Library Bookshelf

MarsGal · October 07, 2024, 07:37:43 AM

Just now found an historical novel just released called The Colony Club, by Shelley Noble. The Colony Club was the first women's club in Manhattan. Founded in 1903, it was a private social club modeled after the gentleman's clubs. It still exists today. Not sure I am interested enough to read it, but some of you might. I don't see a lot of reviews on it yet.

Marilyne · October 12, 2024, 11:10:24 AM

Mars - "The Colony Club" would be an interesting read, I think. I've always been intrigued by the exclusive clubs that exist in the major metropolitan cities in America. The Colony might be the one that allowed only women intellectual types to join, such as poet/author Dorothy Parker. Long ago 'I read a bio about her that said she took refuge in her NYC social club, where she could mingle with like minded women friends. The most famous club in NYC, is the Knickerbocker Club, that has been there since the early 1800's, and was opened then exclusively for the wealthy men who developed and ran the city . . . Rockefeller's, Roosevelt's, Vanderbilt's, etc.

This morning I read your message in Soda Shoppe about The skunk traps that were set up in Sue's yard. They actually caught three skunks, plus a cat and a possum. (I hope they weren't in with the skunks!) Interesting to me that Animal Control in your area was willing to trap the skunks. No such service out here in CA. We have to deal with all critters ourselves, which means leaving them alone and hoping they go away. We have the camera's in our front yard/driveway that shows us the comings and goings of wildlife during the night. Always skunks, coyotes, foxes, possums, Bob cats, and a surprising number of domestic cats. They all seem to come and go at different times during the night. The fox and the coyote are the only predators, and they don't linger long.

MarsGal · October 12, 2024, 01:33:34 PM

I've seen clips of the night critters out your way, primarily coyote, but there was an old mountain lion that featured in someone's camera or a while, but I think he has since passed away.

Mostly commonly, we have to deal with groundhogs, skunk, and raccoons in some areas. We are coming up on deer road-kill season, hunting season, and those looking for good hibernating spots. Deer now coming down into developments all year. Foxes have been around for quite a while but you don't generally see them except on outdoor cameras or as roadkill. Coyote and/or coy-dogs, still rare, but have been sighted in PA. Possum are welcome visitors. They eat grubs, mice, bugs and, well, just about anything. They do not carry rabies, another plus. They grow fast live only about five years. We are getting more and more black bear sightings and yard invasions each year, and seem to be expanding their range south. The bald eagles have been thriving. And, as long as the weather keeps warming, we will be seeing more insects and the diseases they carry.

I am still slowly making my way through Ribbon Dance which I believe I mentioned earlier. It is not very interesting to me. The word is that now that Steve Miller has passed away, Sharon Lee will finish out the series with one last book. I haven't gone over the the series website yet to see what it says. I enjoyed the rather extensive series up until the pair started putting in more magical-fantasy than I like.

Marilyne · October 17, 2024, 10:30:29 AM

Mars, wondering if you liked "The Colony Club"? I put it on my list of future library books, but first I have to read the mostly brand new hard cover books that were given to me by my two daughters and my dil. Top of the stack, is The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris.

It's been a long while since we've heard from Mary Page? I hope she's still doing okay? Also a long time since Joanne/Tomereader has been here? Same with Callie?
Bubble, I think about you a lot . . . always hoping and praying that things will settle down. It's hard to get reliable news here about what's happening in Israel? Our news is now mostly about the upcoming Presidential election, or the ongoing weather disasters that have been extreme this year. Both candidates are pledging to continue to support Israel? 🤔

MarsGal · October 18, 2024, 07:16:57 AM

I finished reading Ribbon Dance several days ago. For light bedtime reading, I chose to read another book of short stories, this time what I would call mystery-light. Other than that I am concentrating on finishing two books I have set aside temporarily and haven't yet decided on my next library read.

Marilyne, I thought of MaryPage when I read the description of The Colony Club because of her interest in women's suffrage, etc. My library has not yet acquired it, and prices for the newer eBooks have gone up so much, that I have slowed down my acquisitions. So, I have not read the book.

Marilyne · October 20, 2024, 10:35:22 AM

Mars, I saw your post in SS this morning >>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Sounds like you spent a nice day with Sue, in a place with a lot of nostalgic memories. We oldsters here, have fond memories of the endless acres of fruit orchards (mostly apricots and plums). Bulldozed down in favor of housing tracts, freeways, and shopping centers. Time marches on, and we have to keep up with it, whether we like the changes or not.

I put in a request for "The Colony Club", at my library. It's on order, so I should be getting it soon. For some reason those exclusive clubs from yesteryears interest me? Some of them still exist, and it would be interesting to know who belongs, and what they do? Most groups are politically oriented now, so that's probably a factor.

MarsGal · October 20, 2024, 01:36:53 PM

I hate the idea of losing more and more farmland when there are plenty of abandoned land/houses/businesses that can be dozed and reconstructed. This year will be, according to the current data, the fourth in the last six years that we have run a trade deficit in agricultural products. The USDA is predicting a record deficit of at least $32 Billion dollars. BTW, I have been trying real hard not to go on a major rant about this.

CallieOK · October 20, 2024, 03:04:12 PM

Also a long time since Joanne/Tomereader has been here? Same with Callie?

I've been reading posts but haven't posted - mainly because I've been busy with "maintenance" medical appointments and keeping up with family! I'm not reading the type of books that MarsGal chooses and "The Colony Club" isn't in my library so I can't comment on those.
Have also been watching college football (OK University and OK State) every week There used to be a Bob from Texas that exchanged comments about our teams but no one currently seems interested.

I do have "critters" in my back yard overnight but my bedroom is on the front side so I don't hear them. I know we have raccoons and have had coyotes and anteaters digging for grubs. I occasionally smell a skunk when I get up. We also sometimes have feral cats. A couple of residents sometimes trap them and take them out to a local lake.

Squirrels seem to "haunt" the bird feeders. I have seed and suet feeders hanging on hooks attached to a metal pole that I "grease" with petroleum jelly so squirrels slide down if they try to jump up to the suet/seed feeders. That brings a lot of tail swishing and glaring at the windows!

Carson and his girlfriend are officially engaged. They went to a concert in Red Rocks amphitheater outside of Denver and he surprised her by proposing on a scenic mountain. The family all knew about his plans and so there was a party with about 20 guests after they got back. Ellen flew home for it and she/Emily put together a fantastic charcuterie that covered a whole counter.

Am waiting to hear that both sons/dils are home from the OSU game with BYU in Provo, Utah Friday night and a concert in Las Vegas last night that was on all their "bucket lists". (I've never heard of the group but they thought it was "awesome").

Also waiting to learn if the cruise that Ellen and. Emily were taking has changed. They met in San Juan yesterday and the cruise was to start today. It looks as if their route will take them away from "Oscar" but the seas might be rough.

And that's what's going on in my world. to Everyreader.

MarsGal · October 20, 2024, 08:44:01 PM

Hi, Callie. Don't worry about what I like to read. I always like to hear what others are reading, and how they like it whether it is my thing or not. Never know when something different strikes a chord.

I just added several of Mick Herron's new books to my library TBR list, including a new mystery series called Down Cemetery Road, more William Kent Kruger books, some books written by foreign authors, and Mark Harmon's co-authored books Ghosts of Honolulu and Ghosts of Panama. Some old well-known books/authors that I never read from Thornton Wilder, Sylvia Plath, Alice Hoffman, a Neil Gaimen (American Gods), Emily St.John Mandel's Sea of Tranquility, two from Paulette Jiles, a whole bunch of, I think, fantasies by Natasha Pulley, a bunch of old Brit mysteries by various authors. Well, I have managed, after having managed to get my library list down to around 64, added more on and now it is way up to almost 100 books on the list. Some I make decide not to read in the future, some I will not finish. I really have to wonder why I put Sylvia Plath on the list. I want to try it, but I have an idea I won't like it at all.

My newest read is a thriller called Terminal Rage. Birth of the West is still my audio book read. I promised myself to get that one finished soon. I just haven't been doing a lot of reading lately.

Marilyne, I watched the news clips of brush-fire in Oakland (Oakland Heights?) Steep gullies, hills. And the wind, it was pushing the fire up the hill so that it almost looked like liquid gold flowing upward. The firefighters did a fantastic job to almost stop it. Last I saw they were hanging around to put out any hotspots the are left.

Marilyne · October 21, 2024, 12:18:27 PM

Callie, Good to see your message! College football is on here, every Saturday, all day. Mostly focused on the schools that two of my Grand's attended - LSU and Oregon State. Others we follow are Clemson, Stanford and San Jose State.
Hoping that Ellen and Emily enjoy the cruise, in spite of the "iffy" weather?
The one novel that I've read recently that I think you would like, is The Silver Star, by Jeannette Walls. She's the author of the memoir, The Glass Castle, that many of us read a couple of years ago.

Mars, I think I've read most of William Kent Kruger's books. What's the title of the one you mentioned?
I've also never read anything my Sylvia Plath, but I would like to, eventually. I still have The Tattooist of Auschwitz, waiting to be read.

CallieOK · October 21, 2024, 02:19:29 PM

Merry Monday.

I discovered that "The Colony Club" is in several area libraries - but isn't in e-book form. Since I can't get to the library to pick it up, I guess I'll have to miss it.

I'll look for "The Silver Star". Thanks for the suggestion. Have read "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" but will wait for your comments before I do.

MarsGal · October 21, 2024, 03:22:13 PM

Marilyne, I have several WKK books in my wish list. I have the collection of books 4-6 of his Cork O'Connor series (yeah, I know, a long pause between reading them), Ordinary Grace, and a new one as of last year, The River We Remember. I've been trying to read some of the books that have been on my list longer and do not have a wait time.

What I downloaded yesterday is a translation of Hanan al-Shaykh's novel, Women of Sand and Myrrh.

MarsGal · October 24, 2024, 02:20:36 PM

Okay, I gave up on Women of Sand and Myrrh already.

In its place is Paulette Jiles dystopian novel called Lighthouse Island. Set in the far future, the earth has essentially turned into a one big dry, hot, city. A little girl, abandoned by her parents, dreams of finding a vacation paradise called Lighthouse Island, which is said to exist in the Pacific Northwest. Two chapters in, it is still very much holding my interest.

My bedtime read is Terminal Rage by A. M. Khalifa. It is a thriller beginning with a hostage situation. The author's website states that the author was brought up in a diplomatic family, has been in 15 countries, and that his international thrillers are all populated with characters based on real people, or composites of real people, including himself.

Marilyne · October 25, 2024, 12:29:37 AM

Mars, Lighthouse Island sounds good! It's definitely going on my library request list. I'm still far behind in my reading. The stack of books beside my reading chair is growing taller instead of smaller.

Callie, Congratulations to Carson and his GF on their engagement! Is there a wedding planned in the near future?
Did you ever get, The Silver Star? Another book that one of my daughters gave me that I haven't read yet, but will recommend anyway, is The Nurses Secret. I see that it got good reviews.

Vanilla-Jackie · October 25, 2024, 11:36:36 AM

When in hospital until two days ago for basically the past four weeks.. i was given a paperback book to read, never got far but i know it is going to be interesting... I have now ordered the book from Amazon, coming tomorrow... The book is called On Caanans Side by Sebastian Barry....I am sure many of you will be familiar with it - already read it...

Narrated by Lilly Bere, On Canaan's Side opens as she mourns the loss of her grandson, Bill. The story then goes back to the moment she was forced to flee Sligo, at the end of the First World War, and follows her life through into the new world of America, a world filled with both hope and danger.
At once epic and intimate, Lilly's narrative unfurls as she tries to make sense of the sorrows and troubles of her life and of the people whose lives she has touched. Spanning nearly seven decades, it is a novel of memory, war, family-ties and love, which once again displays Sebastian Barry's exquisite prose and gift for storytelling.

CallieOK · October 25, 2024, 05:17:06 PM

Marilyne, re: wedding date...not that I've heard of.

I've reserved "The Silver Star". Looked at "The Nurses Secret" synopsis; decided I'd wait for your comments.

I've been reading "Melania", Melania Trump's memoir. ("Meh" ) and doing bookwork Also keeping up with family. Everyone has either been out of state or out of the country in the past two weeks and Granddaughters are still on a cruise. Will be glad to have them all safely back at home, whether it's OKC area or New York.

Son brought some green beans from their garden. Plan is to cook them with bacon and onions. Off to the kitchen....

MarsGal · November 02, 2024, 09:09:42 AM

Marilyne, Lighthouse Island is good. Very good. Be prepared: the text does not have quotes to designate who is talking except if a person is quoting some book passage or such. It doesn't take long to figure out who is talking, however, and is easy to read. Several words to describe the book and its' characters: dystopian, adventure, irrepressive belief and thirst for knowledge, love story.

MarsGal · November 02, 2024, 09:20:01 AM

Jackie, Sebastian Barry is new to me. I looked him up and now intend on finding several of his books to add to my list. Thanks.

Callie, the green beans sound good. But then I haven't had breakfast yet, so I am very hungry.

CallieOK · November 02, 2024, 12:07:13 PM

MarsGal, green string beans were tasteless and I threw them out. (Shh...don't tell son )

I'm reading "The Tiffany Girls" by Shelley Noble. It's about a group of women who helped make Tiffany glass windows, lamps and vases in the early 1900's. Central character is a girl who came to America from France who is quite artistic and used to women being considered equal (more or less) to men in that field. She is trying to adjust to the opposite attitude in America. Will Mr. Tiffany recognize her talent and give her credit? "Stay tuned"

Family all returned safely and had a fabulous time on their various trips.

After several weeks of hot, very windy weather (lots of wildfires around state) - we are now anticipating stormy weather with lots of rain. Going from one extreme to the other - typical of Oklahoma!

Marilyne · November 02, 2024, 12:35:00 PM

Good morning to our faithful readers and book lovers. Per usual, I'm full of excuses for NOT making a dent in my stack of books. Seems like a sudden surge of things going on around here, so no time to really sit back and enjoy a book.

MARS - I don't have "Lighthouse Island" yet, It's still on order at the library. Just as well, because if I had it, I would most likely start reading it, and my stack wouldn't be getting any smaller.

Jackie - I also looked up Sebastian Barry, and found lots of interesting information and good recommendations. "On Canaan's Side" sounds like a good start, which I hope to get to sometime over the long Winter ahead.

Callie - I haven't even opened "The Nurses Secret", so I hope you go ahead and read it first, and let me know what you think? I guess your two granddaughters have returned from the cruise, and that they had a nice time reminiscing about the past, and catching up on what's in store for the future.

I haven't had much time for watching the movies I have on my DVR, but I did see an old one last week that is worthy of mention. The Devil and Daniel Webster, adapted from the book by Stephen Vincent Benet. I think it was written in the 1930's, and this movie was produced in 1941. I thought it was an excellent story, with a good message, and a lot of Americana thrown in at the end during the trial.

Vanilla-Jackie · November 02, 2024, 12:47:47 PM

MarsGal. - Marilyne, you sneaked in while i was posting...
...Your welcome,
Yes i too had never heard of him...never got far reading the book yet only read a few pages in hospital, then gave it back to the library trolley that came to my ward but, then buying the book from Amazon when i got home, i will get back to reading it as i know i was finding it interesting...Hope you manage to buy a copy...

£8.95 paperback
£6.40 kindle
July 2011

Amy · November 03, 2024, 06:22:50 AM

How very kind of you, Patricia. I am still alive, but hardly kicking. Feeling my age big time. Please remember me to everyone, & I will try to remember how to do Senior Net. I am fallen back to just e-mails to family these days.

love & thanks with many memories & good wishes

MaryPage

MarsGal · November 03, 2024, 08:52:55 AM

Amy: Thank you so much for posting the note from MaryPage. Her posts over the years have always been interesting and a welcome read, especially her ongoing interest and knowledge about the history of Women's Suffrage.

Also posted to Senior Learn: This may be of interest if anyone is considering Kindle e-Books. I haven't checked yet, but I won't be surprised if Kobo (and others) have similar terms of use contracts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwU5xkXj7Kw I have to seriously think about continuing my Audible account when renewal comes up next Spring or buy anymore e-Books. And yes, this guy confirms what I have suspected about they can change the content from the original any time they want. So, does this mean I have to be subjected to ongoing politically correct edits?

Finished with Lighthouse Island. If any of you get around to reading it, let me know what you think, especially the ending. Just downloaded from the online library a short, I wouldn't even call it a book (maybe short story or novella?), in Martha Wells' Murderbot Series. I'll have that read in no time, then back to picking through my library wish list.

Marilyne · November 03, 2024, 01:46:08 PM

Thanks to Patricia, and Amy for letting us know about Mary Page. Sounds like she is feeling reasonably well, and still keeping up with her big and busy family. Hoping we hear from her, whenever she feels like writing here, or in B&T or BB.

Mars and Callie - I was hoping one of you would remember reading "The Devil and Daniel Webster"? I had forgotten about it, but after watching the movie, I remembered that it was an English class assignment when I was in high school. After we read the book and discussed it, we then had a "mock trial", in the classroom.

I finally sat down yesterday afternoon, and spent a couple of hours reading "The Tattooist of Auschwitz". Yes, it is extremely sad and shocking, as expected, but something that all of us should know about, and never forget. I'm about half way through the book, and will likely finish it this afternoon.

Callie, "The Tiffany Girls" sounds like a good story. I'm especially fond of all things Tiffany, and do have one lamp, so I would like to know more about the Company.

Mars - So far, I haven't been notified that "Lighthouse Island" has arrived at my library? I looked into Senior Learn yesterday, and read what you and PatH had to say about it. Made me all the more interested in reading it .

MarsGal · November 03, 2024, 05:22:31 PM

Lots of ongoing disasters going on today and yesterday. Last evening I saw that there is a wildfire on the Blue Mountain range up around the Lehigh Township above Allentown. Today I see that it is still going, and now, this afternoon I discovered (via my sister) that there is a fire going on the Blue Mountain range west of me somewhere past Carlisle in Franklin County (I think). Storm Chasers don't have any storms to chase here, so they are setting up at the wildfires. We are in a water shortage watch right now with request to conserve water. I haven't heard of any mandatory water restrictions at the moment.

Also, I saw that Oklahoma City and surrounds got hit by a tornado. Which, of course, has me thinking about Callie. I forget if she is near OK City or not.

Finished, as I expected, the Murderbot short story real quick. I'll let you know tomorrow what I pick next.

CallieOK · November 03, 2024, 05:56:27 PM

If OKC were a clock face, I'd be "north of noon". Family lives about 9:45 in area where Mary Page's granddaughter has a business.
There were 3 tornadoes in the wee hours in a strip southeast of metro area. Lots of damage. South area had torrential rain and high straight winds. Same thing this afternoon but no twisters. My area had lots of rain but no wind. Quiet now but, supposedly, we'll have a repeat in the wee hours again.

The whole state has been in a drought for weeks. Nice to have that taken care of...but not with storms!

CallieOK · November 03, 2024, 06:11:25 PM

Back on topic: Marilyne, "The Tiffany Girls" may not tell how lamps are done currently (are they're still designed and made ?) , but it goes into detail about the way it was done in early days. Very interesting!

MaryPage · November 04, 2024, 05:28:56 PM

Here I am, & thank you,
Amy & Patricia.

Having senile dementia & losing most of my memory, is extremely humiliating & disgusting. Hope it never happens to any of you.

I live in the world's sweetest house on an island in Edgewater, Maryland. We are right next to Annapolis, and on the water.
My daughter Debi takes care of me. I read books, & promptly forget them. I have decided the important thing is enjoying as I go along. I also watch DVDs of movies & some of many DVDs of college lectures I bought (spent thousands of dollars on, actually!) called The Great Courses & put out by The Teaching Company. These thrill me to the core. I am sick to death of this election, & yearn for it to all be behind us. No politicking here: I am just commenting on the grinding on & on & on of it all. Have no intention of commenting further.[/color][/size][/font]

Marilyne · November 04, 2024, 11:31:44 PM

Mary Page, great to see you posting again. You sound wonderful, and like you're keeping busy with all the things in life that interest you.
I'm with you, as far as the election is concerned. I'm exhausted from it also, and will be so relieved when it's all behind us.

Hope you return soon, and give us an idea of what the College Lecture videos are all about? Also, what movies you've been watching, and what books you're reading?

phyllis · November 15, 2024, 03:47:28 PM

I watched the new show on Peacock last night. Day of the Jackal. I read the book back in the seventies by Forsythe and loved it. This newest adaptation is very good. Eddie Redmayne is one of my favorite actors, anyway.

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