Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
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ABOUT BOOKS AND READING
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What are U reading these days? (PART EIGHT (2012) (ONGOING THREAD for 2012)



Can you elaborate on that please? What's SAG?
How does it stifle creativity?
Are you concerned about privacy?

Any extra hoops to jump through stifle creativity. I don't go to any of the art & craft shows here in KY because they're all run by & overseen by the KY Craft Council. I believe it's free to join the council, but you have to have a business license to join. That means not only $75/year, but you have to file taxes quarterly. So my hobby becomes work. No thanks.
If you're not concerned about the privacy of your vital information, you're looking for trouble. Identity theft is a big business - both in stealing it & 'protecting' against it. (The latter is a scam.)
Even mundane personal details should be thoughtfully shared. If it's on the web, it's available forever. At our age, it's probably not that big a deal, but I certainly wouldn't want some of the exploits of my younger days available for my kids or grandkids to find.
Grandpa, who is that naked girl & what are you smoking in that weird looking pipe?
No, thank you!
;-)

Jim, I made a comment in passing because my reply to Mary JL was in error due to goodreads' mistake. I can't report an error for an author I don't read and I'm not sure what the facts are. I'm taking Mary JL's word for it that it's not the same Linda Evans and that's good enough for me but not enough to report something I know nothing about. I have no idea which books each Linda wrote.
I take back my complaint, if I can
I can see why it's a problem, even after the legwork has been done. I wouldn't do the librarian work either, since it can be undone at any time. It's inefficient but I don't know any other way they can do it.

About SAG, I didn't know that special system in place re unique acting names. Sounds like a good idea, but I can see your point of view about jumping through hoops.
Vaguely related, when it comes to Literary Volunteers (which I've occasionally delved into), the regulations are getting annoyingly strict and demanding; they require so much extra reportage and record-keeping, that it seems as if it should be a paying job! I've had my days of professional teaching. I can do without all the extra demands of the bureaucracy. I don't mind teaching and making lesson plans, but all the extra paperwork is a terrible deterrent to my desire to volunteer. Seems to me that the paid administrators should be doing the extra paperwork, not the volunteers.
Not only that, but the correspondence has a demanding tone which should be used for paid employees, not volunteers.

Jackie, the word "clutter" does carry with it the connotation of "messy". I like to use my expression: "cleverly cluttered". Nowadays so many people are minimalists because they can't stand even "good" clutter. I need my memories and bibelots about me. I have a plaque which says: "This isn't clutter. These are my memories." (and I get such pleasure from them.) That about sums it up.

That is one of the most awesome quotes ever! Ant and Eric will love it! It's true, our stuff is a big part of our lives. I have a few mementos left out but mostly I have them put away. Less to clean

Although I keep a membership in the Goodreads Librarians group, I'm not active there (and I don't get the daily group updates from there --they'll swamp your list of daily updates like a tsunami!). Most of my activity as a GR librarian is correcting typos and factual errors in book descriptions, and sometimes adding the "contributors" to the record for an anthology; a project like this would be a pretty ambitious one for me. But I'll keep it in mind, and will try to take a peek at that author page and see if I can do anything helpful sometime in the weeks and months ahead --provided that time permits.

Still, mistakes get made & they can seem pretty horrific. For instance, some authors write under several different names & have books in a variety of languages. One person making an incorrect change & authors can seem to disappear or folks books turn into other languages & such. Usually that's just done through well meaning ignorance. There's a lot more to it than most people would guess.

I'm sure there's a lot more to being a goodreads librarian than one would think.
It seems like they have to best system possible with multiple librarians.
When I have something to report I contact goodreads directly. In fact, I contacted them today about an erroneous quote, not the quote but where it came from. It was a Doctor Who quote but the episode it claimed to be from was incorrect. When I have the proper info, I don't mind reporting it.
This is the quote:
"You want weapons? We're in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!" ~ Russell T Davies
Pretty good quote if you ask me.

Jackie, that quote reminds me of this one:
"I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man." -Oscar Wilde


BTW, I spotted what seems to be an error at the following GR book description of _A Doll's House_:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37...
It shows the publication date of Ibsen's A Doll's House as 1385. It should be 1879.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Doll%2...
The reason I noticed it is because I recently streamed the 1973 movie adaptation (starring Anthony Hopkins) from Netflix.
"A Doll's House" (1973)
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/A_D...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069987/
IMDb description:"A wealthy woman's attempts to help her financially troubled husband go unrewarded."
Here's a better description: "Written in 1879 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, A Doll's House is a three act play about a seemingly typical housewife who becomes disillusioned and dissatisfied with her condescending husband."
FROM: http://plays.about.com/od/plays/a/dol...
Looks like it may be coming out as a new movie with Ben Kingsley:
"A Doll's House" (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2072872/
"Based on the Ibsen play, a drama centered on a woman married to an overbearing husband, set against the backdrop of the current economic crisis."
FROM ANOTHER SOURCE (written Nov. 2011):
"The cast has been set for the feature film adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play A Doll’s House. Ben Kingsley, Jena Malone, Julian Sands, and Michele Martin are set as the leads ... the pic ... will be a modern day version of Ibsen’s play. The film centers on 'a young woman’s escape from an overbearing husband set during today’s recession.'”
FROM: http://collider.com/ben-kingsley-jena...
I've always been curious about this classic play. It feels good to finally know what it's about, thanks to Netflix. I now realize why it's such a classic. The ending gives some real insights into how a relationship can change forever when the uncaring and selfish side of a spouse's personality becomes exposed.


I never read the story but I did watch the 1997 TV movie with Ian Richardson via a Netflix DVD:
"The Canterville Ghost":
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The-C...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221859/
I would have preferred the 1996 TV version with Patrick Stewart.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115820/
"Adaption of the famous Oscar Wilde tale about a young American girl that helps a British ghost find rest and forgiveness."
Oh, I just discovered that it's available to stream from Netflix. Think I'll do that!
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The_C...
I sometimes enjoy comparing different versions.
In 2009 I watched "Wilde" (1997),
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120514/
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Wilde...
"Stephen Fry stars as playwright and larger-than-life personality Oscar Wilde in this lush historical drama based on the late Richard Ellmann's definitive biography of one of London's most prolific writers and orators."
I love Stephen Fry. He hosted the BAFTA awards the other night. He's priceless!

RE: Movie: "A Doll's House" (2012)
This new version is set in modern times when we have a different attitude about women's roles. Should be interesting to make comparisons between the older versions and the newer one. There are interesting discussions at the GR reviews. Reviewers have different opinions about the behavior of the protagonists.
I read online about a different live adaptation of the play with an entirely different slant, with sympathy on the man's side.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/nyr...
ARTICLE: "‘A Doll’s House’ in Contemporary Suburbia"
"What? Sympathy for Torvald, the priggish, prejudiced bully who won’t allow his wife’s favorite sweets in the house and doles out the housekeeping money as if she were 6 years old? The genius of this reimagined “Doll’s House,” which Mr. Edelstein also directed, is that it forces us to re-examine not just our ideas about a classic play but also our smug assumptions about all the social change that would seem to separate us from Ibsen’s Norway."
Anyway, you can see that there's plenty of food for thought in the play; it's a meaty work to chew over. Thought-provoking.
The article says: "We are reminded of why 'A Doll’s House' became a classic in the first place."

My apartment would definitely drive you 'mental', Jackie. Occasionally it even bothers me and I have to pick something up. Not often.

BTW, I spotted what seems to be an error at the following GR book description of..."
I fixed the publication year, Joy. Thanks for pointing it out.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The one comment on my review is from a friend who is pretty well read & she echoes Jackie's comment. It's funny how something can be such a well known movie & yet an unknown story.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0380136/
I wonder if Netflix has it.
I'll have to watch Wilde.
I also read The Picture of Dorian Gray and was unaware that he was the author for that either. Now that I've read two really good books by Wilde, I plan on reading more of him.


That's great, Jim. Thank YOU!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The one comment on my review is from a friend who is pretty well read & she echoes Jackie's com..."
For some strange reason, my mind thinks of The Hound of the Baskervilles when I hear the title, The Canterville Ghost. So I erroneously associate both books with Conan Doyle. I do appreciate being reminded that Oscar Wilde is the one who wrote TCG.
And then there's the The Canterbury Tales... but let's leave Chaucer out of this! :)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0380136/ "
That sound SO interesting, Jackie! Too bad Netflix doesn't carry it. I can't find it in the library catalog either. Is it still on BBC?

The best ones are when Brian Cox is on, he's smart and funny too. Here's a full ep with him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn4yW4...

I'm saving the links to my "To Do" files.
(Actually, I sent myself an email with a reminder and the links.) :)
(Wish we could cc these posts to ourselves.)

I like the "cloud" image at LibraryThing which shows the various genres that _Handle with Care_ fits into. See it at:
http://www.librarything.com/work/6001672
The "cloud" image is in the "tags" section, near the top of the page. I suppose it's similar to Goodreads' shelves but it gives a clearer picture by making some words larger than others to indicate which genres are referred to most. A good idea.



I'm still in the Duniverse and plan to be there for quite a while. I'm just starting the second novel in the Legends of Dune trilogy, The Machine Crusade.
It's a re-read of the trilogy but I read it so long ago that I've forgotten so much, it's almost like a first read. Then again, the Dune series is so in depth and intense, I always get something new out it. No matter how many times I read them. Either way, I'm enjoying myself thoroughly.

Werner, sounds like an ambitious read... and a troubling one. Please let us know if you find any interesting tidbits.

I'm still in the Duniverse and plan to be there for quite a while. I'm just starting the second novel in the Legends of Dune trilogy, [book:The Machine Crusade|... ... Either way, I'm enjoying myself thoroughly. "
Jackie, glad to hear you're enjoying your reading. That's what it's all about!

I had mentioned that the word "Lacuna" refers to an underwater cave. Since then I've found out that... [since some readers may prefer to find this out for themselves, I will put this in as a spoiler]: (view spoiler)
For more about the word "lacuna" see the following dictionaries:
http://www.vocabulary.com/definition/...
http://www.yourdictionary.com/lacuna

==========================================
OTHER COMMENTS BY ME (copied and pasted from my reply to someone's comment under my review):
----------------------------------------------------
One thing about Kingsolver, she's good at thinking up interesting similes and metaphors (in this book anyway).
This story, The Lacuna, has me hooked because I like the kid who's telling the story (which is told via his diaries and letters but still seems like a story, i.e., not boring). His early diaries are very colloquial and droll, sort of mocking in a way. He likes to mock people; that's kinda fun. He brings in historical characters and events which give background to his story.
The plot seems to be slow, but that may be only because I'm a slow reader.
----------------------------------------------------
BTW, I find that my Goodreads reviews often are actually running commentaries which I make as I read the book. So my review may be made up of "EDITS". I find that this is easier than trying to write a review after I finish the book. It's also better in the respect that the thoughts that come to me as I read may be forgotten if I don't write them right away. Anyway, that's my M.O. ("modus operandi" (Latin): method of operating, method of operation, mode of operation) I LOVE that term! :)
I hope that my M.O. in my reviews isn't confusing to the readers of my reviews (if there ARE any)! :)

I love learning new words. On page 98 of the book, _The Lacuna_, it mentions "the scent of copal". I had never heard of copal. That sent me on a search online. At Wiki I learned that "copal is a name given to tree resin that is particularly identified with the aromatic resins..."
From there I researched incense which includes Frankincense and Myrrh.
SEE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incense
Also, at various Wiki pages I learned:
Frankincense [is] ... an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia ...
Myrrh is the aromatic oleoresin of a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora... An oleoresin is a natural blend of an essential oil and a resin. Myrrh resin is a natural gum.
The following overview from the Wiki page on incense was an eye-opener:
===================================================
NATURAL SOLID AROMATICS:
Woods and barks : Aloeswood, Cedar, Sandalwood, Cypress, Juniper, Cassia, Cinnamon
Seeds and fruits: Coriander, Cardamom, Juniper, Nutmeg, Star anise, Vanilla
Resins and gums: Amber, Bdellium, Benzoin, Kauri Gum, Copal, Frankincense, Myrrh, Labdanum, Dragon's blood (a plant resin), Mastic (plant resin), Storax, Galbanum, Elemi, Camphor, Sandarac, Guggul (Indian Myrrh), Opoponax, Tolu balsam
Leaves: Patchouli, Sage, Bay, Tea, Balsam
Roots and rhizomes: Vetiver, Orris, Calamus, Spikenard, Galangal, Costus
Flowers and buds: Clove, Lavender, Saffron, Rose
Animal-derived materials: Ambergris, Civet, Musk, Operculum
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incense
===========================================
Who knew! (I had often run across the word "Patchouli" but had no idea what it was. Still don't. )
I LOVE getting/seeing an all-over view of things. It clears away the fog of ambiguity, sets things in their place, gives a clear perspective.

THE USE OF INCENSE (and other related information)
QUESTION: Why do priests use incense at Mass? Where does it come from?
ANSWER: The purpose of incensing and the symbolic value of the smoke is that of purification and sanctification. ... The smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven... The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass which links heaven with earth, and allow us to enter into the presence of God.
FROM: http://bfhu.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/...
WHAT IS THE INCENSE USED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: ...it is traditionally Boswellia from Arabia Felix and India.
FROM: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...
Omani frankincense (Boswellia sacra) [NOTE: "OMANI MEANS IT'S FROM OMAN.]-jh : Boswellia sacra is a tree in the Burseraceae family. It is the primary tree in the genus Boswellia from which frankincense, a resinous dried sap, is derived. Some literature identifies B. sacra as growing in Oman and Yemen...
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswelli...
Well, if you've ever wondered about that and about what "frankincense" is, THAT should clear it up.

I do that sometimes, especially with short story books that I'm listening to since it's harder to go back & look up stuff. I just did that with my review of The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard. That can take some extra time because I had to make a table of contents as I went. None of the editions I looked at (there are a lot) listed all the stories, much less which ones were in the audio book I listened to. It only had 11 of the them.
I really like it when my friends review short story books by individual story, so I try to, when I can. It gives a much better look at a short story book where the material can vary widely. This one was really interesting because Leonard is best known now for his crime novels, several of which have been turned into movies, but he was an excellent western writer, too. One of the the short stories in this collection was turned into a movie, "3:10 to Yuma" at least twice. He's also the guy that wrote Hombre, the novel which one of my favorite Paul Newman movies was based on.
Leonard has more movies based on his works than even I'd realized. Here's a list from IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001465/

Joy, when I finish the Hartmann book, I'll post a link here to my review!

Your list plant parts, as well as volatile oils, are what I use to make medicinal teas and tinctures. Different parts are used for a variety of ailments; knowing which part to use is essential and the methods for woody parts as opposed to leafy parts are slightly different in the teas (infusions and decoctions).
Reviews: I find that when I keep a document on my computer while reading, it's easier to write a review as I update it constantly. I, too, forget a lot of my thoughts while reading and/or other thoughts supplant the earlier ones.


Your list plant parts, as well as volatile oils, are what I use to make medicinal teas and tinctures. Different parts are used for a variety of ailments; knowing which part to use is essent..."
Jackie, you should have been a pharmacist!
I like your idea of keeping an open doc on the computer while reading, and jotting down thoughts that come about the story or style. Wonderful idea! It certainly would be easy to keep a Notepad text doc open and then save it each time you stop reading. Open it again the next time you start reading. File each doc in a folder called "Notes taken while reading books." Name each
Better yet, use WordPad. That way you could save reference-links (if you wanted to) and they would be clickable (hyperlinked).
Hmm, would I be disciplined enough to bring up the doc each time I sat down to read? Knowing myself, I don't think so! LOL
The doc would certainly be valuable when the time came to write a review for the Goodreads file.

I get the bulk of my reading in at night, in bed. I have a PC, so I have to physically write notes to later put into the Wordpad doc. I don't do it often, because most books aren't worth the time and effort, or it's all been said before. When I do add to the doc, it's only important things to point out and mostly done for group-read discussions.

http://torfaen.wikidot.com/apothecarist
"An apothecarist is an advanced version of the alchemist. The apothecarist has skills in herbology and toxicology, and gathers the ingredients for, and makes the medicines used by the populace. Sometimes the apothecarists work out of their homes, but more often they work out of a shop. Usually, the apothecarist has minimal healing skills, if any, and their living is made selling medicines to healers and the average person."
http://hkcarms.tripod.com/occ.html
http://hkcarms.tripod.com/oc1.html [scroll down at the page]
About hand-written notes, I have them all over the place. They pile up and I rarely have time or energy to transcribe them to a computer doc. Keeping my handwritten notes organized is a challenge. Some day I will describe my method to you. It's too hard to explain by typing, but it's worked for years.
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I love it. Yes, I'm all about clutter, too. I love my stuff; books, tools, pictures. That's a perfect quote, Joy.