Retired: What are you reading? Showing 451-500 of 5,490

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

sue
Voting for may ended march 21st. If you go to polls you can see what had the most votes for our May readings.

[Sue]

Laura wrote: "sue
Voting for may ended march 21st. If you go to polls you can see what had the most votes for our May readings."

Thanks Laura

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

Laura wrote: "sue
Voting for may ended march 21st. If you go to polls you can see what had the most votes for our May readings."

Sue, The post-1980 read is "Swamplandia! by Karen Russell.

The Pre-1980 read is Light in August by William Faulkner. (My favorite Faulkner!)

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

Mike wrote: "Laura wrote: "sue
Voting for may ended march 21st. If you go to polls you can see what had the most votes for our May readings."

Sue, The post-1980 read is "Swamplandia! by ... i I've got my copy of book They Don't Dance Much A Novel by James Ross. I have a signed first of A Parchment of Leaves ordered. Meanwhile, I'm reading All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque for group "Around WWI." A remarkable book.

Mike

[Sue]

Mike wrote: "Laura wrote: "sue
Voting for may ended march 21st. If you go to polls you can see what had the most votes for our May readings."

Sue, The post-1980 read is "Swamplandia! by [author:..."

Oh good. I've been wanting to read Light in August again. Haven't read it since college (wrote my thesis on it). I'm loving all the Faulkner reading I'm doing since joining this group. I fully intend to read it all.

[[deleted user]]

where do i find the link to the polls?

[Meran]

I read Pillars.. Don't remember it being a prodigious read... It went so well, I guess!

Try reading The Baroque Cycle... In 3 books, it's pretty long and VERY involved! Loved it though. It was a great history lesson in a fiction novel.

[[deleted user]]

Love Karen Russell. Looking forward to chatting about SWAMPLANDIA. Great interview from a few years back: http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/20...

[Meran]

I read Swamplandia last year. If I recall correctly, I liked it and was a bit surprised that I did. Very unusual stories!

Mmm. I'm always getting interrupted. I keep bookmarks around for that purpose ;) It doesnt bother me, most times.

[[deleted user]]

reading the dog by jack livngs

[John]

I'm overloaded and overwhelmed.

The Zimmermann Telegram The decoding of the Zimmerman Telegram is one of the final straws to break Woodrow Wilson's policy of pacifism and isolationism. This book explores the United States position in relation to European events in WWI and the German efforts to prevent the US from joining the Allies. To this end Germany engaged in sabotage and notable attempts in funding Mexico and / or the Revolutionaries to harry the United States border. A busy America at home can only be good for Germany as she is stuck in a quagmire of stalemate. Should Germany prevail in Europe The Kaiser promises to help Mexico regain its lost territories in southwestern U.S., by helping Mexico launch a military campaign. Germany was paying Pancho Villa. Germany is on the verge of loosing The Wolf Pack on Atlantic international shipping, no holds barred. In this treatise Japan looms large as an additional force in Mexico vying for a navel port on the Pacific coastline. These Yellow Horde fears fuel Japanese interment 35 yrs later. This was never presented in high school history class. Juicy stuff.

Dark Invasion: 1915: Germany's Secret War and the Hunt for the First Terrorist Cell in America follows similar avenue of exploring Germany and its terrorist/ saboteur's efforts on the eastern seaboard. Just picked it up today and haven't started it.

The Choiring of the Trees was gong to be my Southern read for the month but my reserved copy of Sycamore Row arrived at the library. I have responsibilities to my fellow Prescott Library card holders! One mustn't bogart that book my friend.

Come tell me Grisham is a Southern author and get me off the hook.

Oh heavens, he is an Arkansas boy. U of Mississippi.

[[deleted user]]

for those you are not famlier with the name jack livings.
He new writer. His well known for his short story the dog. He is coming out with a debut book augest tihs year.

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

A Recommendation I've just read a review by Daniel Woodrell in the New York Times Review of Books of the new novel Long Man by Amy Greene. This one looks like a real winner. Set in 1936, the story deals with the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority and the people whose lives are turned upside down, either voluntarily leaving their land to be flooded, or involuntarily evicted by their own government. The story centers on Annie Clyde Johnson who refuses to move. She views the family land as her daughters' inheritance. Woodrell wrote, "The plot is simple but rich, and provides great suspense." As a lover of the work of Woodrell, I'm going to take his advice and read this one.

Mike

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

John wrote: "I'm overloaded and overwhelmed.

The Zimmermann Telegram The decoding of the Zimmerman Telegram is one of the final straws to break Woodrow Wilson's policy of pacifism and isolationi..."

Yep, John, I'll get you off the hook. He is a bona fide Mississippi Lawyer, although he sure doesn't have to take many cases anymore. Grisham lived in Holly Springs, Ms. When the Oxford American Magazine was about to go under, Grisham came to the rescue and kept the magazine going.

Grisham and I get along just fine until he writes about District Attorneys. He seems to have the attitude that DA stands for Dumb A**. It doesn't. Take A Time to Kill. Any DA worth his salt would have indicted the grieving father for manslaughter. Recommended a sentence on the low side and not been opposed to probation. Of course that wouldn't have been a best seller.

I believe Grisham's living up in Virginia these days. He's done some fine charitable giving.

Mike

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Mike, have you read Woodrell's Bayou Trilogy? What can you tell me about it?

[[deleted user]]

put outer dark on hold

[[deleted user]]

what is this months group reads?

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Erika wrote: "what is this months group reads?"




The moderator's choice this month is

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

@Diane, I haven't read the Bayou Trilogy. I need to get to them!

Mike

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

@Erika, This months reads are They Don't Dance Much by James Ross

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

Thanks, Diane, that reads info looks a lot better th

[[deleted user]]

The little prince

This book is about a little prince that goes on a journey to help his plant and find out what is most important thing in lie is. each place in stops at has a new point of view on what is important in life. The book has a good flow to it and good lesson at the end.
I can not say anymore because I was about to give away the ending. Should read at least onnce.

[[deleted user]]

The little prince

This book is about a little prince that goes on a journey to help his plant and find out what is most important thing in life is. each place in stops at has a new point of view on what is important in life. The book has a good flow to it and good lesson at the end.
I can not say anymore because I was about to give away the ending. Should read at least onnce.

[[deleted user]]

Hi all, I wanted to share this list of the fifty best southern novels ever written that Flavorwire recently put together.

http://flavorwire.com/448660/the-50-b...

I was glad to see many of our reads and nominations on the list!

Jason

[Sue]

Jason wrote: "Hi all, I wanted to share this list of the fifty best southern novels ever written that Flavorwire recently put together.

http://flavorwire.com/448660/the-50-b...

I..."

I always love to check these lists out. Thanks Jason.

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

Jason wrote: "Hi all, I wanted to share this list of the fifty best southern novels ever written that Flavorwire recently put together.

http://flavorwire.com/448660/the-50-b...

I..."

Jsson, thanks for posting this list. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through it. As you were, I was pleased to see so many of our former group reads. Our members have nominated and voted to read many of the great works of Southern Lit.

I'm sure that lists such as this and others that have been posted in our discussion topics will continue to provide great reads.

Mike

[Jason]

I read this list yesterday! Great list!

[Patricia]

Sue wrote: "Jason wrote: "Hi all, I wanted to share this list of the fifty best southern novels ever written that Flavorwire recently put together.

Thanks so much for sharing this list, Jason. And there's another group member that I should thank--but I can't remember the name. One of you mentioned Pat Conroy's MY READING LIFE. I didn't hesitate for a moment to buy it. It's more memoir, it seems to me, than essay; but each is fine reading. I was very amused by the chapter on Conroy's high school obsession/fixation on Wolfe (treat yourselves!). But that made me think for the first time in years about Wolfe himself, possibly the single greatest American example of over-writing in fiction. But had he lived, he would have corrected that, I believe. And if you love the writing itself, you're better able to handle the over-writing. Kindles are dangerous in one respect, as we all understand: I bought LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL within seconds. What a rare treat, to read Wolfe at two greatly different times of life. The first time around, I read for the writing itself. This time I am reading for meaning--and what a lot of meaning and insight is there! Yet as I write this, I realize that many if not most critics turn up their noses at his work. (I turn up my own nose at critics.) Now I'm very curious as to how the group feels about Wolfe in general. If you have the time, do share some thoughts. And btw: does anyone know Robert Morgan, who wrote a fine intro to ANGEL?

[[deleted user]]

Mike wrote: "A Recommendation I've just read a review by Daniel Woodrell in the New York Times Review of Books of the new novel Long Man by Amy Greene. This one..."

I read that review, too. Sounded like a great book.

[Josh]

Not to be overdramatic, but I just finished an ARC of Charles Dodd White's A Shelter of Others and must say it is a top recommendation to others for some time to come. Due out in June, I would put it on auto buy for a great read if you like beautiful Appalachian writing in the grit lit genre (but not so gritty that most anyone wouldn't enjoy). Great work by a talented member of our group!!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Patricia wrote: "Sue wrote: "Jason wrote: "Hi all, I wanted to share this list of the fifty best southern novels ever written that Flavorwire recently put together.

Thanks so much for sharing this list, Jason. A..."

I'm sure several of us mentioned My Reading Life. I loved it! I always think I've read Thomas Wolfe until I realize it was actually Tom Wolfe. :)

[Patricia]

I always think I've read Thomas Wolfe until I realize it was actually Tom Wolfe. :)

Hey, Jenny, yes, those two would be poles apart. Read Thomas Wolfe if you're fond of reading poetry. The story with which LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL begins is actually the story of a marriage and the founding of a family. To me, it's heartbreakingly full of insight in its depiction of what human beings think they want, as opposed to what they actually do toward that end. It highlights how helpless and baffled people can be with each other in marriages and love relationships. Character studies are rich.

[Dawn]

April 8, 2014
Tuesday

Patricia-

Hi! I was just reading your distinction between authors Tom Wolfe and Thomas Wolfe. I knew of no difference either ! HA! I am glad I do now. It is so funny, my family, friends, and colleagues assume because you teach English , that you know everything about books and authors. Never could I claim all of this. I feel bookstore owners or librarians may know more than me ! Oh! But such a desire to keep trying to read and learn. The world of reading and writing and all of the arts and histories fascinate me and will continue to the rest of my life.

I read very much outside of my school reading curriculum as I grew , but I still had no guidance as to what classics to read . No guidance was given me until I was visiting my Mawmaw here in Oxford the Summer of my twelfth year. I met a lady at the pool while I was swimming with my cousins. I asked her what she was reading. She was reading Wurthering Heights . Her name was Natalie Schroeder. I fell in love with English Literature. She led me through the Brontes , Austen and one of my favorites Charles Dickens. She introduced me to Faulkner , but I was not ready for him yet.

So at 12 I began a love of World Literature and history. It was also the beginning of my relationship with the lovely woman who was to be my advisor throughout my college education, Dr. Natalie Schroeder. It was a surprising coincidence . I have also spent time studying for my MFA in English under her guidance until of halfway when I decided to change my direction and so did my lovey Dr. Natalie Schroeder .

As I had been teaching American Literature and writing and working on my MFA , I realized I was never going to be able to teach my favorite English literature unless I was a Senior teacher . I was teaching , studying to teach new material for my new job , and trying to continue with a subject I had loved. I was overwhelmed . My advisor Dr. Schroeder was going to retire. I was also falling in love with the American Southern literature that was all around me and even in my blood. I began taking more classes in Southern literature and creative writing classes: poetry, memoir, visiting writer classes.

There was so much still to know and learn . Then came our changes in education. The obvious arises, there is a dire need for changes in education. Teachers are overwhelmed with overcrowded classes but there is not enough money to pay teachers, because administrators are demanding higher pay. With this happening, teachers are budget cut ever time a new superintendent comes in to supposedly make things better in a district. I too was budget cut. Single , with no family, I also lived thirty miles away because that was a rural area and the only area to find work in MS, I was a logical first to go.

I have tutored, substituted, taught Summer Schools, worked as Assistant as a Graduate student. What I love most is Goodreads. My Momma has become very sick . She has diabetes and is blind. My Daddy and I take care of her. She is never left alone. My Momma was born on a side porch in a small town called Tula, MS. Betty Rose is her name and she was one of the first young babies born after the war in that area. Times being bad, my Momma was raised by a little bit of everyone out at Tula. Being such a small town, almost everyone has blood of each other running somewhere in branches of veins. I am sure you have read some about Tula from our distant relative , Larry Brown. I was always really shy of him. Having been in college when his writing started to come out, and seeing him party with people my age that I knew, made me feel uncomfortable. I was afraid I would get into trouble if he found out who I was. His Momma, Ain't Leona would have thought so bad of me and I loved her better than anything.

Well, I am sorry I have rattled on . This has been a nostalgic morning. We have just lost my Ain't Dootsie two weeks ago from Tula. I just feel somebody has to keep the memories of the people and times and places alive from there. It is such a magical place. When you described Look Homeward Angel in your review above, it brought to mind my Tula.

Thank you , Patricia for reading this...

Your Rebel Dawn

[Judith]

Mike wrote: "A Recommendation I've just read a review by Daniel Woodrell in the New York Times Review of Books of the new novel Long Man by Amy Greene. This one..."

Thank you for this recommendation. I loved Amy Greene's Bloodroot..


I'm still reading Skinny Legs and All and it's not the breezy joyride ......which is not to say I don't love it, I do....much to ponder here, when i'm not laughing, out loud...and scaring the cat!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Heck yeah librarians don't know everything we just know where to go..... :)

[Lilo]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Heck yeah librarians don't know everything we just know where to go..... :)"

First my illusions of doctors are shattered. Now you shatter my illusions of Librarians! What is next? Is the earth really round?

[Lilo]

Brenda wrote: "Lilo wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Heck yeah librarians don't know everything we just know where to go..... :)"

First my illusions of doctors are shattered. Now you shatter my illusions of ..."

Thank you for that. And for so long I thought I was alone in this belief. What a relief to know there are others who believe their senses over what appears to be fact. (wink)

[Dawn]

April 8, 2014
Tuesday

Well- it sure is nice to see everyone has been having a great day today on goodreads!! I didn't mean to depress y'all this morning!! I believe we have some new characters in our group I have missed meeting and good people too! Librarians, tigers and bears!! Oh! My! I worked as an assistant librarian one year and basically under this lady I was the librarian and the dusters and vacuum cleaner and the plant care taker and I tutored all English students , etc... While, Mrs. Hussey, the old lady's name who had no idea she was old by the way she dressed and talked with the students, flitted all around the high school running errands( gossiping) . If she was not supposed to retire in a year or two there was no way they should have kept that woman around! Her office was stacked wall to wall with new books that just needed to be logged into the computer system and shelved. I kept asking her if I could help because those books will be great for the upcoming research papers. Oh! No. She said that only she could do that. They were there at the end of the year when I quit too! She must have been a good librarian at one time until they introduced technology. My first assignment were to go through the whole library and match each book to its assigned card in the "card catalog" ! Yes, we had both systems . She said she liked to double check everything. It must have been my initiation!!! LOL!!! Lucky , I thought it was a small library and finished pretty fast. Then due to my expertise as an English teacher, I was to order an approved list of books when she said stop. First replace old copies then bring in new books to update the library which was ancient! I wonder who did all of this before I got there?


Well, that was my job as an assistant librarian and I did learn where to look for many thinks just as fast as Google!! Most librarians are great and that is why I am going to get you on my team right away . Be my friends!!! I love to learn and you also know where I can find things.

Thank you very much and in return you use any experience I may have or visit Oxford , MS and I will be your tour guide and we will have great fun in our literary and arts community! Don' t forget our Ole Miss Rebels!!!

Your Rebel Dawn

P.S. Right now I have started a mystery hunt of my own. Anything at all I can find on fellow student and author Donna Tartt. How can I find any information about the release of here second novel The Little Friend??? I want to also know if anyone knows her where a outs so I can find out by email or through an agent a simple answer to a question. Do any of you have an idea where she may be now? If so please help!!! I will take any leads. I have a few here just thought I would ask here first. Thank you!

[Ctgt]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Heck yeah librarians don't know everything we just know where to go..... :)"

:)

[Hudson]

I heart librarians!!

[[deleted user]]

Dawn wrote: "April 8, 2014
Tuesday

Well- it sure is nice to see everyone has been having a great day today on goodreads!! I didn't mean to depress y'all this morning!! I believe we have some new characters in ..."

A friend of mine has been all over me to read Donna Tartt's The Secret History

Looks like she is from Mississippi and attended Ole Miss, but was encouraged to the northeast to become a writer.

>Following the suggestion of [author Willie] Morris and others, she transferred to Bennington College in 1982, where she was friends with fellow students Bret Easton Ellis, Jill Eisenstadt, and Jonathan Lethem<

Very interested in a southern writer moving to the northeast to study with Ellis, Eisenstadt, and Lethem -- two New Yorkers and a "brat" from LA. I wonder what that does to a person? Does seem as if she's written some amazing works. I haven't read, but will try my darnedest to keep an eye open for "southern" flavor as I read SECRET HISTORY. Looking forward to that one, for sure.

[Patricia]

>I was just reading your distinction between authors Tom Wolfe and Thomas Wolfe.<

I am so sorry to read of the losses in your family, Dawn. This experience is so painful. And none of us escape it.

You spoke of nostalgia. Wolfe is certainly to my mind one of the great nostalgia reads. As I progress in ANGEL, I realize that Wolfe is one of those writers that you almost have to love already--or love spontaneously--to read at all. His wordiness can really begin to sort of beat you over the head. I don't recommend him if you're looking for a straightforward plot.

[Judy]

Brenda wrote: "Dawn, you live in OXFORD??? Lucky you! I have a friend who grew up there. She talks fondly of Mr. Bill...I'm sooooo jealous!

As for librarians knowing more than you (or the next fellow)...hahah..."

I got a good laugh out of your post. After being a German teacher for many years, I decided to become a librarian. A surprising number of people really do ask you if you've read all the books in the library. duh!

[Meran]

Dawn, (and all),

My very first long term job was as a Librarian's Assisstant! I was 16, shr was prob late 60s, early 70s. I'm sad to say I don't remember her name, but I do her lessons!
She began fleshing out their SF section because of me, made me read books in order to place them properly within the collection (some were SO in the wrong places!), I even learned to clean up and repair books (which I understand they don't do anymore :( )

This was in 1969. I'd still love to find an affordable card catalog cabinet... What I'd do with it, I have no idea,mbut I just loved those things. I made out my an cards for my first library in the 70s, 80s... Which I lost in the first divorce (the books, not the cards). Am still trying to replace some of those now Hard To Find book editions...

Kiss all your elders for me; mine are all gone. I miss them much. It's great you still ave some around!

About Donna Tartt: I've bought two of her books. They're on my to read shelf ;)

[Meran]

Brenda, I've seen them, but I can't pay $1000 ;)
I check, now and then...

[Ctgt]

Meran wrote: "Which I lost in the first divorce (the books, not the cards). Am still trying to replace some of those now Hard To Find book editions..."

Oh Meran. Losing books in a divorce? That's harsh. I guess in the big scheme of things books may be fairly low on the scale but still......

[Dawn]

Oh! Sad! That is like losing music,art and the dog too!!! I hate that for you. We had not been married long enough or ever with extra income to purchase anything worthwhile . He had ruined the couch sleeping on it for so long ! HA! I really am sorry.i have been suffering over my divorce for the last two years.it is hard even if you do want it to end.

Your Rebel Dawn

[Meran]

We had nothing, not even furniture. He insisted on half the books, of course. And all the comicsc(several #1s in there.)
He ended up leaving them behind somewhere. Without giving me the choice to buy him out. I still hate him for that ;)

No drinking for me. Never worked, and I had no money for it :( I was very poor for quite some time.

As soon as I got a little money, I did like the saying: I bought books, not food. Certainly not clothes! :D

Don't regret a bit of that.

It's funny how many people here have had similar events ;)

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Just finished A Shelter of Others. Highly recommend. A few thoughts
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Meghan]

I'm having such a hard time with light in august. I might just need to remove myself from this group and even return my literature degree! Sorry everyone, quite disappointed in myself...haha