Marilyne,    I am only about 8% into So Much Owed as I have been reading a couple books together, but so far I'm really liking the story.      The other one that I started about the same time called  Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots is a hard cover  book from the library and I really highly recommend this one.    It is a fast reader and a different kind of story but one that will steal your heart (I believe!)

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant sounds like a good one.   I did have A Spool of Blue Thread on my list but just can't remember whether or not I read it.

Today was really exciting for me.       I went to the bank to get some help with a banking app for my phone.   The manager had no trouble at all but when I went to put in my ID and password my phone froze up and wouldn't respond to anything at all.    I came home and phoned Verizon.    After about an hour of trying this and that,   the gentleman helping me decided that I would be getting a new phone to replace this one.   Fine!   I wondered about my phone calls until Friday when the new phone would be here.   He assured me that I could have call forwarding.  That took nearly another hour until I worked through getting that set up.   After that I made myself a cup of tea and sat down to collect my wits about me.    Like computers,  these phones are just great until there is a problem!

mary - Yes, I believe you read A Spool of Blue Thread, right after I did?  One of the lines I quoted from the book, will always stay with me: "A mother is only ever as happy as her unhappiest child".  I wanted to read more novels by Anne Tyler, after "Spool", but got bogged down with so many books and library holds, that I quickly lost track.  Now I'm about half way through Dinner At the Homesick Restaurant, and finding it to be good, but quite dark.  Tyler's books are all family oriented, and this one is too . . . but it just doesn't have that joyful quality that I found in "Spool".

mary - I changed my mind about, Dinner At the Homesick Restaurant.  I liked it very much!  When I first started it, I was a little disappointed, because I had really liked the mother in, A Spool of Blue Thread, and I guess I expected the mother in this book to have the same personality traits.  This one was much more flawed, but as I got to know her, I became more accepting. 

As I said in my last post, all of Anne Tyler's books seem to be family oriented, and this is no exception.  Tyler has a way of pulling the reader into the family, and making you empathize with each and every member.  I'm wondering if any of her books have been made into movies?  I'll have to check that out. 

I definitely do recommend Dinner At the Homesick Restaurant, to all of our Library Bookshelf readers.

Yesterday I downloaded a sample of Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant from Amazon and read it.   It seems like one that I would like so I'll wait for either a Kindle offer or the library to get it....whichever comes first.   The Kindle price was $11.99 so it will be worth the wait.   I'm still reading and enjoying So Much Owed.  This story is set in Ireland between the first and second WWs and the political views are interesting among the Irish.   

I looked Anne Tyler up on IMDB, and sure enough, four of her books have been made into movies!  The best known is The Accidental Tourist, which won a couple of Academy Awards.  I saw it many years ago and liked it, and I think it's playing on my free movies?  If so, I'd like to see it again. 

Another one that was made into a movie is Breathing Lessons, starring James Garner and Joanne Woodward.  I haven't read the book, but I plan to get it asap.

I love reading books on my iPad, but all the good books are on hold for weeks and weeks thru our library system thru the Overdrive.  I don't like audio books at all.  The last few years in my old age I've become more germ conscious and many of the library books are dirty with coffee and food stains and it just turns me off.  Silly, I know, but can't help it.

When I was on library duty yesterday, one of our patrons came in asking for the book that complements the PBS series, Victoria. I was surprised that we had a copy so soon, but we did - just one. She wasn't too happy about being number 20 on the list. We don't have the DVD for this first season yet, but I am sure some of the libraries in the system will order it and more of the book.

I am not an audio book fan either, Jean. Although there are a very few I like. I have one I downloaded from Audible years ago which is Edgar Allan Poe read by Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone. I heard a clip of The End of an Affair (or something close) read by Colin Firth; he is excellent.

My latest Roman history addition, sad to say, is an e-book: The Death of Caesar by Barry Strauss. Two reasons I bought an e-book; the price was so much better than I could find for a print book in very good condition and I am running out of room on my shelves for any more print books.

FlaJean - I agree with you about the dirty library books! Almost all of the soft cover books are soiled, torn, ruffled pages, and spotted with food and water marks.  I can't deal with that, and always return them without reading. Even to handle them is a turn-off.

Hard cover books are all that I will check out now, as they are always clean and intact.  Also, the books in large print are hard cover, and they're clean and easy to read.  A Spool of Blue Thread, the book I liked so much by Anne Tyler, was available at my library in hard cover/large print.

Because of my limited vision, I use audio books every night.    I go to sleep with them.    (I can time them to shut of after 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes)... So I don't go flying through and audio book in one night. 

Listening to Audio books is not the same as reading a book.   

I had to get used to the change and learn how to enjoy audio books.   

I find when I read a book,  my eyes and brain are concentrating on the written word.   And my hands are holding the book,  so I am fully concentrating on the act of "reading".   

While "listening" takes a different set of combined learned actions, in order for me to listen effectively. 

My brain had to be retrained to comprehend verbal words,
versus visual words.         (Big Difference)

When I  started the audio books,  I had to teach myself to listen  better....  In order to pick up all the information that someone else is speaking.   (And to ignore their voices,  if I am not comfortable with them) ..

Realizing this,  I know that when I talk to someone on the phone,   I pay much more attention when I hold the phone to my ear rather then use my speaker phone.   

When other things can interfere with my communication...

Funny how much we depend on all of our senses  and how changing the way we use them  sometimes makes us uncomfortable  ....  (like is the message really getting through?)

I have learned to love the audio books now and dread the day when I can't get them (if that day should come)  because I do so depend on them in my daily life.

I just feel that today we can not depend on things to stay the same,  (Will I always be able to get my audio books through Maine State Outreach Services,  as I do now??)   

I certainly hope so. 
Sandy                                                                                 

Sandy - very interesting observations and advice, on listening to audio books.  Also, I've always wondered why I can't seem to concentrate when I'm listening or talking on a speaker phone - but have no problems with a standard phone. Now I know!

What type of device do you use to listen to audio books?

The Maine State Library gave me this listening device,   and the disc come to me via mail and are returned  (free of charge) ... 

Here is the listening device and the pack which holds the disc for my listening pleasure.

I have 20 allowed to be out at one time.   (Some are here, some are coming and some are being returned)  So
I always have some books on disc to listen to at night. 



It is very simple for me to keep track of what I have had and what is available to me.     I use their website to pick out the books that I want to receive,  or the type of books that they will send me if none of the books that I have chosen,  are in stock... (by category ==  biography mystery  etc etc etc)   So there is always something coming or going back  for me to choose from.

Click below to see a larger version of this picture:
http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/gallery/89-110317092720.jpeg

It is interesting to see the actual device you are using Sandy.

When I was still working, my place of employment did the print catalogs for the Braille and Audio (Talking Books) for the Library of Congress. It sounds like your library is part of their network of cooperating libraries.
https://www.loc.gov/nls/ Good for them and good for you.  Here in PA, the Free Library of Philadelphia serves our area and there is another in Pittsburgh that I covers that area.

Hi Sandy,   You have made some interesting observations on the talking books.     I had never really thought about it in that way before.
   Last week I met a new friend at the Nursing Home.    She relies on the NY State program for the talking books and enjoys them a whole lot. 
   Our library system is featuring a new audio book product call Playaway.    It might not be so good for visually impaired but for a take along item they are quite handy.    I've added a link below for a youtube that describes the Playway.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI8WYzPhjP8

Don't ask me who's influenced me.
A lion is made up of the lambs he's digested, and I've been reading all my life.
-Giorgos Seferis, writer, diplomat, Nobel laureate (13 Mar 1900-1971)

A very busy weekend!  No time for reading or TV watching, so I'll be getting back to my usual routine this week . . . a couple of doctor appointments, and plenty of time to read and catch up with lots of recorded TV programs. 

I have a couple of books checked out from the library.  One that I read a few years ago, called The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson.  It's about America's great migration of African American's, away from the southern states, and into Chicago, Detroit, NYC and other large cities of the Midwest and California. This migration occurred from the 1920's through the 1950's.  It's a fascinating true account of American history, telling the stories of different families, and where they moved, and what happened to them over the years.  I highly recommend it!

Bubble,   Interesting quote.....something to think about.

Marilyne,   I found that I can borrow The Warmth of other Suns through Hoopla.    It is telling me that I have checked it out but it hasn't appeared on my Kindle yet.   A little hitch!

mary - As I mentioned, this is my second time around reading, The Warmth of Other Suns.  I'm enjoying it again, and feel that this account of The Great Migration, does a good job of explaining this significant/important event in American history.

Have you read Dinner At the Homesick Restaurant yet?  I'm curious as to what you and all others thought of the book?  I especially like family stories, and Anne Tyler is the best at making you care about each and every member of her diverse, and sometimes complicated, families.

Marilyne,   No I haven't gotten a copy of Dinner at the Homesick.....just yet.    I have a hold on it at the library and meanwhile I'm reading Isabelle Wilkerson's book.   As far as I have already read in her book,   we saw the same thing played out here in Niagara Falls in the '40s when there was a large movement of  people here for jobs.   The housing was definitely segregated and continued to be.       

Mary - I haven't read any more of The Warmth of Other Suns, (hereafter referred to as TWOS!), since I last wrote.  I'm having some problems with my eyes, so it's been uncomfortable to read.  I'll see the eye doctor again today, so hope it can be resolved.  I have a stack of books to read, and would like to get to them asap.   The television and the computer don't seem to bother my eyes as much, which is good.  I saw a good movie on Tuesday night, that I will mention in the TV/movie discussion.

Marilyne,   I'm a bit embarrassed to say that what I thought was the book TWOS is really something called a Quicklet.     I kept reading on and on and wondered when the story was going to get under way.   Finally I realized that what I have is just a book of notes about the book!   Oh well I'll have to keep my eyes open for the book either online or at the library.  I did wonder at that name but it really didn't describe what it was.   Well I do have another book in the Shayne Parkinson series about New Zealand that is waiting for me so I guess I'll go on and read that one while I wait for those that I can't get just yet.

Sorry to hear of your eye trouble and hope it can be corrected soon.    I do have some eye trouble from time to time but have found that when it starts it helps to use a lubricating eye drop pretty steady for a few days.   It is hard to tell if it is seasonal or ??    I've seen our eye Dr. off and on over the years but he doesn't seem to do much more than recommend the drops....not medicinal,  so I'm doing my own thing now and it seems to work.

Lately I have been hooked on Stuart Woods novels:      http://www.stuartwoods.com/

I follow the recommendations of people in this forum
and I suspect that is how I got hooked on  Stuart Woods novels.       I really like his "Stone Barrington's" series and others.   These books on disc are really easy for me to listen to.    When I get done reading them all that are offered through my Maine State Library books on disc.
(About 60 right now)  I will probably just start re reading them all over again,  this time in order of publication. 

Fun!

Sandy

 

Sandy - I've never read anything by Stuart Woods, but my husband has read some of the Stone Barrington books.  I may take a look at those, especially Swimming to Catalina.  I love that title!

maryc - That's the first time I've ever heard the word Quicklet!  All sorts of new words appearing in recent years.   I guess a quicklet, is a review or summery that would help you decide if you want to read the book or not? Next time I'm at B&N, I'll take a look.   

I'd like to recommend a book site to all of you who love to read or listen to books. Many of you have probably already joined, but if not, it's called Off The Shelf.
http://offtheshelf.com/ 

Not only does it recommend books of all genre's - fiction and non, classics, memoirs & biographies, but it also reviews many of the latest/newest books.  If I'm looking for something to read, I go there, and come away with lots of different ideas that I don't see on other book sites.

Sandy - They also have a separate category on audiobooks.

Interesting link Marilyne....."off the shelf".     I notice that the writer gave one of your "favs"   Anne Tyler a nice plug.   I do want to remember to keep looking for Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.   Maybe I'll ask at the library about whether or not it might have been ordered.   

Some of our regular readers have been among the missing for a while here.    Are you all busy reading something good or ?

Sandy,  I finally printed out a list of the Stone Barrington books  and began checking them off as I read them.   Except for one or two of the oldest that don't seem to be available any more,  I think I'm caught up!

Marilyne,  the "off the shelf" link sounds interesting.   I'll check it out later because I'm on my way to help celebrate a friend's 97th birthday.
She and her husband of 20 years just recently moved from their home to an apartment in a Senior Living Village.  She has published 2 books of her poetry.  Some of her writing is inspirational but she has a delightful sense of humor and other verses are wry observations of Life In General.
She's giving the program at our next P.E.O. meeting.   Amazing lady!

Marilyne, I get Off the Shelf too. I think it is a Simon and Schuster newsletter. I get several of their emails. I get a few others including Publisher's Weekly newsletters; they include one for Librarians and one for International publications among others.

I was able to  get The Warmth of Other Suns today at the library.    Marilyne,  It is a heavy book!!!   I do wish this was a Kindle edition!      This one will be a book for holding on my lap to read....not one that I can hold for reading in bed.   But at any rate,   it starts off good.

The librarian ordered the Anne Tyler book for me.

Has anyone heard of Wattpad? It is an application you can download to your cell phone for reading books. Curious to know what people think of it.

Marsgal (Frybabe?) - I just answered this in SL - anyhow, I put the Kindle app on my phone and can read all my e-books with it.

I answered over on SL, Mary. It seems it is an app geared to new writers; it includes instructions on how to post your stories. Although the app store says it can be run on Windows 10 PC, mine is not configured to use the app. Hachette Publishing is partnering with Wattpad to produce 50 audiobooks.

Oh, look. Wikipedia has an entry for it. Interesting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wattpad 

maryc - I'm having the same problem with my copy of TWOS, as you're having.  It weighs a ton, and the print is small and difficult to read, for these old worn out eyes.  I've been propping the book up on a firm pillow, on my lap, but it's still hard to handle.  I wonder if I had a large print version, when I read it before, because I don't remember any problems??  I think that TWOS is a book that will be better enjoyed on my Kindle, so I'm going to look into ordering it, instead of struggling with this heavy library copy. 

Yesterday, March 20, was our son's birthday (56). Tonight we took them out to a local restaurant for dinner.    We usually have a bigger family group . . . at least one of the grandchildren, our youngest daughter, and sometimes one of dil's sisters.  This time it was just the four of us, which was nice for a change.