[Closed] What are you currently reading....

[Barbara]

Question from over the pond - so it costs to have a library card? I have never run across this in the US although many libraries now have signs - " we cannot supply pencils, erasers, etc. etc." and they ask that patrons recycle reserve slips and rubber bands. Recently they eliminated using rubber bands to hold the "hold slip" on books being reserved for patrons, and stick a slip inside the book. All to save pennies.There has been a cut back on hours - probably 10-12 hours of service a week cut. €2.50 is certainly worth it.

[[deleted user]]

I didn't have to pay for my library cards, with Dublin City and Fingal County councils.

There have been a couple of library closures, due to lack of patronage, but mostly they've been doing quite well in Ireland for a host of reasons, and areas without libraries are visited by the Mobile Libraries.

[Barbara]

I have never patronized a mobile library, but I love the idea. I get my books from various places - Kobo and Kindle e-books, Paperback Swap, the local library store which sells used books cheap, online booksellers including Amazon, Alibris, and Kennys, and of course my local independent bookstore, but use my library to get current best sellers. We have a system that allows you to get on a waiting list for a book, and 21 libraries in our county. Some lists can be terribly long. I am currently #122 for Tenth of December by George Saunders. The drawback of library books is you can borrow books for 3 weeks. If no one has requested the book you can renew. But it means every trip to the library to pick up a requested book, I may find a couple more. I have to read these books quickly and put off reading other books in my vast pile of "to be read" books.

[[deleted user]]

Similarly I get my books from the library, my LIBS, and, most recently, Kobo.

We have a good library exchange over here. If I want a book and it's available in another City Council library I can hold for collection or have it sent to my local library. That normally would take a day or two as long as it's already available. I've also gotten books that where available in other libraries outside of Dublin, but I have to order these online and request that they be sent to my local library. That can take a week if it's available when I order it. I've gotten a lot of classic sci-fi through this method. They came from as far afield as Cork City, Wexford and Sligo.

Best-sellers don't usually turn up in Irish libraries until they've been about a year off the best seller list, and you can automatically renew your books twice without penalty regardless of the size of the waiting list. Meaning you can borrow a book for nine weeks and pay nothing as long as renew before the deadlines. (You can do this online. An account is automatically generated with your library number.). I think this is the SOP for all public libraries in Ireland.

[Barbara]

Well your libraries are very user friendly. I noticed that it seems lots of new books come out as over-sized paperbacks and hardcovers at the same time. Perhaps libraries have an agreement to hold off getting new books or perhaps it's for economy's sake.

[[deleted user]]

From what I've heard it's some sort of arrangement where the authors/publishers give the actual books as opposed to just giving permission.

I've only heard this from other libraries. I must look into it.

[[deleted user]]

I've just started The Fortune of the Rougons by Émile Zola. It's the first in a series of twenty novels knows as 'Les Rougon-Macquart'. The series follows the Rougon-Macquart family across five generations, during the period of the Second French Empire. I downloaded a very nice public domain collection for €2. I normally go for the most recent translations, but I tried a sample of these versions first and they read beautifully. I intend to read all of them, and I'm stubborn enough to do so! Incidentally, I should be studying for my exams right now, so this currently ranks as my most ambitious act of procrastination.

[Barbara]

I just finished Denise Mina's new novel Gods and Beasts. This is in the Tartan Noir genre.
I will either start Bringing Up the Bodies this weekend or John Boyne's new book The House of Special Purpose. John Boyne will be at my local independent bookstore this coming Tuesday night and I plan on going. I already have his new book and may start that this weekend.

[[deleted user]]

I just borrowed The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley which is the prequel to The Mists of Avalon. Also reading The House on Tradd Street by Karen White, and Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan. I really want to try a Maeve Binchy this summer too.

[[deleted user]]

Chef wrote: "I just borrowed The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley which is the prequel to The Mists of Avalon. Also reading The House on Tradd Street by Karen White, and Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan..."

What's your take on The Mists of Avalon, Chef? It has appeared in my updates a number of times, and you sent a recommendation, too, but no one has posted a review of it. I'm cautious of starting a book of a fantasy bent, (which I'm assuming this is because it's base the Arthurian legends.). How highly would you recommend it?

[[deleted user]]

Declan, I have barely nipped a toe into the fantasy/sci fi pool. Outside of Dead Witch Walking series and Star Trek, there's so many authors I want to read.

what I liked about Mists was reading the stories of Arthur from the women's perspective. I loved Lady Qwinevere's depth and wit. The strength and power of all the characters. (and was also a great movie btw).

I would rate it about 4 stars Declan ans its cool of you to ask.

[[deleted user]]

I'd actually never heard of the movie, and having googled it I can see it was only released in 2001. I even found an upload of it on YouTube

I'll get the book at some stage, soon, and give it a go, Chef. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Susan]

I have just decided to give myself a Christmas present. Every month I read 2-4 books for review, 1-2 books for here, 2 books for my in person book club and 1-2 for my English cozy mystery club so that I have made no real impact on my TBR pile. So this month I read two books for review both of which I really enjoyed and I am reading no more required books. I'm on vacation and reading just for the heck of it. I'm on my third book from my TBR pile and loving every minute of it. I hope to come back restored next month.

[Barbara]

Wow Susan, that's a lot of work! For most folks, just keeping up with reading for a book club or two is a lot. A perpetual topic for book club members is the pressure of reading books on a schedule and not reading whatever you want. I am currently in 2 face-to-face book clubs. One is oriented towards books with social justice themes, and/or books by racially and ethnically diverse writers. I just made up that description. This month we are reading Blasphemy by Sherman Alexie, a Coeur d'Alene Indian from Washington state, and a lot of his writing is very funny. We try to alternate ficion and non-fiction. The other is my contemporary Irish fiction group. I am missing it tonight as 2 friendly faces were going to be absent, the weather is iffy and it's a busy time of year. I really enjoy the meeting place for my "social justice" bookgroup. Easy free parking, 20 minutes and 10 miles from home. It is 9 am on Saturday but they have great breakfasts and as we are sponsored by the restaurant/bookstore, very welcome. The Irish lit group meets in downtown Washington DC. Parking is very difficult, costly with vicious parking ticket writers. The menu is limited and my favorite menu item recently increased 35% in price. It is a place where lots of groups meet so sometimes it is challenging to get space even on a Monday night. This is the only Goodreads group that I am active in and most the time participate in the reading:)

[Susan]

I wish we had food at our bookclub. We meet at the library and some of go to lunch afterwards. It is hard for all us because there are so many dietary restrictions from gluten free, vegetarian, greens only etc. It is CA. I shouldn't talk as my diet is restricted due to the radiation damage to my throat. There's no steak, nuts, lettuce or anything likely to get stuck in my narrow throat. I also eat semi blandly. Radiation destroyed my taste buds and they have come back slowly and very sensitively. For several years Taco Bell was too spicy to eat if you can imagine.

[[deleted user]]

Wow, that a lot of pre-decided reading for both of you. Reading should be for pleasure, first and foremost.

[Barbara]

Susan wrote: "I wish we had food at our bookclub. We meet at the library and some of go to lunch afterwards. It is hard for all us because there are so many dietary restrictions from gluten free, vegetarian, gre..."

Years ago in Boston I had a friend who was strictly Kosher and later became a vegetarian. But as being Kosher was a religious decision, she was very adept at managing her food "rules". My experience with SOME who have special diets by "choice" or conviction have varied but it can be very tiresome when they impose it on everyone, and there are the occasional "whiners". My most extreme example was on 9/11. I was on campus, only 6 miles from the Pentagon which was burning, and people were trying to find ways to get out of Washington DC and safely home. I was in a panic to get home - cell phones were NOT working - but stopped to see if an acquaintance needed a ride. She was in a panic about food as she was vegan. Nothing I suggested was suitable for her and as she dithered and whined, I said I had to leave to track down my son who was in school. Luckily I live north of DC because anyone who had to go south (towards the Pentagon) and across the Potomac River had to walk for miles. I was puzzled why someone who was so serious about being vegan kept NOTHING to eat at work. Another colleague who is strictly Kosher always managed to work out the food thing at work.
Susan - sorry to hear about your health related food restrictions. I had a similar problem with acid reflux until I got a doctor who prescribed medication. But it is much different to have something that a prescription can take care of, and something that is a physical restriction.

[[deleted user]]

I've been dating a coeliac and I was surprised at how awkward dining out is, even in Dublin which is a fairly big city.

@Susan. I'd really struggle if I had your dietary restrictions. It goes to show just how tough you are. But then you'd have to be tough to run a bar frequented by bikers and marines.

[Allan]

Barbara / Susan-I'm amazed at how much 'prescribed' reading you both do-it explains the teetering TBR piles! Susan, I'm glad you're enjoying your 'holiday'-that's what reading is all about after all!

[Susan]

@Declan, I am not sure what a coeliac is. Can you explain? What's the deal with moderator being posted by your name now?

[J.S.]

[butting in, was looking for Susan...] Coeliacs cannot tolerate cereals & the condition might be a vestige of Neolithic populations, who had to shift to eating grains/cereals. Similar to those in present population who are lactose-intolerant. The Irish population like most northern European countries, has a certain % of each. ---In Italy the % of lactose-intolerant would be higher, where ancient population had less reliance on dairy products.

Ie, it was an advantage to be able to digest cereals, or milk products, and the population shows genetic drift toward those who can. There are actually maps of this genetic "drift" which map the early spread of cereal farming and dairy farming. End of boring info dump!

& Susan could you PM me....... ; )

[[deleted user]]

@J.S. That was a great explanation of it.

@Susan. What J.S. said. :)

[Susan]

Thank you. That was a wonderful answer. I know no coeliacs so is it not so common over here?

[Barbara]

Susan - I think people with this have gluten intolerance, though I am not sure that it is the same as having to east gluten free.

[Susan]

That makes sense.

[J.S.]

Not sure if either medical issue is genetically a "dominant" or recessive. If one's ancestors have it, you would have a greater risk of having it.

Coincidentally, the latest burnt offering from here contains a character who suffers from both issues, the wrathful Ingcel the One Eyed
( see also http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T301...
The Destruction of da Derga's Hostel).

...Anyone who wants to be a "beta reader" on this project should send me a PM, on condition that 1. you finish it and give feedback before 25th Dec, and 2. you give feedback in any event -- this is not an offer for free ice cream! & Even if you hate the ice cream. Am trying to flog it and get it finished. Before I expire.

Per Wilde Oscar, Either this novel goes, or I do.

[[deleted user]]

It's sounds like something I'd enjoy, J.S., but I'm inundated at the moment and I couldn't promise when I'd finish it. It sounds like something I'd hand over money for.

[J.S.]

Yes, the timing sucks! ;)
happy holidays, everyone

[[deleted user]]

If you're still looking for Beta readers towards the end of January I'd like to do it. As long as isn't more than 400 pages I can guarantee finishing it in a week regardless of how busy I am.

And happy hols, J.S. :)

[[deleted user]]

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This thread has been closed to new comments as there is a newer, more frequently used thread serving the same purpose.

Declan. :)

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