What is "The Library & Reading Room"?

[Captain Sir Roddy, R.N. (Ret.), Founder]

In an effort to do a little house-cleaning, re-organization and archiving, I have created a 'Library and Reading Room' for us to use. This is the fold for interesting topics associated with literary periods, specific authors, and related media resources, etc. Look at it a fun to place to post things that you think other readers in the RR might enjoy, and to do a little 'browsing' yourself. Have fun!

[MadgeUK]

Thanks Chris, always up to something to increase our pleasure! There are some amusing quotes about books and reading here:-

http://www.quotegarden.com/books.html

I think I am getting to the stage where I must 'always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it' and I am relying on GR readers to provide such books:D.

[Everyman]

MadgeUK wrote: "I think I am getting to the stage where I must 'always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it' "

Yes, we do care about our reputations after we die, don't we? That's a very classical Greek concept which still resonates with us today.

[Kristen]

MadgeUK wrote: "I think I am getting to the stage where I must 'always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it' and I am relying on GR readers to provide such books:D. "

haha! you crack me up! too funny. i think i have a fear that i'll miss out on some great literature. i take recommended lists as a personal challenge haha. like i won't be properly educated until i've read all "the classics". :P

[Kristen]

Christopher wrote: "In an effort to do a little house-cleaning, re-organization and archiving, I have created a 'Library and Reading Room' for us to use. This is the fold for interesting topics associated with litera..."

i think this is a good idea! i'm looking forward to seeing what others post in here. i've been really enjoying all the resources all the smarties have been sharing! so good!

[MadgeUK]

Ah kleos! Applying more to men than to women, and to poets:).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleos

I wonder what folks here might choose to be reading on their deathbed? I might choose my latest purchase Marx was Right......:D:D:D

[Lily]

MadgeUK wrote: "I wonder what folks here might choose to be reading on their deathbed? I might choose my latest purchase Marx was Right......:D:D:D ..."

LOL!

I just hope to have papers sorted and unread books in neat THBR piles (to have been read)!

[Historybuff93]

MadgeUK wrote: "Ah kleos! Applying more to men than to women, and to poets:).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleos

I wonder what folks here might choose to be reading on their deathbed? I might choose my latest..."

I sure hope I don't have to think about that for a long time, LOL! Or I could view it this way: I've got a lot of time to plan my deathbed book! :D

[Ellen]

MadgeUK wrote: "Thanks Chris, always up to something to increase our pleasure! There are some amusing quotes about books and reading here:-

http://www.quotegarden.com/books.html

I think I am getting to the stag..."

Thanks for the link, Madge! I've been a quote collector from way back and I'm sure I'll glean some great ones from this website!

[Candace]

Pulitzers 2018 just announced . Here are a few that I caught:

Fiction Less
Bio Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder
History The Gulf: The Making of An American Sea
Poetry Half-light: Collected Poems 1965-2016
Gen. NF Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America

Drama Cost of Living- Missed Author
Did not try to get all of the journalism.

It will be out on the Pulitzer site very soon (if not now.).

[Candace]

Less doesn’t seem like the usual fiction pick...but I’m interested in reading it.

[Abigail]

Thanks for posting the info, Candace!

[Candace]

Abigail wrote: "Thanks for posting the info, Candace!"

Sure!

[Lily]

Candace wrote: "Pulitzers 2018 just announced . ...."

Thanks, Candace. To supplement your post:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/bu...

I haven't identified the Pulitzer Prize site yet.

[Candace]

Hi All! More book news but this is only relevant for those who have Kindles, unfortunately. (Id rather read paper anyday but I have a Kindle for days such as this and for those $.99 specials.)

I am unable to do a link on my IPAD but maybe somebody can help me or one can search for key words: To celebrate World Book Day, Amazon Crossing is offering 9 translated award-winning Kindle books for free. I downloaded all nine because they are great books (I have at least heard of most of them) Not only are they from a variety of countries, but they are a variety of different sub-genres. I think everyone would find at least one they are excited about! Available for 4 more days. Some of these books are normally $20.00. I searched “Amazon Crossing Read the World”and it is the second choice. See second box? Woohoo!

[Lori, Moderator]

Candace wrote: "Hi All! More book news but this is only relevant for those who have Kindles, unfortunately. (Id rather read paper anyday but I have a Kindle for days such as this and for those $.99 specials.)

I a..."

Thanks so much! I downloaded them all.

[Rafael]

I cannot download them because they are available only in Amazon.com.

[Candace]

Yes, sorry, it’s Amazon Crossing who are giving them away ( only to Kindles).

[Deborah, Moderator]

Candace wrote: "Hi All! More book news but this is only relevant for those who have Kindles, unfortunately. (Id rather read paper anyday but I have a Kindle for days such as this and for those $.99 specials.)

I a..."


Thanks Candace - I too prefer a traditional book. I was given a kindle a little more than a year ago. It does make traveling easier, and if I want to read in bed at night, I grab it so I don’t have to turn on the light and disturb hubby

[Candace]

Deborah wrote: "Candace wrote: "Hi All! More book news but this is only relevant for those who have Kindles, unfortunately. (Id rather read paper anyday but I have a Kindle for days such as this and for those $.99..."

Yes, Deborah, that is another use of mine too!

Now this offer from comment 15 is on Goodreads- on a banner across the top.

If anyone has read any of these 9 books, please let me know what you think.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Candace wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Candace wrote: "Hi All! More book news but this is only relevant for those who have Kindles, unfortunately. (Id rather read paper anyday but I have a Kindle for days such as this an..."

I haven’t read any, but thanks to you, have download 😀

[Candace]

I love my PBS! On May 22 they are starting an 8 part mini-series or docu -series“The Great Read.” They have listed the books they will be discussing and I believe America will be voting on them. Will anyone else be watching this? When you get a chance , are there any books that surprise you being on the list?? One surprises me...

( so sorry, I am yet again not at a place where I can do links!)

[Candace]

Meredith Viera is the host. I didn’t know she was a big reader, nor have I watched her host very much.

[Rosemarie, Moderator]

I googled pbs Great Reads and it took to the site, including a list of books to check off those you have read already. List Challenges has the same list as well.

[Candace]

Thank you!! Did any stick out as not belonging to you, R?

I’m one of those who believe all books have some good qualities about them but I was surprised to see The Twilight Saga in the running for “The Great Book”. I do remember when book one came out and it did bring a lot of young teens to reading. That is always good!

[Rosemarie, Moderator]

I was surprised to see 50 Shades books there, since they are badly written, to say the least.
The title "great reads" must refer to the reading experience, not the actual book itself.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Candace wrote: "I love my PBS! On May 22 they are starting an 8 part mini-series or docu -series“The Great Read.” They have listed the books they will be discussing and I believe America will be voting on them. Wi..."

I’m glad you posted this. I was unaware and will now look for it

[Deborah, Moderator]

Rosemarie wrote: "I was surprised to see 50 Shades books there, since they are badly written, to say the least.
The title "great reads" must refer to the reading experience, not the actual book itself."

I wouldn’t even say 50 shades was a great experience. And you are right, truly poorly written

[Lori, Moderator]

Rosemarie wrote: "The title "great reads" must refer to the reading experience, not the actual book itself."

Or maybe just "widely read"?

[Rosemarie, Moderator]

That makes sense, Lori. There were some very popular titles on that list.

[Candace]

Deborah wrote: "Candace wrote: "I love my PBS! On May 22 they are starting an 8 part mini-series or docu -series“The Great Read.” They have listed the books they will be discussing and I believe America will be vo..."

I’m interested to see it too!! 8 episodes about BOOKS! Woohoo!!

For books like Twilight and 50 Shades (which I had missed!) , I’m guessing they will talk about the people those books brought to reading. I remember 50 Shades- I was flying home to Arkansas and everyone was buying it in the airport. I resisted only to get home and my whole family ( none of them readers) were conjecturing, gossiping, you name it about this book. So we all hopped in the car and went to Wal-Mart and got a couple!! I agree, it was so poorly written I couldn’t enjoy it and definitely didn’t go on to book 2. But so many of my friends read it! That was the night we also found Charlaine Harris’s house (she lives in my little home town) and took a picture in front of it. Or in front of her property- her house was way far back from the street- we may be stalkers but we are not trespassers!! I do the stupidest things when I go back home!!

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog]

I just came across a reference to this club<?>

I know nothing about it and am not sure this is the place to ask
Any experience, good or bad with:
http://www.rarebooksclub.com/index.cfm
?
If I am reading it rightly, you buy a book and get a free membership that allows you to DL other titles.
I think there is more to it.

[Xan]

Never heard of it.

[Linda2]

Candace wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Candace wrote: "I love my PBS! On May 22 they are starting an 8 part mini-series or docu -series“The Great Read.” They have listed the books they will be discussing and I believe Am..."

http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american...
I dare them to cover 100 books properly in 8 episodes.

Note that the article doesn't say "greatest books" but "best-loved," so there will be some rubbish. Many best-sellers don't appeal to me at all, and I suspect the 18th-19th Centuries will not be properly represented.

More: http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifesty...

[Linda2]

Phrodrick wrote: "I just came across a reference to this club

I know nothing about it and am not sure this is the place to ask
Any experience, good or bad with:
http://www.rarebooksclub.com/index.cfm
?
If I am read..."
No one's going to sell you rare books for $10, unless by "rare" they mean obscure and forgotten, rather than valuable. Which you don't have to buy, because Gutenberg has millions of them free. Get on the web and do a search for reviews of that site.

[Christopher]

Rochelle wrote: "Phrodrick wrote: "I just came across a reference to this club

I know nothing about it and am not sure this is the place to ask
Any experience, good or bad with:
http://www.rarebooksclub.com/index...."

I think this is the business of 'capturing' PDFs from the Internet Archive (public domain books) and then print-to-order offsets.

This technology has gone way down in price since the days of AMS, or Dover publications, which used to do the same thing on a smaller or larger scale, depending on how you look at things.

Certainly there is value added if you would rather read an offset reprint 'on dead trees' and bound as a book, rather than a thick binder with a (say) 500 pp. print job, or read a PDF off a computer screen.

But the cost to the company is pennies.

[Candace]

Rochelle wrote: "Candace wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Candace wrote: "I love my PBS! On May 22 they are starting an 8 part mini-series or docu -series“The Great Read.” They have listed the books they will be discussing ..."

I agree with all you say Rochelle! I am interested in how they are deciding how much time to spend on each one. Why is everything so rushed?

[Candace]

Just a reminder- Little Women on Masterpiece starts this Sunday, May 13 on PBS at 7:00MST.

I also am recording “Poetry in America” that same night at 11:00 and 11:30. It looks like they may discuss some poetry during our time period, but even if they don’t ...I would sure like to listen to some poets discuss and read some poetry !!

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog]

My closing thoughts.
There is rare meaning collectable and valuable and rare meaning hard to find, obscure. These guys do not post a catalog, But I came across one of their books offered for sale. It was more under the heading of obscure rather than collectable.

Richard Payne Knight was the author. I note that different of his titles seems to be found in several online versions of antiquarian (obscure) book sellers.

[Candace]

My favorite channel, PBS and Masterpiece Theatre are doing an adaptation of Sandition by Austen with filming to begin in Spring of 2019. Woohoo!

[Kirsten]

Candace wrote: "My favorite channel, PBS and Masterpiece Theatre are doing an adaptation of Sandition by Austen with filming to begin in Spring of 2019. Woohoo!"

Great news!!

[Deborah, Moderator]

Candace wrote: "My favorite channel, PBS and Masterpiece Theatre are doing an adaptation of Sandition by Austen with filming to begin in Spring of 2019. Woohoo!"

I watch a lot of pbs masterpiece theatre. So excited

[Abigail]

Oh dear, I read the description of the project and see very little of the real Sanditon in it. Mr. Davies seems to be letting his imagination run wild!