totally off topic -- just a lot of random stuff Showing 101-150 of 1,139

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Wendy wrote: "Unbelievable! I have not read any of her books according to my Lists... I AM positive I read a Barbra Vine book, just do not know which one. I read some of PD James years ago as well as watched the..."

If you can find it, her Dark-Adapted Eye was once a PBS Mystery adaptation, and they did a good job.

[Bill]

Nancy wrote: "The Guardian named five "key" works of hers -- when I get caught up with real-life stuff, I'm going to go read/reread them:

From Doon With Death,
Not in the Flesh,
[..."

I just found a copy of From Doon with Death the other day. I'm looking forward to starting it.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Oh! That's what I'll nominate then!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Erica wrote: "Hi Everyone,

I'm getting ready for a two week holiday (YAY!!!) and I am looking for some recommendations for some good beach reads.

I've got a ton of books in my to read pile, but still looking..."

I suppose we'd need to know what you like before we can make suggestions.

[Wendy]

May I suggest looking at this Group's US or UN Challenge. Several of us have set up our own progress, while there is also a main thread foe each too.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Any Wolf Hall fans here?

[Thomas]

I have been watching and enjoying it on PBS. I have not read any of the books.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Thomas wrote: "I have been watching and enjoying it on PBS. I have not read any of the books."

I love the TV drama. I'm going to reread the novels -- I think the 3rd book is out within the near future.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

@ Nancy - I have Wolf Hall sitting on my pile.....I keep deferring it as it is so big, and I have heard, very complicated...is this true?
I work long hours in hospitality and find really complicate plots difficult to keep track of when i am tired. Would appreciate your comments. 8:D

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "@ Nancy - I have Wolf Hall sitting on my pile.....I keep deferring it as it is so big, and I have heard, very complicated...is this true?
I work long hours in hospitality and find really complicat..."

Well, I suppose it is complicated, but if you enjoy quality historical fiction, it's tough to beat. I gave a copy to one of the women in my real-life book group and she returned it like within three days because she said she couldn't keep things straight. I will also say that it's probably not a good read when you're tired.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

Nancy wrote: "Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "@ Nancy - I have Wolf Hall sitting on my pile.....I keep deferring it as it is so big, and I have heard, very compli..."

Thanks Nancy - I will keep it for my holidays then.

[Wendy]

I too have trouble with complicated plots, in addition to complicated names or too many characters. I cannot use tiredness as my excuse lol.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

What I hate is when authors make things overly complicated -- like they're saying "aren't I clever."

[David]

Nancy wrote: "What I hate is when authors make things overly complicated -- like they're saying "aren't I clever.""

Or when they fill the story with a lot of unnecessary information to show off how much research they've done.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Quillracer wrote: "Nancy wrote: "What I hate is when authors make things overly complicated -- like they're saying "aren't I clever.""

Or when they fill the story with a lot of unnecessary information to show off h..."

I had that experience with books by Frank Tallis. The first book was okay, then I started noticing that the next books got really boggy with detail so I quit reading his stuff.

[Thomas]

I will add Wolf Hall to my tbr pile. I find it interesting that Thomas More is portrayed in an unflattering light--opposite to A Man for All seasons, Broadway play and later movie. The RC church still considers him a saint.

[Bill]

I have Wolf Hall and Bringing up the Bones on my TBR book pile, hope to get at them this year.

[Georgia]

Gave up on the book after 50 pages... Boring!!!!!!!!!!!
Am watching the TV series though. It too moves slowly, but it's much more interesting than the book.

[J.R.]

Nancy wrote: "Any Wolf Hall fans here?"
I've read and enjoyed Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. The PBS series is well done and worth a viewer's time, unlike much else on TV.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Sadly, I've had to watch it all alone; my husband doesn't enjoy period dramas. But there may be hope someday -- after a very, very long time, he's just now started watching things with subtitles!

[Thomas]

My wife refuses to watch anything w. subtitles. She only watches a very few period dramas--last one was Poldark

[Wendy]

I liked Downton Abbey...lol

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Two things:

1. We are watching New Tricks on Hulu -- the older cops are so funny -- and
2. Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there!

[Sally]

I bought five kindle books for my mom for Mother's Day. She is 90 years old. She hasn't completely mastered the Kindle but she read nearly all the large print books in the library. The Kindle works great for her because she can enlarge the font. She can also check out Kindle books from the library. Happy Mother's Day to all moms!

[Walter]

Bill wrote: "Alzheimers is insidious, like cancer. My mother had it; I think it's one of those 'diseases' (probably not really a disease but more of a condition?) that affect the people dealing with it rather t..."

You are spot on, Bill. The poor soul afflicted has no clue, but all who love & care for her are heartsick that the disease/condition has taken their loved one and left only a bitter, angry shell to be looked after. It is insidious and mocking. Why is it that we've only "heard" about this killer since President Reagan had the condition?

[Wendy]

My Mom has had it for the past 6 or so years. She (we)knew it was a possibility due to both her Auntie & Mom had it. However, Hereditary is not an Absolute!
The most painful thing for HER in the beginning is she was AWARE she was losing her memory. She would get frustrated & sad. Even now at the Moderate to Severe Stage, she cries or gets angry with herself because she gets "muddled" & thinks she "OUGHT TO KNOW" your name, certain words or phrases. On the other hand, she is oblivious to her other behaviors and mannerisms. Think of a 3 year old child.
As for just hearing about it.. studies used to just put it all into one category: Dementia. Even now if you look up the differences between the 2, experts say Alzheimer's is only one type of dementia. Also, it used to take an actual autopsy to see the brain lesions that defined defined Alzheimer's.
They already have drugs that tend to slow things down. The drugs are not miracle cures in any sense. They "bought" my Mom some time.

[Wendy]

I belong to a Support Group. I am not going to use this forum to preasch. However, I would suggest those interested to research the following: the possibilities some allergy meds increase the risks, new drugs in the pipeline, and the National Alzheimer's Assoc. has more information one can ever want on the subject of all dementias.

[Bill]

Wendy wrote: "I belong to a Support Group. I am not going to use this forum to preasch. However, I would suggest those interested to research the following: the possibilities some allergy meds increase the risks..."

Thanks for posting that Wendy. There are supposedly blood tests that can provide an indication of a person's susceptibility to alzheimers. My sister told me she had the test. Having said that, when I asked my doctor, he wasn't aware of the test.

[Wendy]

My Mom was given tests that tested memory, I'm being vague because I wasn't there and stepdad tells us nada. if there's a blood test, ?? I refuse to take it. Experts of Dementia say the key to prevention and progression is mental exercise: puzzles, reading, wroting, art, etc

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I somehow lost the novel I was reading. I've just searched my entire house and couldn't find it. So I had to do an emergency order since I'm right in the middle. My prediction: as soon as the new book gets here, I'll find the one I lost.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Haven't seen it -- do not spill.

I found my book, by the way. Aaarrgghh!

[Barbara]

Mary wrote: "Mad Men finale...meh."

That's disappointing. I'm waiting to see the final episodes on Netflix.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Mary wrote: "Maybe you'll like it. I shouldn't have posted that! Please don't go by my opinion."

Don't censor yourself, Mary. Your opinion is just as valuable as anyone's.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Mary wrote: "Thanks Nancy. I hope you enjoy the finale. I'm glad you found your book. :)"

My book. Yes. I found it after the deadline to cancel my order, of course!

[Renee]

Bill wrote: "I have Wolf Hall and Bringing up the Bones on my TBR book pile, hope to get at them this year."

I loved both those books. It was interesting to see more than the Anne Boleyn side of the story

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Mary wrote: "I am currently binging on the George Gently series on Netflix. Our library doesn't carry Alan Hunter's books but I love the series."

Good show. I binged it months ago when my husband was away for work travel. I get some of my best watching done when he's not here...

[Bill]

Mary wrote: "I am currently binging on the George Gently series on Netflix. Our library doesn't carry Alan Hunter's books but I love the series."

Great series and I'm slowly working through the books, which are quite different from the TV series.

[David]

Because people who make TV programs (and movies) are genetically incapable of exactly converting a novel to TV program or movie. They feel they have to 'improve' it (usually making it worse in the process).

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Mary wrote: "I wish our library carried the series of books. I have heard that the books are different. I wonder why the change books so much when they put them on TV?"

I think they get someone to write a screenplay based "loosely" on the original, who then promptly throws in everything but the kitchen sink to make it appeal to a wider range of audiences. That's when things get really messed up.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Take the movie "The Woman in Black," for example. The book is framed as a ghost story, very simple and clean. The movie took what was I thought a decent book and screwed up the entire freakin' story so that by the time it got to the screen, hardly anything remained of the original.

[Wendy]

I RARELY watch a tv series oe movie based on a book. It just ruins it for me. Harry Potter movies and PBS/BBC tv are exceptions.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Mary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Take the movie "The Woman in Black," for example. The book is framed as a ghost story, very simple and clean. The movie took what was I thought a decent book and screwed up the entir..."

The movie was awful. Plain and simple. Whoever wrote that screenplay missed the entire heart of the story.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Wendy wrote: "I RARELY watch a tv series oe movie based on a book. It just ruins it for me. Harry Potter movies and PBS/BBC tv are exceptions."

That's why I read the book first.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

All right, people: opinions please? A 10 year old child just graduated from college.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la...

[Bill]

Nancy wrote: "Mary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Take the movie "The Woman in Black," for example. The book is framed as a ghost story, very simple and clean. The movie took what was I thought a decent book and screwed..."

I liked them both actually.

[Jan C]

Nancy wrote: "All right, people: opinions please? A 10 year old child just graduated from college.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la..."

I feel sorry for him. He's racing through school. But it doesn't say anything about his socialization or even how many kids are in his family.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "All right, people: opinions please? A 10 year old child just graduated from college.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la..."

I feel sorry for ..."

I was a little disturbed by this story, actually. I had trouble deciding whether or not to let my then 8 year old daughter skip a grade. Brains are one thing -- social development is something else all together.

[Jan C]

My sister skipped 1/2 a grade. I guess Chicago in the '40s had 1/2 grades. But my mother told me she was always being bounced backward and forward. She grew up partially in California (put forward) and Canada (put backward).

There was one girl in high school who got through in about 2 1/2 years. But up until high school she stayed with the same class. I think she is/was a professor at Duke.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

I feel sorry for this boy and wonder if he has had any sort of childhood?

[Lance]

Mary wrote: "I wonder why they change books so much when they put them on TV?"

Because they're two entirely different art forms. When you try to boil a 400-page book down into a two-hour film, you have to cut back to the main plot and little else. Also, the language doesn't translate to the screen. A lyrical three-paragraph description turns into a five-second establishing shot. Interior dialog has to be externalized (extensive voiceover doesn't work well), long speeches have to be cut down or broken up.

Even the Harry Potter and Hunger Games adaptations, while very well done, made significant cuts and changes to the original material. If they hadn't, one book would've turned into multiple hours of screen time (and you thought Deathly Hallows lasts forever as it is now...).