FlaJean,   I do use the internet with the Kindle but for some reason the "reply" button doesn't show on the Seniors and Friends pages.    I really like my Kindle and use it for most purposes like a tablet as well as for reading.

This afternoon I remembered another book that I've read this summer.   It was another by Jan Karon about Father Tim and his wife on their trip to Ireland.    Maybe I've already mentioned this one....it does seem so.

Marilyne,   I had intended to read A Spool of Blue Thread but somehow didn't make a connection just yet.  I'll be glad to hear what you have to say about it.

I've read all the Mitford Father Tim books by Jan Karon.  Loved them all.

maryc - A Spool of Blue Thread, is the story of an ordinary American family.  Lots of warmth and love in this book. 
The reason I thought about you when I was reading, was that I remembered a conversation we had in this discussion many years ago, about how there is often one child in the family, who marches to a different drummer, and always keeps things a bit off balance.  There's a quote in the book that says it all, about being a mother:  "You're only ever as happy as your least happy child". 

Oh my Marilyne,    That statement is so very true.   Now I will have to make an effort to get that book soon.

Last evening I read the sample of A Spool of Blue Thread and picked up the book at the library today.  😊

MaryC.  Now I just finished the Book. A spool of Blue Thread last night.  Its good. Not read any of her books for awhile.
I read Me Before You and loved it. Got it in LP. I ordered "After You" which follows but they don't have it In LP my library. I got it in small but hard to read.  So it is where  can be read on Readers and so will wait on line and get it on my IPad.. No idea what to start on now.

Yesterday I picked up Everybody's Fool, the brand new novel by Richard Russo.  I don't know if any of you remember, but we had a wonderful discussion here in Library~Bookshelf a number of years ago, on Russo's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Empire Falls?  It was made into a TV mini-series, starring Ed Harris, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, and Helen Hunt.  I believe it was Newman's last movie, before he died. 

Anyway, I've read very little about Everybody's Fool, but I expect to like it, and hope that some of the characters from "Empire", will be returning?

I remember Empire Falls though I watched the movie from our library and didn't read the book.   I would think this new book by Russo would be good Marilyne.  You can let us know.

  I am enjoying The Spool of Blue Thread and beyond the issue of challenging children I've been interested in the handling of aging parents...or should I say attempting to do so.  We are beyond the age of these folk and I often wonder what my responses might be to our children's effort to "help us out".  So far-so good.  Don't you wonder why no one thought to seek medical help for Abby when she started having her little episodes.  I've got about another 100 pages to go.  I need another couple sleepless nights to finish this.😊

mary - I agree that Abby's little "episodes", were not addressed in the way that we would expect them to be.  Another thing that didn't make sense to me, was that Red and Abby never legally adopted Stem?  Maybe there was a reason given, but if so, I missed it?

Overall, I thought the story was excellent, and all the characters were likable, each in their own way.  The back-story of Linnie and Junior, was fascinating and well written. I liked Denny, because I could relate to his quirkiness, and his ability to control the emotions of the family, whether he was there or not. 
I liked the ending, when Denny was on the train, and seemed to have a sort of epiphany.  Maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part, but he seem to finally come to terms with himself, and his relationship with the family. I had high hopes for is future! 

This style of writing has become my favorite in recent years. I really love books like this . . .  I think they are referred to as "character driven novels".  Not a specific plot, just families together in the good times and the bad, or townspeople interacting with each other. (Kent Haruf, is a good example of what I mean.)

I did finish The Spool of Blue Thread and enjoyed it so much...didn't want it to end.  I too had good thoughts about Denny's future...hoping for a family of his own.  We always hope for the best for those "different" family members.   I had a sister who marched to her own drummer and my mom was still worrying about her  when she was 90.  I think this is my best type of story also.  There is so much food for thought.

I noticed that the other book discussion group is reading Our Souls at Night this month.   That was another good one that we talked about here a while back.

MaryC.  I read "Spool of Blue Thread" also . It is good.  I figured that there would not be a happy family ending for Denny. Him just leaving off again sort of left readers not really knowing what would happen in his future. Maybe another follow up to the story later. Some writers leave things open in order to do that.

Our f2f Book Club, (general reading not Mystery) has come up against a rock and a hard place!  We have regularly only one man in our club; however, he is willing to read anything that is suggested.  One of our female members mentioned that we seem to read an awful lot of "chicky" type books (no, not romances) but with basically strong female characters, or stories that appeal more to women.   Then we got into what we might read for next month, that would be more "male-oriented".  Someone came up with "Catcher in the Rye".  Several of us rolled our eyes...my sentiments exactly.  I absolutely hated that book, finally finished on my second try, and still hated it.  I think if I heard the phrase "and all" one more time I would upchuck!  However, it is on the agenda for next month. Yuck!  So, my dear friends, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to throw out some titles you think would be male-oriented, in the realm of general fiction. (We have read some Ray Bradbury).
We actually have had some good ones in the past "Doc" and "Epitaph".
I posted this on SeniorLearn also.

When I finished The Spool of Blue Thread,  I was without a book at hand.    A while back I signed up with Hoopla.    This is connected to our library.     I found a book to my liking there called The Seakeeper's Daughter by Lisa Wingate.     It wouldn't fit the bill you are looking for Tomereader.   This is a gals story but it is good.       

Tome, I like adventure and SciFi. At the moment I can think of several, older books that you all might be interested in reading.

Kim - Rudyard Kipling
The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula Le Guin
The Dispossessed - Ursula Le Guin
1984 - George Orwell

The last three all involve politics/government of one sort or another, society, and how people interact with others in their given situations.

Ursula Le Guin prefers to call her writing speculative fiction. When you are next over on SeniorLearn, you can look up Kim and The Left Hand of Darkness in the archives.

I enjoyed John Scalzi's Lock In which is an interesting crime mysterywith a protagonist who has Hayden's Syndrome. I am not sure want you can get out of this one, but it can bring up discussion of Hayden's Syndrome and pharmaceutical malfeasance, plus it is a good detective story. If you are not into robotics, it might not suit.

Arn't they wanting one that a Man will enjoy? I read quite a few that I think would be good for both men and women.

Tome - I often recommend a book to my husband that I especially like, if I think it's something he will also enjoy reading. There are many that we have both liked very much . . . the first two that come to mind are:
All the Light You Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
House of Sand and Fog - Andre Dubus, III

Those two he liked enough that he wanted to talk about them when he was finished reading.  They might be worth looking into for your group? 

Regarding The Catcher in the Rye . . . I thought it was fabulous, when I first read it in the 1950's.  However, I can see that it would seem incredibly "dated", by today's standards.  It was very innovative back then, but it's been  60+ years!  Many other young adult, or so called "coming of age" books have been written since then, that are more in tune with today's world. 

I loved "the House of Sand & Fog", I'll have to research the #of copies and #of pages before I would recommend it.  "All the Light You Cannot See" has (in my paperback copy) over 500 pages, plus it is such a current book, they might not have enough copies available at one time for us to read. Thank you, Marilyne.

I read about 10 pages of Catcher in the Rye when I was in my 20's. Couldn't stand it. Another book that was required reading in college way back was Faulkner's Light in August. I took an huge dislike to that too. Anything, back in those days, that had swearing or vulgar language, I disliked. Now-a-days I can tolerate some.

I've been taking a short reading break, since I finished A Spool of Blue Thread.  That book gave me a lot to think about, so I just haven't been ready to jump right into another one right away. However, I do have Everybody's Fool, by Richard Russo, checked out, so I'd better get to it.  As I mentioned before, I did like Russo's best seller, Empire Falls. This new book features some of the same characters, which can be good or bad?

I have to do a lot of grocery shopping today, so I'd better get myself together and get going.  I do dislike driving and parking, and walking in the HOT weather, but I've put it off for too long. Seems I have slowed down to a crawl in recent weeks, and will use just about any excuse to stay at home . . . but then I get restless and start "climbing the walls", so best to put on the sunscreen and hat and face the crowds! 

I need to do a "little" grocery shopping today, Marilyne.  Just a few items, but am dreading going out into this heat.  It's only 80 now, but supposed to get to upper 90's.
I'll share a little secret with you:  I read "A Spool of Blue Thread", and didn't like it at all. Maybe I need to re-read it, I could've been in a rotten mood at that time!

Marilyne.  I just picked up the DVD for Empire Fall. Not read the book  yet. I usually like to read it first but maybe my library didn't have it on LP.

Tome - If you didn't like "Blue Thread" the first time around, you probably won't like it any better if you read it again. Usually we tend to like the same books (and movies), but looks like we aren't on the same page with this one. (Pun intended!)

Speaking of differing opinions on books . . . I was once in an online book group, where we read "House of Sand and Fog".  I was the only one in the group who loved that book!  There were a few who absolutely hated it, and the rest were indifferent or apathetic.  If you end up choosing that one for your book club selection, I'll be interested in hearing the various opinions of the members.

JeanneP - I hope you like the DVD of "Empire Falls".  I remember the book more than I do the movie?  Can't recall if the movie stayed with the book or not?  Paul Newman was very good.  As I mentioned before, I think it was his, and his wife's, last movie. (Joanne Woodward.) 

A lot of times certain members will not like a book, because of personal experiences; i.e.
wayward children, drug use, abuse, assault, devasting illness.  I really loved House of Sand & Fog, although the female character's alcoholism/drug use hit too close to home for me, but reading about the culture of the middle Eastern immigrants was so enlightening and heart rending.  So, I could sort of "screen out" the parts that were hurtful personally. And I can still remember parts of that book, whereas I can't think of a single thing about "Blue Thread" that I recall.  But, like I say, I may try to read it once more.

Tome - If I can relate to, or recognize anyone in a story who reminds me of someone I care about, (the good, the bad, and the ugly), then I will like the book.  If I can't relate to anyone in the story, and the characters seem unrealistic to me, then I generally don't like the book and will often give up on it.  That's probably why I don't care for mystery, fantasy, science fiction or action books.  I cannot relate to the people or the situation.  Give me a good old "character study" book, or movie, and I'm a happy camper.

However, that doesn't explain why I like the TV show, Game of Thrones? LOL   

Lately it's been hard to concentrate on reading a book.  Used to be I could lose myself in a story, but lately seems like I have an endless cycle of family worries/things running through my head, plus all the tragedies going on in the US and France. 

My youngest grandchild lives in Baton Rouge.  I know she is okay, but still I worry about her - knowing that she and her friends go out to dinner at night, and do things around town.  She is doing her college internship there this summer at Aflac Insurance. (I know you've all seen the Aflac duck commercials on TV.)  

I have the new Richard Russo book, [/i]Everybody's Fool[/i], but I haven't been able to really get into it.  I like his writing very much, and I thought this would grab me right away, but so far, not so good.  I'm going to wait a few days, and then give it another try.   

I can relate to your current feelings about reading, Marilyne.     Sometimes the current events are overwhelming and it is hard to step away even into a story of other times and places.    I've been working slowly on a book borrowed from Hoopla.   I believe I mentioned it just a few days ago.   It seemed like chic-lit but turns out to have some meaty issues that we all deal with in one way or another.    It's my kind of story!  (The Seakeeper's Daughter)

I've been wondering what I missed about SCFSue.    I haven't seen her here for quite a while.    She often wrote in the Gardening Forum too and there aren't too many of us over there.....it gets lonesome.

mary - SCFSue had a bad fall from a ladder, and was seriously injured.  I don't know how she is doing at this time, but I do know that she was in the hospital and then a rehab hospital for a long time.  She lives alone, so I imagine it will be difficult for her at home.  I watch for news about her in the Bosom Buddies forum, but haven't seen anything about her in many weeks?

Re SCFSue - we at BB haven't heard from her since she fell.  A couple of the gals talked to her, and we've been sending her cards via her daughter-in-law.  As far as we know, she's still in rehab.  Keep her in your thoughts.

I'm so sorry to hear about Sue.  Don't know how I missed it but I did.  If anyone here sends greetings please send my best.  She seemed like An active person so this would be difficult.

maryc - The Seakeeper's Daughter, sounds like a good story.  Some chick-lit is quickly forgotten, but others are well worth reading, and this sounds like one of the good ones.  I think Brooklyn, is a good example of quality chick-lit, and also The Light Between Oceans. 

Today I finally had a break-through in my determination to like, Everybody's Fool, by Richard Russo.  It took a couple of chapters, but I'm starting to really get into the story at last. Unfortunately, I only have it for a few more days, because of the long library wait list. I see that it's on the top ten Bay Area Best Seller list, so that would be the reason for it's popularity.