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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

MarsGal

#2790
I've stopped listening to Caesar's Civil Wars temporarily because Bill Bryson's audio version of his A Short History of Nearly Everything became available this morning. Another wonderful delight. I don't know what all he is going to get into, but he starts out with the creation of Us and the Universe. I can tell you if I had heard this or something similar what I was a youngster, I would have taken much more interest in things scientific early on. I was delighted to hear his account of the Bell Labs radio antenna and the detection of the cosmic background radiation which resulted in a Nobel Prize for physicist Arno Allan Penzias and radio-astronomer Robert Woodrow Wilson. I didn't hear about it until five or so years later when I picked up a book on Radio Astronomy. I still have the book.

I also downloaded Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Kreuger which became available the other day. I am only one chapter in on it.

I forget the series title, Dark something-or-other I think, but I watched the first episode of it a week or so ago. It is based on Tony Hillerman's books. I really am going to have to add his books to my library wish list.

PatH2

MarsGal, Hillerman's books are good reads, painting unforgettable pictures of the desert countryside, and giving good descriptions of the Navaho way of life and thinking.  They're uneven in quality, though, and some of them have some rather gory bits.  His daughter is continuing the series, and her books have a different emphasis but are also good.

Best to read them sort of in order, to keep track of the cast of characters.

Marilyne


Countdown to Thanksgiving . . . only three more days!  Older daughter and granddaughter will be here tomorrow, and will stay until Friday.  We usually cook, but this year there will be only the four of us, so decided to go out for dinner.  That will be a first, so I'm hoping it will work out?   

Mars Gal - I remember that you and Sue usually go out, so I'm thinking you will do that again this year?

Pat - Tell us what you will be doing this Thanksgiving?   I don't remember if you live near family members or not?  I only recall that you have a sister, so hope you will be seeing her over the holidays?

Callie, Tomereader and Phyllis - let us know what you will be doing,  or  going,  over the long weekend?

Callie - I've been meaning to mention that I've lost  track of "Mrs. Maisel"?  I don't remember much about the recent season, so I guess I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the early ones?   Let us know if Miss Ellen, will be in any new shows, and how she is doing in NYC?

Phyllis - I remember that you liked cooking, and used to make some delicious sounding meals.  Are you still doing Thanksgiving, or opting out this year?

MarsGal - Forgot to comment on  all of your Bill Bryson books.  I've
read a few of them over the years, and enjoyed them all.  One I remember, that I don't think you mentioned, was an account of his hike along the Appalachian Trail.  Don't remember the title, but it was a fun read.

Tomereader1

A Walk in the Woods!  Very good, and the movie was quite good also.

CallieOK

Marilyne,  Ellen was an extra in an episode of "Mrs. Maisel" earlier this Fall but I haven't heard anything from her about it since.  I know they filmed at The Subway Museum" (have no idea!) and she said she wore a "Jackie Kennedy hat". 
    The "Nanny parents" are in rehearsals for The New York City Ballet production of "The Nutcracker" so she's getting plenty of hours in with her "Nuggets" (as she calls the 3-year-old twins} and also working some shifts at Loft.
    I think the usual group is having a "Friendsgiving" but I doubt she's taking the turkey on the subway - as she did the first Thanksgiving she was there.  She does have her reservations for coming home for Christmas.

I have "politely declined" joining the sons' in-laws/families for Thanksgiving for quite a few years.  I like and get along with everyone but one dil's family lives 30 miles away (and now has many small children running hither and yon who have no idea who I am) and the other dil's family is nice but only talk to each other.

  I used to help with the Community Dinner when it was at various churches (and had "tons of fun" doing so) but when it became so large that it was moved to the ballroom of the local university, I had "aged out" of helping in such a large place.
 
  So plans are to try and finish the 4 very long e-books that have moved from my Holds to the Borrowed list and enjoy seeing family members who plan to drop in some time this week.

RAMMEL

CallieOK,

 New York Transit Museum 

You can visit it at - https://www.nytransitmuseum.org -
My younger son joined it for a while and did visit it. He wanted me to go with him at one point but it wasn't to be. Obviously for those interested in transportation and the Subway.

Railway and mass transit museum in New York City, NY

The New York Transit Museum is a museum that displays historical artifacts of the New York City Subway, bus, and commuter rail systems in the greater New York City metropolitan region. The main museum is located in the decommissioned Court Street subway station in Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. There is a smaller satellite Museum Annex in Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. The museum is a self-supporting division of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
It's the WINDMILLS

          THIMK

MarsGal

Oh, Wow! What a delight to read all of your posts this morning.

A Walk in the Woods was the first Bryson book I listened to, Marilyne, maybe two months ago. It is what got me started on the others.

I gave up on Purgatory Ridge and sent it back after only three or four chapters. My mood just didn't suit it at the moment. I also decided not to finish reading the third of the SciFi series I've been reading, at least for the moment. All three in the series are very long, so the last got to be a bit tedious to get through. It was just a little too much to get through all of them at once. I'll get back to it later. So now I am reading an historical novel set in the 5th century, AD near the end of the Western Roman Empire.

PatH2

Marilyne, a very late answer to your questions.  Almost 2 years ago I moved from my longtime home in a suburb of Washington, D.C. to Portland, OR, where my children and grandchildren now live.

Thanksgiving was at the house of one daughter, and included 2 daughters, 2 SILs, 2 grandchildren, several rabbits (pets, not food), 1 minute dog, and me.  It was great, having all of us together.

My twin sister, JoanK from SeniorNet, lives in Los Angeles (Torrance), and celebrated with daughter, son, DIL, grandchildren, and various inlaw relatives.

It's nice that restrictions are eased enough that we feel OK celebrating together again, though my grandson had a bad cold and joined us virtually from his bedroom.

MarsGal

Pat, it is nice to know that you finally made that last hop across the country. It must have been very trying to make that trip several times a year. I must have missed the news. I am also glad to hear about JoanK too. I really miss the old bunch that were on SeniorLearn. There aren't many left, I think. I miss our old extended book discussions.

My reading has really slowed down lately. Right now, there are only four chapters left in the Bryson audio book. The current SciFi read is a time travel/alternate history type thing. It is okay. I think I keep on reading it because it involves traveling back to early Britain where the last of the Romans have taken refuge against the Carthaginians who are bent on annihilating them entirely.

Audible has made some changes. They no longer support the PC app. I can no longer download anything I bought after the end of August, nor will the app update any new info or support. I am going to look into getting a recommended thumbdrive and download an mp3 player to put my newer audio books on as back-up. I already downloaded the converter program which will convert Audible's proprietary files to mp3. Haven't tried it yet, though. You can see how trusting I am of Amazon/Audible cloud storage always being accessible. One nice thing is that Audible has started a program that, like Kindle Unlimited, allows you to borrow audio books rather than buy them. I like lots of options, hence the Kindle's, the Kobo, and keeping backup files on my computer or a thumbdrive.

phyllis

Pat, I remember you from SeniorNet.  I was Phyll, now phyllis, and I was the DL for the old knitting  discussion on SN.  Didn't you years ago knit Irish sweaters for your sons?  I remember you posting pictures of them in the Needles, Hooks and Shuttles Discussion.  I was in awe of your talent.  Or, am I thinking of Joan as the knitter?  It is good to hear from you and to know you are with your family on the West Coast.  I am still on the East Coast, my son lives with me and takes care of me.  I no longer knit and still miss practicing a craft I enjoyed. But, I still read!  :)
phyllis
Cary,NC

Marilyne

Pat - It must have been difficult for you to leave your long time home in DC, and move across the country to Oregon?  I hope you like Portland . . . it's such a beautiful city, with so much to do and see.   Right after I graduated from high school here in California, the company my Dad worked for transferred him to Portland, so my parents and brother moved there and stayed for two years.   I was attending college at San Jose State U, here in CA, during that time, but I would spend all my holidays and Summer vacations in the Portland area.     

My parents leased a house in Lake Oswego, which was/is a suburb of Portland, as I'm sure you know.  I loved it there, and met so many people and made some great friends.  Then my dad was transferred back to the Los Angeles area after two years, so my happy days in Oregon ended.

MarsGal, Pat and Phyllis - I was also active in the Senior Net Books and Literature folders.  I especially remember enjoying a guessing game, where we would try to guess the name of a certain book and author.   Whoever was running the game would give a new hint every few days, and we would all get one guess after each hint. It could continue on like that for weeks until someone finally guessed correctly.   Lots of enthusiasm and fun back in Senior Net!

PatH2

Phyllis, I used to enjoy your discussion, but I can't claim credit for those sweaters.  I was never that good, and was already cutting back on my needlework of all kinds.  Now I'm also not doing any.

Marilyne, it was hard to leave the DC area, but I knew I would like Portland, since I'd been visiting it for a long time, first when one daughter went to school there, and later, when first one, then both moved there.  It's changed a lot since 1990, especially downtown, but it still feels like Portland.  Lake Oswego is very beautiful.  One daughter rented there for a while before buying a house.  I'm living downtown, but can see trees and the Willamette River and Mt. Hood from my 15th story window as well as tall buildings.

That book game was fun, wasn't it.

Marilyne


Pat -  What a beautiful view you have from your condo/apartment window.   I could sit and look at Mt. Hood, all day long . . . a spectacular sight!   Did you ever drive up there to visit and tour the Lodge, build by the CCC during the Depression?  Definitely worth seeing.  Like a step back in time. 

Phyllis -  I remember reading and enjoying your knitting discussion, on the old Senior Net.  I probably didn't contribute much, as I was  not a talented knitter . . . just enjoyed simple knitting as something to keep my hands busy.   I tend to be restless and difficult to remain "grounded" when I'm sitting.   I would still love to sit and knit, but too difficult with arthritis in fingers and hands.

MarsGal -  I finally have "The Night Ship", after waiting a couple of months!   Picked it up yesterday at the library, but haven't started it yet.   Another one I got that was recommended on one of my book sites, is  "St. Sebastian's Abyss",  by  Mark Haber.  I thought of you when I ordered it . . . sounds like the type of book that you would like?

Callie -  Haven't seen you posting anywhere lately?   Hope all is okay in your family, and that your dil, is still doing well?   Let us know what you're reading, or  watching on TV?           

CallieOK

Good Morning,

Marilyne, I know I've been negligent (sp?) about posting.  Nothing drastic just OBE (Overcome By Events - or, in my case, having too many things coming at me at once)

Everyone in family is well.  The Grands are busy pursuing their careers (Ellen isn't performing but is "Nannying" and working holiday shifts at Loft) and, the last I heard, dil battling cancer return is back to her usual activities, although she tires more quickly.    
Other dil is having some kind of implant inserted in her hip area today that's supposed to control the nerve pain into her leg due to the multiple back surgeries she's had.
 She assures me it's a "simple" procedure but she has to remain in the Spine Hospital overnight so they can test it.

I've been reading a variety of e-books.  Finished The Bridgeton Collection that the Netflix series "Bridgeton" is based on and just now finishing the Elm Creek Quilt series by Jennifer Chiaverini.

Have also read The Poor Relations series by M.C. Beaton, which is about four "older" people who have lost their fortunes (pronounced with a long "u") in England and open a hotel.  Amusing stories about their attempts and what happens to each of them.
 
Although I'm not going to the meetings, I've been trying to read my Book Club selections every month.  Latest one is
"The Henna Artist" (book 1 in the Jaipur Trilogy by Alka Joshi).

Have also read some non-fiction, including "So Help Me God" by Mike Pence.

Not watching much t.v.  Have been keeping up with "The Voice", although I mute the sound during some of the "screeching" solos.  That's why I'm not watching very many Christmas shows; just can't tolerate the type of "music" popular today.

In "real life", just trying to keep up with Domestic Duties, prepare for Christmas and deal with this one-day-dreary and cold/the-next-one sunny and almost hot Oklahoma weather!

Re: not posting "anywhere lately"...  I just don't have anything to add to most of the conversational forums that describe daily activities and haven't posted here because I seem to read other types of books than are usually mentioned. (Hate to say this but most of the Bill Bryson books haven't kept my attention).


MarsGal

An obsession with a painting, some 20 books dedicated to that one painting, and then there is "that horrible thing". Now I am intrigued. Thanks for finding that book Marilyne. BTW, I discovered that Haber wrote another, his first novel, called Reinhardt's Garden which also deals with another painting and the overarching theme of melancholy. Both have a wait list at my library, although much shorter than The Night Ship.

Callie, I have several Agatha Raisin mysteries in my audiobook cue, but so far have only listened to one. Great fun. Right now, I am trying to clear out some of the borrowed audio books that I've held in my cue for a much longer time. I am almost finished with Caesar's Civil Wars. Caesar was an excellent writer as well as military commander.

phyllis

#2805
Watched a movie made from Louise Penney's Inspector Gamache books.  It was good and well filmed by a Canadian company.  It is streaming on Amazon Prime.  Will be 8 episodes in all.
phyllis
Cary,NC

Tomereader1

Yes, I watched the Three Pines first two episodes.  They're doing a good job.  I just wish Ruth, the duck lady poet, wasn't so free with her cursing!

MarsGal

Now that I am finished with Civil Wars, I am listening to Middlemarch, a classic I missed when younger. So far, I am enjoying it.

Also reading on two SciFi books while waiting for Justinian's Flea to come up again in the cue since I had to postpone reading it earlier.

MarsGal

One of the SiFi books I am reading is Exin Ex Machina: Asterion Noir Book 1 by J. S. Jennsen. I've discovered it is the first of a subset of Jennsen's Amaranthe series. It is holding up well without reading the 10 books ahead of it. This is a universe where man and machine are one. This is a future of computer augmented brains, and punishments are meted out by erasing a person's memories or worse. It is getting very interesting what with a lost love found and the quest to recover 700,000 years of archived memories all the while opposing the political control and punishment system. The more I get into it, the harder it is to put down.

MarsGal

I've finished Exin Ex Machina. At some point I am going to have to read the whole series, Unfortunately, most of the books I will have to buy because they are not available at the library.

The latest Galaxy's Edge series book I am reading is turning into something unexpected. The story is also heading into mind bending quantum worlds.

The borrowed book I started just the other day is The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson. It the true crime account of American music student Edwin Rist and his obsession with and theft of bird feathers from the British Museum of Natural History. During the subsequent trial, the psychologists determined that Rist is Autistic, so he ended up getting off with a much lighter sentence than he would have otherwise.

Middlemarch is still ongoing. It is delightful but lengthy.

Marilyne


MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my friends here in Library Bookshelf.  A big family gathering here on Christmas Eve, so I probably won't be back to say hello until the 26th.

I wanted to tell you all about how much I like,  The Night Ship!   A very unusual story!  It kind of reminds me of Michener's books . . . where the story takes place in a past century, and then switches to the same location in modern times.  I would say it is definitely the most memorable novel that I've read in 2022.  It was a little difficult getting into the story, but worth looking back a few times in the early chapters, so you don't lose track of the characters. 

Yesterday I went to Barnes & Noble, and bought a copy of the book for my dil, for a Christmas present.  I know she will like it as much as I do.    Another book that I was considering for a gift, is the new one by Barbara Kingsolver - Demon Copperhead.  I decided not to take a chance on it, because  I haven't read it. Usually I like all of her novels, but not always. 

Hoping you all have a nice Christmas, and will spend the day with loved ones, along with your happy memories from Christmas past.  Lots of holiday movies to watch and music to listen to.  The Television Yule log, will be burning here all day, with beautiful music playing in the background. 

MarsGal

Gave up on Middlemarch part way in because I lost interest in the characters.

I am still only doing only one audiobook and one eBook at a time now. I am done with the second Agatha Raisin audiobook and am ready to start the next one. After finishing the sixth of Joshua Dalzelle's Black Fleet sci-fi series, I am taking a break before starting in on his seventh. So now I am back familiar territory with another of Rich Partlow's series (Space Hunter War) set in the same universe as his Dropship Trooper (et.al.) series which follows a bounty hunter. Oddly, it is starting out with an SAR team sent out to rescue a squad of soldiers pinned down in enemy territory. I am assuming this is background for the character or team prior to leaving service to become bounty hunters. My guess, anyway.

I am still waiting on Justinian's Flea to become available again from my online library. It has been telling me for some time now that the wait is just two weeks. It has been over two weeks.



Marilyne


I haven't posted here since right before Christmas, so today is the day!   I already said how  much I liked The Night Ship,  but will mention it again, in hopes that someone will give it a try?   Definitely not a book/story that will appeal to everyone.  Unusual is the best description! 🤔 

MarsGal - "Unusual" also applies to Saint Sebastian's Abyss,  but for different reasons!    I think you'll like it, so I hope you'll eventually read it.  It's very witty and cleverly written.  I know you prefer audio books, so don't know how this would be to listen to?  I think it might be a better one to just read, instead of listening to it?   It's very short.  On second thought, it would be great to listen to it being read by the author, Mark Haber.

I received three books this Christmas - two from my dil Jackie, and one from my youngest daughter, Sandy.  Jackie gave me the new Barbara Kingsolver novel,  Demon Copperhead.  Looking forward to reading it, as she is one of my favorites.  Also a she gave me The Nurse's Secret.  It sounds like a mystery story, but neither of us are big mystery fans, so I doubt it?    The Book of Dreams,  by Nina George,  is the title of the novel from Sandy.  That's an intriguing title, so I have a feeling I'll like it. 

Hope we hear soon, from all those who post here in "Library Bookshelf"?    Happy New Year reading to,  MarsGal, Callie, Phyllis, Tomereader, PatH2, and anyone else who enjoys relaxing with a good book.  :thumbup:      

MarsGal

Thanks, Marilyne, Both The Night Ship and Saint Sebastian's Abyss still have long wait lists at the library. In the meantime, I am trying to get to the books that are ready now and have been on my wish list the longest. In the meantime, I also have three holds queued up. It is beyond me why Justinian's Flea is taking so long. It STILL estimates two weeks, and I am supposed to be the next in line. I've been afraid to pick up one with no wait because as soon as I do, you just know (it happens every time) that one of my holds will become available. I do want to read Justinian's Flea but if it doesn't soon show up, I may just put it back in the wish list for another try later. Right now, I am trying to get through most of the books in my Kindle Unlimited que. At least I don't have to wait for them and don't have a time limit to get them read.

MarsGal

Finally, FINALLY, Justian's Flea had arrived. I started it last night, but only read to the end of chapter one so far.  Two more hours to go listening to the third Agatha Raisin series called The Potted Gardener. I like it better than the last book. I just now discovered has been a British TV series since 2014. I wonder if it was ever shone here somewhere. Okay, yes, but I don't subscribe to Acorn TV.

MarsGal

Well, wouldn't you know it, another of my library holds is ready, this time way earlier than expected. Africa Risen is an anthology of 32 short stories by writers of African or African descent. I am looking forward to reading it, but I am determined to finish Justinian's Flea first.

Phyllis, I was scrolling back on the posts a little and noticed that you mentioned Louise Penny. I didn't comment at the time because I haven't read any of her books (although I have Still Life sitting around here somewhere). After checking out IMDB, I can say that the TV episodes of Three Pines don't appeal to me, but my sister might like it. The movie, Still Life, looks interesting though.
 
I hope everyone is doing well and that Marilyne is soon back online. It is getting lonely here.

RAMMEL

MarsGal - Just a FWIW, I look in here whenever there's a post, but I'm not a reader. I never was good at reading. Very slow and I read every word. When we had to do "Book Reports" in school I always had to renew my library book once before I finished it. But give me a Tech Manual and I can proof read it. I envy those who can read - and get something out of it.
It's the WINDMILLS

          THIMK

Marilyne

#2817
Rick,  your description of your reading skills as a child, sounds  exactly like my brother when he was in elementary school.  He also dreaded the book reports.  Remember the three "reading groups" in the lower grades?   Number 1, was for the best readers . . . usually all girls.   Number 2, for the middle readers, mostly girls, but some boys.  Number 3, for the ones who were struggling . . . all boys!  My brother was always in group #3!  When my three kids were in school, the two girls were always in #1, and son Brad was stuck in #3.  I believe it's a boy thing.   

MarsGal,  I picked up one of those free library magazines the other day, listing the latest books, authors, and reading trends.  One article that I found interesting was titled  Calamity.    It was about the growing popularity of dystopian fiction, and the reasons why it's gaining so many new readers.  Recommended new books, were "Project Hail Mary", by Andy Weir. ("The Martian")  Also, "The Confession of Copeland Cane", Keenan Norris, and "Dreams Bigger than Heartbreak", by  Charlie Jane Anders.    I was planning to order all three at the library, but decided against it.  I still have three or four Christmas present books to read!  Haven't started any of them yet.  ::)     

Tomereader1

Which "book magazine" did you get at your library, Marilyne?  Was it Book Page? or another one?

Marilyne


Joanne, it's called  bookish, small b.   There are two or three different publications like this that show up in our two libraries. We have a town library, as well as a County library, equal distance from the house.   I prefer County . . . better selection and better parking.