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2024-03-22, 14:15:18
Domestic Goddess: Pollock Fillets seasoned with Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper, Bush's Best Brown Sugar Hickory Baked Beans, Green Grapes and Chocolate Chip Cookies that my husband prepared.  Sorry about the previous type error with my last post.

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Domestic Goddess: Pollock Fillets seasoned with Mrs. Dash

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Library Bookshelf

Started by Marilyne, March 29, 2016, 03:20:53 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

FlaJean

I never get "real" books from the library anymore.  I'm so paranoid about getting Covid.   I found some older Donna Leon digital books for 1.99/2.99 and have really enjoyed them.  I also found several Margaret Maron digital Deborah Knott books for 1.99 so will soon start on them.

MarsGal

FlaJean, I am with you about the physical library books. While I must maintain a local library card to use it, my library go-to is the Free Library of Philadelphia which allows anyone in Pennsylvania with a local library card to join. It has an extensive e-book and audio book collection which are mostly the usual classics and recent popular books. Still, there are a few books I have trouble finding elsewhere. These are primarily older non-fiction, and out-of-print books located in college libraries.

Speaking of, another FLP book just became available. so now I have a first of series Japanese detective novel called The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino to read as soon as I am finished with the SciFi short story collection I am now reading.

FlaJean

Marsgal, You're very fortunate in having so many choices.  My son who lives in Montgomery County MD also has many digital choices.  Unfortunately, not in FL.

MarsGal

Flajean, wonderful that your son is in Montgomery County. When I was working, one of the catalogs I helped get ready for printing was their summer parks programs listing. It was extensive and has some wonderful programs for both adults and children. Their catalog has had quite a make-over since I worked on it. https://montgomeryparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-Spring-GUIDE.pdf

So, what am I reading now?

Ghost Fleet by P. W. Singer. It it is a military thriller published in 2015 that is, considering what is going on right now, set in the now or near future. It skips around to different areas and people which include a Russian political dignitary in China, freedom fighters and a Chinese crime detective in Hawaii, espionage efforts at the Pentagon, and various naval and tech war efforts in California. It is a pretty good book.

John Scalzi's latest book, The Kaiju Preservation Society, that is about an animal rights organization which operates both in this world and in a parallel universe where the Kaiju (fictional monsters, think Godzilla and friends here) exist. I just downloaded it, so I haven't started reading it yet. It should be fun to read. Scalzi's sense of humor really comes out Agent to the Stars, Redshirts, and Fuzzy Nation so I am expecting a good laugh or two or three or four with this one too.

Yet another SciFi series set in the Galaxy's Edge universe called Ruins of the Galaxy written by J. N. Chaney and Christopher Hopper. Unfortunately, it is a nine-book series, and I am only into book three now. I say unfortunately, because it is taking a while to get through it. While I have an urge to quit reading it because I don't care for humans with superpowers type stories, I keep going because Chaney and Hopper are so good at character development and world building, not to mention very good proofreading and editing. Still, I don't think I can handle nine books of this.

My audio listen is The Last Watch by J. S. Dewes. It is set, so far, on a border post station (yes, another SciFi), keeping guard against a much feared invasion from the void beyond. The inhabitants of this posting are, for the most part, criminals, many of whom are former military. The main character is a prince who never served in the military but who was getting into trouble. It is not as bad as it sounds. I am enjoying it.

Started but on hold until I finish the above library audiobook is Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar. Not so much math in this one, so far, it follows the history and debate about Quantum physics. Interesting, easier to follow than some books about Quantum physics, but then I am only up to Einstein and Bohr.

MarsGal

Since my last update, I've finished The Ghost Fleet, which was good, but I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending. It seemed a little abrupt, like there was something missing between the main story and the epilogue.

I really liked listening to The Last Watch which is also done. There is a sequel out called The Exiled Fleet, which I hope will be made into an audio book, and a third scheduled for next year. J. S. Dewes also has a book called Rubicon coming out soon. I don't know what that is about, but it sounds like it will be more light, humor infused SciFi.

Okay, now for the thumbs down. Sad to say that John Scalzi's The Kaiju Preservation Society was less than I expected of it. Well, then, I was never much for Godzilla type monster stories, but his usual snarky humor seemed to be mostly missing. As for the Galaxy's Edge offshoot series I was reading, I finally gave up on it. Too much action couched in wizardry and superpowers to suit me. I did try to like these two, but ultimately for me, they were a no go.

I am now back to listening to Quantum and just starting two new reads, Charlie Lovett's First Impressions, which is a Jane Austen type mystery and The Devil's Waters by David L. Robbins. The last is billed as "A USAF Pararescue Thriller".

Has anyone noticed the shift to using "them" when a character is not defined as male or female? I hate this. What a lazy cop-out. Them is a plural pronoun meant for multiple groups of people or objects, as in more than one. This new use jars me to no end. I have no idea why they don't invent a new singular pronoun for gender undefined or gender-neutral single individuals instead.

RAMMEL

"them" prevents sexism. Crafty, huh.
It's the WINDMILLS

          THIMK

PatH2

Yes, that's good, but it steals our plural.  "Thems"?

phyllis

I just finished a nice light read that for once didn't put me down or depress me. "The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop" by Fannie Flagg.  I have previously only read her "Fried Green Tomatoes....".  I had forgotten how charming her books are...and sometimes funny.
phyllis
Cary,NC

FlaJean

Phyllis,  glad you mentioned that book.  Was able to borrow it from Libby.  Sounds good.

CallieOK

I love Fannie Flagg's books!  Has anyone read "The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion"?  The background details of one character sounds as if she's based on a girl who was a couple of years ahead of me in high school and part of a group who were like "big sisters" to my crowd.  I'd love to have a chance to meet Fannie Flagg and ask her if she knows this person personally.

I'm currently reading the Church of England series by Susan Howatch. Thought I'd be rereading them but don't remember anything about the first one "Glittering Images" and doubt I'll recognize the others, either.

Also reading my way through a lighter series by Julie Capin called the "Romantic Escapes Series". The titles are all little "eateries" in various countries:  "The Little Cafe In Copenhagen", The Little Brooklyn Bakery" The Little Paris Patisserie", etc.
 Others are located in Ireland, Switzerland, Tokyo and Croatia.  Sounds as if the author has actually been to these places - or did a lot of research!

phyllis

As soon as I read the title of the Fannie FLagg book that you mentioned, Callie, I checked the download library and they had it!  I borrowed it and will start it tonight.  Thanks.
phyllis
Cary,NC

CallieOK

Phyllis,  The character I think is based on the girl I knew is called Willy and is from Oklahoma.  The reason I think she's loosely based on someone I knew is that Willy's real name is the same as my friend's and she's from a tiny town not far from our home town. She's not a main character and doesn't appear in the story until way into the book.

Tomereader1

If any of you are "real bibliophiles" and love your local libraries, I have a book selection for you.  "The Library Book" by Susan Orlean.  It is predominantly about the fire that destroyed most of the Los Angeles Public Library back in 1986. Over 400,000 pieces of their collection was destroyed. The author did meticulous research, and the book was as much about the fire, as it was about the beginnings of the LAPL. A fantastic story, as good as any novel I've read lately, and the author's love of books and libraries is deeply evident on every page!!

MarsGal

After putting aside several books after starting them because they didn't suit for the moment, I began reading Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller. It is apparently set sometime during the Napoleonic wars. I forget who recommended it, but thanks. It is hard to put down.

Tome, I remember mention of The Library Book when it came out and forgot to add it to my reading list. Thanks for reminding me.

MarsGal

I recommend Now We Shall Be Entirely Free, by Andrew Miller. Set sometime between 1803 and 1815 during the Napoleonic Wars (the Guardian article says 1809, it follows a soldier who, evacuated home to recuperate, runs from guilt, the horrors of the war, and unknowingly, from accusers alleging a war crime. The ending is abrupt and surprising. Great writing.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/aug/14/now-we-shall-be-entirely-free-andrew-miller

Marilyne


MarsGal -  knowing you like SciFi, I'm wondering if you read,  "The Time Traveler's Wife", and if so, what you thought of it?    Seems like readers either loved it or hated it.  I was one who was in between - liking the characters, but the story itself was too chaotic and confusing for me.  I wanted a clear cut explanation, and the one given was too vague and didn't satisfy me.     

Reason I mention it, is that it's been made into an HBO series, that started this past Sunday.  We watched episode #1 last night.   AJ thought it was going to be like,  "Back To the Future",  even though I told him ahead that it was not that type of time travel.   I know he won't be watching episode # 2, next week.  ::)    I won't give up on it that quickly, but will give it another chance, and hope it will get  better?

Callie -  The Fannie Flagg book you recommended - "The All Girl Filling Station", sounds good.  Very interesting that you think one of the characters in the story is based on someone you knew!   I've enjoyed all of the Fannie Flagg books that I've read, and particularly like how she features some of the same neighbors and friends in most of her books.  My two favorites are,  "Standing in the Rainbow, and  "The Whole Town is Talking".  Both are feel good stories! 

MarsGal

No, I haven't read it Marilyne. I generally stay away from time travel type novels and such. I did watch the movie Outlander a few months back. Although I remember reading/seeing several other time travel goodies, but I can't think of any at the moment. I never even read H. G. Wells' The Time Machine. Oh I do remember one, a series actually, by M. R. Forbes. The series is War Eternal and uses time recursion as a main story mechanism. The story line is that while you can only go forward in time, time itself is recursive and eventually curves back to the starting point. So, in order to go back in time, you must go forward until you get back to the time period you want. I have seen some lilies listed as having recursive petals because they curl back towards themselves. Otherwise, it is mostly a mathematical concept used also in computers. Look up time recursion on the net and that is mostly what you will get.

MarsGal

Just a head's up for fans the Mick Herron, Slough House series. Bad Actors (book #8) was just released a few days ago. My local library has is already, so I put a hold on it.

MarsGal

Got a heads up on a sale special on a book I read long, long ago, and in fact, also saw and enjoyed the movie, The Moon Spinners by Mary Stewart. Anyone remember the movie? It starred Haley Mills.

Tomereader1

#2719
Over in Senior Learn, I had posted about how much trouble I had trying to get into "Hamnet". After the third try, I finally made it through, Having finished "Hamnet" I have to say after all my stopping/starting, I did like the book.  The part where Hamnet succumbs to the plague was so terribly "fitting" as it pictures his mother by his bedside, losing her entire sense of self, and the ensuing days where she neither eats, drinks or interacts with the other household members.  Her interior monologue, after his passing, touched me so deeply in light of the horror we have witnessed in the last few days in real life.  She was saying things that I could hear the 19 sets of parents saying or thinking about the loss of a young child.  Sad, yes, but a point in the novel that had real relevance and a timelessness about a mother's all-encompassing Love.

I'm sure it's not a book anyone would rush to read at this time, but I'm glad I made the effort to finish it.  Not a great many books can leave you feeling you have been touched deeply by a character or monologue.

(You will note that I am detailing only the Mother's role, but the Father (Shakespeare) and his other children are monumentally affected by this loss and deftly covered in the final few chapters.  I meant no disrespect, but needed only to speak from the mother's POV).

MarsGal

I put the book on my library reading list. Not sure about reading it just now. But who the heck is Agnes? I thought Shakespeare was married to Anne Hathaway.

I am not reading much just now, but I did listen to a Great Courses lecture series on Sun Tzu's The Art of War. It was a bit too short, IMO. Very interesting. Now I am listening to Ernest Cline's The Fold which is a SciFi story about a group of scientists working toward making teleportation a reality. It took me a little while to get into it. Can't say that I find it terribly exciting though.

MarsGal

I am delighted with my latest read, Charlie Lovett's The Lost Book of the Grail. Nice story set in Barchester, with the main character teaching at the local college. So far, the story is interspersed with childhood memories and a love for the local area. He spends lots of time in the local church library as he is charged with writing a history of the church which was originally a monastery.

I continue listening to The Fold. It became much more interesting after my last post, when the characters discover their creation is doing something very unexpected.

MarsGal

I finally bit the bullet and bought a Kobo Libre 2. I am trying to wean myself away from Kindle a little bit. The Kobo itself is nice to handle, but I had dickens of a time getting it set up. It took me a visit to the website on my computer and trying several times. I was a little surprised and disappointed to see that the do not support Libby by Overdrive, but I do have access to through the Overdrive app. A lot of good that will do me since Overdrive is discontinuing the Overdrive app by the end of the year (or so they said). The Overdrive app showing even less functions that the app I got from Amazon for my Kindle (which also does not support Libby). So now I have yet another e-reader. Well, it does hold 32gigs. My poor Paperwhite is just about full and gets a bit slow if I get it too close to full. I'll let you know how I like it once I get used to it and find out how to get Project Guttenberg books into it. It is not one of those listed already, but maybe they have a way to add it to the links list.

FlaJean

I bought all the Anne Hillerman digital books, which continued her Dad's Series about the Navaho Nation.  She is a terrific author.  I think even better than her dad, Tony Hillerman.  Anyway I have gone back to the first one and reading them again.  I find that my memory isn't as good as it use to be and enjoy them almost as if for the first time.

MarsGal

Thanks for the reminder, FlaJean. I keep forgetting to look into Tony Hillerman and now his daughter. I have read two or three novels involving tribal cops and such, but I don't think any of them were Hillerman's.

Right now, I am listening to Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods which is giving me quite a chuckle. It's nice to listen to or read something cheery for a change.

I've been a bit slow with my reading lately. It looks like I will have to renew Charlie Lovett's The Lost Book of the Grail to finish it. I had to postpone my hold on a Japanese murder mystery/police procedural for a second time too. Even my current SciFi is getting a bit neglected.

Meanwhile, my house is in disarray as I try to find places to stash kitchen paraphernalia in preparation for my kitchen remodel. I had to rebox two boxes of cookbooks because Shan decided they are great cat scratchers.

MarsGal

I've finished The Book of the Holy Grail by Charlie Lovett. What a great book, the best of the three of his I have read so far. What a combo: a bibliophile, an interest in church history and architecture, a quest for a lost boook and the Holy Grail, and a little romance.

Now I am back to reading Donna Leon's Brunetti series with Doctored Evidence.

MarsGal

Well, it is mighty, mighty quiet around here, but I persist in adding to my current reading monologue. Here is the latest.

I just finished listening to Robert A. Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy. I did enjoy it very much. It is essentially an anti-slavery novel with big swipes at big business and its focus on making the big bucks regardless of where it comes from. So, off world slave trade, institutionalized slavery and master spies.

I just started The Devotion of Suspect X. Finally. A bit too early to tell, but so far it looks good.

Still reading a five-book series, Forgotten Colony by M. R. Forbes. This is the second of Forbes' series I've read and as with the first, it has interesting characters and a very twisty plot.

I think I settled on my next listen, which is a Great Courses lecture, but don't remember the title off-hand. I could change my mind.   



MarsGal

I made some changes to my reading. First, I did not finish the SciFi series I was reading. It just got a bit too drawn out and less appealing by the end of three books. Second, I did not end up choosing a Great Courses lecture but am now listening to The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine by Serii Polkhy. It was published in 2019, before the current conflict. Lastly, The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino was a bust for me. I was not in the mood to read a story that let you know up front who did it and why. Instead, I pounced To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini which had been sitting in my library wish list for quite a while.

Marilyne


MarsGal - Not much activity on this board the past couple of months.  I know you probably feel like you're talking to yourself, but be assured that I do read your posts!   I haven't been doing nearly as much reading as in the past.  My eyes are worn out, and my ability to find a comfortable chair, seems impossible!   I still have a couple of new books that my dil gave me for Mother's Day, in May, that I haven't even looked at!

One of them sounds especially intriguing . . . The Second Life of Mirielle West, by Amanda Skenandore.  The story takes place in the 1920's, in a Louisiana leprosy hospital, where patients were forcibly quarantined.  "Inspired by a true story, An extraordinarily timely tale of resilience, hope, and the last women who expected to find herself in such a place".   
I've always been interested in true accounts of the scourge of leprosy in the past, so I know I'll like this story.       

CallieOK

#2729
Marilyn, MarsGal  and Jean, I've been reading a lot of ebooks for various reasons:  1) I'm literally 'home alone' most of the time. 2) I haven't been socializing with neighbors - partly due to the heat/humidity/pollen count and partly due to the fact that I can't walk far enough any more to go for a stroll .  3) I've lost contact with most friends I used to socialize with - partly because shared activities disappeared with Covid restrictions and partly because I got tired of having to instigate communication and 4) there's absolutely nothing on t.v. or Netflix that I care to watch - either reruns or first showings.

However, my reading choices aren't as "literary" as those mentioned here sound.  I've read "The Palace Papers" by Tina Brown and have just started her "Vanity Fair Diaries".  The rest have basically been the latest "beach books" by authors who like settings on Cape Cod, Nantucket and the islands off the Carolinas.  ;)