I am not a fan of Jodi Picoult either.. 

I do like the way she writes,   but I find
her subject matter  controversial,  about matters
that I do not enjoy reading about and confronting.
(Race,  sexuality, etc etc. ) with regards to other
peoples lives.     

Personally,  as a matter of self preservation,
I tend to focus on the positive,  when ever possible.

Issues that upset me,  I sort
through t("right wrong or indifferent"),
until I am satisfied with what ever I decide,
then I let them go  (as much as possible.)

I tend to avoid  reading  about life's
stressful issues that are not personally 
my own.     As they say "Denial" is
more then a river in Egypt!

(I embrace it!)
Sandy   

Sandy,   You put those thoughts quite well.  I especially like your last phrase.       It does seem as though in this day of so much bad news coming at us daily and almost hour by hour,  we really don't need fiction to add to the mix.     I may just give in to my weaker self and return that book to the library.

Some of you have been talking about the heat in other parts of the country.    We've been pretty lucky in regard to the heat but we're having a couple days just now of weather that is too warm to be enjoyed unless you happen to be one of those folks that just love the heat!  It is hard for me to imagine those 100+ temps that were going on in the S.W. a couple weeks ago......way too hot!!!  Stay cool and hydrated friends.

Marilyne, I have had News of the World on my library wish list for a while now. However, I am trying to read some of the accumulation I already have physically and on e-book before ordering more from the library. I am down to about five books on my library wishlist from about 25 a year ago.

maryc - Because you like Elizabeth Berg, I thought about you when I read her Facebook page today.  This is a really fun read, and will remind you of summers in the 1940's, when we were growing up. Lots of talk of cousins, aunts, uncles - what life was like before television, airplane travel, and electronic devices.  I really enjoyed reading what all these people had to say about their fond memories of childhood summers.
https://www.facebook.com/bergbooks/?hc_ref=ARTKVbgjCUdXRSUbZntsH5f6-fo18xmJ9Df7OI08mDwTMO6IoH1fKdjnZO_RXAjRsJM&fref=nf

Marilyne. That reading/cooking day would be nice to go to. Little expensive though $350 for the day I Think it said. It is in Chicago which is close to me. I thought she lived in Texas.

Elizabeth Berg's Facebook post was a delightful read.   It reminded me of summers that I spent with my Aunt Mary and Uncle Mert.   She was my father's sister and had no children of her own but she was always welcoming and fun and funny to be around.    Here's just one little incident that sticks with me.   Aunt Mary worked at the local grocery in their in house bakery.   One day before work she had baked a cake to take to the home of someone who had lost a loved one.    While she was at work, Uncle Mert told my cousin and myself that he thought he should sample the cake (for quality control).  He did and Auntie made quite a stir when she came home to find her cake had been cut.   After the dust settled she just baked another and all was well.   They were quite a pair and left lots of good memories behind.   

JeanneP - I saw that you left a message on Elizabeth Berg's Facebook page! I think you should consider that cooking class if you live close enough.  It would be fun for you.   Is Oak Park a suburb of Chicago?

mary - I enjoyed reading all those comments too.  Really brought back pleasant memories of vacations long forgotten.  I also had an aunt and uncle who were childless . . . my mother's brother Boone, and his wife Dot.  They lived in a small mountain town way up in Northern California called Willow Creek, and always welcomed us whenever we could make the long drive to visit them.  We would always take two or more cousins with us, and would meet other family members there. We all had such a wonderful time - fishing and swimming all day in the surrounding rivers, and sleeping in the backyard bunkhouse at night.       

Our Souls At Night, by Kent Haruf, a novel that many of us read last year, has been made into a Netflix movie.  It will be entered in the Cannes Film Festival, at the end of August, and after that, it will be available to see on Netflix. It stars Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.

I saw a short news story about it online today, and I'm sure we'll be reading a lot more about the movie, before we have a chance to see it.  I really liked the book, and will be looking forward to watching the movie.  After reading the book, I went on to read all of Kent Haruf's novels. I think there are six? 

If there are any of you who haven't read Our Souls At Night, or any of the others, I highly recommend them all.

Need to see if library have. "Our Souls at night." Will see the movie for sure once it is out. I can see Redford and Fonda together.

Our Library has the book in Large Print. "Our souls at night". I ordered. Should be a fast read. Only 150 plus pages. Sound good.

Ah yes,   Our Souls At Night!!!   That was a moving story.  I read some of the reviews last evening and many expressed my feelings.    It's a sad day to know that we will have no more of Kent Haruf's good writing. I found him quite by accident years ago and thought that I had read them all but as I look over the list I believe that there are still a couple I've missed.   

I'm well into News of the World and it is good as you said, Marilyne.    I noticed that it isn't such an old book and yet the copy I have from the library looks well worn.

 I am going to get trying on the Ipad to read some of the books I have on there.  Seems like library put most of the new ones coming out onto the IBook through the library.  Specially if the Library keep putting out these notices saying they are closing in order to again bring the spray people in again because of find bugs in the books.. Twice now in 6 weeks. The Library is a multi Million Dollar building. They keep adding onto it. First section goes back to the 1800s. Beautiful building.

I keep the books close to my bed.  Makes me think.  Bed Bugs I don't need

JeanneP,   That IS a little frightening to think you might bring home little critters in library books. I used to like to shop at our Salvation Army store and have found some really nice things there but in later months when there has been a scare about BBs  I've given second thoughts to that little excursion.

I just finished The News of the World.    What a beautiful little book!!   Paulette Giles is such an artist with words.  Her descriptions are just lovely.    I'm passing that book on to my daughter and she has a newer book of Jan Karon's that she is giving to me.  We both use the same libraries so it works out well.   Today I mentioned to her the Netflix movie, Our Souls At Night.    I hope when she finds it,  I will be able to watch it also.  She and I shopped for clothes today and we both bought the same pair of Sketcher shoes.   They are a nice pair of step-ins in gray and are just what I've been looking for as a neat casual shoe.  Besides that we didn't do too well.   I found a nice sunny yellow tee in Chico's and a couple more in our local department store.  The buys are pretty good just now as they are clearing out the summer clothes.    I've been looking for a pair of light weight pants-not dressy and not jeans, but didn't find anything like that.    There are racks and racks of capris but not much choice in light full length pants.

mary - So glad you also liked News of the World.  Tomereader recommended it, and I'm so glad she did!  Look back about a week ago in this discussion, and you'll see posts from both Tome and me, about the book being made into a movie.  Apparently Tom Hanks bought the rights to the book, so we assume he will play the part of The Captain?  We each had an opinion on actors that we thought might be better suited, but I'm sure Hanks will do a good job . . . as he always does.

Interesting, that I also went shoe shopping today, and tried on some Sketchers.  I ended up not buying anything.  I was looking for tie shoes, so didn't see any step in's.  I might go back and take a look at other styles.  I agree on the available pants now on summer sale in our stores.  Seems that they are all Capri's or what we used to call peddle-pushers.  I'm looking for long pants, in a tan or khaki color, but they're hard to find.

I looked at the Sketchers web site and realized I've been wearing Sketcher's for the last couple of years for every day wear.  They are called "Go Walk" and the most comfortable shoes I've ever had.  I love "slip ons". And shy away from shoes you have to tie.

I'm still in queue for News of the World.  Unless I buy a new book, I've been reading on my iPad.  Been disappointed with books from the library with their coffee stains, etc.  Getting a little germ conscious in my old age.   

I bought two extra pairs of Skechers "knock-offs" from WalMart.  They are DanskinNow.  Cost about $9.99 a pair.
My dtr gave me the first pair, and I liked them so much, I looked them up online, and ordered the 2 extra pairs in different colors.  I've had two ladies in different settings, say "don't you just love Skechers"?  I must admit, they do look very much like Skechers.  They are so comfortable, with "non-marking soles" which is a good thing.  I probably couldn't find real Skechers in my size, as I have to get most shoes like this in the girls department, and these fit wonderfully.

I picked up "our souls at night" just Tuesday and read in on about 2 hours. Short book but Oh! so good.  I can just picture Jane Fonda playing that part. Hope I can find a DVD later. Can't think who the man is with her. Little sad at the end her stuck in a Senior place.  Some people  do let the children tell them what to do. Not me.

Now I guess it was BB again that where found in the Library. They tell me that now once a month they have dogs coming in that are trained to find things . That is good.  I know that the better Hotel have this service also.

For those of you with Netflix:   I did a search for "Our Souls At Night", checked "My List" on the screen that came up and it will be automatically added to mine when it comes out.

I also checked out the e-book and read it in one evening.  Sorry - but I can't quite see Robert Redford and Jane Fonda as these two characters.  Hope the script writers don't change the story around.

This is the 4th book Haruf wrote about people in "Holt, Colorado".  1) Plainsong ; 2) Eventide ; 3) Benediction   Don't have to read them in order but some characters are referred to in books that follow the one in which they first appear.

Hi Callie - Good to see you checking in.   I agree with you on the casting of Redford/Fonda in "Our Souls".  I can't see them as the characters in the book . . . they're just too "pretty" and youthful looking.    Actually, they're both quite a bit older than the the couple in the book?  It's been a while since I read it, but seems to me they were supposed to be right around age 70?  Fonda will turn 80, this year, and I think Redford is the same age?  Of course neither one of them looks a day over 70, so maybe the casting is good?  I can't think of anyone else for the roles, except maybe Richard Jenkins, who played the husband in "Olive Kitteridge"?  As for the actress, I can't come up with anyone except Frances McDormand, who played "Olive"?  They look more like real people, not Hollywood stars.

JeanneP - Glad you also liked the book!  I do like both Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, and have enjoyed most of the movies they've been in over the years. Even though I can't picture them in this particular film I will probably change my mind when I finally see it.  I'm sure they'll do a good job. 

Jane Fonda was on a talk show a couple months ago. Looks good for age. Now she lives with a partner who I think is just a little younger than her and so I can see her in the part. Now Redford. Saw him and he looks really old now. Still attractive for his age. They will have to do a lot to him in order for him to look 70. But I think he will do O.k.  Unless it comes out on DVD I will not be able to see the movie. Will search around later.

Just as a matter of interest (mine, maybe not yours!) Marilyne and I discussed Tom Hanks being cast as Captain in News of the World.  I think she thought that a good choice, and I didn't.  But, here is the MOI, of all the Tom Hanks movies, and there are dozens, which do you think was his best-acted role?  Other than Castaway?

I liked the one (forget the name) where Tom Hanks played a young man who had a child's mind--and who had a ball at Macy's department store playing with toys, especially the stand on/jump on piano.  Does anyone remember this film?

SCFSue

"Big"

I'm not a good one to suggest stars for roles as I don't see enough movies to recognize and remember especially any of the current working people.   However,  we did watch a movie on Amazon Prime a few evenings ago that was a story about older adults.    It was called Lovely,Still and starred Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn.   This was one of those stories  that left us wondering.   If anyone has seen it I would appreciate some feedback to see if our thoughts on the story were correct.   I really do enjoy stories about older folk (like ourselves) and they are more enjoyable if the characters are look like real people and not too glamorous.   

I think Tom Hanks can play anything. Not seen him in any where I didn't think he did well.

I'm not going to post my choice until Marilyne has chimed in.  She and I often have similar tastes in movie, books.  I think my choice would not be in her favorite genre, but will wait and see.

Tome - That's a tough question.  Tom Hanks has starred in all sorts of movies over the years . . .  drama, action, comedy, and even a fantasy or two.  Three of my favorites that come to mind. (Not counting "Cast Away"), are The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan, and The Road to Perdition.  People like to make fun of Forrest Gump, but I liked it, even though it was a totally unlikely story.  NOT my favorite, but it was a nice "feel good" movie.  I didn't like the strange fantasy movie, Cloud Atlas, at all. Didn't like the book either.

By the way, I wasn't happy with the casting of Hanks, as Captain, in News of the World. I thought Harrison Ford would be a good choice, and I thought of a few others as well, but can't remember now who they were?  However, Tom Hanks bought the rights to the book and is producing it, so it's a done deal, that he will be the star. I'm beginning to picture him in the role now, and I'm sure he'll do a good job, as he always does.

I was looking over the list of movies Tom Hanks was in and it dawned on my theat I haven't seen that many. Of the ones I've ssen Saving Private Ryan and A League of Their Own came to mind first.

I thought Cloud Atlas was an interesting movie, but the cast member that stood out the most for me in that movie was Jim Broadbent as Cavandish. There were just too many actors playing too many different roles to pick out just one best in that movie. Kudos to all of them for being able to pull of so many different roles in one movie.

Marilyne, you reminded me of several that I didn't even think about, but would be right up there on my list of his best performances.  My #1 pick is "Road to Perdition". I've watched that everytime it appears on any channel. #2, "Saving Private Ryan";  the rest would all be tied as I love League of Our Own, Forrest Gump, Green Mile and, of course, Castaway.  As mentioned, he is good in everything ! (Hey, I love You've Got Mail!)  Does anyone remember "Joe and the Volcano"?

My favorites are You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and The Road to Perdition etc., etc.    Love his facial expressions.