Chat about whatever you like: the weather, good stuff, bad stuff, family or pets! Showing 18,101-18,150 of 26,036

[Carolyn]

Tablets are great for commuters (like me) and for travelling Michael. If you ever plan on going on a long flight or trip you no longer have to worry about having enough books packed if you have a stack on your tablet. Much easier to read on than a phone, also the bigger screen is better for games, apps and email (and videos).

[Marianne]

Does this happen to anyone else?
Just read Die Again in which hunted animals (and people) were gutted and hung like game.
This morning finished The Girl On The Landing in which deer (and some humans) were gralloched (=disemboweled) and hung like game. Also in this book, a main character spent time in a mental asylum.
Now reading A Place Called Winter where the main character spends time in a mental asylum.

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Marianne wrote: "Dies this happen to anyone else?
Just read Die Again in which hunted animals (and people) were gutted and hung like game.
This morning finished [book:The Girl On The Landing|6354263..."

You need to get out more Marianne!! ;)

[Marianne]

and I didn't choose these books for common themes, they were just next in the pile needing to be read.....

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Marianne wrote: "and I didn't choose these books for common themes, they were just next in the pile needing to be read....."

Do you sort your books by genre? Maybe a shuffle is needed.

[Carolyn]

What about a nice romance or comedy next Marianne?

[Marianne]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Marianne wrote: "and I didn't choose these books for common themes, they were just next in the pile needing to be read....."

Do you sort your books by genre? Maybe a shuffle is needed."

At the moment, it's just the next ARCs that will need reviews written.... then I will go back to my TBR proper

[Marianne]

Carolyn wrote: "What about a nice romance or comedy next Marianne?"

I obviously didn't get my point across, which was this: sometimes I read a book which contains a particular something, in this case the gutting thing, then the next book I pick up turns out to contain the same thing, be it a theme, or particular place or incident or even some unusual object. Then I think, how strange, it's not something you come across that often, and here it is in two consecutive books I'm reading. I wasn't complaining about the subject matter, just noting that two consecutive books had something not all that usual in common.
Anyone else?

[Ryan]

Yes Marianne. I often notice a certain story element that was in another book I recently read, but which is not found in most books. I've been trying to think of an example since you posted but I'm still drawing a blank. Definitely happens though, and far too often to feel like coincidence (though it must be).

[Marianne]

Yes, probably coincidence, because all the times it doesn't happen, of course you don't notice. Like thinking of someone and then they ring you. You only notice when it happens, not the previous 150 times when it didn't.

[Carolyn]

Certainly was weird to have that as the subject matter for three books in a row, especially without knowing that would be the topic. I thought if you tried for a romance or comedy next you'd be safe from having it crop up again.
I've been trying to think of a book I read recently with a similar topic - man disappears and ends up being hung and gutted in a hunters backyard. Gruesome topic!

[Marianne]

well, it was 2 books, but the 2nd book had the mental asylum thing that is is the current read. As if each book has something of the next one.
Yes, a romance might well change the odds. The next book will be a memoir....

[Mark]

Marianne wrote: "Does this happen to anyone else?
Just read Die Again in which hunted animals (and people) were gutted and hung like game.
This morning finished [book:The Girl On The Landing|6354263..."

Marianne, it's happened to me in past only when I've been constrained to read the rebarbative, explicitly violent (or otherwise emesis-inducing) selections of book clubs. With one particular club, it got so bad that I actually wrote a manifesto demanding that subsequent selections satisfy seven criteria. The fourth one was (concerning any candidate book):

"4) It cannot focus relentlessly (or at all) on death, physical and/or mental decomposition, spiritual putrescence, or thuggish, sociopathic protagonists whose sheer inhumanity makes one want to puke. It should not feature illustrations all of which are variations on Edvard Munch's "The Scream." It should not make one want to enact Edvard Munch's "The Scream." It should not refine on the utter and immitigable hopelessness of all things, and offer up a horrible, pain-ridden universe (if one could be imagined to exist more dystopian than the one we live in) for our fuzzy-happy delectation."

(You may imagine that I had become annoyed.)

[Marianne]

Oooh, I'm sooo pleased!! I just managed to get my bluetooth keyboard (a nice fold-up one with its own case) to connect to my new tablet. It's so much easier to type on (if I'm doing a lot of it) that the on screen one. Happy dance!! :D
This typed on my tablet with my BT keyboard, yay!

[Marianne]

Mark wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Does this happen to anyone else?
Just read Die Again in which hunted animals (and people) were gutted and hung like game.
This morning finished [book:The Girl On Th..."

Mark, I think you missed my point in a later post. I was making the point about similar themes or objects or places in two consecutive but totally unrelated books, I wasn't complaining about the actual content.

[Mark]

Marianne wrote: "Mark wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Does this happen to anyone else?
Just read Die Again in which hunted animals (and people) were gutted and hung like game.
This morning finished [book:T..."

Sorry, Marianne. I just glanced in at the thread and got the impression you were expressing annoyance with encountering a succession of books with similarly violent themes. I don't know what accounts for all the weird incidents of synchronicity in otherwise unrelated reading, but it's probably just coincidence.

[Marina]

"It should not make one want to enact Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'."

Love it, Mark! I may need to borrow your manifesto for my book club! They keep making me read books where everyone ends up miserable and/or dead.

[Mark]

Marina wrote: ""It should not make one want to enact Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'."

Love it, Mark! I may need to borrow your manifesto for my book club! They keep making me read books where everyone ends up miser..."

Thanks, Marina! Feel free to borrow to beat the morbidity-obsessed members of your club about the head with. :) Honestly, I don't understand this predilection for agony and excruciation, as though we didn't have enough of that to cope with in real life! I think the feeling is that a book isn't *really* good literature if it doesn't make you want to jump off a bridge, so that has become an important criterion for literary awards, as well. :)

[B the BookAddict]

Marianne wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "What about a nice romance or comedy next Marianne?"

I obviously didn't get my point across, which was this: sometimes I read a book which contains a particular something, in this c..."

I realised what you meant, Marianne, because it has happened to me. Books being linked by same but out of the ordinary themes. I usually think to myself 'how weird'; it's almost like some 'ghost librarian' is guiding my choices. Kinda spooky really!

[Marianne]

B the BookAddict wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "What about a nice romance or comedy next Marianne?"

I obviously didn't get my point across, which was this: sometimes I read a book which contains a particular som

I realised what you meant, Marianne, because it has happened to me. Books being linked by same but out of the ordinary themes. I usually think to myself 'how weird'; it's almost like some 'ghost mentor' is guiding my choices. Kinda spooky really! ..."

Exactly, Bette! Of course it must be coincidence, but because we only notice when it happens, not when it doesn't, it seems spooky.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thirty five years ago today my wonderful hubby and I were married :) Kids, grandkids..what a great life we've had and they're lots more years and adventures left in us yet :)

Off to Melbourne today :)

[Dale]

Congratulations Brenda to you and your husband. Glad to hear your still enjoying your times together. Enjoy Melbourne.

[Vicki]

Happy wedding anniversary, Brenda! Here's to the next 35 years. :)

[Leonie]

Happy Anniversary Brenda!

[Sharon]

Happy Anniversary Brenda. Have fun.

[Veronica ⭐️]

Have a wonderful day today Brenda.

[Kathryn]

Congratulations on 35 years, Brenda! It's great that you can look back on all the wonderful times together!

[Kathryn]

Marianne wrote: "Does this happen to anyone else?
Just read Die Again in which hunted animals (and people) were gutted and hung like game.
This morning finished..."

I agree - this happens to me too, Marianne. And in fact, at the moment, I am reading 2 books - an audiobook, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, and a "proper" book, Goodbye Piccadilly by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, and both are set at the onset of WWI and, very bizarrely, both are about a banker's family!! They're still different enough that I can (mostly) keep them straight, although it should still be a bit easier to listen to the audiobook once I finish the proper book.

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "Thirty five years ago today my wonderful hubby and I were married :) Kids, grandkids..what a great life we've had and they're lots more years and adventures left in us yet :)

Off to Melbourne toda..."

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary Brenda!
Hope you have a good drive down to Melbourne :)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Happy 35th Wedding Anniversary Brenda and Hubby!! Well done ;)

[Elaine]

Brenda wrote: "Thirty five years ago today my wonderful hubby and I were married :) Kids, grandkids..what a great life we've had and they're lots more years and adventures left in us yet :)

Off to Melbourne toda..."

Congratulations Brenda and Richard. Here's to many more happy years together with lots of travel and reading and great family times. I didn't realise that this trip held a special occasion for you as well. Will have to have a drink on Tuesday to celebrate. :)

[Regina]

Congratulations To Brenda and Husband! Awesome stuff.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks so much guys!!! We arrived at our daughter's house at around 2.30 - looking forward to a baked dinner for our evening meal. Had a good run down too:)

[Dale]

Baked dinner sounds good Brenda, especially when you don't have to cook it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Ooh yes Dale - roast pork and all the trimmings;) Delicious!

[Mish]

Brenda wrote: "Ooh yes Dale - roast pork and all the trimmings;) Delicious!"

Yummy! Glad to see you've arrived safely.

Happy Anniversary Brenda and Richard, and see you soon :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Mish:) Safe and sound and now feeling very tired!!!

[Suz]

Brenda wrote: "Thirty five years ago today my wonderful hubby and I were married :) Kids, grandkids..what a great life we've had and they're lots more years and adventures left in us yet :)

Off to Melbourne toda..."

Congrats Brenda! Your happy attitude will have helped along the way, it's nice to read about the things you're grateful for. Enjoy your trip, sounds wonderful!

[Marianne]

Oh wow, Brenda, 35 years! Well done, congratulations, hope you have a lovely romantic evening planned.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Marianne :) Over half my life!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Suzanne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Thirty five years ago today my wonderful hubby and I were married :) Kids, grandkids..what a great life we've had and they're lots more years and adventures left in us yet :)

Off to..."

Thanks Suzanne:)

[Sharon]

Brenda wrote: "Thirty five years ago today my wonderful hubby and I were married :) Kids, grandkids..what a great life we've had and they're lots more years and adventures left in us yet :)

Off to Melbourne toda..."

Congratulations Brenda. Hope you and Richard have had a lovely day/night together. Good to hear you have arrived safely in Melbourne. See you very soon :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Sharon:) Yes, we will see you soon!

[Marina]

Hope you enjoyed the rest of your anniversary, Brenda. Congrats to you and your husband!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Marina:) Yes we did!

[Casey]

Valerie wrote: "Good morning Angela. I will brave the cold tomorrow morning for my regular Saturday parkrun but then I think I will spend the rest of the weekend inside keeping warm. Lots of reading planned. Hawks..."

Sorry to reply to such an old comment, Valerie, but I put parkrun in my email search and this came up! So glad to see I'm not the only bibliophile parkrunner! pr represent!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

What a wonderful few hours I have just had! Hubby and I had lunch with Elaine, Mish, Sharon and her hubby - lots of talk (the boys must have been bored! Though I did hear them talking cars!) laughter and fun! As we were leaving I realized, to my horror, that we'd forgotten to take photos!!! They wanted to as well.... can't believe I forgot that; we were so busy chatting it went out of my head! Good excuse to come back again;)

[Elaine]

Ha,ha!!! I'm so glad you forgot to take photos Brenda!!! Although we did all forget about it being so caught up in trying to talk about everything!!! It was lovely meeting you all today. I had the best time and really enjoyed myself. I was amazed at how comfortable I felt with you all and although I was a bit nervous prior to meeting up, it was not awkward or uncomfortable at all. And we did not stop talking. I did feel a little bit guilty about the boys too but as you they had their own little chat. Enjoy the rest of your trip and hope it all goes smoothly for you. :)

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "What a wonderful few hours I have just had! Hubby and I had lunch with Elaine, Mish, Sharon and her hubby - lots of talk (the boys must have been bored! Though I did hear them talking cars!) laught..."

Glad you all had a good time! And it's so easy to have good intentions with photos and then realise that you forgot to take any - I often do that!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "Ha,ha!!! I'm so glad you forgot to take photos Brenda!!! Although we did all forget about it being so caught up in trying to talk about everything!!! It was lovely meeting you all today. I had the ..."

Thanks Elaine:) You are truly a beautiful soul - and guess what! We will see you on Thursday too:)