with the light on it doesn't seem any different to an ipad (and with the light off it doesn't work at night)
One advantage to e-reading is one can eat chocolate ice cream with no fear of damaging the e-reader.
Is there a word in any language for the frisson of joy one gets when a character, passage, or scene crosses one’s mind unbidden? I know we’ve all experienced this, we’re not thinking about a particular book or even books at all when some memory of a book pops up in our mind. For me the most often recurring are O-lan from The Good Earth, the scene with an old man climbing an almond tree either from One Hundred Years of Solitude or Love in the Time of Cholera, Claire from The Sound Mirror.
I recently came across a Japanese word that comes close to what you are describing: natsukashii. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20...
"Natsukashii is a Japanese word used when something evokes a fond memory from your past. It’s a word you exclaim as a smile creeps across your face. For instance, when you hear a song you loved as a teenager, or when you come across an old train ticket stub in your pocket."
That would work, except it sounds like an object or sensation triggered the memory, although maybe something in our environment we aren’t aware of triggers a book memory.
As this is likely to be a very difficult day for England, I’d just like to say:Ti faccio le condoglianze.
Marc wrote: "As this is likely to be a very difficult day for England, I’d just like to say:Ti faccio le condoglianze."
Because of football (soccer in the US)?
I just saw that you are monkeelino and textualmadness on Twitter, Marc. I did not know that until this grey, rainy Sunday afternoon.
Yes. England plays Italy today for the Euro2020 title. England hasn't contended for a major football title since 1966 I believe.Did UEFA insist on calling it Euro 2020 simply to keep the title dates consistent or something?
Yes Euro2020 to avoid having to rebrand all the merchandise (it was postponed from then).From a wider society point of view I would hope neutrals would support England as the team is an examplar of multi-culturalism and social compassion (one of the players single handedly-campaiged for free meals for school children during lockdown for example and gave £20m to food poverty charities) and have been united and determined in taking the knee in defiance of opposition from fans and some politicians. Whereas the Italian team have been divided about even taking the knee.
I’ll root for England. I couldn’t care less about any sport that does not involve my grandkids playing, but for the sake of my ancestors I support England, unless they play Scotland or Finland, in which case I’m neutral.
This is a brilliantly written article by the England managerhttps://www.theplayerstribune.com/pos...
Includes this arguing that it is actually a responsibility of the players to use their platform politically:
“I have never believed that we should just stick to football.
I know my voice carries weight, not because of who I am but because of the position that I hold. At home, I’m below the kids and the dogs in the pecking order but publicly I am the England men’s football team manager. I have a responsibility to the wider community to use my voice, and so do the players.
It’s their duty to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice, while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate.”
I agree with that, a lot of people don’t. They want athletes and movies stars to stick to entertainment, unless the personalities agree with their politics, of course.
I'm not a sports fan at all and have happily sent Mr RC off to watch it so I can settle in for an evening's reading... but even I'd say that this team is young and fresh and have brought a fundamental decency to football, using their power positively from the free school meals to racism and even vaccinations. Plus that Penguin interview between Obama and Marcus Rashford on the power of reading was wonderful!
I'm an Italy fan because the paternal side of my family is Italian, but the country and team have very little going for them when it comes to inclusivity and/or combatting racism/homophobia/etc.Did not know about the social outreach/efforts, which I think is wonderful. Seems like a waste if a celebrity, athlete, or any other individual with a public platform doesn't use that to make the world a better place. You can't leave politics out of things; you can simply choose to ignore or not discuss it.
There were some great photos earlier in the tournament showing all the German stadiums that lit up with the rainbow protest when UEFA blocked such a display during the German match against Hungary (given Hungary's oppressive treatment of the LGBTQ+ community). https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2021/jun/24/rainbow-stadiums-german-grounds-show-solidarity-in-pictures-euro-2020
Marc, I accepted you on my private Instagram account, but I don’t think you’ll find anything interesting there. You’re welcome to follow me, but it’s mostly my grandkids, so I won’t be offended if you don’t bother with that one. My other account is wendywhidden and has a woman reading avatar, that one is not private and is all books (except for one recent photo of my 7yr old grandson who caught a fish as big as himself.)
I gotta see this next generation of readers you're nurturing!:-)
My devilish 7 yr old loves to tell me he doesn’t read because he likes to have fun! My daughter tells me she hears him reading to his five yr old brother who loves books at night though. Actually the devilish boy loves The Book with No Pictures and I just got them The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read.
My students love The Book With No Pictures. Especially the page that says:My best friend in the whole wide world is a hippo called Boo-Boo Butt
That’s great that he pretends not to like reading while secretly reading to his younger brother! The Book with No Pictures sounds like a winner all around! Robert, your anecdote reminded me of how I once pretended to buy a gift for our son (The Day My Butt Went Psycho) when it was really for me… I had such high hopes for that book but it was mostly hot air.
He’s now almost 19 but used to have a lot of trouble falling asleep so he actually liked being read to at bedtime until age 12! We bonded over Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Calvino’s Italian Folktales, Calvin & Hobbes, Poe short stories, etc. My nieces are just getting into books (they range in ages from 5 to 1).
Ronan, the 7 yr old, I mean Rónán, likes nonfiction, he admitted that he reads the book about outer space I got him for Christmas Eve. He just tells me he doesn’t like reading or books to tease me. I told him I wouldn’t expect him to stay indoors and read a beautiful sunny day, but at bedtime or if he’s stuck indoors and achieved all the levels on his latest video game is the time to read.
Robert, look for The Book That Does Not Want to be Read. It’s a beautiful book and very interactive for kids who are read to and fun for readers because the words go all wonky, but phonetically make sense.
WndyJW wrote: "Ronan, the 7 yr old, I mean Rónán, likes nonfiction, he admitted that he reads the book about outer space I got him for Christmas Eve. He just tells me he doesn’t like reading or books to tease me...."Yes I checked it out - once my library budget is finalised (which will be double as I didn't get one this scholastic year due to borrowing being halted due to you know what) I'll buy a copy.
Marc wrote: "That’s great that he pretends not to like reading while secretly reading to his younger brother! The Book with No Pictures sounds like a winner all around! Robert, your anecdote reminded me of ho..."
I read the day my butt when Psycho - my students LOVE Andy Griffiths but they prefer the treehouse series
The Treehouse series are good, I hope the boys like them now that they’re that age. Tony’s adorable daughter is a guest reviewer on Tony’s Reading List, she’s a few yrs older than my little boys, but she had some books I think they’d like. How To Make A Pet Monster: Hodgepodge.
Just a note to Tom, thanking him for recommending the Stephen Fry Mythos trilogy! The post seems deleted but I am looking forward to reading and listening to the books.
I loved Stephen Fry’s Mythos and Heroes. They are lighthearted and so well organized that it’s easy to remember who is who and who begat who with who, usually with Zeus, but I loved them. I need to look for the 3rd, I hope he writes one about the women, although he need not since Natalie Haynes has done that.I see the 3rd is Troy. I wonder if I need that. I have a few retellings of the classics. I didn’t realize how prolific Fry is. He has a number of series.
WndyJW wrote: "Is there a word in any language for the frisson of joy one gets when a character, passage, or scene crosses one’s mind unbidden? I know we’ve all experienced this..."Wendy I just saw this and immediately thought of Jane Eyre, reading in the window seat with the curtains pulled shut...my go-to place!
A breakfast-room adjoined the drawing-room, I slipped in there. It contained a bookcase: I soon possessed myself of a volume, taking care that it should be one stored with pictures. I mounted into the window-seat: gathering up my feet, I sat cross-legged, like
a Turk; and, having drawn the red moreen curtain nearly close, I was shrined in double retirement.
Folds of scarlet drapery shut in my view to the right hand; to the left were the clear panes of glass, protecting, but not separating me from the drear November day. At intervals, while turning over the leaves of my book, I studied the aspect of that winter afternoon. Afar, it offered a pale blank of mist and cloud; near a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub, with ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and lamentable blast...
Sam wrote: "Just a note to Tom, thanking him for recommending the Stephen Fry Mythos trilogy! The post seems deleted but I am looking forward to reading and listening to the books."Thanks - not sure why it got deleted. I'll repeat my message from last night: I just finished Mythos by Stephen Fry and it was wildly entertaining and the audiobook version narrated by Fry is the way to go! Enjoy!
Don’t you love when that happens, Lark?
On a personal note (to everyone but Paul :) ) July 23 is the one year anniversary of Brutus joining our family. Anyone who has or has had a dog knows how completely they become the center of the family when there are no young kids at home.Our sweet boy turned out to be a puppy mill victim is having total hip replacement next month. We are very fortunate to live only two hours from The Ohio State Univ Veterinary College where a leading surgeon in canine total hip replacement works, he’s done well over 20,000 THR surgeries so Brutus is in good hands and added good luck, I work from home so Brutus won’t have to be in a crate all day during his 3 month recovery.
WndyJW wrote: "Don’t you love when that happens, Lark?"I do love it! I hadn't really thought about it as a feeling in the concrete way you described, so thank you for that. My other go-to places, in my random bookish thoughts, are one of those 'rest cure' balconies in The Magic Mountain, and the ship Melymbrosia, and Egdon Heath.
WndyJW wrote: "I work from home so Brutus won’t have to be in a crate all day during his 3 month recovery...."I'm sorry Brutus is having a tough time. It's so great you'll be there for him at home.
WndyJW wrote: "On a personal note (to everyone but Paul :) ) July 23 is the one year anniversary of Brutus joining our family. Anyone who has or has had a dog knows how completely they become the center of the fa..."Lucky Brutus to have found his way to you and your family. I've learned that dogs are such inspirational recuperators - uncomplaining and optimistic. So happy to go for a walk - even when it's for two minutes, wearing a cast and helped along with a sling. Best of luck, sounds like he will be in great hands.
I was thinking today that I wish I could find another long book like Wolf Hall and immerse myself in its world. The memory of the month of reading the trilogy is still such a warm feeling and one of escape from the real world. I doesn’t have to be medieval, although that would be good. Thank you. I comfort myself with the thought that all of those involved in puppy mills will be reborn as injured predators on the Serengeti who live hungry and weakened. (Who then die and are reborn as something better, make positive choices, and work their way to a nice life in which they cause no harm.)
Best wishes to Brutus for his surgery and recovery.Hopefully one of the Booker books will tick your box as an immersive long read.
Thanks, Paul.I’m hopeful Popisho/One Sky Day will. Speaking of, I like both titles actually, Popisho sounds Caribbean, but if the author chose One Sky Day it should have been One Sky Day.
WndyJW wrote: "Thanks, Paul.I’m hopeful Popisho/One Sky Day will. Speaking of, I like both titles actually, Popisho sounds Caribbean, but if the author chose One Sky Day it should have been One Sky Day."
Wendy just demonstrated why I prefer Popisho. It is memorable. I have problems with the "This One Sky Day," title. I know it is four words but forget which four and have to look it up each time. If it were One Sky Day I would remember it as well, but the four words blank me.
Yes I tend to mentally call it Popisho for the same reason
Than I’ll stop adding the /One Sky Day every time I mention it.
If it ends up on the Booker list then it’s This One Sky Day
I'm just going to call it the pum-pum book, if I keep forgetting the title. Everyone will know what I mean.
As evidenced by the fact I keep calling it That One Sky Day instead of This One Sky Day!
The Mookse and the Gripes
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Last year there was a £70 discount at some point - perhaps it was Black Friday. I remember telling my book club about it. I had bought it earlier in the year at a £40 discount.