Random Thoughts Showing 13,601-13,650 of 17,689

[Andy]

Two! And one of those they made me read at school..... To Kill a Mockingbird

[Gretchen]

Sorry Allie. Dickens was one of those authors I have always put off reading. I was never forced to in school and I figured I might appreciate him more when I was an adult. Maybe I am just not grown up enough yet.

[Gretchen]

Sorry Allie. Dickens was one of those authors I have always put off reading. I was never forced to in school and I figured I might appreciate him more when I was an adult. Maybe I am just not grown up enough yet.

[happy]

Minor health scare this week - had a basal cell carcinoma take off of my jaw line - I now have a 10 cm incision from my ear to the middle of my chin :(.

The good news is that the Doc says he got all of the cancer and as of now that's it, except for regular check ups - the bad news is that it was 3 cms

If the carcinoma was 2 inches higher and it was 150 yrs ago I would have a good dueling scare to impress the "fairer sex"

[Kimber]

happy wrote: "Minor health scare this week - had a basal cell carcinoma take off of my jaw line - I now have a 10 cm incision from my ear to the middle of my chin :(.

The good news is that the Doc says he got a..."

Take care of that Happy!

[Kimber]

Shannon and Gretchen.... I finished Sisters of Versailles :D

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[happy]

Kimber wrote: "happy wrote: "Minor health scare this week - had a basal cell carcinoma take off of my jaw line - I now have a 10 cm incision from my ear to the middle of my chin :(.

The good news is that the Doc..."

Thank heaven for Mrs. Happy - she insisted that I go see the Dr. :)

She also has some rather gruesome pics of the whole) thing - including he 3 cm hole in my jaw where the thing was :)

[Simona]

That was close, Happy. Now you will have a sexy pirate's scar! Beware of the ladies! :) And bring flowers to the clever and attentive Mrs Happy.

As for the Telegraph's list, I haven't read Bleak House and The Great Gatsby- yet. And I'm not going to read the Fifty Shades trilogy.

[Simona]

And, thanks Kimber to introduce me to Silverstein. I didn't know him.

[Kim]

Physical locations for Amazon? Most of the books I buy are specialty (academic and/or reference books) such as textbooks and encyclopedias that I simply couldn't afford new. I buy those from Amazon Marketplace. Most other books such as fiction or popular non-fiction I borrow from the library. (I've also won a few on Goodreads). :)
Not really interested in a physical Amazon store unless there is no other bookstore nearby, and there are several in my city.
I do love Amazon Marketplace and the Kindle books though.

[Kimber]

Simona wrote: "And, thanks Kimber to introduce me to Silverstein. I didn't know him."

Glad too! He's fun and whimsical and then he'll hit you with a whammy in the feels. :D

[Kimber]

Oh..and Terri..just for you if you check in:

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/6...

It's ROMANCE WEEK on Goodreads. Your fave, I know ;D

[Andy]

X-Files...... I recollect a few fans being on here?

So how did yer all rate that first episode then....? Juries out here, got the 2nd one to watch but was like watching a time warp with Molder banging on about conspiracies & looking desperately old too......

[Mark]

After the mess of the last series, it seemed like nothing had moved on

[Andy]

Mark wrote: "After the mess of the last series, it seemed like nothing had moved on"

Most defo, even the dialogue between Molder & Scully was nigh verbatim...... was really hoping they'd go back to the excellence of the first few series & chasing monsters & the alike....... obviously they're pension funds & Duchovny's recent divorce has required the cash-cow thats called the X-Files to be resurrected :(

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Got the first of this year's quarterly book sales for the local Historical Society on Sunday. Ex-library books are $1; donated books are $2. I usually manage to come home with a reasonable swag. :D

[happy]

I just love late winter/early spring weather! Yesterday it was 61F-16C, and today we had 4 inches of snow!

[Jane]

Well, anyone here in the East want to head to Punxatawney, PA with me and give Phil the what-for? :)

[Gretchen]

Nope. We are snow free and it's suppose to be in the 50s this weekend in Minnesota. Phil is my friend this week.

[Bobby]

90 degrees in Scottsdale yesterday!! Fantastic now but hoping this isn't a harbinger of the Summer to come!

[Simona]

Umberto Eco died. I think he was our greater living writer...and a great man.

[Gretchen]

Harper Lee died this week too.

[Allison]

^Two in one day :/

[Kim]

I read To Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee years ago in school, and I also the movie--again, in school. I enjoyed them both. I saw "The Name of the Rose" movie several years ago, but haven't read any of Umberto Eco's books.
On another subject, my favorite periods are medieval, renaissance/Tudor, and Early Modern history. But most of the history and historical fiction books that are available in the English language written about those periods revolve mostly around British history (mostly English, and some Scottish). I haven't seen much about Wales, or Ireland for that matter. If you want to know more about the continental countries, then you'll have to read either an academic text (these can be somewhat dry), or learn another language, it seems. A lot of these countries have fascinating stories, and some interesting rulers. The Holy Roman Empire, and other central and eastern European countries. And the way of life also varied a bit from territory to territory. There is a lot of German language historical fiction out there that hasn't been translated into English, but still is sometimes translated into many if not all of the other European languages--why?? I don't see why publishers couldn't translate more historical novels, and publish more history books (for general readers) in English. Surely they would find a market among those who wanted them.

[Mark]

Andy wrote: "Mark wrote: "After the mess of the last series, it seemed like nothing had moved on"

Most defo, even the dialogue between Molder & Scully was nigh verbatim...... was really hoping they'd go back t..."

Great episode of xfiles tonight. Very enjoyable.

[Bobby]

Kim wrote: "I read To Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee years ago in school, and I also the movie--again, in school. I enjoyed them both. I saw "The Name of the Rose" movie several years ago, but hav..."

Check out Sharon Kay Penman for Welsh historical novels.

[Andy]

Mark wrote: "Andy wrote: "Mark wrote: "After the mess of the last series, it seemed like nothing had moved on"

Most defo, even the dialogue between Molder & Scully was nigh verbatim...... was really hoping the..."

Good to hear! I thought the second in the series was a lot better than the opener so plsd to see its going in the right direction.

[Kim]

Mark, thanks for the recommendation. I've read several of Ms. Penman's books, and thoroughly enjoyed them.
But out of curiosity, is anyone of you fluent in reading German, and have you read their historical novels (recently published--not classics) not in English? What did you think? They seem to love the Middle Ages over there, and the Holy Roman was VERY (IMHO) to European history.

[May]

We came late to Sharon Kay Penman's HF, but my husband & I enjoy her work immensely

[Bobby]

May wrote: "We came late to Sharon Kay Penman's HF, but my husband & I enjoy her work immensely"

Went to her book signing here last year and found her very easy to talk to and with. Really knows her stuff and is constantly updating her information through historical research for her next book!!
I told Ms. Penman that we found her books by accident. My wife and I are personal friends with Cathie Pelletier (a Maine author) and in looking for Cathie's latest book at a book store Penman came up right next to Pelletier in alphabetical order. When Ms. Penman signed her book for me she included a thanks to Cathie and a smiley face!!!

[Kimber]

I love reading about the Holy Roman Empire, Bavaria, Austria and those areas but unfortunately don't speak German. I've read all of Oliver Pötzsch's series as well as Martin Jensen's but am always looking for more.

[May]

Bobby, I love that! What fun! Do you live in ME?

[Kat]

Kim wrote: "But out of curiosity, is anyone of you fluent in reading German, and have you read their historical novels (recently published--not classics) not in English? What did you think? They seem to love the Middle Ages over there."

I am fluent in German, and I do read German novels if either the original book was in German, or if an English translation is not available (for non-German originals).

There are a number of brilliant historical fiction writers in Germany. Germans love crime novels, and true to that there's a huge amount of historical crime novels to choose from. Petra Oelker is very prolific and springs to mind immediately.

Leaving crime aside, French author and historian Régine Pernoud is very popular and successful in Germany, and to my surprise I have found that some of her popular books have been translated to German, but not English (yet?).

[Bobby]

May wrote: "Bobby, I love that! What fun! Do you live in ME?"

Live in Scottsdale Az. now....met Cathie when we lived in Brooks, Maine back in the '80's and have stayed friends since then.

[May]

How wonderful!!! Have a published author as a personal friend seems to be the best!!!

[Bobby]

May wrote: "How wonderful!!! Have a published author as a personal friend seems to be the best!!!"

In the spirit of "dropping names" LOL..I had the good luck to meet and interview Stephen King several times as well when living in Maine. In 1990 his son, Owen, made the Bangor Little League All Star team and I directed the broadcast of that team winning the Maine state championship. Stephen was to EVERY game. On a sidebar, AFTER his son was too old for Little League, Stephen paid one million dollars to build a lighted Little League stadium, called the Field of Dreams, in Bangor for future players. He didn't want it to look like he was building it for Owen!!

[May]

I remember that being in the news! Seems like he is a very cool guy!!

[Bobby]

Won this one in a Giveaway...



Looking forward to this read!!!

[Andy]

Mark wrote: "Andy wrote: "Mark wrote: "After the mess of the last series, it seemed like nothing had moved on"

Most defo, even the dialogue between Molder & Scully was nigh verbatim...... was really hoping the..."

Jus watched, that were brilliant! Very clever, funny & a great twist on the Werewolf genre :D

[Mark]

Andy wrote: "Mark wrote: "Andy wrote: "Mark wrote: "After the mess of the last series, it seemed like nothing had moved on"

Most defo, even the dialogue between Molder & Scully was nigh verbatim...... was real..."

I know, one of the best.

[Gretchen]

In case I had forgotten I lived in Minnesota, Mother Nature reminded me. On Saturday we spent all day outside. It was 61 degrees. We even pulled out the grill and picnicked in the backyard. This morning I woke up, and there was three inches of snow in my yard and the snow boots were back on. It was 25 degrees and the twins were mad that they had to wear gloves again.

[May]

We are doing huge swings are in temps here in New England also... 58 today, below freezing tonight, possibility of temps falling to 17 by Wed night. But I still feel Spring coming!!!

[Allison]

Gretchen wrote: "In case I had forgotten I lived in Minnesota, Mother Nature reminded me. On Saturday we spent all day outside. It was 61 degrees. We even pulled out the grill and picnicked in the backyard. This mo..."

Us (Michiganders) too!!!

It's snowing like a good thing out there right now and we have a winter warning advisory/alert. Just grilled steaks outside in 60 degree weather this weekend lol.

[Kimber]

Something to check out! My two favorite things...Books and Food...so what is better than that? Food from Books! Recipes by Cooking Category, by Century or by Book Title. Everything from Jane Eyre to Harry Potter. Enjoy.

http://thelittlelibrarycafe.com/

[Simona]

Delicious!!!

[Bobby]

Kimber wrote: "Something to check out! My two favorite things...Books and Food...so what is better than that? Food from Books! Recipes by Cooking Category, by Century or by Book Title. Everything from Jane Eyre t..."

What a clever premise...bet that took some researching!

[Gretchen]

Happy Read Across America Day! My second favorite holiday of the year!

[Allison]

Kimber wrote: "Something to check out! My two favorite things...Books and Food...so what is better than that? Food from Books! Recipes by Cooking Category, by Century or by Book Title. Everything from Jane Eyre t..."

Thanks for posting that, Kimber!
I already have a Jane Austen, a Sherlock Holmes, an I Love Lucy and two Winnie the Pooh cookbooks in my tbr and I own Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking but I need to save this! Bookmarking it now :)

[Kimber]

Just as poignant and beautiful as it was the year it won an Oscar for Best Animated Short: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

If you've seen it, please enjoy again.
If you haven't seen it, you're welcome ;)

I think it should be mandatory viewing for all book lovers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zllJq...

[Kimber]

Allie wrote: "Kimber wrote: "Something to check out! My two favorite things...Books and Food...so what is better than that? Food from Books! Recipes by Cooking Category, by Century or by Book Title. Everything f..."

I only have a medieval cookbook on the kindle but that isn't specific to any particular work.
However, in real book form, I do have Nanny Ogg's Cookbook: A Useful and Improving Almanack of Information Including Astonishing Recipes from Terry Pratchett's Discworld. If you are familiar with Nanny Ogg than you won't be surprised that most of the recipes are aphrodisiacal in nature. Most can actually be made but being a Discworld cookbook there are some I wouldn't even store the ingredients for together in my fridge. :D