When I read all the reviews The Light Between Oceans I bought the book for my iPad.  I think I'm the only person that did not like that book.  I liked the beginning but as I read the book I just felt depressed about the characters and the whole story generally.

The thing about buying books online is not being able to share them with others.  Even if you just give it to be sold, someone can enjoy the book for very little money.

FlaJean - I remember that you didn't care for The Light Between Oceans. Maybe you'll like the movie?  The book reviews were good, but the movie reviews were not so great. From what I saw, the male critics wrote it off as a sentimental "Chick Flick".  Men just can't relate to a story like that, IMO.  Too bad they ruined it for the theater goers, but it might still do okay as a rental and a pay-for-view on TV. 

 I can imagine that my husband wouldn't be too interested in the movie, but I would.       Sometimes he just doesn't have patience or interest in sitting through this kind of story.     Strangely enough the  old movie Splendor in the Grass was on last evening and he stayed up and awake for the whole thing.   It was pretty emotional but I think his interest was in seeing the older actors/actresses as much as for the story.       

Too busy and too much company here, so no time for reading.  I have a couple of books that I checked out from the library, but  I won't be starting any of them until after Thanksgiving. The Prayer Box, is one that will be waiting for me. 

Our older daughter and granddaughter arrived yesterday, and will be here through Friday.  Not a big crowd for Thanksgiving dinner, but enough to keep me moving and busy.  Son and family will be going to dil's family, so they won't be here. There will only be eight of us, so not as many as former years. 

I'll be looking in to S&F when I need a break, so hope to see messages as to what you are all doing or where you are going  for the holiday?

This morning I discovered this interesting article about the origins of various fairy tales.

https://www.abebooks.com/books/the-gruesome-origins-of-classic-fairy-tales/?cm_mmc=nl-_-nl-_-C161122-n00-fairytAM-123314TG-_-f-cta1&abersp=1

Marilyne,  I started "The Prayer Box" a couple of days ago.  So far, it's all description and practically no dialog, so all I know is that somebody has discovered a dead body.
That kind of writing annoys me as much as authors who use the present tense for the entire book. 

Callie - the novel I just finished, Circling the Sun, was just the opposite - endless dialogue, and very little description.  Maybe I'll like The Prayer Box better?  I won't be starting it until after the holiday weekend, so will let you know what I think.

MarsGal - I just saw your fairy tale link, and will take a look as soon as I finish here. 

I will agree that it took a little time to get into the story of the Prayer Box but I believe that if you persevere you will find a good yarn in it.        I'm well along with The Story Keeper (same author) and it is another enjoyable story.

MarsGal,   I haven't followed the fairy tale link yet but it caught my eye.  As I have been putting away the little summer things from the yard and garden among other things was a "fairy door" that I purchased at a Celtic Festival a couple years ago.    Our neighbor gave me a darling little fairy house and then when I got the fairy door I set up a little place under a low hanging tree for my fairy garden.    I want to be sure that if there is a slim chance that the little people will find a welcome in our garden.

I hope that you all enjoy a good day tomorrow with family, friends, either or both!.

Tomorrow our daughter and son in law will be here for dinner.  Son in law is a good cook and loves to cook so he will take over the kitchen (which makes me happy).  I'll do the deviled eggs and fix a salad.

Marilyne, how do you manage a meal for so many with arthritis in your hands.  I guess your daughter will be a big help.

Maryc, I've been seeing the snow scenes from New York.  Was your area impacted with the storm?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE

FlaJean,  No snow in our town yet!     There are cities east of us and south who have measurable snow but all we have seen is a few pellets in the air but nothing to stay on the ground.     I went out to the garden and the woods this afternoon  to get rid of the compost and apple peels and it wasn't too bad out.   It was probably about 40 but there was no wind so I poked around in the woods for a bit picking up fallen branches that we would burn in our outdoor fireplace if weather permits again this fall.    We had a nice fire last week on one of those warmer days but kind of thought it would be our last for this year.     Since we don't camp any more the outdoor fire is one of the last remains of those days that we still can enjoy.

It's nice that your son in law is happy to do the big cooking Jean.    Our son and daughter in law will cook the main part of the meal for tomorrow.    They are a pretty good team in the kitchen.    She often will ask me to make the gravy as that is something she isn't too comfortable with.     Now that I know she will ask,   I go prepared with some packets of that gravy mix and I think for tomorrow I will take a  small pot that would be about right for the gravy.    It isn't too handy making it right in the roasting pan.....too spread out.
It will be a fun day.

Daughter Shelley and granddaughter Claire left this morning for the drive to their home in the Central Valley. They will be back for Christmas, which will be here exactly one month from today!

After they left, AJ and I met some old friends for a nice, nostalgic lunch. We have known this couple since 1953.  She was my roommate my second year at college, and he was the housemother's son.  We were married in Oct. '56, and they were married in Dec. '56.  We even lived in the same apartment building the first six months we were married, until both men were drafted into the Army, and after that, both worked for IBM until retirement.  We stayed in San Jose area, but they were transferred to Tucson, AZ, and chose to stay there after retirement. So we only see them when they visit their grown children in San Jose, which is usually either Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I was sorry to see that her health has deteriorated since we saw them last December.  She fell in the shower three years ago, hit her head, and was comatose for a week. She recovered, but has never been the same.  It's very difficult for her to talk, but she is aware of everything, and wants to socialize. 

Sorry for rambling on and on, but we just got home, and it's on my mind.  Lots of things to think about this holiday season.  I'm hoping for the best for her . . . my oldest living friend.   

Marilyne,   Sorry to hear of your dear friend's health issues.    It is sad as we see our friends going through these things and knowing how quickly things can change for us.    Life is fragile!

Nice that you were able to spend time with your family for Thanksgiving.

maryc and Flajean - wonderful that your children and their spouses are good cooks, and actually want to prepare the holiday meals.  We had such a small group here this time, that it was a sort of "team effort".    For Christmas, we will be going to our son and dil's house, and I'll only have to bring one dish.  I haven't been informed yet, as to what that will be?  If I have a choice, I'll probably make a gelatin salad, that I can do well ahead of time. 

FlaJean - yes, I do have a difficult time with preparing some items.  Peeling potatoes is not something I can do anymore, nor is mashing them.  Rinsing and preparing a large turkey for roasting is also impossible for me. That was my favorite task in years gone by.  Others here could do it now, but in recent years, we've opted for a Honey Baked Turkey - already sliced, and ready to heat and eat.  I do still make the dressing, which is a family favorite.

Marilyne,    It is too bad that you have such trouble with your hands.    It is nice that you can find prepared foods that help to fill in for the old traditions.

   Our kids do well with the Holiday meals.     I wished that I had been quicker with my camera when they were checking the turkey for being done.    They both were watching for the "button" to pop up and after the recommended amount of time they used the meat thermometer and it registered done but still no button pop.         They were both so serious and bending over that bird,  it would have made a perfect Thanksgiving picture for posterity.  Our daughter in law, Barbara said that she cooked the turkey upside down for an hour, then turned it over to finish out the time.   She read somewhere that it allowed the juice to flow into the breast  for a more juicy meat.   I guess it works but I can't see myself "turning" a 20 lb turkey when it has been cooking for an hour.        I told her that someone should invent a cage of some kind that could be swivelled. 

  Oh well,  now on to Christmas and all that will have to be attended to within the next four weeks.   I did find a Minnie Mouse watch for our gr. granddaughter today.   She is 8 and her father is taking her to Disney World this year so hopefully this will please her.

We had such a nice Thanksgiving dinner and then watched the Football game.

Maryc, when you mentioned the upside down turkey, it reminded me of my daughter in law when she and my son were newly married. They were living in Gulfport where he was stationed at the time.  It was their first Thanksgiving and Dee's sister flew down to be with them.  Neither one knew how to cook and they cooked the turkey upside down.  Then tried to slice it without turning it over.  They finally figured it out.  They've been married 36 years and still remember it and laugh.  She turned out to be a very good cook.

FlaJean,   I'm smiling over your "turkey story".    Those are good memories.     Our DIL, Barbara always said that she couldn't cook.    Somehow she must have because they raised three healthy children who never looked starving!    The fact of the matter was that her mom and her aunt were both very good cooks and I don't believe that Barbara ever did much of the cooking for Holidays.     They were a very close family and Mom and Aunt Jean took care of those things.   Now they are both gone and I feel as though our DIL has stepped up to the occasion very well.   We had a nice  turkey dinner  with some of the "take out" from Thanksgiving Day.

FlaJean - I love that story about your dil, and the upside down turkey! They have been married a long time . . . 36 years!  Did they have children who now have kids of their own? 

maryc - Some women, (and men) are just natural cooks. I'm not, but I had to step up and learn in a hurry. My mother and my mil, were fabulous cooks, so I sat back and enjoyed their holiday meals when I was a newly married woman.  They both died at a young age - my mom was 64, and mil was only 56, so I had to handle all the special occasion meals from then on. With the help of their old recipes, I somehow muddled through, and finally became comfortable.  Our older daughter does a good job, and dil is a wonderful cook, so I'm happy now to turn almost everything over to them. 

I have two of those old wooden recipe file boxes . . . one belonged to my mother, and the other was my mil's.  I still refer to them a lot, after all these years!

My three sons are all good cooks.  The oldest doesn't do much anymore except grilling outside, but the other 2 do quite a bit of the cooking at their homes.  One of the reasons I think they are good cooks and like to cook is that I encouraged them to help with the cooking when they were teens--I even let them make some home made beer from a recipe from The MotherEarth News.  This was a hippy-ish magazine about going back to the land (which we did when my husband retired from the Navy).  Hubby was away during the beer making episode, so I had to drink a glass.  The rest of it went down the drain!

SCF Sue  (I'm using this name because the other Sue is back.  Hurray!)

Sue - Your beer making episode, sounds like a good learning experience and a lot of fun for you and your sons. The Mother Earth News, is still a popular magazine, for those interested in organic gardening, healthy cooking, and anything having to do with the environment.  My brother and his wife have lived that lifestyle throughout their marriage, and it's served them well. 

I gave my dil the book, My Antonia, and she liked it so much that she bought a book of short stories by Willa Cather, called, Obscure Destinies.  She gave it to me this weekend, and I'm looking forward to reading it.  The only other book by Cather, that I can recall reading is, Death Comes For The Archbishop, which was a college lit assignment. (a LONG time ago!)  I don't remember much about it, except that I was disappointed in it, after "Antonia".

Marilyne, my son has two grown sons and three grandsons and one granddaughter.  My daughter in law is one in a million.  Our son has MS and doesn't drive anymore although he is able to walk with a cane.  Dee has that responsibility besides watching out for her parents who are in their late 90s.  It is interesting that her parents were married 18 years before they had the two girls a year a part.  Her father is 97 and was a POW for two years in Germany.  He wouldn't talk about those years until he joined a POW group that formed around the time Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" was published.  He had some interesting but hard times.

FlaJean - The Greatest Generation, is one book that I have, and that I intend to keep.  Very inspirational reading!
That is interesting and unusual, that your dil's parents were married 18 years before having children.  They probably had given up hope, and were thrilled when they had the two girls. I have read, that POW's from WWII, did not want to talk about it, when the war was over.  They just got right back to work, went to school, started families, et al. Just one of the things that the Greatest Generation was all about.

I am reading an ebook that was a  99 cent  offer on Amazon a while back.  It is called The Eagle Tree   The remarkable story of a boy and a tree  by Ned Hayes.    It isn't exactly a page turner or one that would ever be a classic.   It is interesting if you have or had any connection with autistic children or adults. 

I finished another of Lisa Wingate's stories about Cape Hatteras and have borrowed another called The Sandcastle Sister.    This story goes back and picks up Jenn Gibbs who worked for a New York publishing company and was the main character in The Story Keeper.   I've enjoyed her books.

I noticed in Walmart's book department the other day that there is a new title from Jodi Picoult called Small Great Things.   As I scanned the review it looked like another good one.   

maryc - Thanks for telling us about The Eagle Tree. As you know, I have an autistic granddaughter, so I do like to read all fiction and non fiction, about autism.

I was very disappointed in the Willa Cather book of short stories, titled Obscure Destinies.  If you like the early writings of Cather, as I do, you probably won't like this - her last book. It was written in the 1930's, and I think she was quite old by then??  The three stories in the book were poor quality, compared to her earlier novels.  My Antonia, and O Pioneers, are classics, but I can see why Obscure Destinies, is never mentioned.

Now I'm back to finishing The Prayer Box, by Wingate.  I'm just a few chapters into it, but I like it so far. 

Yesterday, I picked up a book that I had ordered at the library, called, Another Brooklyn, by Jacqueline Woodson.  I came home and started reading, and had a hard time putting it down to do anything else!  It is unique and different from any book that I've ever read. 

The first part of the story takes place in Brooklyn, in the 1970's.  It's about four black girls, who form a close and protective friendship, starting at age twelve.  As the years pass, unfortunate things happen in their lives, that they have very little control over. I'm not far into the book, but I can see that the story follows each girl as she grows into adulthood. 

I can already tell that this will be a book that I recommend, as one of my favorites from 2016.  I'm trying to remember where I heard about it?  It could have been on Goodreads, or maybe a newspaper review, or one of the book blogs that I find on line? 

I just finished The Eagle Tree.    As I said earlier,  it wasn't a page turner but a lot of dialog of the main character's thoughts.     That in itself was interesting even though it dragged out a bit.     It gave me a better understanding of how another thinks.

maryc - Looks like you and I are the only ones who are doing much reading in recent weeks.  I'm sure our other regulars are just busy with holiday preparations, and I hope that we will soon hear from all of you.

I looked at my On Demand movie selections, and see that The Light Between Oceans, is not available yet, but will be coming soon.  I'll take a look at the Red Box, in my local Safeway, and see if they have it there?

Mary, I think you might like Another Brooklyn, by Jacqueline Woodson.  Her style of writing is different - sort of like a flood of memories, rather than a story. I know that doesn't make any sense, but it's hard to describe.  It's strictly fiction, but seems like a memoir.   As I wrote in my last message, it's about a young black girl, growing up in Brooklyn, in the 1970's. The descriptions of  what life was like then, for young girls, and what Brooklyn was like then, makes a fascinating story.  I see that Jacqueline Woodson, the author, has received awards for YA books, and that this is her first adult book. 

Well, Marilyne, I have been reading, mostly on my Kindle, but had 6 books out of the library.  I had the Ann Patchett,
"Commonwealth" and had just barely started it, but had to finish two books for my f2f, mystery and general book club, so had to take it back unfinished.  From your review, I can't wait to read Another Brooklyn, but I have decided that I won't request anything else from the library until after Jan. 1.  I have several things I want to read, here in my own TBR stacks, and there are just so many good sounding books out there now. 

Since the regular (network TV) has been showing mostly reruns, and PBS is pledging us out of our minds, I have been utilizing my Smart TV, as I am gradually learning how to search for movies etc.  I have Netflix and also Amazon Prime, so I can get most anything.  We found a neat British mystery series, "Paranoid", which hubby and I both enjoyed.  We had finished "The Crown", which is holding the #1 spot in my TV heart.  Can't wait till next year for more episodes.  Also, a strange British mystery series, "River", which we just got started on.  I have finished Season 4 of Longmire, Season 1 of Bosch, watched the full length movie "Eye In The Sky" with Helen Mirren, and have hooked hubby on the series "The Americans".  Sounds like we have "bingeitis", yeah!

Hope everyone has their Christmas shopping/decorating done, and that foul weather has not hit in your area (probably not yours, Marilyne)!  Happy Reading & TV Streaming!

Tomereader1,   I am just learning the ins and outs of streaming.   We bought ourselves a Bluray player for Christmas and I have gotten it set up and have watched a few things from youtube.   We don't have any subscriptions yet.   I've been trying to figure what is best.    I kind of lean toward Amazon Prime because of the free shipping benefit there.   Otherwise I don't know much about any of them.    One Christmas movie that we watched on youtube was Christmas on Division St.    I found that in looking for movies with Hume Cronyn.  It is probably quite old but we enjoyed it.    I've been trying to get The Gathering with Ed Asner but so far the best I can do is get the trailers.     Our son was pretty impressed that we were watching stuff from youtube already.    They bought a Smart TV several months ago and haven't been able to see the "Smarts" yet.       I know that he is away for work a few days and nights a week (drives truck) so they don't have a lot of time to play with this and their children who are the  techies are always on the fly so don't have time to help mom and dad get set up.

I spoke here about going to the Riviera Theater a while back to hear the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater organ.   We were able to buy tickets for a Kenny G concert for our son and wife for Christmas.   That concert was held last evening and he called me today to tell me how good it was and how they enjoyed seeing the old theater.   He said there was a period of organ music before the show so they had the opportunity to see and hear the Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

I started a new book from Hoopla last evening.    It is called People We Love by Jenny Harper.  The story is set in Scotland.     So far.....interesting.

My reading time has been cut short in recent days due to writing Christmas cards and letters as well as spending time with this BluRay player.   It is frustrating but in time it will come along.   I should go over to the forum on computers etc. and ask a couple questions.     I'm never sure that I know what question to ask to get the answer I need.

MaryC, Amazon Prime is a good thing, as MarthaStewart would say.  It gives you free shipping and other perks, but is great for streaming their own Amazon movies.  If you already have a Netflix streaming account, or even a disc in the mail account, you can get their streaming on the SmartTV, and they have some really good shows, as well as TV series old and new.  Did I understand you to say you had a SMartTV?  Or does your BluRay player do this streaming?  I know some of them do, but I don't know the ins and outs of it.  Maybe its like having SmartTV.  I think I would ask over in the Computer/TV/Electronics boards, and get some better info. 

Our streaming is also done through the BluRay player.  We've had it for a couple of years now, and the only complaint I have, is that the color quality has deteriorated for both Amazon and Netflix.  Maybe it's our TV, and not the Bluray?  I would love to get a Smart TV, and hope to talk hubby into it, after the first of the year. 

Tome - I have to be all ready for House of Cards, which returns in January for Season #4.  If you haven't watched it yet, that would be a series that both you and your husband would like.  Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright do an incredible job!

We've also seen all of Bosch, and Longmire, and we both thought River, was fabulous!  I recommended it in here, but I don't think anyone else watched it?  Talk about different!  I really thought Stellan Skarsgard, the actor who played River, was wonderful, and I hope he gets an Emmy Award for that performance. (Maybe he was nominated last time . . . or not?? I don't know.)

We finished the first season of The Crown, which I loved, and will mention again in the TV discussion.