Membre : LizzieD

Peg - I looked it up and I remembered it instantly. I think it was the cancer thing that was not right for me at the time, but I also remember that I was expecting something I didn't get from the book. Unfortunately I have no clue now what that was. The book I didn't like was The Road to Lichfield. I'm not sure if I've actually read According to Mark. Or perhaps neither of them worked for me. I have a list dating back years and it will tell me what I didn't like, but it will take some finding.

écrit par romain à 4:19 pm (EST) le Mar 5, 2010

I have read half a dozen PL's and started with the one I liked least - According to Mark. I have read Moon Tiger and have no recollection of it which means it didn't stick with me. However when she gets it right she is superb. My personal favorite is Heat Wave which I sent to my sister when she was going through a difficult time and which has a deeply satisfying ending. In the mean time I am almost through with the Towers of Trebizond which is wonderful. I'll look at Moon Tiger and see if the reviews ring a bell...

écrit par romain à 4:12 pm (EST) le Mar 5, 2010

Hey you're quite welcome! I know which number are we supposed to go by? Either way, that's a lot of books in common.

Poor Alex! I couldn't help noticing his comment below. We wore the poor guy out! ;-)

écrit par EnriqueFreeque à 10:23 pm (EST) le Mar 4, 2010

P, dear, how are you? I haven't heard from you in a long time. I hope all is well. We are almost melted out of last weekend's storm and now it is snowing again! but the daffodils are peeking up.

écrit par kokipy à 1:51 pm (EST) le Mar 3, 2010

8:30 AM - I was all the way through your review before I realized it wasn't a review of Our Spoons Came From Woolworth's. I must increase my coffee dosage. Ahh! Gulp. There! ...so does this mean our spoons were a present from the Brontes ???

écrit par Ganeshaka à 8:45 am (EST) le Mar 1, 2010

It's on the way! Lucy

écrit par sibyx à 4:14 pm (EST) le Feb 26, 2010

Hi Peggy, Your check came and I'm about to take a break and go to the bookstore and then the PO! How is [Infinite Jest] going or is it just in the line up? I have something of his on my tbr shelf.....when I bought it the person behind the counter sort of sniffed and said, 'he's been all the rage since he died.' which I thought was a bit narsty. But first I have a friend's novel to read next, [Cow Across America] by a buddy from my ole MFA program which was down your way in Swannanoa a million years ago when I was a young thing. (He's an Asheville native.) I am dying to read that Bronte Woolworth one, just for the title!

on my way!

Lucy

écrit par sibyx à 3:18 pm (EST) le Feb 26, 2010

Hi LizzieD,

Happy to accept your friend invite. That is you at Shejidan under a slightly different name, right?

écrit par Surtac à 6:54 am (EST) le Feb 25, 2010

Helloooo Lizzie! Thanks so much for visiting!! I'm getting here so seldom these days... really need to think about retiring...

I finally wrote a short review on the Huxley. Just haven't had the time for anything lately; not even reading. Can you believe that? Today is a good day for it tho'.... rain and sleet and other yuk for the next three days says the weatherman, so I plan to catch up a bit. But I'm NOT starting with Anathem!! It arrived a couple of weeks ago and I'm horrified! The damn thing is over 900 pages! And you've said (I think) that it's a difficult read... I will have to approach it when I'm feeling more aggressive.

I did manage to sign up at the new(?) TRP, but I haven't posted anything yet or even read any of the forums. The site looks very nice... did Rose design it? If so, kudos to her. I'll try to be more social for the future... please keep visiting... ;)

écrit par Nulla à 11:41 am (EST) le Feb 24, 2010

That sounds like fun - we almost never get to the theater these days because of small children and not living in the city proper any more, but I'd make a special effort for that one!

écrit par kokipy à 9:25 am (EST) le Feb 22, 2010

Hello, Lizzie dear! have you melted out down there? we are still covered up in snow and with more coming. I have taken a break from reading fiction [I love Rose Tremain so much, thank you for recommending her, I am working my way through all her books. She is amazing, each is completely different and each is marvellous] and am deep into [Too Big to Fail], which is riveting, but I am very curious how the author actually knows all the intimate details of highly confidential conversations among the CEOs of the large financial institutions, the Secretary of Treasury and the head of the Fed.

écrit par kokipy à 9:03 am (EST) le Feb 20, 2010

Hey Liz - The Garner arrived yesterday from UPS. Very nice copy, not an ARC. I am thrilled. Tell me again what I am supposed to do with it apart from enjoy it - or not enjoy it as the case may be. One of her books makes Carmen Callil's book on the best books ever written - but then so does American Psycho!

Much love

Barbara

écrit par romain à 8:34 am (EST) le Feb 20, 2010

Thanks for returning the compliment! I like the new setting for 'books you share' - it comes up with the books in reverse order of how many people own them, so you can see quickly if someone shares some of your more obscure books. Actually, of the 'top' five we share, I only own two - the other three are on my wishlist. But the fact we both own 'Blind White Fish In Persia' was what made me investigate your library in more detail ... that's quite a coincidence!

I liked your review of The Spare Room, which was one of my top reads of last year.

I lurk, periodically, on the Virago group, but it seems like such a close community, I'm not really sure where to start...

écrit par wandering_star à 9:02 pm (EST) le Feb 15, 2010

that is very exciting. I know what it is like in the South- a real snow is special and so very rare!

écrit par kokipy à 10:49 am (EST) le Feb 13, 2010

You were absolutely right! I did want to know! I get that excited feeling every time it snows -- I love snow, especially large quantities. I love the triumph of nature over human aspirations. The flittering glittering of light, a world transformed -- and later the descent of quietude. Enjoy your niveous realm, my ice-coated friend!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:53 pm (EST) le Feb 12, 2010

It's hard to tell if they're built in or not because we are a school that takes kids from dozens of sending districts. We never have delayed openings because one of these districts might not have one and the kids could be sitting outside the school in a bus waiting for us to open. We are now off for a 4 day mid winter break so in effect we got a 6 day one. The fact that we closed is unusual too. If our two biggest sending districts are open, we are. So we will see what they do about these two days. They may take them off Easter or they may add them to the end of the year. But whatever they do they have to have the consensus of the sending districts. However, I'm with the NY'er on CNN yesterday. This was not a blizzard! A blizzard is when there are 6 feet snow drifts!!!!

écrit par romain à 7:56 am (EST) le Feb 12, 2010

Hello Peggy, I have to confess that yours was one of the first libraries that I snooped, and I got so excited I was practically dancing around. Nobody I know reads like I do. We have a lot in common and will have a lot more when I get more of my books on --my entries have been somewhat random, browsing other libraries and saying, oh yeah I read this I've read that.... . Anyhow. I read the Tale of Genji in college -- in a course I didn't even want to take (Chinese and Japanese history/culture) which then ended up adding so much dimension to my life!! I LOVED Genji, and so much is still vivid all these years later (I'm 55). The cold, the precariousness of women's status, the smell of snow, the delicate colors of the layered sleeves, the formality -- I read the Arthur Waley translation -- which as far as I know is still considered to be superb -- it's the only old one, so if that is what you have it is what I read and loved. I know one or two people have done more recent ones, but I don't remember hearing anyone thought they were better than Waley, just more complete.

It is really a very Virago worthy book --

Lucy

écrit par sibyx à 6:53 pm (EST) le Feb 11, 2010

Hello Peggy, I have to confess that yours was one of the first libraries that I snooped, and I got so excited I was practically dancing around. Nobody I know reads like I do. But nobody. We have a lot in common and will have a lot more when I get more of my books on -- a lot of my entries have been random, browsing other libraries and saying, oh yeah I read this I've read that.... . Anyhow. I read the Tale of Genji in college -- in a course I didn't even want to take (Chinese and Japanese history/culture) which then ended up adding so much dimension to my life!! I LOVED the Genji and so much is still vivid all these years later (I'm 55). The cold, the precariousness of women's status, the smell of snow, the colors of the layered sleeves, the formality -- I read the Arthur Waley translation -- which as far as I know is still considered to be superb -- it's the only old one, so if that is what you have it is what I read and loved.

Lucy

écrit par sibyx à 6:45 pm (EST) le Feb 11, 2010

Absolutely! She is one of Australia's best according to my sister-in-law and I have never read her. Thank you! Did you get snow? We are off school for a second day and I am just about to head out to start the digging. Husband bought the Rolls Royce of snowblowers a few years back and it is finally justifying itself. It works where the neighbors' punier models are stalling :) It's a man thing Peggy - his is bigger!

écrit par romain à 7:58 am (EST) le Feb 11, 2010

Oh Perfect!

Good Luck with the Poppies, I'm sure you'll do fine - they're pretty hearty little things. What fun it will be to see
a little bit of Sunny Cal in Sunny NC!

écrit par bleuroses à 12:40 pm (EST) le Feb 9, 2010

Peggy - check the mailing envelope... I enclosed a packet of california poppy seeds!

écrit par bleuroses à 11:17 pm (EST) le Feb 8, 2010

You're welcome Peggy! But please, don't worry about requesting duplicates. The early dairymaid gets the....well, you know!
Say, did you receive the poppies? I think they may work in your climate. Come spring, the hills here are blanketed with them! Just gorgeous!
So cheerful!

écrit par bleuroses à 8:30 pm (EST) le Feb 8, 2010

Peg - do you have Sleeping beauty by Elizabeth Taylor because it is still there?

écrit par romain à 3:38 pm (EST) le Feb 8, 2010

Have you read "Arabella"? It is very good too.

écrit par aluvalibri à 7:38 pm (EST) le Feb 7, 2010

I looked at pbs. Nothing interesting.
Get Real is pretty funny. Westlake was in good form up to the end.
I found ebook of Tros at
http://gutenberg.net.au/plusfifty-a-m.html#mundy
almost 1k pages though!

écrit par tros à 4:05 pm (EST) le Feb 6, 2010

Get Real by D. Westlake is the last Dortmund. Just finished Exit Music by Ian
Rankin. The end of Rebus? Midnight Fugue by Hill seems to be the twilight of fat
Andy. There seems to be a theme here....

écrit par tros à 4:16 pm (EST) le Feb 5, 2010

"I also have *Tros* on my wish list at pbs." PBS? public broadcsting? ;-)
Kaminsky is brilliant. TDDL is an interesting novel, regardless of the "mystery".
We share some interesting lit. Francis Carco is another neglected writer.
Wild stories and characters of '20's Paris, all long out of print.

écrit par tros à 10:29 pm (EST) le Feb 3, 2010

I just finished a couple of our shared favorites; S. Kaminsky and R. Hill.
"Midnight Fugue" by Hill and "The Dead Don't Lie" by Kaminsky, a Lieberman.
Do yourself a favor!
Making progress in "Blackwater". McDowell also wrote "Beetlejuice" and
"Nightmare Before Christmas". What a wild imagination!

écrit par tros à 6:53 pm (EST) le Feb 3, 2010

I am now reading [The Way I found Her] by Rose Tremain. very nice. so much better than Abercrombie.

écrit par kokipy à 8:41 pm (EST) le Feb 1, 2010

I actually hated the Abercrombie books. I read all three on the fervent recommendations of our friends from Sh. and was sorry I had. They seemed to me entirely artificial and very ugly- the sole purpose of writing them was to reverse the epic quest tropes. things happen only because they are the opposition of what they are in the typical versions. No reason to write such a book. If you are not captured by them, I would not urge you to persist. I deacquisitioned them which is why the totals are shifting in in explicable ways.
I don't tend to like Feist. Didn't mean to acquire books by him. One of our friends from the other place likes Janny Wurts quite a lot and these books were apparently written with Feist. I haven't read any of them yet and don't hold out much hope for them.
I hope the knee is better and that the daffodils are on their way down there.

écrit par kokipy à 1:31 pm (EST) le Feb 1, 2010

Very insightful comment on the ages of boys and girls. I do some writing and in its series on “Underappreciated Authors,” The Librarything group Le Salon Litteraire du Peuple pour le Peuple is doing a month-long interview with me about my novel The Red Album of Asbury Park Remixed. The interview starts February 1. If the intersection of fiction and music interests you, please drop by. The URL is http://www.librarything.com/topic/82398

I know nothing of your knee, but I'm certainly glad it's better.

Alex

écrit par AlexAustin à 12:05 pm (EST) le Jan 31, 2010

I am very glad to hear the knee is better, and the reading continuous! I hope the weather is heading towards spring down there. It used to be in north Georgia by late February, as I recall...

écrit par kokipy à 8:29 pm (EST) le Jan 25, 2010

You're welcome my dear. Elaine did not enjoy The Orchid House but I did. I did not enjoy Across the Common but you might! I did enjoy the Lodge though - a lot. I had a day off work today. Every now and then I have insomnia. Mostly I go in anyway but today I felt all jelly legged and horrible and flu-ey so I called in. My first day off in 18 months. Had the house to myself and hated it. Thought I'd love it but didn't. Good luck with the Stead... masochist!

écrit par romain à 5:18 pm (EST) le Jan 25, 2010

Ave, LizzieP! I have two more days of liberty, then back to academia. I finished The Last Temptation by Val McDermid, and it was a good break... a sort of mentally-jogging-in-place thing. You asked if I liked her and, for the most part, I do... altho' she has written some dogs in her earlier days.

I just received my ERs book, a novella by Aldous Huxley. It's new to me, so I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing. I've always enjoyed Huxley in the past, but haven't read anything by him in years... this should be fun... I hope!

In the post before mine, I noticed something about a fall. Are you OK? This is no way to behave in retirement!!!! I will say incantations for your full recovery....

écrit par Nulla à 8:41 am (EST) le Jan 20, 2010

Dear P, hope your knee is better! just saw your post at Virago. It sounds like a bad fall.
take care!

écrit par kokipy à 10:54 am (EST) le Jan 19, 2010

Oh, this is just another indication that we are separated Siamese twins. In Oct 2008 I fell off a step stool and broke seven ribs! Let yourself be pampered...

Elaine

écrit par Liz1564 à 8:41 pm (EST) le Jan 18, 2010

It's London in Los Angeles. Fog and rain. Good. Yes, middle school is demanding. It goes well for an hour or so and then all hell breaks loose. I go for the Tylenol. I finished The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I enjoyed it, but I'm not convinced that it's more than a good mystery/thriller.

I'm sure it should be obvious, but what's pbs?

Alex

écrit par AlexAustin à 12:08 pm (EST) le Jan 18, 2010

Okay girl, I'm including a copy of David Lodge's Therapy with the Berridge. A lovely lovely book about a man named Tuppy who spends most of the novel with a persistent pain in his knee. This is the book that turned me on to walking the El Camino pilgrimage route in Spain.

écrit par romain à 8:39 pm (EST) le Jan 17, 2010

Hello LizzieD - glad we share some favourites. I am over-awed by the sheer breadth of your reading tastes! Is there anything you don't read?
P.

écrit par puddleshark à 3:35 am (EST) le Jan 14, 2010

My goodness! thank you for that link. I enjoyed it. I hope you've had a chance to read William - he is a cure for any sadness/grief/malaise that might ever ail you.
I have started rereading Light in August for the Faulkner group and made a post this morning, and I've checked back about 100 times today to see if anyone else has contributed but they haven't! so frustrating! I want to talk Faulkner. My copy of The Blade Itself also just arrived so I have to get going with that...

écrit par kokipy à 9:48 pm (EST) le Jan 11, 2010

I've decided to add the Virago authors first. I am up to Hurston and when I get some time I'll do another few pages. I use the Virago collection tracker as my record-keeping list.

Ah, the Bloomsburies. I'm reading the biography of James Lees-Milne who was the biographer and lover of Harold Nicholson, but not at the same time that his wife Alvide was Vita's squeeze. I was at Monk's House (which, at the time, was run pretty much by volunteers from the village)when the guide was trying to sort out the "relationships" between Vanessa Bell, Clive Bell, Duncan Grant, and David Garnett. Even after I explained the even though Vanessa was married to Clive she had most of her children with Duncan who was also the lover of David who married Vanessa and Duncan's daughter (who had actually watched Angelica being born....a big UGH factor there for me.) However, I don't think the tour guide or the others on the tour with me could connect the dots without some kind of score card! But Monk's House was lovely and I genuflected in front of the bronze cast of Virgina's head and offered a recovering catholic's prayer of thanksgiving to Leonard who gave her a safe haven for so much of her troubled life.

écrit par Liz1564 à 7:22 pm (EST) le Jan 11, 2010

Gamel Woolsey is an interesting character. She was married to Gerald Brenan, a Bloomsbury insider whose mistress was Carrington who loved Lytton Strachey who was briefly engaged to Virginia Woolf who had an affair with Vita-Sackville West and Lytton's sister was Dorothy Strachey who wrote the VMC
[Olivia]. They are such a tangled group of people. Gamel was gorgeous; she looked like a a sprite, some kind of wild woodland creature.

I love the Bloomsburies!

écrit par Liz1564 à 4:41 pm (EST) le Jan 11, 2010

Thanks for the return comment some weeks ago. The philosophy section of my library - You say ACCK?? Really? For someone as well read as you obviously are? I admit some of them are a bit remote, but that is just my feeble attempt to stay conversational with my son, who, although pursuing his Ph.D. in English lit, probably reads just as much philosophy as anything else, especially post-modern, e.g. Derrida.

A telling observation on your part that Millay is the only woman on my Favorites list! How could that be (he said, blushing)? Is it more a commentary on our social consciousness, or mine? Let it be known, however, that I could have and probably should have included Jane Austen, George Eliot, Virginia Woolf, Jane Smiley, Diane Ackerman, Margaret Atwood, Jayne Anne Phillips, Ruth Rendell, P.D. James, Anne Tyler, and probably several others - this list is just off the top of my head, now that I am prompted to set the record straight. And, speaking of the record - at least the LT record - it will momentarily stand corrected by my addition to my list of favorites of my most favorite of these doyennes.

Thanks for your comments on "Special Topics" - given the height(s) of my TBR stacks, I think I will forego it for a while.

écrit par GSLulos à 12:13 pm (EST) le Jan 9, 2010

Well, sadly, The Gobi Desert is not a Virago. But it is still a nice book and I look forward to reading it some time. Got a lot of reading on other things ahead now, unfortunately!

écrit par kokipy à 9:10 pm (EST) le Jan 7, 2010

Well, you've certainly lifted my spirits. It's a good thing I'm currently reading the Essays and Aphorisms of Arthur Schopenhauer to level me out. If you're asking about the books you mentioned, yes I have read them all. I just reread Miss Lonelyhearts (the companion to Locust)for an LT thread. I'm a great fan of both those books. I'm also reading A Long Way Down and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which has thoroughly hooked me. Sad story about Stieg Larsson. I've also got a couple of other things to read for LT and Goodreads groups. I've only been on Goodreads about a year and just a couple of months on LT. They do keep you hopping. Working on my own stuff and getting over a cold, which has lasted almost my entire winter break (I teach middle school).

écrit par AlexAustin à 7:50 pm (EST) le Jan 7, 2010

Yes, that's it. I just ordered two copies, one for my cousin who recommended China Road, and one for me. I wonder if my edition will be a Virago? I didn't notice when I ordered it. So, our totals mount!

écrit par kokipy à 2:43 pm (EST) le Jan 5, 2010

Hey! we are over 900!

écrit par kokipy à 1:51 pm (EST) le Jan 5, 2010

I just finished a great book about China, called China Road, by Robert Gifford, the former Beijing correspondent for NPR. In it he mentioned several books by three female missionaries traveling by donkey cart in the Gobi desert area, from the last century or even earlier. It makes me itch to get those books! (and to go to Urumqi myself). I wonder if they are even in print. If they are I bet they are Virago-material.

écrit par kokipy à 1:50 pm (EST) le Jan 5, 2010

Did you notice that we are up to 893? at least in the Books you share line; the members with data hasn't caught up yet.

écrit par kokipy à 2:34 pm (EST) le Jan 4, 2010

No. I'm not a man of resolve, so many things go undone that should be done. But in my own way I plough forward, somewhat blindly, and get a few things done. I label those as important, but who knows....

écrit par AlexAustin à 1:08 pm (EST) le Jan 4, 2010

Happy New Year, Peggy-L.... I hope your holidays were wonderful and that the year to come is even more so!! Thank you for the lovely card; it was a mood elevator. I've spent the last few days in cookery rather than readery... but that's OK! I made pâté for the first time ever and it was a great success... so, there!

I'm taking a break from sci-fi and heading for Val McDermid to air my head. Still have to finish the review for my latest book... apparently, another is on the way! Fortunately, I liked the book... ;)

I have three more weeks of semester break to savor and then it's back to work...

écrit par Nulla à 3:35 pm (EST) le Jan 1, 2010

I resolve never to underestimate you again.

écrit par AlexAustin à 12:16 pm (EST) le Jan 1, 2010

Happy New Year, Peggy! Although given your lifestyle, I'm sure you're still sleeping off that night of dancing and champagne.

Alex

écrit par AlexAustin à 10:52 am (EST) le Jan 1, 2010

And you'd be right. He's dead.

écrit par AlexAustin à 10:03 pm (EST) le Dec 30, 2009

Wind-up Bird was the first Murakami I read, and it made me a fan. I wouldn’t say the way I add books is cataloging, much too methodical. More like hit and miss. I’ve read that putting He said/She said before rather than after the quoted matter was once frowned upon, something about being illogical.... Nice to have you as LT friend.

Alex

écrit par AlexAustin à 8:22 pm (EST) le Dec 29, 2009

When I read Woolf in the past it was always for courses and I just wanted to get through the damned things. (I read Ulysses at a White Sox game because the prof assigned it a week before the class ended! I still hate that man). But this last reading of To The Lighthouse, I just drank in her prose. I realized I couldn't read it straight through; if Virginia were a dinner course, she would be the double chocolate German Black Forest cake with hot fudge sauce on the side. Her descriptions are almost too sensual.... I could imbibe two chapters at a time, at most.

I just got the "scholarly" edition of Peyton Place today at my local used book store. Hee, I remember reading the old black Dell edition under the covers with a flashlight.

E

écrit par Liz1564 à 3:19 pm (EST) le Dec 29, 2009

In your review of Hopeful Monsters, you noted that you couldn't get by the "artificial style." By artificial style did you mean the placing of the attributive before the quoted matter?

Alex

écrit par AlexAustin à 11:59 am (EST) le Dec 29, 2009

Actually now that I think about it they are endnotes in IJ, although footnotes in many of the essays. It will matter, however, how easily you can flip back and forth between the endnotes and the text. Good luck with it.
I loved Byatt's Possession, and read the next three or four on the strength of that liking, but didn't like the rest as much. I like Drabble a lot, although I haven't reread her lately and I am not sure I have all of her books. My sense is that Byatt is more ambitious, and that Drabble's story telling is more reliable. But I may be selling Drabble short.
Some of Carey's are better than others, but they are all very very different from each other and I tend to forget how good he is when I am not actually reading him. I liked the one about the Kelly gang a lot, and Theft is shaping up very nicely.

écrit par kokipy à 11:54 am (EST) le Dec 28, 2009

How are you enjoying The Other Elizabeth Taylor? I'm quite liking it, but, then I enjoy Beauman's writing style. I should be finished with it by the end of the year. I find I can't read a biography straight through, so I read a book of Edwardian ghost stories and have 40 pages of To The Lighthouse to finish, as well as Liz.

Isn't it a pleasure just to hold a Persephone edition!

E

écrit par Liz1564 à 7:28 pm (EST) le Dec 27, 2009

Well, the Sayers that I have been waiting for forever from the library is Strong Poison, which I thought was the first in the the series (although the library database isn't really set up to determine that, and I didn't bother to do any research at home before I went in that day : ).

Until very recently I was a bookseller, and I could just go to the shelves and get what I needed/wanted--have you noticed how many fewer books a branch library has than your garden-variety superstore these days? Makes me sad...

Anyway, I may just re-reserve the darn thing (and since I'm home, I can do the research first).

I'm really looking forward to working my way through all of these gals' works, and I may even delve into the Heyer Regencies, even though I rarely read in that genre.

Becky

écrit par BeckyJG à 12:35 pm (EST) le Dec 27, 2009

Thank you! I've joined Almack's. I have a Heyer mystery queued up (although a couple of silly comedic mysteries are in front of it...). And, if I my library ever gets it from the main branch I'll be reading my first Dorothy Sayers soon, too.

écrit par BeckyJG à 10:10 pm (EST) le Dec 26, 2009

Hi Peggy, I'm very pleased to meet you! I guess that since you arrived from LittleGrayCloud you must like cats? I will certainly check out Almacks, it's always good to meet other Heyer lovers. What a lot of books we have in common. I saw that you read Illyrian Spring this year, and I'm delighted to read in your review that you loved it - I do too, such an elegant book. I'm impressed, too, at the number of rereads you listed - so few people seem prepared to make time to do it even if they've enjoyed a book, whereas for me much of the pleasure in a new discovery is in knowing I will be reading it again (sometimes many times - there are books like I Capture the Castle and The Little White Horse that I reread practically every year).
I was very lucky to find a copy of Tulku in our new-ish local secondhand bookshop (where I plan to be a regular, inasfar as my groaning bookshelves permit), I remember it as rather a treasure. And any Thirkell I don't have is snapped up without hesitation, I only started to read her about 18 months ago.
Wishing you a very happy Christmas!
Jodie (GeraniumCat)

écrit par GeraniumCat à 1:22 pm (EST) le Dec 24, 2009

For one reason or another this is the third time I've tried to make this post. Have you seen the other two? whew. Anyway. so, the joke about the Christmas card is that for the last 10 years our card has been a girl, or later two girls, on a red Victorian sofa with a large stuffed panda. Over the years the panda gets quite a bit smaller relative to the girls, and this is fun to watch evolve. So, this year, they have a real panda! Kate, the little one, has a kind of funny look on her face because apparently the panda was a bit smelly. We weren't allowed in - the staff took the picture. But they were, as you note, very happy. It was the high point of the trip.
Peggy, getting to know you here has been a special thing for me this year. Thanks for being my efriend. I hope we can make it real life someday. And I hope that your Christmas season is full of joy. It is hard with older relatives who are not in good health - but there should still be joy.
Much love to you and Graham.
Susan

écrit par kokipy à 9:20 pm (EST) le Dec 23, 2009

My not so secret is out. Tros of Samothrace by Talbot Mundy is historical fantasy.
Fantasy for people who don't like fantsy. No supernatural stuff. Tros goes from
the Celts in Brit. to Gaul, Egypt and ends in Rome. Mundy was quite a scholar, evidently.
Don't give up on the golden age.

écrit par tros à 5:02 pm (EST) le Dec 23, 2009

Hi Peggy,
Good to see you again. How is your aunt?
The funny thing is, I don't actually "remember" Cherry Ames (I grew up in East Germany and these books are way to "All-American" to have been published there) but I saw someone talking about them and thought I'd check them out. They seem perfect comfort reads for the next time I'm stuck in bed with a juicy cold...
I hope Santa's bringing you loads of good books -- you can always help him by buying some gifts for yourself (that's been my excuse lately, not that I need much of an excuse).
Cuddles to Chibby,
Susan in Berlin

écrit par littlegreycloud à 5:59 am (EST) le Dec 23, 2009

Hi LD!

I hope you have a lovely Christmas!

The Charney interests me as a theme I’ve always felt acutely in The Bard. King Lear and The Tempest prominently – so rich in the depiction of aging, struggling with the waning of previous vigor and power. But, yes, I can see why this is not the easiest topic to reckon with!

The other new acquisitions: I pray there will be time!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 1:00 am (EST) le Dec 23, 2009

Tim Powers looks wild and interesting. Tim is going to have to wait though. My tbr pile is growing.
I'm not addicted to books, "Blackwater" was just my xmas present to myself!
Haven't read much new sci-fi or fantasy except "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons. Excellent!
A few old favorites:
John Carter of Mars series by E.R.Burroughs
Tros of Samothrace by Talbot Mundy, 4-5 vols.
A. Merritt, Moon Pool, etc.

écrit par tros à 6:09 pm (EST) le Dec 21, 2009

"reinforcing each other's addiction" Culture as a dangerous drug? Maybe so.
The crodile woman sounds intriguing. I can hardly wait to dive in to "Blackwater".
Hope the crocs don't get me!
"House on the Borderland" has a unique monster; a giant pig monster! Not many pig monsters in horror lit.

écrit par tros à 2:09 pm (EST) le Dec 21, 2009

You're quite welcome, Lizzie... as much as I complain about sending cards, it's a way to stay in touch with people, especially if one doesn't see them all the time... and many of my friends are scattered about the globe.

I finished Storm from the Shadows... all 700+ pages of it! It finished as a cliff-hanger and I suspect that Torch of Freedom is the continuation. That will have to wait a while because now I'm reading the Early Reviewers book (Rewilding the World) that I have to review for LT. I only started participating in this about six or seven months ago and I've managed to snag four books to date. So far, they've all been pretty enjoyable.

We're being socked in by the blizzard right now, but the power is on and we're still toasty warm. Judging by the news reports, you must have gotten hammered also! Stay warm...

écrit par Nulla à 8:12 am (EST) le Dec 20, 2009

I bought all of the william books years ago, but gave them to my brother who has three boys when they were small.I have asked for them back for the girls but the boys are still enjoying them, so I'll have to wait a while...
william is utterly hilarious. The spouse and I used to have some audio tapes we'd listen to in particularly bad traffic jams - made the time fly! I dont know about the other Compton book I sent, but was thrilled to see it was a Persephone so thought it was worth the risk. But of course I had to send you Just William, as you say!

écrit par kokipy à 8:08 am (EST) le Dec 20, 2009

I started looking at Blackwater and saw that the matriarch changes into a
crocodilian creature! Nice old lady! I had to order all six! It's all your fault!
;-)

écrit par tros à 12:23 am (EST) le Dec 20, 2009

On Desktop towers - play version 1.5, not the newest one. I am stuck on the fun level, 10,000 gold. Cant get past about level 95 at my very best.

écrit par kokipy à 8:45 am (EST) le Dec 19, 2009

Blackwater looks interesting.
Night Land is so strange that I'm not surprised that it has faint praise.
I'd probably only recommend it to someone who likes Gormenghast. ;-)

écrit par tros à 8:10 pm (EST) le Dec 18, 2009

No flood series comes to mind.
I tend to be "picky" about my reading. Not really interested in most new fiction.
There are a few exceptions. James Sallis has become my favorite contemporary writer.
His mystery/noir thrillers are excellent.
Hodgson wrote some strange and interesting stuff. "The Night Land" is one of the weirdest novels ever written. Might appeal to a Gormenghast fan.

écrit par tros à 5:40 pm (EST) le Dec 18, 2009

Actually, I am taking the next two weeks off, and am "working at home" today! so as long as I dont waste too much time on a stupid computer game to which I am sadly addicted I may get a lot done today - present wrapping, card addressing - I do love this time of year!
Have a wonderful tree day!
love to you,
susan

écrit par kokipy à 8:47 am (EST) le Dec 18, 2009

Hi Peggy,

I will email it to you sometime in the next few days. Maybe over the weekend. I hope you enjoy!!

S. Rex Implorator

écrit par stellarexplorer à 1:23 am (EST) le Dec 17, 2009

I just became a "life member" so I've been entering a lot of stuff lately.
I read Peake many moons ago. Ever read W.H.Hodgson, House on the Borderland?
I'm fascinated by the late 19th and early 20th c. fantasy/horror; H R Wakefield,
LeFanu, Maturin, Machen, etc.

écrit par tros à 11:24 pm (EST) le Dec 16, 2009

It is interesting that the majority of the books we share in common have little to do with religion or the bible given that we were both biblical studies majors. I have returned the favor and added your library to my "interesting libraries" list. I am amazed and the breadth and diversity of your library!

écrit par petros359 à 11:05 am (EST) le Dec 16, 2009

I picked it up in a horrible shop here a few months ago and then I found a beautiful copy elsewhere and included it in my SS parcel to someone else - along with a used Virago and a new book she asked for. I am not attached to it in anyway so do with it what you will. Gosh the box got there quick! My SS has not arrived - sob!

écrit par romain à 3:40 pm (EST) le Dec 14, 2009

I added your recommended book Lucia to my wishlist I love English books and love books with humor so its right up my alley!

écrit par susiesharp à 10:44 am (EST) le Dec 14, 2009

Hello, LizzieD. You left a message for me in late November, which I just discovered. Yes, you are #2 on my "weighted list" (whatever that means). You have an impressive library in any case. I am awestruck at how many people own so many books, including the phenomenon of hundreds of people who own thousands more books than I do. That is not a backwards brag, just an acknowledgement. I am a book hoarder and biblioholic of the first order. No, I did not buy mysteries by the pound, but I did buy books in general by the boxful - at auctions in West Virginia where I grew up. I've never stopped even though I have done the math and it appalls me - I cannot possibly read 1/4 of the books I already own, even if I were retired and read full-time beginning today (no chance of that), and even if I lived to be 100 (very little chance of that). Still, it is an irresistible and joyful habit, and a lot more innocuous than many that we both know of.

Your list of books read this year is impressive - and intimidating, especially with heady books like "Gravity's Rainbow" and "Guns Germs and Steel". I am curious whether you liked "Special Topics in Calamity Physics". I was set to read it, but a very negative review on a mostly trustworthy web site trashed it. What did you think of it?

écrit par GSLulos à 9:48 am (EST) le Dec 12, 2009

Thanks for your message Lizzie, I'm just getting my head round how this site works

écrit par elkiedee à 6:38 pm (EST) le Dec 11, 2009

Hello, Lizzie.... I rise from the black hole! The semester is just about over, I only have to e-mail the grades in to the registrar and I'm done!!! I am so looking forward to winter break!! Now, of course, starts the Christmas hustle and bustle... still heaps of shopping to do, etc.

I have been reading in the cracks between commuting, teaching, grading papers... I read a bunch of Cherryh, ending with Regenesis. I think I've finally got the Cyteen theme of bio/psycho-engineering straight in my mind, but it took several books to pull it all together. I've toyed with reading some of her earlier stuff, but don't know if it's worth doing. Do you have an opinion? So, now I've escaped to the Honorverse. Weber has churned out a couple more books... I'm currently reading Storm From the Shadows, with Torch of Freedom on tap. That should keep me busy for a while.

I will now limp over to TRP and see if I can post anything worthwhile.

écrit par Nulla à 9:00 am (EST) le Dec 11, 2009

It is definitely a matter of de gustibus with PSS. I recognize its excellence and stature and its contribution to the genre or should that be genres. I agree with what you say about what happened to Lin. I deeply regretted the irreversibility of her injuries. He did make use of it, in several different plot lines, which speaks to his craft as a writer. But it's not my cup of tea. Still, I am glad you recommended it and not in the least sorry I read it. I will always gladly pursue your recommendations. i am persuaded they will always be interesting, even if they will not always go on my favorites shelf.

écrit par kokipy à 10:25 am (EST) le Dec 4, 2009

Re PSS: I didn't really like it, I am sorry to say. I admired the endless inventiveness, and mostly the style, although sometimes it was over the top. I don't really like horror, I guess, and this seems like steam punk which is also a genre I see not to be fond of. I found it disconcerting to have no explanation of why all these different alien species were together on this planet. There were a few points at which I was not able to make the necessary leap of faith. So I guess I would say I respected it while not particularly enjoying it.
But I am glad to have read it. It is not trivial and the issues it explores are important.
We have a big weekend planned here - two little girls for sleepovers, the American Girl store, obtaining and decorating the tree, and a trip to the NY Botanical Garden to see the amazing holiday train http://nybg.org/hts09/#gallery/images. I may get some work done too :)
Happy Happy holidays to you!

écrit par kokipy à 7:36 am (EST) le Dec 4, 2009

awww, thanks v much. {soz for the late reply} wow, we share quite alot of books. I look forward to investigating your library more thougherly.

écrit par weaponxgirl à 7:08 am (EST) le Dec 1, 2009

Hi Peggy! Nice to hear from you!

Fay Weldon is a very 'British' writer, but I think you might like her. Try The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (its been made into a film too). And I have to admit that GEB is still sitting on my bedside table, waiting for me to pick it up . I was going to read it with the group here, but didn't quite manage to do more than read a few pages and flip the rest.

I think we have pretty much completed the Abebooks connections. Best thing would be to look them up on Local by the address. Then, if you don't find them, check if there are any links left to do on the Abebooks connection page (there's a link in my profile). You set up the venue in Local (Add venue and carry on from there), then go back to the connection page and put in the venue number.

Is it just me, or do cats and books tend to go together? I'd love to have more than one cat again, but Miss Tilly will not allow it. Sadly, Kiki is now gone, to Miss T's approval ('tolerance' was exactly the right word!) I had never had dealings with a bird before and found it was quite a lot different from mammals. In fact, the only animal Tilly really approved of was my lodger's dog, who she was very fond of - she used to fly in through the cat flap and run straight to the dog to tell her what she had been up to. Watching her try to persuade the dog to chase her in the garden is one of the funniest things I have ever seen -- a look of total puzzlement on the dog's face!

écrit par sarahemmm à 2:01 am (EST) le Nov 27, 2009

I hope it is a lovely and festive Thanksgiving for you and your family as well--

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:31 am (EST) le Nov 24, 2009

Just sayin' hello, and reminding you of one of your old friends!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 12:39 am (EST) le Nov 24, 2009

Hi . . .

Just a note to wish you happy Thanksgiving. I'm eagerly awaiting the next Grafton . . . U. I was thinking today of authors I miss . . . how I used to wait for the arrival of their next book: Brian Moore and Janwillem Van de Wetering and Tony Hillerman and Muriel Spark. Hard to believe there won't be more.

Thank you again for making me feel welcome here.

mollygrace

écrit par mollygrace à 6:01 am (EST) le Nov 23, 2009

It is a young group, but a number of the members are very well read in F. and the rest are very interested.

écrit par kokipy à 10:52 am (EST) le Nov 21, 2009

I've read almost no plague fiction beyond Boccaccio, Defoe, and Camus. (Well, and Stephen King!) The Brooks and Willis books sound fascinating. I'll add them to my list.

écrit par Winter_Maiden à 1:49 am (EST) le Nov 12, 2009

Well, hello! Thanks for finding my library interesting. I'll certainly join Almack's--I lurve Georgette Heyer with a flaming passion.

I don't pretend to be more than moderately literary in my reading habits, so while Anthony Powell is on my radar, he isn't much more than that. I haven't read Thomas Wolfe yet, either--I figure when I do next embark on something requiring a major commitment, I'll stick with a crazy Southern boy.

Funny you should mention the Black Death. That was one of my topics in World Lit today (Late Antiquity to Early Modern Europe in 2.5 hours), with clips from *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, "Sword of the Valiant*, *The Seventh Seal*, and Pier Paolo Pasolini's *Decameron*. And a Halloween skull-on-a-pike for the memento mori. Arriving in the mail just in time was a copy of Greenwood Press *Daily Life During the Black Death*. I have it on reserve in the library for students doing a paper on that topic, but I can't wait to read it. It has all the effect-on-worldview material that I'm always searching for. I love that Greenwood series, but they are ruinously expensive.

How does a Peggy become a LizzieD?

écrit par Winter_Maiden à 10:47 pm (EST) le Nov 11, 2009

You are welcome! Even though Newspaper is not a VMC, I think the cover art is lovely. Actually, nicer than the VMC cover.

Ah, yes, I am a Shakespeare addict. I have this theory that some aliens were beamed down at various times and that accounts for the "where did they get that!" out of this world talent. So far, I think Shakespeare was one. I would also put Mozart, William Blake (that poetry is three hundred years too soon and, his art work WOW!). and Emily Bronte on the list. Where in the previous history of English lit are there two antiheroes, like Heathcliff and Kathy, in a novel. For all of its Gothic trappings, I think she tapped into something that couldn't be explained away by her experiences with a drunken brother, her long walks on the moors, and her living next to a graveyard.

So I think they are from the planet Koosbain, just got stuck on earth, and made the best of it. Jim Henson was on the trail and I am rewatching The Muppets for further evidence.

(If more proof is needed, why did Shakespeare write that curse about not moving his bones? Because his bones aren't there! He was beamed up! And Mozart. Buried in a pauper's grave! Nonsense! He's not there, either. Bronte and Blake are a little trickier, but I'm working on it!)

I wish I could say that Austen was an alien, but she is too much a product of her times.

My husband has some theories about scientists but he won't commit. How about American lit or history aliens? Any theories? Franklin, maybe?

With tongue firmly in cheek, I wish you a good day!

Elaine

PS I forgot Gene Roddenbury. It's a good thing he survived and managed to escape that crash in Roswell. But he was really tipping his hand when he created the Star Trek series. Probably homesick. Still, at least he managed to get shot into space to reunite with the mother ship, even if he had to pretend to die to get there.

PPS. Okay, the silliness stops now. That is all....

écrit par Liz1564 à 9:29 am (EST) le Nov 10, 2009

Peggy,
You say “I looked for Confederates at pbs…” What is pbs? And how do you underline words here? I can find no options for formatting here and I feel I had best be on my toes when corresponding with an English/Latin teacher. This reminds me of something amusing: One of my best friends teaches English at the local community college. He recently required the students in a class to compose a personal essay. One girl’s magnum opus offered this bit of folk wisdom: “My mother always says ‘A cheap tattoo is never good and a good tattoo is never cheap.’ ” Shouldn’t that be knitted in a sampler, to be hung over the hearth?

I forgot about Ferrol Sams- yes, most worthwhile. I have wondered about the authenticity of the pronunciation “wallermillions” that he sometimes uses for the esteemed fruit, but I am a little reticent about making inquiries in knowledgeable quarters. I think he is probably right. More humor from the deep South: Faulkner’s The Reivers. Then there is (less geographically fortunate) McClanahan’s Famous People I Have Known.

Soon I’ll read one or two of the female novelists you mentioned and report back proudly. I think I exaggerated my ignorance, though, since I have read quite a bit of Patricia Highsmith, M.C. Beaton, A.S. Byatt, even V. Woolf, and sundry other worthies.

The Spendid Century was a very good read- for me, anyway, since I am interested in the time and place. Of course you know that the author, W. H. Lewis, was “Warnie,” brother and companion to C.S. Lewis.

I seem to be running out of steam here. It was a long, long day.
Kermit

écrit par scribulous à 6:30 pm (EST) le Nov 9, 2009

I do like Chabon, a whole lot. I like his fiction very much - the amazing adventures of kavalier and clay were exactly that. Steller likes his essays even better. I think he is a great talent. Try Gentlemen of the Road. I really really iiked that one.

Helen Mcinnes sounds familiar but if I had her I didnt keep her.

écrit par kokipy à 2:23 pm (EST) le Nov 9, 2009

I have started _Little Dorrit_ partly because of your enthusiasm. I am enjoying it very much so far.

écrit par ElizabethPotter à 6:03 pm (EST) le Nov 8, 2009

I agree re downsizing but I have often lived in small apartments so have had no choice! I had the Poldark books also at one point but they too are history, sadly.
I liked A Civil Contract, but it has a very different feel from most of the books - not so funny. But good, and an interesting twist on the general themes.
I don't know what it is about O'Brian, exactly, that I find so captivating. I love the style, and the language, and the sensibility, and over the course of 21 books I grew to love the characters. The plotting is often not the strongest point, and towards the end of the series the books seem to be a single seamless narrative, which in this case anyway I also found utterly engaging. I loved the jokes. Jack has about two jokes, and he loves to tell them and laughs so hard everytime. Stephen tends not to laugh, of course.
Anyway, I would like you to love them!

écrit par kokipy à 10:44 am (EST) le Nov 6, 2009

Now I have read some Cornwall, maybe 18 years ago - I remember clearly the person who recommended them - and I do remember liking them, but not so well as O'Brian, who, for me, occupies a special and lofty place equaled by few if any. I think that I had to get rid of the Cornwall in one downsizing or another, but since you commend them so highly I will see if I can find them again, perhaps at PBS!

écrit par kokipy à 9:13 am (EST) le Nov 6, 2009

Peggy,

This reply may seem scatterbrained since while I type this your message doesn't seem to be available for reference. I haven't gotten used to LT's peculiarities yet, especially with regard to sending messages, and the help files seem a little superficial. I can't figure out how to underline words, as I notice that you have done. Also, the convention seems to be that messages are sent publicly- am I wrong? And to see what I have written to you I have to look at your profile, no copy being retained elsewhere. correct?

I enjoyed your last rambling note, proof that a lot of information is bubbling up from somewhere. I am in awe of your Latin profession, recalling the poor soul who tried to teach it to me in high school. Little did I know then that something actually was absorbed, so that the grammatical structure of other languages, especially German, made more sense. I even embarked on a Quixotic study of Greek when a college senior, with two semesters so I could at least say I had studied it. As to history, I read a lot of non-fiction with no particular concentration, and some fiction, such as Patrick O'Brian and Bernard Cornwell. I see that you like science fiction, which opens up a great topic for conversation. There's some rambling for you.

Kermit

écrit par scribulous à 9:57 pm (EST) le Nov 5, 2009

Actually, I am a terrible curmudgeon.
I wonder if the other context you may have for Singapore Grip is the original one, which would certainly show you to be a worldly person. Farrell was being a little bold in choosing the title, though he may have thought that those who could be offended would never have heard the term.
Thanks for the Feicht journal reference. It has already made me want to follow in his path, and I could kick myself for not going to Regensburg when I had the chance....but perhaps I'll correct that ommission soon. Roman history has always been of great interest to me. Have you read Mary Beard's book on Pompeii? I have always wondered when and where the last toga was worn, though am I right to think there had been a substantial change of dress long before Augustulus was deposed? I'll spare you more loosely connected thoughts for now.

Kermit

écrit par scribulous à 3:30 pm (EST) le Nov 5, 2009

I'll poke my nose into Almack's. Thanks for the tip.

E

PS. Book on its way to you

écrit par Liz1564 à 11:20 am (EST) le Nov 5, 2009

and it will, when received, bring us up to 870! Isn't this fun.

écrit par kokipy à 11:19 am (EST) le Nov 5, 2009

It's on its way, m'dear.

écrit par kokipy à 11:18 am (EST) le Nov 5, 2009

I see you dont have a copy of Learning the World, by Ken Macleod. I liked it pretty well and I have an extra copy - would you enjoy it?

écrit par kokipy à 9:41 am (EST) le Nov 5, 2009

Well, I joined Almacks and commented on most of the threads. Will I see you there?

écrit par kokipy à 9:05 pm (EST) le Nov 4, 2009

Pamela-Flamela- it doesn't matter- we know her by her wanton ways. I have enough trouble sometimes recalling whether I have read a particular book, never mind the characters' names, and I end up with duplicates for that reason. There are a few books on my shelves that I frequently examine with a gimlet eye: I want to read them, but fear that I have already done so.

I'll move the Raj Quartet forward in the to-read queue on your recommendation. The Booker-winning Siege of Krishnapur (I'm sorry italics don't seem to be available here) was followed by The Singapore Grip, then The Troubles, thus comprising the Empire Trilogy. Farrell met an early end by drowning, despite having been born with a caul, like David Copperfield.

Charles lamb finally gave up on loaning book; he would only give them away. So you are in good company.

I've signed up at "History at 30,000 Feet," expecting great edification.

écrit par scribulous à 8:10 pm (EST) le Nov 4, 2009

Now what's Almacks? I am sure this relates to Heyer - is it a group here?
AS to what I am up to, I am actually a little bit busy at work but unfortunately my attention span is about 5 minutes so I rush off here or there and entertain myself quite often while nominally productively employed. I am trying to read SERIOUS BOOKS now, having delighted in Heyer for months. I am in the middle of Before the Dawn, a recommendation from 30,000 feet, and also a Jonathan Spence re China. I find I can't read SERIOUS BOOKS straight through, I have to have several going at once. My attention span, you know.
I just echoed your advice to Garp re Atwood by the way. It is fun to join in conversations uninvited!

écrit par kokipy à 5:25 pm (EST) le Nov 4, 2009

I'll mail Newspaper of Claremont Street off before Friday!

You taught English too!

The Liz in my name is part of my pen name. Alas, it has nothing to do with Elizabeth Bennett, although I used to tell my students that if I could have written just one novel, it would be P & P. And this was before the current Austen craze.

Are you a Heyer fan? I find her novels about as close as can be to Austen, given the 100 year gap. The modern pastiches just don't compare. I think my favorites are Venetia and Frederica, with maybe Devil's Cub and Bath Tangle and, oh, never mind!

Let's see. What else? I am determined to read Illyrian Spring in the next twelve months. It is on every wish list I can stick it on. I don't care what edition.

I should start posting my books, at least the fiction and history and feminist stuff. And Newspaper is really a one sitting read.

Signing off now...

E

écrit par Liz1564 à 11:53 am (EST) le Nov 4, 2009

Widmerpooling, indeed!
I regret having to admit that I haven't read the Raj Quartet, though I am familiar with it through the TV adaptation; for some reason I have just put it off for future delectation. Could the Flavia you mention for Merrick possibly be Pamela Flitton? My recollection of the DTTMOT characters is so dim that there are few I can actually name besides Nick Jenkins, Kenneth Widmerpool, Pamela, Stringham, and maybe a few others. Anyway, the idea of people crossing from one work of fiction to another is amusing.
Have you read J.G. Farrell's Empire Trilogy? If not, I can highly recommend it.
"When I was lending books" makes me think you must have learned a hard lesson. I don't like to lend them ,but don't know how to refuse, so when I lend a volume I never expect to see it again.

Kermit (aka scribulous)

écrit par scribulous à 11:45 am (EST) le Nov 4, 2009

I haven't posted yet at any of the groups. My activity on Vowel Shift and the others has simply been as a lurker since I signed up with Library Thing in September. I looked in at the Latin group tonight, but dared not post because of my "little Latin and less Greek."

Powell is a favorite of mine. Have you read his four volumes of memoirs: Infants of the Spring, et al.? I've been wanting to get my hands on the Lees-Milne diaries, which are supposed to be a delicious read.

écrit par scribulous à 11:34 pm (EST) le Nov 3, 2009

ah you reminded me that I want to read "The Penelopiad" -- perhaps while re-reading the Odyssey

écrit par Garp83 à 7:05 pm (EST) le Nov 3, 2009

I read "Handmaid's Tale" years ago -- great book. Been meaning to find other titles by her -- any suggestions?

écrit par Garp83 à 5:20 pm (EST) le Nov 2, 2009

I am so sorry about the continuing ill- health saga! I do hope she feels better soon. this is worrisome, isn't it.
We are all doing fine, getting ready for Halloween. I've got a lot of pumpkins to carve tomorrow!
How are you liking the Morgaine books, I see you are now reading? I like them but they are not my favorite Cherryhs.
I am consummed with finding and then reading all of Heyer. I have about 41 now so unfortunately don't have too many more to go. The good news is that my memory is so poor I can reread them with gusto, as if never read before, once I get through them the first time.
I recommended Heyer to another good friend from that other place who recently reported that he read Cotillion, then read it again and is now on his third back to back to back read. He is another avid convert! This reminds me of when my sister first gave me a Dorothy Dunnett, of whom I had never heard -o brave new world! - and it gives me hope that there are a lot of other wonderful authors out there who have written lots and lots that I've never read and never heard of but will soon do both! what joy.

écrit par kokipy à 4:38 pm (EST) le Oct 30, 2009

Thanks for the kind words about the post. There does seem to be a bit of an echo chamber effect going on in that thread, but the subject matter is so good overall, I guess I won't give up on it. Leaving aside any political arguments, how can you expect a child (or later an adult) to know the lessons of history if they don't have a clue what actually happened? It is good to hear a teacher acknowledge this.

By the way, I am very impressed with your nearly 5k of books! The vast majority of mine are not on yet, but hope springs eternal.

écrit par almalena à 11:46 am (EST) le Oct 30, 2009

Hi Peggy,
Not to worry, real life takes precedence. I hope your aunt will be feeling better soon. Are you reading to her? Thirkell's August Folly or Wild Strawberries might be an idea -- I always think of them as cheer up novels, and they're not too long, either.
Hugs across the ocean,
Susan in Berlin

écrit par littlegreycloud à 12:22 pm (EST) le Oct 29, 2009

Peggy - dahling!

The Matriarch arrived today. Thank you SO much. It goes on the pile but you say it is good? So perhaps a little higher up...

Thank you for thinking of me and sending me such a lovely copy. I am thrilled!!!!

écrit par romain à 6:32 pm (EST) le Oct 28, 2009

Hi friend,

Was about to ask you what it does.:) Angela Thirkell indeed! I have almost all of her Barsetshire novels. (But then, I listen to The Archers, too...)
I haven't read The Gates of Ivory. I see it's the last of a trilogy, so I suppose one ought to start with The Radiant Way? The last Drabble I read was The Peppered Moth, and I still have The Seven Sisters in one of my many book boxes from the move... can't wait for my new shelves!
We took Isla to the vet today and her eye (or rather, the place where it was) is healing well. I can tell you're an animal person by your comment that it was wonderful *for us* that she is with us now -- lots of people keep telling me how lucky *she* is and seem somewhat puzzled when I say that it's us who are lucky to have her around. Btw, tortoise shell cats are also referred to as Glückskatzen ("luck cats") in German and are said to ward off fires and other misfortunes -- let's hope that's true!
Susan in Berlin

écrit par littlegreycloud à 5:18 pm (EST) le Oct 27, 2009

Dear Peggy,

Sounds like you're living in a wonderful household, full of animals and books. (When I met my significant other, I made it clear to him that three things were non-negotiable -- my cat, my plants and my books. He does complain occasionally about my "jungle" and my "fibre-based media" but he adored Wölkchen, even if it took her a long time to agree to share me with him.:)
We're thinking of adding a couple of more cats and maybe a dog to the household once Isla's health issues are sorted out (she came to us with an eye missing and needing surgery -- not that that has stopped her any, mind you).
Due to my heavy workload, I haven't made much headway with the Taylor bio but I do recommend the Drabble -- it's an odd creature of a book, partly a history of jigsaw puzzles and games in general, partly a personal memoir about doing puzzles with a favourite aunt, playing cards as a child etc., containing odd anecdotes such as that about a man who collects jigsaw puzzle pieces that he finds on the street (and only those!) as well as reflections about her life as a writer. She wrote it to take her mind off things while her husband was severely ill. It's ideal for dipping in now and then, just reading a page or two, so I expect it's going to sit in my "current reads" list for quite a while yet.
Hugs to all the furry household memebers,
Susan in Berlin

écrit par littlegreycloud à 7:02 am (EST) le Oct 27, 2009

Peggy!!! I don't have it and would love to receive it!!! Boy needs the computer so must rush away. Have a great week.

Barbara

écrit par romain à 7:08 pm (EST) le Oct 25, 2009

Dear Peggy,

Apologies for disapeearing like that -- what must you think of me! For most of the past five weeks, my life has been nothing but work, and I had barely time to sleep, let alone read or add books to my library -- and the last few days i've spent recuperating and staying away from the computer...
The little grey cat was my Wölkchen ("little cloud"), who passed away this spring. I rescued her in 2000 from an animal shelter in Greece. She was about ten then and she had a heart defect, so I suppose I should be grateful that we were given as long as 8.5 years together but I still miss her terribly.
We recently got a new little feline from an animal shelter in Spain because a house without a cat is not quite a home... Isla likes to curl up in bed with me when I read, which suits me just fine -- we're planning a cosy winter together. Like your Chibby, she is a tortoiseshell, and she's got more personality in each of her multicoloured paws than some people have altogether. (Needless to say, she's already ruling this household.)
I do want to hear all about May the Dog of the House (can't imagine why you think I wouldn't:) and if you have had any luck in getting your feline visitors to move in and what Chibby had to say about that.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Susan in Berlin

écrit par littlegreycloud à 4:50 pm (EST) le Oct 25, 2009

Like you, I am busy-busy-busy but wouldn't have it any other way! I read your "how-desperately-I-wanted-to-learn-to-read" story on callmejax's page & was struck my how much it resembled my own. (My story is now posted there).

LT is amazing!

écrit par MtnSk8tr à 11:33 pm (EST) le Oct 16, 2009

This is the best place to meet folks who enjoy books. Glad that I met you and Sharon

écrit par callmejacx à 11:18 pm (EST) le Oct 16, 2009

I have just been chatting with a fellow LT member who says that you are their good friend. I am sure you have heard of MtnSk8tr. What a nice person! Asked her how she had found my profile and she told me it was probably through a post of yours. Thought I would just drop in and say hello.

écrit par callmejacx à 10:54 pm (EST) le Oct 16, 2009

I would LOVE the Mary Lavalle, thank you kindly! I will pm you my address.
I have read those Ferrels Sams books, my own father recommended them to me as very true to his own upgrowing in Georgia during the 20s-30s. I dont remember if I still have them, though.
Stellar and I were visiting, amongst our respective families, a week or so ago and were bemoaning your physical distance. We would so enjoy sitting down with you around the dinner table and talking books! and everything else as well, of course.

écrit par kokipy à 2:55 pm (EST) le Oct 13, 2009

did you notice? we're up to 863. And Happy Happy Birthday!

Are these books you are adding new or are you still working through the collection?

écrit par kokipy à 2:39 pm (EST) le Oct 13, 2009

The Ovid novel is still on my wishlist, Peggy, but it does sound intriguing -- I wish I had it in hand as I'm teaching The Metamorphoses next week to my World Lit class.

écrit par janeajones à 12:04 pm (EST) le Oct 10, 2009

Peggy

Sent off a parcel to you this morning using your packaging. It contains the Talbot and a beat up non-Virago copy of a book you don't have on your list.

Barbara

écrit par romain à 11:39 am (EST) le Oct 10, 2009

Hi Lizzie ... do you ever come across Ponderable Dickens on the other site? The guys on Aravis' forum periodically voice their regret that they have lost contact with him. He was a nice man and I feel sad that I have also lost contact with him. I could go back there - I do every so often but feel like a stranger when I do and don't feel very comfortable. I gather that the others have been banned for some heinous crime or other and are no longer welcome.

écrit par pinkozcat à 10:48 am (EST) le Oct 10, 2009

Peggy -- Troy Chimneys arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon -- thanks so much! I look forward to reading it, but it may have to wait awhile. Grading papers beckon, I'm afraid.

écrit par janeajones à 10:45 am (EST) le Oct 10, 2009

There is not an especially large Czech community here -- Carolyn's publisher simply gave her the books and she didn't know what else to do with them after the library turned them down.

Re: climbing in shorts. Using your knees is considered bad form although all of us will confess to being forced to do so on occasion, lol! The pic was taken on the summit of Isosceles peak in King's Canyon National Park, in California's Sierra Nevada -- we had just put up a new route. It was a great day!

écrit par MtnSk8tr à 12:16 am (EST) le Oct 5, 2009

Hoping the medical front is improving...

Glad you're liking the KSR. I don't imagine after the first two you'll forgo Sixty Days and Counting?

écrit par stellarexplorer à 10:48 pm (EST) le Oct 4, 2009

House is sort of clean and we went out to Applebys for dinner - first time in months we've actually gone out to eat. First of the month so I went on Abe this time and ordered 8 Viragos at $1 each. I got them all from Better World Books that give all their profits to world literacy. I paid $3.98 for p&p on the first and $1.98 for all the others. So about $25 for 8, which isn't bad. Cheaper than buying them direct from their site where they charge $3.98 minimum for each book but free postage. I still can't find anything I want to read - I may be going into one of my very occasional fallow periods where I read nothing but magazines for a few weeks.

écrit par romain à 10:24 pm (EST) le Oct 3, 2009

Funny you should mention. I read a bit in the Roeder, and found the language to be entirely lovely. Dated scholarship and perhaps censorship limitations aside.

Example--Just after the executions, here is the final paragraph of the Savonarola chapter, which precedes the Machiavelli section:

"Four weeks later, no memory remained in the piazza; it was full of the hurrying feet of the future; and Machiavelli crossed it to take up his work in the Palace." Perfect.

I can't read the other now without thinking of this book, thanks to your vast reservoir of literate experience! Off to read your review!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 5:38 pm (EST) le Sep 30, 2009

I just added 9 more Heyers, so if you have them we'll exceed 850 already. I found all nine on paperbackswap, in the possession of one wonderful person who oddly enough could bear to part with them!

écrit par kokipy à 12:28 pm (EST) le Sep 26, 2009

I like Stross, but Accelerando was not my favorite. I think Halting States is a good one to start with. I was sceptical in the very beginning but eventually I relaxed into it and enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the Atrocity Archives and the Jennifer Morgue - they were a bit silly and light, and quite fun. He is not deeply serious as a writer, but there is certainly a place on my shelves for his entertainment value. He also shows up from time to time at CJC's blog, which is fun, with no fanfare and no pomp and circumstance - if one did not recognize his name one would not know he was a fellow riter.
I hope all those health things settle down soon - they must be very distracting. Sending good wishes your way.

écrit par kokipy à 7:35 am (EST) le Sep 24, 2009

PSS was $0.00 on Kindle. So that was a deal! when I have time I think I'll load up on free Kindle classics, just in case something happens to the collection. I am still in the middle of some Heyer and other things, so PSS remains a pleasure ahead. I live by pleasures - immediate gratifications, intermediate fun and long range anticipation. One must have something to look forward to!
Not having received my Amazon copy of the f O'C bio, I went to look at it in the local Borders at lunch today, and I have to admit i was not able to pick my mother out of the crowd, but my aunt says she is the third from the right in the picture of the year book staff, so I'll go by her word, since she knew her when.

écrit par kokipy à 9:13 pm (EST) le Sep 23, 2009

I am so excited! my cousin just told me that in a new biography of Flannery O'Connor, whom I don't like much, there is a picture of my mother! they were classmates at George State College for Women in Milledgeville, Ga, where they were both on the staff of the year book, and in the biography is a picture of the year book staff. Even though i don't much care for O'Connor, for many good and sufficient reasons, i will certainly have to obtain this book immediately! and what a lovely tag I can have for it.
On another note, I've just ordered Perdido Street Station for my kindle. I am foreseeing a future in which we don't have room for the books, and am trying to downsize by moving things to electronic media now. EG, I just obtained the complete collected novels of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen for about $1.50. All of my Dickens, which is in paperback, is falling apart anyway so the time is ripe. Ithink I'll see if I can do the same with my Faulkner.

écrit par kokipy à 7:49 pm (EST) le Sep 22, 2009

Hi Peggy,

Actually, I suspect we'll have hundreds of books in common rather than just 26 once I'm done listing mine. (I'm guesstimating I've got around 4.000 so that's going to take a while, especially since most of them are still in boxes from my recent move. How long did it take you to list your library? I find it very slow going since for some reason, I get sidetracked a lot into looking up other books whenever I'm on LT.:)

Thanks for the tip on the Virago Modern Classics group -- will certainly check it out. I keep hoping I'll win the lottery so I can do nothing but reading books and reading about books one day -- that would certainly help with my TBR stacks, too...

Susan in Berlin

écrit par littlegreycloud à 4:20 pm (EST) le Sep 22, 2009

Thank you, Peggy - I think I'm beginning to get the Latin tense thing! Having looked at the examples I copied out from the exercises in my textbook, it would certainly seem that the perfect is used more frequently than imperfect. When in doubt, I'll use the perfect tense :-)

It's a long time since I published any poetry, so I don't really feel much like a poet these days. This year my main OU course is in creative writing, which I'm hoping will restart some of my creative juices, which seem to have gone into hibernation.

Thanks for mentioning Steven Saylor. My husband's uncle enjoys Lindsey Davis, so I was considering giving her books a go, but I shall try Saylor instead.

Helen

écrit par scarletslippers à 8:25 am (EST) le Sep 22, 2009

Peggy,

There's so much to love about Latin. I enjoy seeing where many English words originally came from, and Roman history is, as you say, fascinating. (I'm sure much of my desire to learn Latin stems from my love of 'I Claudius'. Recently I've been reading more about Roman history, seeing where Graves stuck to known(ish) facts and where he deviated wildly :-)

When it comes to the past, I think my problem is decided whether 'He walked to the station' is a completed action or an ongoing one (completed? assuming he reached his destination). And a sentence such as, 'She didn't like the teacher' - is that ongoing (I presume so, unless she suddenly started to like the teacher!)?

I started with Bill Linney's 'Getting Started with Latin', which I found the perfect introductory text for the beginner, introducing some key concepts, but without frightening away the student with too much information). I'm now using Nicholas Oulton's 'So you really want to learn Latin'. I'm still on book one, although book two is waiting on my bookshelf :-) It's a nicely-done textbook, with a good balance between introducing new material, consolidating information already (hopefully!) learnt, and exercises (many are one-sentence translations, but there are a few whole-paragraph translations).

I think 'Frost in May' was the first VMC I read. I rather regret the passing of the old-style green covers. The new ones aren't quite as thrilling :-)

Helen

écrit par scarletslippers à 12:00 pm (EST) le Sep 21, 2009

Hi Peggy,

I'm always very excited when I find fellow Virago fans! I'm glad if my reviews have been of some use to you. You have an enviable library of books :-)

I (briefly) studied Latin at school. I have no natural gift for languages, but Latin is the only language that has really engaged my attention and made me determined to learn it. One thing I'm struggling with is the lack of simple past in Latin. My textbook tells me to use past imperfect for 'ongoing' actions and perfect tense for 'completed' actions, but I often struggle to work out what the difference is between an ongoing and a completed action.

Helen

écrit par scarletslippers à 6:40 am (EST) le Sep 21, 2009

Ordered WH paperback from the BookDepository. Should be here in a week. We might be reading it at the same time.
T.

écrit par tiffin à 6:57 pm (EST) le Sep 17, 2009

Regarding the little girl with the curl - it would appear that my mother was making bricks without straw again.

She had a bad habit of embroidering things,something I discovered when I started researching my family and found that all the wonderful stories she told me about my forebears were more fiction than fact. In fact, there was very little truth in any of it.

The poem was one which she used to quote at my sister who was somewhat defiant and refused to eat everything on her plate, to the detriment of the starving Armenians.

écrit par pinkozcat à 9:28 am (EST) le Sep 16, 2009

Hi LizzieD,

I see pinkozcat has warned you that I might be stopping by to say Hello. I remember you well from the book discussion group site.
wordswordswords (Joan)

écrit par wordswordswords à 12:47 am (EST) le Sep 16, 2009

I mentioned, on Aravis' site, that I had met up with you here and wordswordswords is anxious to get in touch with you. She said that she misses the emails and PMs.

I suggested that she come here and look amongst the pedants.

écrit par pinkozcat à 11:09 pm (EST) le Sep 15, 2009

Hi - I was just doing some catching up and here is that elusive second verse about the little girl with the curl.

"She kicked and she screamed in her little trundle bed
The noise she made was quite emphatic.
Her mother heard the noise, and thought it was the boys
Playing in the empty attic."

écrit par pinkozcat à 10:14 am (EST) le Sep 15, 2009

Hi, Lizzie... thanks for stopping by. My footprints have been very light. I've been popping in from time to time, here and at TRP, but I haven't had the time to get involved. I'm back at school and busy formatting the lectures, creating obnoxious homework assignments, etc., etc. Every year I think will be the last one, but then I just keep going... by the end of the summer, the pain is forgotten.

I've managed to read and lightly review some books I snagged from Early Reviewers, but that's all, folks! Altho', I did read several of Cherryh's books to try to make better sense of Cyteen and, at some point, I want to talk about them with you and/or stellarexplorer. At present, I'm reading Glasshouse by Charles Stross. Didn't care for it at the beginning, but now I'm involved and curious to see where it goes.

I hope you're good and enjoying life! I'm trying to get organized, so I can too... :)

écrit par Nulla à 8:37 am (EST) le Sep 13, 2009

So glad about 50 degrees!!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 2:01 am (EST) le Sep 13, 2009

Thanks Lizzie.

Man of Renaissance: Ralph Roeder?

The memorial responsibility is for the same friend -- long-delayed due to logistical issues.

I am so sorry to hear of the medical issues in your family. Dementia is such a painful and exhausting problem for all concerned.

Oral surgery? Sounds like a good excuse for ice cream!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 9:54 pm (EST) le Sep 12, 2009

Oh, so sorry to hear of the sickness -- hope everyone will soon be well!

My difficulty is that the book isn't really what I want to be reading right now, and I so dislike reading out of obligation. Said Samuel Johnson: "A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads
as a task will do him little good."

May I ask you a question? I am making reminiscences tomorrow for my friend who died, and I am planning to use the quote from Martial that I shared with you. What is the correct Latin pronunciation of "Martial"?

écrit par stellarexplorer à 4:41 pm (EST) le Sep 12, 2009

Whoa! Peggy, I'm impressed at the number of books you've read this year. I've read a few more than are on my LT Profile -- I keep forgetting to update the list. But -WOW! Your list is amazing!

écrit par MtnSk8tr à 11:42 am (EST) le Sep 12, 2009

Lovely to catch up with you again. I visit Aravisarwen's site, Viewpoints, which you appear to be a member of but never activated your account. There are only four of us who post regularly - Robert Graves, Wyndham, Tenarke and myself. Aravis herself rarely posts these days.

It has become an interesting place with two Australians, a Canadian and an American and is mostly political rather than about books these day.

My online literary involvement is bookcrossing, librarything and *sigh* amazon.

Do keep in touch ...

écrit par pinkozcat à 9:31 pm (EST) le Sep 11, 2009

Hey there LizzieD;
The read will be on the 50 book challenge.
And we will get more info out as the time
draws near. Right now, we are just trying
to nail down a title.
Thank you so much for your response.
I so appreciate it.
hugs,
belva

écrit par rainpebble à 1:34 pm (EST) le Sep 10, 2009

I hope you had a lovely reunion! I quite enjoyed His Majesty's Dragon. The books are well written and combine very nicely the Napoleonic era with dragons. As a Patrick O'Brian afficianado, there was much that was familiar here, with the odd twist of the wildlife. I think you'll like them.
I came upon your note in the copy of April Lady you sent me last spring - I am slowly working my way through the Heyer books, and enjoying them so very much.
We recently moved from the city to the suburbs to get the children into the good public schools, and we are finally reasonably well settled in, boxes unpacked, most of the paintings hung. Whew! now maybe I can get back to do some reading.
I own no Virago editions, but - as you know! - I own many Virago authors. everytime I think of one that I think should be a Virago author she is. So I am looking forward to enjoying the group. Clearly a collection of like minded individuals.

écrit par kokipy à 9:41 am (EST) le Sep 9, 2009

No, no, my dear girl. When I said "phycho" I meant on the same mental plane as I regarding "Code of the Woosters". Sorry I confused you. So yes, technically I meant phychic; just more fun to say psycho.
"Shibumi" is the book he wrote about a dude born of Russian and German parents in the WWI era who goes on to become an assassin. But the story underneath that was what I found fascinating, thusly causing me to hang on to the book for nearly 30 years. It combines the spy/thriller genre with philosophy/self knowledge seeking and the sport of spelunking. And Nicholai Hel drives a battered Volvo. I found it to be quite comedic for the genre. Rather like Ludlum's works going up against his "Gandalfo", which is funnier than hell. Perhaps it is the one with the computer work.?.?.?. I just don't recall that.
Your hubby sounds like my hubby used to be. Sometimes they can grow out of that. I used to be the social one and he wouldn't join in. And now we have rather reversed the syndrome although I am not as bad as he used to be. He wouldn't even go to his own parent's at Christmas time for years so the kids and I went alone. Now he does. I guess we mellow with age.
Well, have fun on your weekend away. Relax and enjoy it. Hopefully you will return all refreshed and rarin' to go.
hugs,
belva

écrit par rainpebble à 10:24 am (EST) le Aug 28, 2009

Hi Peggy!

What a lovely comment to wake up to. North Carolina and books - two great things in my life. Yours too. Thanks for visiting.

It seems you love mysteries too. I've been reading them since about 5th grade. I started with Nancy Drew and was reading Perry Mason by 6th grade. For some strange reason I seem to have acquired a literary bug this year and am reading many more non-mystery and non-romance books than usual. But because I have a 999 challenge category for new mystery authors, I have "found" several new mystery authors this year - Colin Dexter and Peter Robinson come to mind.

I checked out your library briefly and am highly gratified that you also use location tags. Frankly I don't understand how anybody with more than a thousand books or so doesn't use them.

Elaine Pagels is one of my favorite authors and I have read Thomas and Judas.

Well, off to add a new thrift shop acquisition (The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco) then to the library to read my current book A Cafe on the Nile by Bartle Bull.

karenmarie

écrit par karenmarie à 7:12 am (EST) le Aug 22, 2009

Hello, and thanks for your explanations over on the Pedant's Corner thread. It's totally befuddling how easy it can be to use language properly, without being able to explain how and why it works the way it does, and even without noticing one's inability to do so. That's been a very educational thread for me.

écrit par polutropon à 3:46 pm (EST) le Aug 21, 2009

A quote that has always seemed a comfort as well as an imperative:

"Take kindly the council of the years,

Gracefully surrendering the things of youth."

écrit par stellarexplorer à 10:22 pm (EST) le Aug 15, 2009

How I wish I'd been in your class!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 2:08 pm (EST) le Aug 15, 2009

I dont think I know Margaret Laurence - i will have to look for her. and I'll also check out Virago. You are full of good ideas! I wish I could retire but since we have small children at our advanced ages I expect I'll die in my traces, some decades from now, always providing I can find employment!

écrit par kokipy à 1:24 pm (EST) le Aug 15, 2009

I agree entirely on play. Very important. Games. Fun. I want the ball!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 12:57 pm (EST) le Aug 15, 2009

I guess it's better than no copy, but it smells like a bit of a bait-and-switch to me. I'll benefit from the read, but I feel like I am also performing a service.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 12:49 pm (EST) le Aug 15, 2009

I Capture the Castle has been sitting on my libraries shelf for 10 years without being checked out so I thought I'd read it before I discarded it I loved it,I'm now recommending it to everyone!Yes Diana Gabldon is the closest to romance I get I felt those books were so much more than romance though.

écrit par susiesharp à 6:18 pm (EST) le Aug 12, 2009

Yes I've heard of her and have read the book.When I google myself her stuff comes up lol.

écrit par susiesharp à 2:12 pm (EST) le Aug 12, 2009

Probably my favourite Tepper (so far!) is "Gate to Women's Country". I think that was the one that got me hunting for her stuff. Unfortunately, in an excess of zeal, I gave away my copy and haven't found a replacement since. I have a copy of "Grass" somewhere but I haven't read it yet. After your recommendation, I'll have to go hunt it out! I think I'll check the library for some of the mysteries.

If you decide to try Helen Forrester, my favourite is "Lemon Tree"; her four autobiographical books are quite good too. She generally writes strong female characters who know their own mind.

écrit par sqdancer à 11:17 am (EST) le Aug 12, 2009

Hi Peggy,

Actually, I think your version of the title is better (good spoof on Star Wars). Have you read any of McCrumb's other books?

I don't have all my SF&F catalogued yet, and I know there is more Tepper to enter. Which is your favourite?

I've only read one of her mysteries (they are a bit hard to find around here). It was one of the Shirley McClintock series, but I'm drawing a blank on the title.

Bernadette

écrit par sqdancer à 9:14 pm (EST) le Aug 8, 2009

Hi! Thanks so much for your comments on the Gargantua and Pantagruel review.

Well, I remember trying to read Gravity's Rainbow back in the 80's, got the sense of being up against something monumental, and haven't gone back yet. I want to get that book again. Best of luck. There are a several mountains like that I want to scale, but I guess my personal Everest is Proust! Ha, but I may have to retire first in order to read Remembrance of Things Past in the long great gulp that would really make it sing.

Thanks again
- later

écrit par CosmicBullet à 7:27 pm (EST) le Aug 5, 2009

Your recommendations for Grass and Fresco will be remembered when I go to pick up my first Tepper. I'd been scouting the reviews and it seems that people either seem to really love her or think that she is too strong in her commentary about men and feminist issues. This seems to be teh same thing you picked up on in your online group.I'm pretty sure I will like her.
Hope you are well and staying cool. I think it's going to be another hot one today

écrit par noodlejet22 à 7:31 am (EST) le Aug 5, 2009

Peggy;
You are so more than welcome.
Your kind words melt my heart.
Thank you.
hugs,
belva

écrit par rainpebble à 10:53 pm (EST) le Jul 31, 2009

Peggy, I look forward to getting book. I hope your piano practicing is going well. I love to listen to all sorts of music from pop to classical. I sing off key and do not play any musical instruments. As regards names, I didn't like mine very much when I was younger and used to fantasise that I was called Marguerita which I thought was very exotic.

The town where I live is in between Northampton and Kettering. They may be on your map.

Happy reading,
Valerie

écrit par englishrose60 à 12:10 pm (EST) le Jul 29, 2009

You're very welcome.

somehow I couldn't see the "combine" place

The link to get there is on any author page, on the right, just above the list of works by that author. Like so often, it's easy if you know how to get there ;-)

I also see that I won't be buying Indo-European Sacred Space anytime soon.

Okay. Frankly it's on my wishlist as a reminder. I'm interested in architecture and a book about concepts of sacred space might be interesting from that perspective. But I'm not sure either.

écrit par BarkingMatt à 6:32 am (EST) le Jul 29, 2009

Hi Peggy
Thanks for your message. Your entry on *THL&BB* gave me such a good laugh. Whatever made me decide to make that public in my library ;-)
Oh well, too late now. LOL.

We DO have some wonderful books in common. I am keeping my eyes pealed for a copy of Music and Silence. I try to only buy secondhand copies of novels these days. Prices for new books are crazy high in Australia. I really enjoyed The Road Home and I sent it on a "Bookring" journey through Bookcrossing.com and everyone else seems to also be enjoying it. The link is here: http://bookcrossing.com/journal/6817995. I'm "FreePages" there and I wonder what you would think about what I said about Lev? I enjoyed "The Road Home" more than "The Colour" only because I got a bit anal (not a theme I'm trying to develop) about some colloquialisms she seemed to confuse between NZ & Aus. Though, it is a very good story. The books you mention do sound very good, they are either on my Mount TBR or my wishlist. I'll get to them one day.
Most definitely Well-met,

Cheers
kim
:-)

écrit par KimB à 12:32 am (EST) le Jul 29, 2009

I'd be glad to send you DD if you'd like. It's an ARC and I'm always glad to share with fellow booklovers. I'm over my book limit too (cheap grin).
I actually just discovred UKLG a few months ago. I've only read 2 of her books, left hand and a newer book called voices. Both of them I enjoyed. It took some brain stretching to get into left hand but it was worth it. Being the fanatic that I am I've been trying to find everything I can that she has written.
It is tough to find VMCs here, when I do it's like I hit the jackpot. I've been seeing some of the persephone classics in the B&N here and I finally broke down and ordered my first grey from London. When it arrived I was thrilled. I enjoyed your review of The Rising Tide,i think I will start it tonight :)
Danielle

écrit par noodlejet22 à 11:41 am (EST) le Jul 23, 2009

Hi LizzieD!
Thanks so much for stopping by to leave me kind notes. It is indeed nice to see other NC women here. And I have to tell you that I absolutely love Edward McKays (I think I am developing a habit). I've only recently discovered Nice Price but I do love it. There is something so great about small bookshops in college towns. Anyhow, I hope you found my review of Deliverance Dane helpful but hopefully not discouraging, I'd heard so much about the book and then as I read it started to feel disappointed. I think from now on I will not listen to the hype and happily plow away. It is great to meet you and hope to see you around.
Danielle

écrit par noodlejet22 à 11:12 pm (EST) le Jul 21, 2009

Hi, Peggy -- I'm so glad you enjoyed That Lady. I think that it's not terribly historically accurate -- I think that O'Brien saw a dramatic opportunity to write about things that interested her, like private versus public lives, the complexity of religion, politics, and feelings, and maybe even dramatising a personal story touched by fascism (as in, the King was "God" and the Law and a man at the same time, but being "God" and the Law could allow him to get rid of people). I've read other stories of the Princess of Eboli, from reading about Teresa of Avila, that portray her as pretty money/power hungry, and crazy to boot. But perhaps the real story lies somewhere between the two -- I found Ana to be a very sympathetic character in That Lady.

Anyway, it's my great pleasure that you have enjoyed the book so much, and that you are now providing it such a loving home! And that you find O'Brien's writing of interest -- nice to have some company!

écrit par outrageoussocks à 11:30 pm (EST) le Jul 19, 2009

Hi Peggy, thanks for dropping by. I did enjoy Tigana very much. I have had it on my shelves for some time but was saving it as it was the last of Guy Gavriel Kay's that I hadn't yet read. I think my favorite one of his is still The Lions of Al-Rassan, but he is definitely one of those authors that never disappoint!

I had a quick scan of your library and hope it's ok if I add it as an 'interesting library'. I would like to come back and browse sometime.

I tend to read two books at a time, usually 1 from the library and 1 from my TBR shelves. Even so, the TBR shelves are growing by leaps and bounds! So many books I want to read and so little time!
Have a great day. Judy

écrit par DeltaQueen50 à 3:59 pm (EST) le Jul 15, 2009

> Latin among the pedants!!! Be still, my heart!

Only Latin that is so well known as to be nearly English, I'm afraid, but one does what one can.

écrit par jimroberts à 4:16 pm (EST) le Jul 9, 2009

Dear Peggy, Saki arrived today! so fast! thanks so very much. I can't wait to revisit him.

écrit par kokipy à 8:27 pm (EST) le Jul 2, 2009

Hi! Thanks for your comment - I didn't know that about Ellen Foster (and no I haven't read that yet). I'll let you know when I've read it. I've just come home from a 3 day holiday in Sydney and bought even more Viragos (and other books).

I bought the Niccolo book without realising it's the 5th in the series. I own the first volume of the Lymond Chronicles but haven't read them yet. A really good friend of mine loved them and I've seen lots of good comments on here, but I need to be in the mood. I take it from your comment that you loved them!!

Right, better go and read 4 days of LT posts and collect my wee boy from school :)

écrit par cmt à 10:31 pm (EST) le Jul 1, 2009

Thank you for your kind words. It's always fun to expand the box on the right to get an overview of shared books (we share some good ones). As to the statistical part of it, I'm clueless.

I feel bad for having recently archived (or deleted) most of my comments. Aside from the books, they are a feature of LT that really give a nice portrait of the person. There are some really wonderful and erudite people on LT. My friend benwaugh has one of the most fascinating profile pages around (don't let the picture scare you).

Truth is, I've kind of been in the process of mothballing my profile and participation. I have two small sons who are home for the summer, and we are getting ready for a month in the UK. I'll still enter books and those little reviews, but I imagine I will be cutting down on "talk" participation in the future. You can get to the point where you feel you are making the same comments/arguments over and over. It's good to step aside and let others talk for a while.

Thank you again for your note. Happy Reading!!

-Maki

écrit par Makifat à 10:51 am (EST) le Jun 29, 2009

She's going to SUNY Binghamton--which is about an hour away. It's on the list of Public Ivies so you need excellent grades to get in. She's going in the liberal arts direction but isn't quite sure what exactly-yet.

My reading is a bit slow right now. I'm finishing up Nadine Gordimer's 'The pickup'--also working on Christopher Petit's 'The psalmer killer'--a noirish novel set in the 70's and 80's in Northern Ireland tracking a serial killer associated with the loyalist paramilitaries. It's got excellent tone but we're meandering a bit now. Also reading about 10 pages or so a day of Naomi Klein's 'No logo'.

écrit par lriley à 11:37 pm (EST) le Jun 28, 2009

That would have worked, but no.

You said:
"'I'm visiting.' ??? Is that a clue? "

To which the answer was yes. If that doesn't do the trick, I will end your misery and disclose all. :-/

écrit par stellarexplorer à 8:46 pm (EST) le Jun 28, 2009

The answer to your last direct inquiry was "Yes".

écrit par stellarexplorer à 7:10 pm (EST) le Jun 28, 2009

I suspect it might! Let me know --

écrit par stellarexplorer à 2:55 pm (EST) le Jun 28, 2009

I will happily tell you if it will alleviate any distress. This is meant to be fun, after all!

Hint: The explanation is in the original dazzling post itself.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 2:46 pm (EST) le Jun 28, 2009

wink :)

Isn't magic better enjoyed if explanation is left to the imagination? (And, I wonder, am I authorized to explain? There is the professional code, after all....)

écrit par stellarexplorer à 2:40 pm (EST) le Jun 28, 2009

Peggy--the Stone Angels was pretty good. Busy day yesterday. Tara's high school graduation. My parents went and then we went over to their house for a couple hours. Pretty much went 30 hours with 2 hours sleep so I was whipped. A good time though.

écrit par lriley à 6:14 am (EST) le Jun 28, 2009

Wow! Thanks! I'm a learner more than anything, so there's never such a thing as "more than I wanted to know". :) I would love to hear your story-- because I am essentially clueless--and because I know my 8th graders could also benefit from your knowledge. They don't learn about the Lumbee at all in social studies! I'm going to add ALL of those books to my wishlist right now. Thank you!!

écrit par MissTeacher à 11:12 pm (EST) le Jun 27, 2009

Yes, I borrowed her identity, but only temporarily. It was fun. I remember reading The Mephisto Waltz in 9th grade. Ever read that? A creepy story about how the protagonist occupies a new body as the old one dies -- I don't remember the details, but it made an impression.

Well, be assured nothing like that happened today. :)

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:02 pm (EST) le Jun 27, 2009

Thanks! I'm in Durham, and have been wanting to learn more about Lumbee history. I'll have to check it out.
Thanks again!

écrit par MissTeacher à 10:24 pm (EST) le Jun 27, 2009

I prefer the older Interpreter's to the new edition. Seems more meaty in content, at least to me. I will be posting more in Isaiah this week. The group is an addition for me to a Sunday School summer class I am leading (not teaching) on the first 12 chapters. We took a couple weeks off in the class, but I must be ready this coming week.

And thanks for "friending" me.

écrit par richardbsmith à 11:51 am (EST) le Jun 27, 2009

I love Greek. It is a self taught and self study venture of mine. As is Hebrew. But I am better with Greek. Part of the reason for studying of Isaiah was to improve my Hebrew. Better to read text than to study grammars.

I have several lexicons, but the one I most use is probably not yet in my LT library. Actually, I must confess most of the books catalogued so far are my boxed up garage books.

When I discovered LT, I was immediately excited to be able to catalogue the boxed up books. For so long they have been inaccessible simply because I did not know what I had or where to find them. I know where to find the books, and what books I have, on my shelves, hence the early focus on the boxed up books.

LT has been a great resource to correct that. And I have moved some books from boxes to my shelves when I find them.

Yes we can become friends. I am honored. Have not done anything with the connection tools on LT. You will be my first.

BTW, Abraham Heschel's book is on my shelves, not in a box. :)

Richard

écrit par richardbsmith à 10:52 am (EST) le Jun 27, 2009

Good morning Peggy.

I actually think given the size of your library that there should have been more books in common.

I will confess that my primary focus in Christian studies is not in theology, but in the texts themselves - historical and source criticism and in the Greek and Hebrew language.

But I would love for the Christian group to develop threads with more a study focus. Have tried to start a couple discussions.

I have started an Isaiah discussion group - again with my focus the text and the historical contex. Not much going on over there.

Anyway,thanks for the notice and the contact. I guess a gracious nod from a quality member like Garp earns me some attention from other quality members, like you.

Look forward to exchanging more thoughts and info with you.

Richard

écrit par richardbsmith à 9:00 am (EST) le Jun 27, 2009

Hey Peggy -- We were in Greenville. My son is going to ECU in the fall & we attended his orientation. Is that near you?

écrit par Garp83 à 8:42 am (EST) le Jun 27, 2009

Peggy--John--my Canadian LT friend keeps me very informed on Canadian fiction. Alistair MacLeod is great as well and I must plug Jane Urquhart's book 'The stone carver'. On Conversation in the Cathedral it's a big book and it may take 50 or so pages before it starts coming together. It might also be a good idea to write the character's names as you go to keep an idea on who is who. The narrator actually goes by two names--his christian one and also a nickname. It's a look at one of the more tolerable Latin American dictators and his government--one who left power anyway without a big struggle or a huge bloodbath--though his regime was repressive.

écrit par lriley à 6:05 pm (EST) le Jun 26, 2009

Truly wistful? I hope no real sadness, for we are always within an easy shout! Very nice to hear from you. Sorry if I inadvertently put you in any difficulties, on the spot, or anything of the sort. You were very good about the whole thing! I think it came across to observers as if I were cross-examining you! :)

I dissociated my fiction from my connections. I now have a whole new set of associated libraries based on my non-fiction alone. It is a fascinating diversion!

TTYS!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:44 pm (EST) le Jun 25, 2009

Greetings fellow North Carolinian! Durham, NC checking in!

écrit par MissTeacher à 5:24 pm (EST) le Jun 25, 2009

Thank you for participating in my new thread

écrit par callmejacx à 11:56 am (EST) le Jun 25, 2009

OK, topic started in Taggers!.

écrit par jimroberts à 11:22 am (EST) le Jun 25, 2009

Irony/satire: I thought maybe your teaching had involved explaining the difference and your tagging might be related to that. I vaguely think that I recognise them when I see them, though I wouldn't like to have to explain how. I think I'll start a topic on this in some group later, maybe Taggers! would be an appropriate place.

"I'm puffed up with pride"
Is that an example of irony, or are you really an adherent of the school of thought that flattery should be laid on with a trowel? :)

écrit par jimroberts à 6:57 am (EST) le Jun 25, 2009

Aren't the Angela Thirkell books satire rather than irony?

écrit par jimroberts à 12:42 pm (EST) le Jun 24, 2009

Thanks, you are very kind.

"If you ever get into my library, I'll be grateful for suggestions."
You seem to be doing very well without interference, and so quickly! One thing I'll mention though: I'm a big fan of sorting by author, so I would be happier with your library if you had Dante as Dante Alighieri in all cases (your books by Dante), and I'd put "Translated by Dorothy Sayers" in parentheses in the title rather than have it as part of the author. But it's your library, not mine. Oops, two things: you have minor variants on C. S. Lewis, but they sort OK.

Jim

écrit par jimroberts à 11:58 am (EST) le Jun 24, 2009

My sister gave me Shantaram for my birthday this year. She loved it. We share many reading tastes [she recommended Dunnett, for example], and so there is a high probability that I'll like it, but I think I'm going to read all the HHs first, so it will be a while before I get to it. The subject matter doesn't appeal, but I could very well be very wrong about that. And I loved Ian MacDonald's River of Gods, and Paul Scott's Raj Quartet books, so I am probably quite wrong about that.

écrit par kokipy à 10:48 am (EST) le Jun 22, 2009

I believe I have read all of Agatha Christie's books, but I think maybe I read them when I was still at home and they were my sister's copies, which would be why I don't own them.
The other way we'll get to 800 is by buying things we suggest to each other. CJCherryh's written over 50 books, e.g.

écrit par kokipy à 7:26 am (EST) le Jun 22, 2009

On your page its 776 we share now! Mine still seems not to be fixed.

écrit par kokipy à 8:18 am (EST) le Jun 21, 2009

Hi Peggy, - I haven't read any Robert Barnard books yet. In fact I mooched them cos' of the recommendation of a friend who also loves the Persephone books. I have 2 Barnards so I guess I'll start with School for Murder. Hope it's a good as you say. Strange that I never heard of this writer before.

écrit par tuppy_glossop à 8:21 pm (EST) le Jun 13, 2009

Peggy -- The House on Clewe Street arrived safe and sound yesterday. Thanks so much for sending it to me -- I look forward to reading it! Sarasota is still lovely, but it has changed a lot even since 1984 when we moved -- lots of suburban sprawl and some high rises looming. But it's still a very livable and loveable area -- full of arts, good restaurants and gorgeous sunsets.

écrit par janeajones à 8:26 am (EST) le Jun 11, 2009

my eyes were just caught in your random books over on the right by the Mervyn Peake biography - should I investigate it? I read Gormenghast back in those days when I was looking for the LOTR sources, and still have it - may have read it a couple of times, but not lately. I bet he was an interesting person....

écrit par kokipy à 9:02 pm (EST) le Jun 10, 2009

That's quite amazing and wonderful! but it still isn't showing up on my numbers. I'm stuck at 715. But I see the Paretsky have contributed to the total!
I haven't read any of her recent ones - somehow lost interest. I'll have to give that some thought.

I see Stellar's observations re Chanur below. He is always a close and careful reader and his points are always sound, but I disagree with him re Chanur. That is one of those gustibus issues.

écrit par kokipy à 3:02 pm (EST) le Jun 10, 2009

Sorry to butt in, but I do agree with everything K says about Card in her May 31st comment. I find Ender's Game troubling; I have to admit some greater appreciation for Speaker for the Dead. But not at the top of the List.

In re Chanur, my problem was that I read them under time pressure all in a row. I was Chanured out by the third book. Though I did enjoy the climactic Chanur's Homecoming very much, I questioned the need for such a long road to get there. The response from aficionados was that reading them without pressure, as they were published, the timing was more felicitous and perhaps my circumstances did not afford the most favorable experience. (I must tell you in confidence that though she is on my list of favorite writers, there are many of hers I do not love. But you should know now, before this goes any further, that I love reading but strongly rue that there are so many good books but so few great ones. And despite that, I manage to have something critical to say about so many of the good ones anyway.)

Never read Weber: how strong is your recommendation, and if very high, where to start?

écrit par stellarexplorer à 12:34 am (EST) le Jun 10, 2009

James Branch Cabell was a very early fantasy writer, from the 20s and 30s. He was a Virginian, and one of his books was banned in Boston because it was fairly suggestive without actually being pornographic. They tend to be ironically humorous. Back when LOTR first came out, Lin Carter, I think it was, published a book on Tolkein's roots and sources, at least so far as he knew. I was about 13 at the time, but was so passionately interested in the books that i tried to track down as many of the sources as I could. Cabell was one of them-Lord Dunsany was another, Hope Mirlees - I dont know if they are really sources, so much as more in the same vein that predated LOTR. Ballantine Books brought out new editions of many of them, and my parents indulged my interest. But not all of them were republished and I vividly remember getting to college and for the first time fining the rest of the Cabell. I have tried rereading them lately and found them not quite so entrancing, but I have kept them for their historical interest and some day may work my way through them again.
I haven't rated many of my books. In general, If I've kept a book it means I liked it. I get rid of books i dont like, space being at a premium. So if it is in my list, I liked it at least well enough to keep it and had the idea that I would want perhaps to reread it some day. when I get a chance I should probably go through and identify the ones I've reread many many times, as they would merit a 5 star rating from me.
I am reverting to Heyer while waiting for the next HH, and dip into GG&S every so often. It is so good to have such a lot of things to read!

écrit par kokipy à 8:02 am (EST) le Jun 8, 2009

I have finished the first two Honors and have ordered the next three from paperbackswap.com
i am certainly a convert! Maybe a tad too much detail on the tech, but it is easy enough to skip if you dont want to read it, and then if you find you should have, to get a plot point, easy enough to reread.
YOu know, it is interesting we have so many books in common, but there are so many more that are not in common..... So what one should do is spend hours looking at what we dont have in common to see what we should have been reading all these years. Obvious, but it does take me a while.
Did I note that you have not yet entered your Nero wolfe? that will up the commonality quite a bit....

écrit par kokipy à 8:19 pm (EST) le Jun 7, 2009

Hey LizzieD;
I would have been excited too. Man, you must have been dancing in your shoes!~!
And we don't worry about the small stuff and most of it is just that-----small stuff. Right? You know that each and every one of us has a ton of books sitting right here in our own homes waiting to be read, so it is not like we're gonna sit in the corner and whine. I am very happy for you and hope that you enjoy every word.
(I'm putting a hex upon you even as we speak) hee hee
You have a good one LizzieD.
belva

écrit par rainpebble à 11:44 am (EST) le Jun 6, 2009

Paggy -- we do seem to have lots of books in common, as well as a number of favorite authors: Margaret Atwood, Margaret Drabble, Henry James, William Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf -- and I'm very fond of many of your other favorites too. And we seem to share our decades (aren't the 60s fun? -- in both senses). I see you've just added Erdrich's The Last Report, etc. to your library -- it may be my favorite of her books -- have you read it yet? BTW -- what is the significance of "LizzieD" ? -- Jane

écrit par janeajones à 7:59 pm (EST) le Jun 5, 2009

I'll have to put that one on my list. I am in the middle of Basilisk Station and enjoying it a lot. It does remind me pleasantly of E. Moon. I find it so very SATISFYING when a character enters a situation and picks it up by its heels, gives it a shake and facilitates it all working well together.

écrit par kokipy à 7:03 am (EST) le Jun 4, 2009

Thank you for those very very kind words! My wish for my children is that they find reading the lifelong pleasure and solace that it has been for me, and I have been so gratified that they have enjoyed it so much already. I can't get my oldest child to read books I recommend - she is more guided by peer pressure, but some of her peers are reading very advanced books and she is heading down some lovely paths.
I could strike these teachers!
You must have been able to share your love of reading with your students - it must have been particularly gratifying when you did.
I can't wait to see what you have to say about Chanur. Stellar found the first one or two a bit slow, but agreed they pick up towards the end of the series in a great rush.

écrit par kokipy à 5:11 pm (EST) le Jun 2, 2009

I have not yet received Basilisk Station - the second one in the series arrived before the first one. I have a lot of Card's books, but have some doubts about him. Ender's Game is probably the best, but all the others seem to run on fumes. And Ender's Game is problematic. I'd be interested to hear what you think of it. I would not recommend any of the others unless you were wild about it. His religion lurks not too far under the surface in all of his books, and that is a bit troubling to me, as i dont share his views. I tend to be curious about the later lives of the characters so keep buying them, but they are a large part of what then impels me to buy things like Guns, Germs and Steel, which I started last night after finishing the Brookmyre I had in hand - do you have him? Scottish murder mysteries, very contemporary and brash, very funny? some are much better than others - I am finding him a bit uneven, but entertaining.
Despite what I said below, I do agree that Sayers is better than Allingham, but the later Allinghams get less frivolous I think. Tiger in the Smoke I still remember as chilling, and I liked the Beckoning Lady quite a lot.

écrit par kokipy à 9:35 am (EST) le May 31, 2009

I am gratified to see your Upfield. You need to either add your James McCure or else go buy him. He wrote South African police procedurals, with an Africaans lieutenant and a Bantu sergeant, who have a relationship that rivals that of Holmes and Watson.

écrit par kokipy à 9:50 pm (EST) le May 30, 2009

Okay, I see you have some Allingham, but you need more. I love albert Campion. In many ways he's the equal of Peter Wimsey, heresy though that be. If you have more you must catalogue them because that will get us to about 750 right there. And Delano Ames is a must. Jane and Dagobert Brown, impecunious, witty, and always finding themselves in the midst of murder.

écrit par kokipy à 9:47 pm (EST) le May 30, 2009

I like the Peabodys better than the ones under the Barbara Michaels nom de plume. A lot of the Michaels are kind of spooky mysteries, whereas the Peabodys are Victorian/Edwardian comedy/murder mysteries, not unlike in their way Heyer. One might say.
At one point I had all the Brother Cadfael books, but I fear I may have purged them a decade or so ago when I lost a lot of shelf space. I have for the past 30 years lived mostly in city apartments, and have had no place to store books I wasn't likely to reread many times. I don't keep books these days if I am not likely to reread in my dotage. I may have to put some of them into my catalogue in a read but not still owned category, just so we can keep our numbers rising! do you have Allingham and Delano Ames? I must check....

écrit par kokipy à 9:43 pm (EST) le May 30, 2009

did you work your way to the end of the Egyptian EPs? Some of them are better than others, but many of the ones when Ramses grows up are quite enjoyable, and I liked the modern ones with Vicky and John pretty well also. I do feel strongly you should add them in here so our numbers will continue to rise.
I dont know what's wrong with the totals- I think there are sometimes gremlins.

écrit par kokipy à 9:33 am (EST) le May 30, 2009

You are going to make me late for work. Don't be surprised if I stop this message in the middle and dash out of the house!

That argument is absurd to me. Every one who writes has his own observations of the world to offer or to rework, etc. All are human beings, with the capacity to do this. I love the Roman poets as a group. I especially love the preservation of a world no longer extant, the sensibilities, the mores, the ethos, the human feeling. How fantastic it is to be able to lose oneself in the thoughts of a keen observer of two thousand years ago. We should all have the experience of putting our little local lives in that kind of perspec----------------

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:53 am (EST) le May 28, 2009

"Laudant illa sed ista legunt"

Now that is funny, and who knew it was as true then as now!

I offered you the other quote to say that while his voice is often one of irony or critique, he possesses more broadly the eye of a penetrating observer.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:19 pm (EST) le May 27, 2009

Most if not all of my poetry dates from my college years, but I have held on to it all fiercely. I do love Hughes, whom I think I pursued chiefly because of my prior interest in and love of Plath. Wodwo is one of my favorites.

écrit par kokipy à 9:19 pm (EST) le May 27, 2009

"Contemplative and bookish men must of necessity be more quarrelsome than others, because they contend not about matter of fact, nor can determine their controversies by any certain witnesses, nor judges. But as long as they go towards peace, that is Truth, it is no matter which way." --Donne

I also added another author newer to me, who is mart of your collection:

Epigrams: Bks.I-VII v. 1 (Loeb Classical Library) by Martial

Epigrams: Bks.VIII-XIV v. 2 (Loeb Classical Library) by Martial

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:27 pm (EST) le May 26, 2009

You and Kokipy must be long lost siblings: Southern origins and each at the top of the other's "Members with...Books" list

écrit par stellarexplorer à 9:42 pm (EST) le May 26, 2009

Hi, Lizzie... did you have a nice Memorial Day weekend?... we had some rain for two days, but yesterday was beautiful.

I'm off on The Great Cherryh Adventure - filling the cracks in my sci-fi lit list! Stellarexplorer has advised starting with Downbelow Station next, so I shall. Unless, of course, I get sidetracked... I have David Weber's latest in the Honorverse, Storm from the Shadows, sitting next to an anthology of short stories, both of which are calling to me. I have no discipline!!!

Cheerio!!

écrit par Nulla à 10:56 am (EST) le May 26, 2009

By the way, sk8er confirms you're admitted to that other site. I dont know if you get an email or not so thought I'd let you know here.

écrit par kokipy à 10:05 am (EST) le May 24, 2009

I wasn't aware of that PBS program--I'll have to keep my eye out for it. I go through periods where I buy a lot and then periods where I don't. Next month I'll probably have another order for B & N when the newest nobelist Le Clezio's first translated book in about 4 or 5 years comes out. Anyway I did sell a book today--good for about $13 so that takes a bit of the edge off the other bill and I've been good so far today.

écrit par lriley à 11:11 am (EST) le May 20, 2009

by the way, I see our shared book total is rising as you enter more and more of your books. this gives me a sense of great satisfaction!

écrit par kokipy à 9:49 pm (EST) le May 19, 2009

Peggy--have read quite a lot of crime fiction this year particularly Scandinavians. Henning Mankell and Johan Theorin so far are the best. Also liked Arnaldur Indridason (though he's a little dry) and Jo Nesbo. Anyway here is a pretty good site if you're interested:

http://internationalnoir.blogspot.com/

On Andrew Vaachs--I've hear of him but haven't read him. Always open to recommendation though I've been on a shopping spree today--once at half.com and three times at B & N--once in person and twice on line. It won't surprise me if my wife complains about all that activity but I can be very impulsive.

écrit par lriley à 5:20 pm (EST) le May 19, 2009

Peggy--another poster here (papalaz) brought Derek Raymond to my attention. He's a huge fan. My favorite noir writer however is a Frenchman--Jean-Patrick Manchette--unfortunately only two of his novels have been translated--3 to kill and The prone gunman. Both I think are terrific but especially the first. Very spare tension packed writing--they certainly qualify as thrillers. There is an Irish writer Eoin McNamee who is pretty close in style to Manchette--a lot of his work revolves around events during the troubles--Resurrection Man and The Ultras particularly. The Blue Tango is set in Northern Ireland as well but in the 50's. He's also written a treatment which I recently added here on the death of Diana in Paris in 1997. And one last book the Argentine Ricardo Piglia's noirish fictionalized treatment of a real bank robbery gone bad (based on an event I think in the early 60's) Money to burn.

As for God of small things it builds slowly and it wasn't really until maybe the last 60-70 pages that I started thinking it was really great. Too bad she doesn't write more fiction.

écrit par lriley à 1:48 pm (EST) le May 18, 2009

Ah--the Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia: 4th edition. That's a really good reference work Peggy. My favorite is Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature and there's also another really good one--The Oxford guide to Contemporary Writing.

écrit par lriley à 11:33 pm (EST) le May 17, 2009

Peggy, sorry it's gone! But I'll keep my eyes open. VMCs seem to turn up much more often in New Zealand than in your neck of the woods. I love finding doubles!

I love the VMC group on here too. My LT time has almost vanished in the last few weeks and it's the only group I've been keeping up with.

I didn't realise you taught Latin - I haven't read any since school but still love it, and keep buying Latin textbooks. They sit loved but unread on the shelves...

DAughter is grabbing the keyboard... and insists that we push "2". So here are some 2s for you:
222

écrit par cmt à 4:19 pm (EST) le May 16, 2009

I am glad you liked my review! I wondered if it was a bit simple for this crowd, but it was exactly how I found the book. I was so surprised at how little I knew of the events of the year. I am going to enjoy reading yours at my leisure.
On your recommendation I'll try Banks again. CP really put me off. I usually feel a need to like one or more of the characters in a book and there was no one in that book for whom I had any sympathy or liking. I started Excession but it didn't grab me and I dont think I finished it. I also started The alchemist but I dont think I got very far there either. Maybe just the wrong time.

écrit par kokipy à 11:40 am (EST) le May 15, 2009

Glad the fly survived! I just started MNiR & I have never read anything by him before so we'll see. Just finished "Eleven Minutes: by Coelho, a fine book and another author that was new to me but well known to others in my literary circles.

I don't think you're really that boring Peggy ....

Ciao!

écrit par Garp83 à 6:26 pm (EST) le May 14, 2009

"You may ask, "Why aren't you posting this on the "What I'm reading now" thread? I'll tell you. I don't know. I commend and appreciate your patience."

No, I wasn't going to ask that at all. I was pleased to receive your update. I just completed my termination of Steven Hunt's Court of the Air due to insufficiency. I just finished and reviewed my Early Reviewer's Book Full Meridian of Glory: Perilous Adventures in the Competition to Measure the Earth by Paul Murdin. It was very well done, but decidedly not for the general reader. I am attempting to get through Maps of Time so I can go on to one of the several hundred other books in my TBR list. While I see it as full of fascinating information, I have major questions about the Big History enterprise, despite myself being extremely interested in the component disciplines of which it appears to be comprised. I will certainly raise these issues in the relevant thread, but not until I have completed it. Nothing destroys one's credibility as rendering an opinion on a book one has not read. I lost much respect for the learned Harold Bloom when he decried Harry potter as "not high quality children's literature", and then allowed as he hadn't read it.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:30 pm (EST) le May 11, 2009

I do try to counter that tempting belief that there is all the time in the world. Now that I am no longer immortal, I need to be selective in what I read!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 9:00 pm (EST) le May 9, 2009

Yes, Forty Signs of Rain is the first of that trilogy. I really liked those three books.

As a child, I always thought I'd be spending my adult years in space, exploring other planets. At 15, realizing no space academy had yet been established, I understood my idea had to be radically revised. This precipitated a painful existential crisis.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 1:51 pm (EST) le May 9, 2009

I hadn't noticed your KSR favorite. I like all his stuff. Have you read the recent trilogy?

Remnant pop: I like strong female characters. I just think this one is overrated, and its chief strength is that it has a woman protagonist. Sorry, for me it lacked more than that, and there are so many good First Contact stories.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 12:24 am (EST) le May 9, 2009

Hi LD! -- No, the only Reynolds I've read was Century Rain, which I enjoyed. The others are on my list. I have friends who love him, and others who are so-so on him. But I would like to read more.

Morgan, on the other hand, I've liked a lot, if you don't mind the violence. I thought Thirteen AKA Black Man was his best, better than the Altered Carbon/Kovacs series.

I am probably better read in older stuff. I'd like to read more E Moon; didn't love Remnant Population, but it was OK.

My favorite current SF writer other than Cherryh is probably Kim Stanley Robinson, especially his recent climate change trilogy starting with Forty Signs of Rain.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 8:26 pm (EST) le May 8, 2009

I imagine FL and C could have taken out Denys in advance should Ari have wished it, but until his attack on her, she had not intended this. After the attack she acted in self-defense. Beforehand, she was content to continue her own development prior to assuming her adult leadership role in Reseune. At least, that's my take.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 12:27 am (EST) le May 8, 2009

I was wondering about Bleak House. I'm in the middle of reading [The Suspicions of Mr Whicher] and it mentions that Mr Bucket in BH is based on one of Jonathan Whicher's contemporaries in the newly formed detective rank of the Metropolitan Police. Sounds like it would be a natural next step for me! (although the TBR pile keeps getting longer......) I think you'd probably like Mr Whicher, as a CD fan.

High school experiences of books are so odd - we also read To Kill a Mockingbird and My Family and Other Animals alongside Great Expectations, and whereas the other two are firm favourites of mine, I've never got in to CD since. Not too late to start I suppose!

écrit par LizzieG à 9:54 am (EST) le May 7, 2009

Hi LizzieD! I am an Elizabeth is real life, but usually only when I'm in trouble (amazing how often that can still be, when you hit your thirties...) I have to admit that I've not read Our Mutual Friend - a bad English Lit teacher at school turned me off Dickens unfortunately and I've never quite managed to persuade myself to try him again. Shocking! Where would you point me as a good re-introduction?
Lizzie

écrit par LizzieG à 12:16 pm (EST) le May 6, 2009

I was very interested in Justin and Grant; one thing CJC does especially well is to depict characters in the throes of emotional breakdown: lost, confused, not knowing whom to trust, paranoid even. But Ari 2 was such a great character that Justin and Grant couldn't compete. I fell in love with her, and my affection for J and G remained, albeit in partial eclipse.

What else struck you? What are you thinking about? Is Nulla reading it currently?

écrit par stellarexplorer à 11:57 pm (EST) le May 4, 2009

Thanks for the immediate notification! Groggy --will comment when not in the middle of the night. I had set my computer to wake me day or night whenever you announced your completion of the book. Unfortunately, the clock setting was wrong, and the alarm went off at 3 AM!

TTYL!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 3:21 am (EST) le May 4, 2009

Right. The hardcover was always in one volume as intended by the author. The largish paperback of recent years is also the full text. That's probably what you have. The 3-volume paperback set was from the late eighties and is generally not held in high repute by fans, as it is seen as standing in violation of the spirit of the book.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 5:09 pm (EST) le May 2, 2009

Oh - I misinterpreted "I need to finish Anathem which I put down to read Cyteen when it arrived. (And what is that Touchstone, Cyteen III for goodness sake? I can't get it to show me the "others.") I have really enjoyed both of them for different reasons. Meanwhile, I read a little of Guns, Germs and Steel every day and will pick up speed when I actually finish one of the others."

The numbers I, II, and III are misleading. They refer to a misguided venture by the publisher, who pulled the book apart and sold it in three paperback pieces back in the late '80s. Does not refer to sequels!

Yes, there are those who dislike the book because of the sense of repugnance around azi. CJC has a way of writing from the POV of each character or group in a way that is more fair and favorable to that group or character than as seen from outside. In her other foundational work in this universe, Downbelow Station, Union looks much more ghastly and monstrous, partly because of the azi. But without them, they couldn't possibly sustain the population necessary to have a viable society. CJC has acknowledged that we are intended to have deeply ambivalent feelings about the azi concept and the CIT-azi relationship.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 1:54 pm (EST) le May 2, 2009

Rumor has it that you have finished Cyteen. I'm waiting with bated breath!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 12:12 pm (EST) le May 2, 2009

Peggy, I just haven't gotten around to entering the Dickens. One of these days ...

écrit par featherbear à 11:56 am (EST) le May 2, 2009

Hi Peggy--You have absolutely no reason to apologize. I'm glad you got it started--I am one of the world's biggest procrastinators.

It does look like we share a lot of books. I don't read a lot of science fiction, but there are a few authors I like, and I see we share a few sci-fi books too. I also like British mysteries like those of Ruth Rendell and P.D. James.

I envy you being retired. That won't happen for me until I can get my last two kids through college.

Happy reading!

Deborah

écrit par arubabookwoman à 7:04 pm (EST) le Apr 29, 2009

Hi Peggy

Thanks for your message. I have actually read Norweigan Wood but it wasn't out of my permanent collection so I didn't review it on here. If you're interested in seeing my reviews, they are all posted on my live journal account http://lyzzybee.livejournal.com - not trying to spam you to look at my LJ, just thought you might be interested...

Best wishes

Liz / LyzzyBee

écrit par LyzzyBee à 1:57 pm (EST) le Apr 29, 2009

Hi Peggy, nice to read your note. I am somewhat buried reading 1. Earth Abides for a book group started locally by a small group of Librarything members; 2. Larry's Kidney for the Early Reviewers group; and 3. Why God is Laughing because one of the book group members and I decided we would read it on the side of the group reads and meet separately to have our own little group. Silly of me to get so over committed because of course I have real life stuff going on too.

Yes, 1944 is my birth year: November 11. We are close to the very same age. Cutting edge of the baby boomers, huh?

Well, I spend most of my time in LibraryThing reading Green Dragon threads; trying to keep up with my 75 Book Challenge peers; and reading a few other odds and ends. I am happy to chat any time.

- Karen

écrit par maggie1944 à 9:48 pm (EST) le Apr 26, 2009

Oh-- LEGIONS OF HELL. I now get it. Thx!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 12:17 am (EST) le Apr 25, 2009

I understand. I have 173 tagged "TBR". Say no more. What Roman history fictional series?

écrit par stellarexplorer à 9:58 pm (EST) le Apr 23, 2009

Finally a break in the old grind! I'd ordered Cyteen thru ILL and it arrived yesterday, so I'll be starting soon. I've seen your comments at TRP, so I expect to like it.

In the meantime, I had started Risk of Darkness and, wouldn't you know it, I've read it! I think they hype the paperbacks as brand new! I had read the hardback which came thru ILL and that is why it doesn't show up in my library. If you don't mind, I'll donate it to our local library. They're on a small budget and can use the support.

I hope I can get back in here soon... only two more weeks of school!!

Best,

Ruta

écrit par Nulla à 3:40 pm (EST) le Apr 23, 2009

Nero Wolfe saw me through some difficult years with humor and aplomb. How can one not be grateful? My mother asked me yesterday if I was leaving our shared copies. I regret the answer is yes - with few exceptions. My fiancee has them all, as well!

écrit par Eurydice à 2:30 am (EST) le Apr 23, 2009

Peggy, thank you for so kind a note, and defense of my favorite indulgence. It's hard to do without genre fiction. There is always a little mental pile I may resort to, if not one in the current rotation - which is more common. Even when I have tagged them all properly, your collection will dwarf mine. In others, I can admire that. I look forward to delving - and, indeed, seeing you, here, again!

The year has certainly been begun well, here. Again - thank you!

Julie

écrit par Eurydice à 2:23 am (EST) le Apr 23, 2009

Thanks for noting my starriness; it is a big part of me :-D

I am not about to give up on you! You sound like you are doing quite well with the book; that feeling you describe is so familiar -- I have felt that way during so many of my best reading experiences: wanting to absorb a wonderful story ravenously, and not wanting to depart the book-world when it is over. The joy of reading mixed with the pain of separation!

I so wish I had known earlier :( I had an extra copy of the sequel, and I just promised it to someone else who hadn't read it. I enjoyed it, but it would be hard to write a sequel that would meet the high expectations raised by the first. Worth reading though, and I don't say that about everything.

Thanks for keeping me posted!!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 1:13 am (EST) le Apr 23, 2009

Hey Peggy -- the UMASS text is Athenaze. I have managed on my own to learn the script, but that's as far as I got. Maybe one day ...

Stan

écrit par Garp83 à 4:37 pm (EST) le Apr 19, 2009

Thanks for your kind words. Fortunately, it looks like the surgery is "somewhat" routine and I don't have to stay overnight, although the recovery period promises to be a bit painful from what I'm told. I have my family and my books on hand, so I should manage to struggle through, I suppose. I do admire your library. I should say that if I did not show proper restraint on my budget for books I would equal or exceed your numbers far too soon (the confessions of a book addict!)

I have contemplated ancient Greek courses because my attempt on my own has come to naught (although I have not entirely given up -- I bought the texts!) I had planned to audit an intensive course at UMASS but it met daily and I could not fit that into my schedule.

Ciao!

Stan

écrit par Garp83 à 9:05 am (EST) le Apr 19, 2009

I love her writing. IMHO, Tipping the Velvet is the best. Good luck finding it! I had to special order it from Borders! Or maybe it was Barns & Noble. I don't remember... :(

écrit par KrazySkaterChick à 4:54 pm (EST) le Apr 17, 2009

I saw that I won! Thanks so much! I read so many, that I'm always looking for the next.

Not a problem on not mailing it till next week, not a big deal (as it's already Friday!) :) That is pretty entertaining that Secret Garden is listed above Silence of the Lambs!

Oh! And if you liked Night Watch, you should def read Tipping the Velvet, Fingersmith and Affinity by Sarah Waters also! I loved them! The classic language she uses and the sudilty(sp) of the sex scenes. Great!

écrit par KrazySkaterChick à 4:46 pm (EST) le Apr 17, 2009

No she's not an author I would have hunted out for some reason but since I saw it there I had to get it. It's always interesting to find a new author so I'm glad you're enjoying it. Let me know what you think when you've finished because I never heard anything about her/or her books before. I don't know when I'll get around to reading it!

écrit par charlottestar à 12:02 pm (EST) le Apr 17, 2009

You may not know how many are awaiting updates on your Cyteen progress. People are very passionate about the book!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 1:07 am (EST) le Apr 16, 2009

It's been a while since I've read anything by West. I have read several though. His prose can be very difficult some times. Probably the one I liked best after Stauffenberg--was Love's mansion--which I believe somewhat on his upbringing--the main characters I believe again are based on his parents--his father a wounded WWI vet--some blindness--some mental stuff.

Anyway Tara's made two college revisits this week. I went on one of them--the other I was working. She has another visit tomorrow and one on Saturday--I'm working both days but my wife is off. Anyway then she'll have to figure which one she wants-so we will know pretty soon.

écrit par lriley à 11:39 pm (EST) le Apr 15, 2009

Hi Peggy,
nice to hear from you. Retirement means you don't have to get your act together. If swimming feels good, do it, and read tomorrow.
I just started taking piano lessons. I should have known you 18 years ago. Its frustrating, but i'm having a good time.
I'm glad you noticed my Book of Hours, it is the high spot of my collection. I enjoy letting visitors look at it, and hold a piece of beauty and history in their hands.
Stay well, Carmelo

écrit par cbellia à 1:57 pm (EST) le Apr 13, 2009

Happy joyous Easter, Peggy! I just wanted you to know that Risk of Darkness arrived yesterday. I know I'll enjoy reading it in spite of Simon and I'll belabor you with my opinions when done. Regards, Ruta

écrit par Nulla à 8:22 am (EST) le Apr 12, 2009

Hi Peggy, I too, just retired from teaching. I taught high school history and economics as an adjunct at the local university. It was an extremely rewarding career, but after 35 years, I Threw in the towel.
Now I don't have time to read. I don't know how I ever had time to work. Going through my library has been a great trip. I seem to know all the books I own even if I haven't read them. Its revisiting friends from long ago. I left over a thousand books in my offic at school. When I went back for a visit, I found that they had thrown them away!!!??? I guess I'm more committed to books than, even, the school? Enjoy retirement. Carmelo

écrit par cbellia à 7:44 pm (EST) le Apr 11, 2009

Peggy--hope everything is going well in North Carolina as well. Things have been mostly quiet--we're waiting for the weather to break a little better. It's been in the 40's sometimes peeking over 50. Other than that Tara our oldest has got about 3 weeks to make up her mind what college she wants to go to. We have three return visits planned for next week--although I'm probably only going to be on one of them.

Reading wise Rawi Hage's Impac winning book De Niro's game is the best thing I've finished lately. Assia Djebar's Fantasia was really good as well. At the moment I'm making my way very slowly through William H. Gass's very long 'The tunnel', also working on Nicanor Parra's 'After-dinner declarations' and the LT early reviewers copy of Nicolas Dickner's 'Nikolski'--the last one I may finish today.

écrit par lriley à 3:52 pm (EST) le Apr 11, 2009

Hello,
nice meeting you on LT!
A long time ago I used to teach Latin too.

Paola :-))

écrit par aluvalibri à 8:10 pm (EST) le Apr 10, 2009

You are in the most difficult part, where it is not yet clear why many hold the book in such high regard. That will likely change in the next 100 pages. There will be developments, I promise!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 7:45 pm (EST) le Apr 10, 2009

Cyteen is a book that unfolds. How far along are you? It is a book about development, among other things. It develops as you go along. Don't give up or despair!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 10:43 am (EST) le Apr 10, 2009

Hi Peggy
The bookplate is from me yes. I'm glad you liked it and the book too! I hope you enjoy reading it! I'm glad it's found a lovely home.
Charlotte x

écrit par charlottestar à 4:42 pm (EST) le Apr 9, 2009

Peggy -- If you enjoy reading it, it can't be trash! And you have almost 3000 books --I am not worthy!

I love the contributions of so many people -- including you -- on these LT threads. I learn a great deal and it gives me an opportunity to attempt to speak articulately about subjects I love with others who might feel the same way. Though I have wonderful friends, real life does not offer the same audience for these topics.

Ciao!

Stan

écrit par Garp83 à 9:14 pm (EST) le Apr 6, 2009

Cyteen and Downbelow Station are a rung above her usual good standard. Which Cherryh are you reading?

écrit par stellarexplorer à 9:54 am (EST) le Apr 6, 2009

My goodness, I just checked and she is among only a handful of people on whose weighted list of "Members with my books" my library appears!

And she lives in CT, just down the street from the party! This is fate!

écrit par stellarexplorer à 9:38 am (EST) le Apr 6, 2009

hello Peggy
I don't even know how I got here, but my absence from your "member's with" list is a matter of percentages. Hit "raw" and I show up - but there is waaaay too much trash in my house to make the high percentage overlap. Nice library; I'll poke about and see if I can find things I need to read. At the moment I'm trying to update some illustrated volumes in concert with the Golden Age illustrators group - and trying to kick Poetry Fool into a little more sharing. Things are slow. I miss bookstores - at least being on the selling end - that's a real "service" job. cheers, scott

écrit par bookstopshere à 1:05 pm (EST) le Apr 4, 2009

Hail to a fellow bookseller!

Nice to meet you here. I miss(most)of my life in bookselling, and still find myself straightening books when I go shopping.

Ann_Louise

écrit par Ann_Louise à 8:38 pm (EST) le Apr 2, 2009

Glad to know another Henry James fan. I will probably discuss the book on Snobs.

écrit par kswolff à 8:57 am (EST) le Apr 2, 2009

Medieval European history is my first love, but religious studies, particularly theology, are my passion these days. Which is convenient as theology overlaps medieval Europe nicely.

écrit par MisfitKotLD à 12:52 pm (EST) le Mar 30, 2009

Thanks, LizzieD, but I've always not quite fit in. And I've probably driven through or near your neck of the woods, I spent a few years at Camp Lejeune.

écrit par MisfitKotLD à 10:33 am (EST) le Mar 30, 2009

Hi
the only HTML I've ever learnt has been in order to get LT to work as I want it to. Seems odd that a website that is so advanced and captivating in so amny ways, still requires users to actually enter code. I can offer such advice as I've learnt to date but I warn you now, I'm way far from havingany kind of skill with it.
You at least seem to have managed to get the Random links working anyway.

At the moment we seem to share more crime/ mystery works than SF / F but I'll brouse your library looking for new authors.

écrit par reading_fox à 6:11 pm (EST) le Mar 28, 2009

Thanks for your comment. Teaching is one of the most rewarding of activities, but students do seem to want to drive you to drink. I'd love to see a Roman chariot race in the Gluteus Maximus (or, at any rate, a student attempting to arrange one).

A love of Wallace Stevens is certainly something we have in common.

écrit par Fledgist à 2:58 pm (EST) le Mar 26, 2009

Hi Peggy! I've found a spare copy of the Rector's Daughter (a green vmc) (which I'd be happy to part with I need more space and I seem to have 3 copies for some mystifying reason!) so if you'd like to have it you could leave me a private comment with your address and I'll post it off to you. Hope you're having a good day. Moving is halfway there! x

écrit par charlottestar à 11:57 am (EST) le Mar 26, 2009

I might have a spare copy of the Rector's Daughter going. I'll let you know in a few days. I'm moving house and things are a bit up in the air but I think I've got more than one copy so I'd be happy to send you it when it turns up. I'll get back to you anyway. x

écrit par charlottestar à 10:59 am (EST) le Mar 25, 2009

Hi Peggy!
Don't get me wrong about the Squire's Daughter it is enjoyable it's just you said it it's kind of scattered. That's a good way of describing it. I'm not sure why since her other 2 are brilliant it's a bit of a shame. Compared to them it doesn't shine but on it's own terms I think it's enjoyable and that's what matters! I recommend The Rector's Daughter. That's brilliant :) x

écrit par charlottestar à 10:48 am (EST) le Mar 25, 2009

OUR HEARTS WERE YOUNG & GAY:

I LOVED this book & read it in Jr. High ~1967. I need to find my copy: bet it is somewhere at my parent's home! Thanks for "reminding" me about it.

~Sharon

écrit par MtnSk8tr à 3:49 pm (EST) le Mar 14, 2009

Oh, I don't have any problem (well, in fact, I have lots of problems, but none with being among your "interesting libraries"...)
I'll have a look at your Latin books when you enter them.
Keep in touch.

écrit par Romanus à 8:01 pm (EST) le Mar 13, 2009

...I can't identify with bones in the washer, that doesn't freak me.....

Nuts. I'll have to think of something else then, or my reputation will be ruined.

écrit par setnahkt à 7:40 pm (EST) le Mar 13, 2009

...Your tattoo comes as close to freaking me out as anything I've seen in a while...

Don't worry about; one of the major reasons for the tattoo is to draw people's eyes away from the rest of me, which is even more likely to freak them out.

-br

écrit par setnahkt à 6:39 pm (EST) le Mar 13, 2009

Hi Peggy, nice to hear from you. You are obviously a real reader. I think that you will enjoy Library Thing. Also, the experience of being retired and suddenly having more time for books is very exciting.
It is a real challenge to have such a large library, keep track of it, make space for it. Once I got mine all entered it became very easy. I can check if we have a book and also I can get rid of books in an organized way. As new books keep flowing into our house I have to do something to make room for them.
Funny you should mention sci fi, because that is an area I have cleaned up by giving them away and taking the rest to secondhand book stores. My son read a lot of sci fi in highschool and his early university years and we had mountains of them. He did not want them and it is much better that someone else gets to read them.
I am looking forward to exploring your library and reviews.

Barb

écrit par bhowell à 10:55 am (EST) le Mar 5, 2009

Well. Anathem...
Crytonomicon is one of my all-time favs, and I feel guilty that I'm still stalled half-way through his Baroque Trilogy...and so Anathem is necessarily stacked up waiting for me to return to NS's The System of the World.

I would have jumped the queue and dived right in with Anathem, except that I bounced off the made-up terminology that NS uses.

There's a long tradition in SF of mocking faked exoticism: as James Blish defined it 50 years ago or more : "calling a rabbit a `smeerp.' " Just that sort of gimmick is not enough to make it a science-fictional world.

I've read so much bad SF that I have a nearly allergic reaction to this sort of simple substitution of terms, so I had a hard time enjoying what NS was doing with it.

I'll get to it eventually.

écrit par AsYouKnow_Bob à 9:02 pm (EST) le Feb 26, 2009

Ah, that may have been Gene Wolfe's windy "The book of the new sun"!

écrit par LolaWalser à 8:35 pm (EST) le Feb 26, 2009

Hello, Peggy, thanks for the interest!

I'm not sure what titles that Bob and I discussed recently--perhaps in one of the groups?--qualify as fantasy--Vernor Vinge's "Fire upon the deep" maybe? I mentioned Lucian of Samosata's "True story" (maybe "True history" in English) in the SF group recently. If this doesn't answer your question, please let me know.

Yes, some 15 years ago I went on a gigantic Woolf/Bloomsbury read. A lot of material overlapped--her books, letters, diaries, other people's letters, books and diaries, biographies and autobiographies... a glorious mess.

écrit par LolaWalser à 3:25 pm (EST) le Feb 26, 2009

An excellent review Peggy. That was the first Carpentier book I read and it was a long time ago.

Anyway I did a review of a first novel by Philipp Meyer--an early reviewer's book through this site called American Rust which I thought was great. Now I'm on Angela Carter for the first time--Fireworks and Halldor Laxness's (one of the best if not the best Nobel writers--IMO) Great weaver from Kashmir which as it happens was his first major work.

écrit par lriley à 2:52 pm (EST) le Feb 26, 2009

Hi,

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. My life and my work have both been a bit crazy.

Oh you've got to read a Door Into Ocean! It's an amazing story. I've actually read it about 3 times, which is something I almost never do. I rarely re-read books because there are so many books I want to read. But I've read Door a few times and Watership Down probably 5 or 6 times--an absolute record for me. And I don't read real crime stuff either. It tends to give me nightmares. :o) Your idea that Dean Koontz is a closet Christian is interesting. Perhaps so, given that all of his books seem to have a message about morality in some way--that's why I like them. And he has a unique way of humanizing even the bad guys, which isn't easy considering how bad his bad guys are. My step brother actually knows Dean fairly well, so maybe I'll have to ask him about this, although I don't get to talk to him very often. And it's not true that I don't like his earlier work. In fact, if you look at my library, that's mostly what I own--his earlier books. The first book I ever read of his was Watchers, which aside from the nauseating violence I found to be absolutely fascinating and very memorable. I also loved Lightning which had me on the edge of my seat. I actually have read very few of his newer books in the last 6 or 7 years or so. I like the stories, but not the graphip violence so much so I only read him when I'm in a really good mood and the brutality doesn't bother me so much. :o)

I know of the Kellermans, and I think I've read at least one of his and maybe some of hers as well, but it's been a long time. I will have to check her out more.

So how did the church thing go? Did you get everything done?

I know what you mean about wishing you could go back and forth between messages on here. What I do is open two windows so I can have my page up in one window and my reply to you in the other. That way I can go back and read what you wrote and then respond to it. It's a bit cumbersome, but it does work.

Well anyway, take care, and I hope your week is going well.

MK

écrit par drsyko à 11:38 pm (EST) le Feb 24, 2009

Peggy--thank you very much. So far not much happening which is just the way I like it.

écrit par lriley à 9:07 am (EST) le Feb 24, 2009

sure - absolutely no problem - what exit off of 95?
cheers,
bob

écrit par bobmcconnaughey à 1:34 pm (EST) le Feb 23, 2009

Well, thanks for stopping by! It looks like our reading tastes are very similar across a number of genres.

écrit par kokipy à 8:45 am (EST) le Feb 22, 2009

Thanks for writing! Can't wait to discover some new favorites in your collection.

écrit par ajourneyroundmyskull à 5:37 pm (EST) le Feb 21, 2009

Hello Peggy,
Nice to hear from you and I'm glad to hear that my map is accurate in your case.
I am sorry to say that I don't live in either of the two places that you mention albeit I ofter travel through Kibworth on the way to Leicester,and I can report that is is a rather nice little place.As you will see if you again consult your AA Guide my home town is Northampton,which is said to be the largest Town (rather than City)in the country.Although not so pretty as the places that you mention,it is extremely historic.
I see that you are interested in 'mysteries',as am I,so you might like to check out my library under the tags - British and American (and other) Crime Fiction.At the same time I will have a browse through your list of books on the hunt for new authors which might well appeal to me.
All the best from the UK and do keep in touch.
Peter

écrit par devenish à 3:47 pm (EST) le Feb 21, 2009

Unfortunately I work weekends now--I have Tuesdays and Wednesdays off which are great on Tuesday and Wednesday but not so hot on Saturday and Sunday. I do get paid extra for working Sunday which is the main reason I made the switch. Another reason is my wife's days off changed as well. They went from Saturday, Sunday to Sunday, Wednesday.

Back to Paul West for a moment. Most of his work that I've read is good to very good but that one I thought was outstanding. He's an Englishman who lives in upstate New York--in nearby Ithaca. Anyway enjoy your weekend as well but I'm holding out for tuesday, wednesday.

écrit par lriley à 11:11 pm (EST) le Feb 20, 2009

Peggy--noted your addition of Paul West's--The very rich hours of Count von Stauffenberg--that's a great book but a hard sometimes very trautmatic text to read. To me--it's well worth it for that--but be prepared.

écrit par lriley à 4:47 pm (EST) le Feb 19, 2009

Happy poking! I see a lot of our more unusual overlap is the result of excessive hoarding of Ngaio Marsh: most of ours were acquired by Mrs Bookworm and I haven't many of read them yet.

PS If you want italics in a review, use and tags.

écrit par MyopicBookworm à 11:08 am (EST) le Feb 16, 2009

Yes, I know what you mean about certain types of nerds . . . I'm actually not all that nerdy. I think I'm just more bookish. :o) I'm not very prototypically a college professor--I'm so not sophisticated enough for that! I'm just a blue collar girl who happens to have a PhD. Anyway, I have to say that I'm curious as to how it is that a woman named Peggy has the user name LizzieD, and also what it is that you liked about The Blind Assassin. :o) Also, may I add you to my friends list on LT?

I hope you had a great day . . . and I agree that it's nice to speak and actually have someone reply.

MK

écrit par drsyko à 10:34 pm (EST) le Feb 12, 2009

Hi,

Yes, it is good to be queen, even if it is only of the nerds! :o) Thanks for visiting my page and actually reading my reviews. Someone actually reading them . . . what a concept! I read through yours as well. You read some very interesting things.

Anyway, thanks so much for writing me a note. It's always nice to know I'm not writing reviews that no one on the planet is reading. :o)

MK

écrit par drsyko à 11:51 pm (EST) le Feb 11, 2009

Peggy--reading is the best way I've found to cope with all the kinds of things that tend to stress me out. I guess in that respect I have a lot of coping to do.

I'm not sure exactly what amp is but I do a lot of buying and some selling at Half.com which is run by ebay. It's basically just for books, videos and music--it's kind of like a huge garage sale--but very extensive. Prices and postage are set when a seller puts a book etc. up for sale. There's no bidding involved. He or she is competing against other sellers of the same item and a buyer can choose by best price or by the condition of the item--runs from brand new, like new, very good, good, acceptable. It requires credit card information for a buyer and a checking account for a seller. For me it's easier and a lot more hassle free than ebay itself.

I've read Carpentier several times. My favorite is probably Kingdom of this world. The lost steps was very good though. His 'Explosion in a cathedral' was the only one I didn't really care for.

écrit par lriley à 1:52 pm (EST) le Feb 10, 2009

Peggy--it's been warming a bit lately. In the 40's 3 of the last 4 days.

Anyway here's a few links I started here--the first two on Latin American fiction and the last on modern and post modern Russian.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/10980

http://www.librarything.com/topic/15212

http://www.librarything.com/topic/10641

It's been a while since I've done stuff like this. I really need to find or make the time though. I did something on the Spanish Civil War as well--and was thinking of doing something on Oulipo--which is a French literary group started by Raymond Queneau and most famous for a couple works by Georges Perec--Life: A user's manual--and A void a literary whodunnit (around 300 pages) which Perec wrote without using a single letter 'e'.

écrit par lriley à 10:52 am (EST) le Feb 10, 2009

Actually I'm in upstate New York. On the hours I work--it comes with the program. I can keep myself motivated. We tend to help each other out--part of the us against them thing. Kind of agree with your ideas about retirement. Grow lots of tomatoes--stock up on pasta when it goes on sale. The bread machine will be important as well.

On Vargas Llosa and Garcia Marquez--The war of the end of the world is a fascinating book. I don't know if you've read MVL's Conversation in the Cathedral--but for me that is his real masterpiece. It is a long one however. I did a rundown it seems like a year ago on South American fiction. I'll look it up and give you the link. As a writer I tend to prefer him to Garcia Marquez as well. Both of them are very political in their own way--in that respect I'm more in line with GGM.

My daughter Tara has put in for 6 schools--3 privates--Hobart, Ithaca College and Keuka College--all have excellent reputations. She's been accepted at all of them but Hobart looks out of the picture now as I don't think we'll be able to manage it without quite a bit of financial help. Three are SUNY schools--Binghamton, Geneseo which are two of the three best New York State financed schools--the other is far away on Long Island--Oswego is the third--it's kind of a fallback and would be the cheapest option. I tend to think though sometimes you get what you pay for. Haven't heard back from them yet but from what I hear that's normal--they tend to be later. It's been interesting making all these college trips and it will be kind of exciting for everybody--to see how it all turns out.

écrit par lriley à 10:10 pm (EST) le Feb 9, 2009

Retirement sounds great but I have 6 or 7 more years still and it's getting harder--a lot of downsizing--a lot of manipulating of work schedules. I'm going in a half hour after midnight and getting out at 9 am. I expect it's going to be that way for a while if not until I do retire. I never went to college--though both my kids are about at the point. They both are mid 90's students. One is a senior this year and the other is a junior. I'm figuring when they're done with that (or at least 4 years) then I can go.

I have a lot of curiosity when it comes to literature and I do float around a lot--one benefit of no degree may be the freedom to go without guilt whereever you choose. French writers were my first love (Celine, Queneau, Zola--even this years Nobel writer Le Clezio I've been a huge fan of for years). I was mainly in Europe and North America though until about 7-8 years ago--a local college professor (romance languages) and her husband opened up a book store out of their home and she especially got me much more focused on Latin American writers.

écrit par lriley à 2:23 pm (EST) le Feb 9, 2009

Peggy--I have to admit I'm a little weak on Asians and Africans and I've only read Murakami once. It was a short story collection and I did like it. I can see myself reading more of his work. I really like Kenzaburo Oe--a Nobel winner. Oe seems influenced more by modernist writers than the norm for Japanese writers. That is what I got from my one foray with Murakami. After that I like Shusaku Endo as well. Again more of a western influence.

I'm a huge fan of Bolano. A great writer. I'll be reviewing his 2666 in the next day or two.

Mention of Powers musical novel brings to mind Thomas Bernhard's 'The loser' also Elfriede Jelinek's 'The piano teacher'.

écrit par lriley à 12:08 am (EST) le Feb 9, 2009

It was a great book Peggy. It was also the first time I'd read Powers. Since then I've read Gain--which is very good but not quite as excellent as The Echo-makers. I'm sure I'll be back to him sometime this year though I have to come up with something else of his. Any recommendations?

Anyway sharing 62 books isn't bad at all.

écrit par lriley à 11:47 pm (EST) le Feb 7, 2009

Just stopping by to say hi & note how busy you have been cataloging! Very good!

écrit par MtnSk8tr à 7:57 pm (EST) le Feb 5, 2009

Hey Lizzie, how are ya?... I don't think I own any of your Pelicans... they look great, tho'. The great majority of my art books is concerned with contemporary art. I mostly teach studio art and some theory, and only occasionally art history, so I tend to skimp on those. Alas, "After Long Silence" is still on Mt. Bookpile, but I did just finish "Spin State" and loved it... enough to order the sequel, "Spin Control," from ILL. I am determined to reduce the proliferation of books around here... they breed like flies!!!!... we'll see how that goes... if you've looked at my "added" list, you'll notice that it keeps growing... hah!

écrit par Nulla à 9:29 am (EST) le Feb 2, 2009

Hi Peggy --

CJ Cherryh majored in Latin / Classics as an undergrad, and then earned a master's in Ancient History. Her thesis focused not on art or literature, but on Roman politics.

LEGIONS OF HELL & KINGS IN HELL, in the HEROES OF HELL shared world series, speculated about Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Brutus, Caligua, and the gang. Hence, my "Latin" tag...

This link should save you time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legions_of_Hell

LT will comsume all of your time from here on out. You may even need to give up reading, lol! Welcome again!

~Sharon

écrit par MtnSk8tr à 9:15 pm (EST) le Jan 31, 2009

Hi Peggy --

I enjoyed poking around your library & look forward to seeing more as you get it catalogued. Your reviews are also very enjoyable. LT is one of the best sites on the web -- endlessly fascinating!!

I wandered over here after reading the exchanged comments between you & stellarexplorer. One can personally attest to the exquisite quality of his library, as well as the loving care taken of it.

écrit par MtnSk8tr à 7:16 pm (EST) le Jan 31, 2009

I did it the other way. The tagging is crucial to me in organizing my books and my thinking about the books, so I tagged thoroughly with each book entered. I am regularly looking for books in my library that might fall into one category or another. I can't tell you how useful it has been to be able to search under a tag for all the books I have under that designation.

Example: Discussing cross-cultural contacts recently, I could recommend books using that tag, but also pull up all that show up under "migrations" or "prehistory" or "pre-Columbian Americas", etc.

When I look at my tag cloud, I feel like I am looking at a new 21st century way of seeing myself and my interests -- one that complements traditional means of self-definition.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 8:19 pm (EST) le Jan 28, 2009

Well, thanks for looking around! I often enjoy just walking around looking at titles in my library. There is a quote I love (though this is too gloomy a sentiment for me to endorse fully!)from Saul Bellow's first novel Dangling Man: "My books stand as guarantors of an extended life, a life far more interesting and worthwhile than the one I am forced to lead daily."

Thanks for the review of ReVisions: Seeing Torah Through a Feminist Lens… by Elyse Goldstein -- Haven't read it, but I can imagine the difficulty with gender notions as applied to god.

écrit par stellarexplorer à 9:59 pm (EST) le Jan 27, 2009

Hi Peggy, thank you for stopping by and saying hello. The Dorothy Whipple book would have been Someone At A Distance. It's nice to meet a fellow 'reads everything-er." I've heard that all my life, because if a book wasn't available I would read the cereal packet at breakfast or the shampoo bottle in the bath from as soon as I learned to read.

Thank you also for the thoughts and prayers. Babyreadseverything is happily kicking away at the moment and every day we get closer to our due date means BRE has an even better chance of arriving safely.

Your retirement doesn't sound very relaxing but it does sound like a lot of fun. The piano playing especially sounds lovely.

écrit par Jodyreadseverything à 1:47 pm (EST) le Jan 24, 2009

Well, you're in for a treat if you want to find out about Betsy and Tacy (two girls). Betsy is the main character in a series of classic children's books by Maud Hart Lovelace. The 10 books, which were written from 1940 to the mid-1950s, take Betsy and her best friend Tacy (joined later by Tib)through childhood to Betsy's wedding. The books are set in Minnesota around the turn of the century. My nickname is Betsy, so I was thrilled to find the books on a library shelf when I was a kid as I didn't know any other Betsys. They're well-beloved by many and definitely worth tracking down.

écrit par betsytacy à 7:55 pm (EST) le Jan 20, 2009

It's snowing in North Carolina!? Goodness!

Yes, I love Angela Thirkell. My fiance gave me a nice stack of second-hand Thirkells for Christmas, but I haven't started on any of them yet. So many books, so little time!

écrit par miss_read à 4:41 pm (EST) le Jan 20, 2009

Salvete magister!! Just come over from our Virago group to give you a warm welcome to all matters bookish. Pull up a chair and make yourself at home. Valete Julie

écrit par juliette07 à 11:18 am (EST) le Jan 20, 2009

Welcome to LT, Peggy!
It is so nice to see new faces around. I used to reach Latin too, many centuries ago.
:-))

écrit par aluvalibri à 7:21 am (EST) le Jan 20, 2009

Welcome to LibraryThing, LizzieD! I'm eager to see the rest of your collection, so hurry up and start entering! :)

- Helen

écrit par miss_read à 4:05 am (EST) le Jan 20, 2009

Lizzie

I found Sanctity on Paperbackswap and ordered it. I'll let you know what I think when I finally read it...!

Barbara

écrit par romain à 3:40 pm (EST) le Jan 16, 2009

Thanks for writing. I will definitely look for Sanctity under one or both names. I read a book by Catherine Aird many moons ago about a murder in a convent but it was disappointing. My favorite nun books - as I am always telling people - are the ones by Rumer Godden, in particular In This House of Brede. But I loved Land of Spices.

A quick perusal of your books shows many I have read - particularly murder mysteries. Such a shame none of us live closer. We could meet for tea. I'll let you know if I find Sanctity. It sounds like something I would really enjoy.

Barbara

écrit par romain à 3:13 pm (EST) le Jan 16, 2009

Thank you so much for information. I found it very interesting. Fascinating stuff.

Good luck with your cataloguing. I see you are in the Virago Group so I hope I shall see you there.

Thanks again.
Valerie

écrit par englishrose60 à 3:52 pm (EST) le Jan 14, 2009

Hello Peggy,

Thanks for your comments. I read this book a few months ago, and yes if you have the time, I would like to know more about Rhoda. Thank you. You have a lot of work ahead of you cataloguing all your books, but so much fun too!

Regards
Valerie

écrit par englishrose60 à 11:29 am (EST) le Jan 14, 2009

When I said "Excellent Women" I meant "Devoted Ladies"!

écrit par FleurFisher à 5:43 pm (EST) le Jan 11, 2009

I have loved and followed the Orange Prize since the very beginning. I remember it being heavily criticised in some quarters, but I was thrilled when Helen Dunmore won. I had discovered her some time earlier courtesy of a magazine giveaway of “Burning Bright” and she had quickly become one of my favourite authors.

But, while I have discovered many wonderful books from Orange shortlists and longlists, like you, I
find some of them too dark and serious. Though I recently read "Monster Love" which was very dark and was stunned by it.

"The Rising Tide" was the first Molly Keane I read for years. I both loved and admired the book, but I can only read her in small doses. I picked up "Excellent Women" a while ago but I couldn't get on with it at all and have pushed it to one side for now.

As to "The Gargoyle - I have never read Stephanie Meyer and I have no plans to - but from what I read of her books I wouldn't put them in the same bracket as "The Gargoyle" - maybe they are bought together as "hot books of the moment". I would describe "The Gargoyle" as brash modern writing and not the sort of book I often read, but the UK hardback edition was beautiful and I had to pick it up in the library. It looked like the kind of book I would either love or hate and it turned out to be love.

I hope you continue to enjoy LibraryThing but, be warned, it is highly addictive!

Jane

écrit par FleurFisher à 4:24 pm (EST) le Jan 11, 2009

Hello, and welcome to LibraryThing!

Yes, "The Road Home" is wonderful, but I very nearly didn't pick it up. I used to work in the restaurant industry and I now work for a charity that, among other things, supports migrant workers, so I thought it might be too close to home or I might be disturbed by inaccuaracies. Rose Tremain got it right and I was swept away by the story.

I love what I see of your library and I will be coming back to see what else you add.

Jane

écrit par FleurFisher à 4:32 pm (EST) le Jan 10, 2009

absolutely you may make me a friend but I'm not sure what it accomplishes.

écrit par almigwin à 5:28 pm (EST) le Jan 9, 2009

Coals to Newcastle, I see... you've already been here... welcome! soooo glad to see you!!

écrit par Nulla à 11:16 pm (EST) le Jan 7, 2009