Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion

PART TEN - ONGOING THREAD FOR 2014 (continued from Part Nine)

What are U reading these days?

Nina wrote on 12/31/13 [in the 2013 thread, Message #1105): "... these books were suggested by one of my book club members for next year. "The Light Between the Oceans," by M. L. Steadman and "The Heart [should be "Art"] of Hearing Heartbeats," by Jan Phillipp Sendker. Ever heard of them? ..."

Nina, I will check those books out. Haven't heard of them as yet.

The Light Between Oceans (first published January 1st 2012) by M.L. Stedman

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats (first published 2002) by jan phillip sendker

PS-Nina, those two books mentioned above (both historical fiction) sound very intriguing! Thanks for telling us about them.

Happy New Year to everyone! :) I'm currently reading The House of Hades and listening to The Dragon Reborn. Both are good so far. :)

For anyone who enjoys historical fiction and audio books, I would highly recommend the audio version of Burial Rites! :)

Jenni wrote: "Happy New Year to everyone! :) I'm currently reading The House of Hades and listening to The Dragon Reborn. Both are good so far. :) For anyone who enjoys historica..."

Hi Jenni! Happy New Year and congrats for being the first poster besides myself who has posted on this 2014 thread! It's nice to know people are "listening". :)

I will check out those books you mentioned. Thanks for the links.

Audible.com has _Burial Rites_. A sample can be heard here:
http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Bur...

Yeah, I really should take advantage of this lazy day and read, but I'm lazy!

Jenni wrote: "Yeah, I really should take advantage of this lazy day and read, but I'm lazy!"

Jenni, I've always maintained that there is no such thing as "lazy". Instead there is: "unmotivated". We all know how hard we will work at something if we are motivated. Motivation makes the difference. There are many reasons for not feeling motivated. Sometimes we just need a rest. :) Sometimes we just need to find what will motivate us at the time. For me, right now, it's my desire to have lunch. :)

I'm listening to The Sea Wolf by Jack London. It's good. I don't know how I missed this all these years when I've read so many other novels by him.

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm still reading A Discovery of Witches. I missed my reading challenge by one book, this book. I could have rushed through it and finished in time, but it's so good and one I'm savoring. Each time I pick it up, I'm stuck anew at just how good it is. I love those little surprises, when someone sends me a book they 'just know' I will love, and then I actually do!

Jim wrote: "I'm listening to The Sea Wolf by Jack London. It's good. I don't know how I missed this all these years when I've read so many other novels by him."

Jim, who narrates the audio you're listening to?

I notice at audible.com that there are quite a few different audio versions of _The Sea Wolf_. See them listed here, each narrated by a different person:
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_h...
(Scroll down at the above page.)

Audible.com provides samples of the book to listen to at the above-linked page.

Jackie wrote: "Happy New Year everyone!
I'm still reading A Discovery of Witches. I missed my reading challenge by one book, this book. I could have rushed through it and finished in time, but i..."

Happy New Year, Jackie! Keep on "savoring". I love to savor special parts. That's what slows me down. I'm always compelled to copy certain parts by hand, parts that are well-said. Then I can savor them over and over! :)

Here's a section from _Home is Where the Heart is_ by Mildred Mastin Pace:
p.159: "... filling the kitchen with a makes-you-hungry smell."

I've never seen a better way to say "appetizing"!

I'll try to check when I get home, Joy. The version that I have of The Sea Wolf was ripped from a set of cassettes years ago, but isn't abridged. GR doesn't seem to have an unabridged cassette edition listed.

I left off a lot of the introductory stuff on the cassettes when I ripped them because the beginning of the first tape was often beat up more. Most of mine came from library sales, so they were used hard before I got them & occasionally I'll have missing sections, usually at the very beginning & end of tapes, but not always. The tone & sometimes the speed of the narrator's voice changes a bit between tapes & usually evens back out after a few minutes. This is due to uneven tension. It's rarely an issue. I didn't keep anything that was too messed up.

In a way, this is a blast from the past. I ripped most of these in the early 90's before CD's were popular, I had much computing power, or storage space. I think I was backing up to 100 mb Zip disks at the time.

It was read by Frank Muller or something like that. Well read. Good book. I gave it 4 stars here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Joy H. wrote: "Nina wrote on 12/31/13 [in the 2013 thread, Message #1105): "... these books were suggested by one of my book club members for next year. "The Light Between the Oceans," by M. L. Steadman and "The ..."
I read "The Light Between the Oceans" for another book club a few months ago. We all thought it was wonderful. Hope you enjoy!

Carol wrote: "I read "The Light Between the Oceans" for another book club a few months ago. We all thought it was wonderful. Hope you enjoy!"

Thanks, Carol. I'll keep that book in mind. It's on my GR shelf.

Jim wrote: "It was read by Frank Muller or something like that. Well read. Good book. I gave it 4 stars here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Jim, I checked out your review of _The Sea Wolf_. Didn't know it was a movie. Thanks for that info. I find I can stream it free via my Amazon Prime membership:
http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Seawolf-...
"Legend of the Seawolf" - Digitally Remastered (Amazon.com Exclusive)(1.0 out of 5 stars) "A story of a man possessed by the power of life and death over the men under his command. Chuck Connors portrays Captain Wolf Larson in this high seas adventure about a man possessed with the power he holds over his crew ..." Release year: 2013

Netflix has it available as a DVD:
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Legend-o...
"Legend of the Sea Wolf" (1978)
"Chuck Connors ("The Rifleman") brings a brutal intensity to the role of schooner captain Wolf Larsen, who terrorizes an intellectual sailor named Humphrey van Weyden and the rest of his crew over the course of a treacherous hunting voyage. Barbara Bach co-stars as poet Maud Brewster in this seafaring adventure, an exciting Italian adaptation of the classic 1904 Jack London story."

BTW, here's a link to the Audible.com page of _The Sea Wolf_, narrated by Frank Muller, the one you listened to: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The...

I didn't know about this movie version, Joy. I just knew about Edward G. Robinson in the 40's & Charles Bronson in the 90's in the role of Wolf Larsen. I don't know if I could see "The Rifleman" as ruthless enough. He's big too, which isn't a plus. Wolf is described as being about 5'8", I think. That's what makes his whipping the hunter who was a foot taller so incredible. Charles Bronson fits the part best on looks, IMO.

Jim, most of the member-reviews at Netflix panned the movie with Chuck Connors in Sea Wolf. Evidently the other movie versions were better. The book and London's writing were much preferred. I bailed out of the movie after a short time because I couldn't bear the cruelty and violence.

I noticed that with it getting 1 star. Any version of The Sea Wolf is going to be violent. In many ways, that's what it's all about. Read the spoiler section of my review to understand.

Will do, Jim. Thanks.

Jim introduced me to the writing of Mildred Mastin Pace. Below are links to my reviews of two of her books. Five GR stars for each one. I'm going to try to read some others. Even though they're written for the young, they're still enjoyable reading for any age. There's a certain simple charm about the writing.

_Old Bones the Wonder Horse_ - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

_Home is Where the Heart Is_ - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a heart-warming adventure story about a rural family living in the Kentucky mountains long ago.

Good reviews, Joy. I should look for some more of her books, too. 'Home' sounds interesting. Was it illustrated?

I gave 'Old Bones' to my boss to read. He's very into horse racing & also liked the book. He said the differences in racing really made an impression. He's about the last person anyone would think of to like a kids book, too. I could tell he didn't really want to read it, but he said once he started, he blew right through it & didn't want to put it down. I doubt any book has received higher praise than that.

RE: Home is Where the Heart Is by Mildred Mastin Pace

Jim, no illustrations, as such, but the book I borrowed from the library, which seems to be a very early edition, has a lovely double-page spread at the front and the back showing an inviting snow scene with a young girl and fellow walking along. He's carrying a dead rabbit and there are snow-covered pine trees in the background as well as a cabin with smoke coming out of the chimney. It's done in subdued tones of green.

At the following Amazon pages you can "look inside". The scene described above isn't there but there's a black and white pic of a small cabin on the cover page. Of course the book jacket shows the girl outdoors, carrying a food package and can of milk:
http://www.amazon.com/Home-Is-Where-T...
http://www.amazon.com/home-where-hear...

I ordered Pace's Clara Barton from our library. See it at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014THTN2/r...

I also bought online a used copy of Pace's _ Early American: the Story of Paul Revere_. (1.99 plus 3.99 shipping.) See it at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014THTN2/r...

I'm going to ask the GR Librarians Group to include the book in Pace's GR collection. They've already added a couple of her books at my request.

ADDENDUM 1/6/14: A GR librarian added the book. Here it is:
Early American: The Story of Paul Revere
by Mildred Mastin Pace
(Other additions of the same book were also added.)

Saw this questionnaire in one of my groups today. I filled it out & thought some of you might like to answer it, too.
----------

1. Do you have a specific place for reading?
Usually in my car at lunch or on the couch, but I take a book with me everywhere, just in case.

2. Book mark or random piece of paper?
Bookmark usually, random paper or sticky note sometimes & I'll bend the corner for easy access to maps or in an emergency.

3. Can you just stop anywhere in a book or do you have to stop at the end of a chapter?
I prefer a chapter or section break, but get interrupted so often that it doesn't really matter.

4. Do you eat or drink when reading?
Absolutely! Smoke & pet or play with the dogs, too.

5. Music or TV on when reading?
Music is OK, I don't like the TV on unless I'm reading a magazine or something, though.

6. One book at a time or several?
Always one audio & one paper or ebook at the same time. I'll often have a magazine &/or nonfiction book going at the same time.

7. Reading at home or elsewhere?
See #1.

8. Read out loud or silently?
Always read silently

9. Do you read ahead or skip pages?
No, but I do skim through some sections.

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
I read the book, but don't mangle it. Sometimes the spine breaks, especially on huge paperbacks. Not an issue.

11. Do you write in your books?
When studying and in text books I write all over them. I will occasionally write in novels, but usually just to underline & use a sticky note.

1. Bedroom is my preference but I will read in the living room and kitchen.

2. Bookmark

3. Anywhere as long as it's the end of a sentence.

4. No, but I will smoke.

5. I prefer silence but music is OK if it's not loud.

6. Usually one, but sometimes more.

7. I take a book with me everywhere and anywhere.

8. Silently

9 Never.

10. Both.

11. Never.

Jim wrote: "Saw this questionnaire in one of my groups today. I filled it out & thought some of you might like to answer it, too. ..."

1. Do you have a specific place for reading?
usually recliner in living room; sometimes bathroom, which can be a big help to "regularity".

2. Book mark or random piece of paper?
book mark or special notebook page for notes

3. Can you just stop anywhere in a book or do you have to stop at the end of a chapter?
I use Post-it Flags (1 Inch Wide). I stick them on the paragraph where I left off.
I DEPEND on them.
SEE PIC: http://www.amazon.com/Post-Flags-1-In...

4. Do you eat or drink when reading?
sometimes a nice hot cup of coffee helps me relax while I read

5. Music or TV on when reading?
I usually prefer silence

6. One book at a time or several?
several (especially if a book is slow-moving and not compelling; i read those a bit at time and switch off to other more interesting ones) (this includes hard-copy and audio) I have several CD players, each in a different room.

7. Reading at home or elsewhere?
at home where I usually am. otherwise doctor's office or while waiting in car.

8. Read out loud or silently?
silently

9. Do you read ahead or skip pages?
no

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
never break the spine

11. Do you write in your books?
only if I own them. I'm apt to underline special parts in books I own.

Below is from my review of The Dorothy Parker Audio Collection: The Dorothy Parker Audio Collection:
====================================================
I recently borrowed this collection from our public library. It contains short stories and book reviews written by Dorothy Parker.

One of the pieces I listened to is a review which Parker wrote of Emily Post's advice book, Etiquette. Parker's review is a priceless put-down of all the snooty social rules recommended by Emily Post. Parker was a master at biting sarcasm. In this case, the sarcasm is exquisite! I loved it. You can read Parker's piece here:
http://grammar.about.com/od/classices...
Enjoy! :)
===================================================

I finished A Discovery of Witches and enjoyed it very much. I started Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish by Morgan Llywelyn which I got from a library book sale. She usually writes long detailed books so I was surprised when I opened it and found large print and only 224 pages. I'm guessing this is for a younger audience. But it's still Irish history and I'm interested in that.

Here are my answers to the questionnaire that Jim shared:

1. When I'm reading at home, it's generally on the stationary bike. Sometimes I read at the dining room table, if Barb and I are playing a game where it takes a long time for the other person to complete a turn; and if I'm reading on my Kindle app (which is rare), of course I do that at the computer.

2. I always use a bookmark (I've got lots of them).

3. I can just stop anywhere, whenever I have to.

4. No, I don't like to be distracted when I read.

5. No music or TV either --to me, those are also distracting.

6. Basically one that I'm reading to myself, and one that I'm reading out loud to Barb. Very rarely, I'll also have one I'm reading on the Kindle app.

7. I read out loud to Barb when we're in the car. Otherwise, about the only time I read away from home is at a library, or when I'm in the hospital. I don't like to risk having books lost or stolen.

8. See 6 and 7 above. Otherwise, I read silently.

9. No, I don't read ahead or skip.

10. I would never intentionally break the spine on a book, and never have accidentally that I can recall.

11. No, I don't write in books.

I've finally started on the last book of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay.

Jackie wrote: "I finished A Discovery of Witches and enjoyed it very much. I started Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish by Morgan Llywelyn which I got from a library book sale. She usu..."

Jackie, that sounds like a good way to learn more about Irish history. Historical Fiction has always been one of my favorite genres.

Jackie wrote: "I finished A Discovery of Witches and enjoyed it very much. I started Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish by Morgan Llywelyn which I got from a library book sale. She usu..."

Jackie, that sounds like a good way to learn more about Irish history. Historical Fiction has always been one of my favorite genres. Thanks for the links.

Werner, I can't read in a car or moving vehicle because I get nauseous. If I could read while riding, I'd get a lot more reading done.

I love Historic Fiction if it's well researched. BBC does many excellent HF programs and I enjoy watching them also.

We just saw the "Best Marigold Hotel" or something like that with Judy Dench & Maggie Smith plus some other good actors. The Indian kid is in Newsroom, an HBO show that's great. The nasty lady plays Matthew's mother on Downton Abbey. Anyway, it wasn't our sort of movie, but it was so well done that we liked it.

I saw that in the theater, just the cast alone made it a Must See. I liked it.

Ant is taking me to see Lone Survivor tomorrow, the new Mark Wahlberg movie. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091191/

Jim wrote: "We just saw the "Best Marigold Hotel" or something like that with Judy Dench & Maggie Smith plus some other good actors. ..."

I enjoyed "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1412386/?...
I gave it 4 Netflix stars.

Jackie, enjoy your "date" with Ant tomorrow. :)

The only reason we're having that date is because he wants to see it! I rely on Eric to take me to the movies to see what I like.

Jackie, here's the Netflix description of the movie you're going to see:

"Lone Survivor" 2013

"Mark Wahlberg stars as Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrel in this action-drama based on an ill-fated real-life mission to bring down a Taliban boss. But the stakes are even higher when Luttrell and his unit are ambushed in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan."
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Lone-Sur...

Someone mentioned "The Dresden Files" to me. Any opinions about that fantasy series by Jim Butcher?

Here's a link to all the books by Jim Butcher including _The Dresden Files_ books:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...

I found a place where I can watch a "Dresden" movie free because I'm a member of Amazon Prime. The link is: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C...
The name of the movie is: "The Dresden Files", Season 1, Ep. 1 "Birds of a Feather"

Here are the movie links for "The Dresden Files" (2007):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486657/?...
"A Chicago-based wizard works as a private investigator."

http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Dres...
"Based on Jim Butcher's best-selling novels, this action-filled series follows Harry Dresden, a charismatic but ethically challenged private investigator who also happens to be a genuine wizard hoping to make a profit while atoning his past misdeeds."

You can read a sample of The Dresden Files at the following link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451...
Click on "Look Inside".
The title is Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1). (first published in 2000)

I didn't read the books but saw the TV series (2007). It was OK, I don't think I kept up with it or it was cancelled. I have no desire to read them, this is what I call 'a cop story with a gimmick', that's not enough to hold my interest.

Someone said that the "Dresden File" books and the movie were very different. I can see from the sample that there's a bit of humor in the way the story is told. It's supposed to be easy reading.

I think all those gum shoe books are alike (one way or another).

gumshoe: an old slang term for a detective or investigator (police-affiliated or private).

Shoes in the late 1800s were made of gum rubber - the soft-soled precursors of the modern sneaker. The phrase "to gumshoe" meant to sneak around quietly as if wearing gumshoes.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define...

Joy wrote: I think all those gum shoe books are alike (one way or another).

And that is exactly my problem with cop books, shows, movies. It's all the same, change a name and a location, still the same story over and over. I'm always looking for the unique, something different. This week I dropped 5 TV shows off my DVR because they're basically telling me the same story every week. I can think of nothing more boring.

Dresden is not a movie, it's a TV series of 12 or 13 episodes.

Jackie wrote: "... Dresden is not a movie, it's a TV series of 12 or 13 episodes. "

I tend to call them all movies if they're listed on IMDb. I'll try to make the distinction whenever I can.

I see, that's good to know. I just didn't want you ordering a movie and then getting a bunch of unexpected episodes, lol Does it tell you on Netflix that there's multiple episodes?

We saw the Dresden Files TV show. It was OK, but did diverge from the books pretty quickly. I think it was only on for 1 season, though.

My almost-son-in-law, Josh, really likes the series. While I have a dozen, I quit after the 6th book. The world was pretty interesting, but the copy editing was horrible in that book. My review lists a few here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Okay, so I'm late, but I enjoyed your answers, so I'll answer the survey too. See below:

1. Do you have a specific place for reading?
I listen to audio books in my car, and read regular books anywhere... but that's usually in bed or at swim team practice for my daughter.

2. Book mark or random piece of paper?
I prefer bookmarks, but I also like regular paper. I don't write in books, so a sheet of paper folded in half makes for a great place to jot something down.

3. Can you just stop anywhere in a book or do you have to stop at the end of a chapter?
I prefer to stop at the end of a chapter, but often times the end of a paragraph has to do.

4. Do you eat or drink when reading?
Generally I'll just drink water, but sometimes hot chocolate... sometimes a non-messy snack.

5. Music or TV on when reading?
Hmmm, I prefer nothing... But since I read at swim practice, I often overhear many interesting conversations...

6. One book at a time or several?
Generally two - one audio book and one regular book or ebook. I find that more than two is distracting.

7. Reading at home or elsewhere?
Everywhere! I feel naked if I don't have a book with me.

8. Read out loud or silently?
Silently, unless I'm reading with the kids.

9. Do you read ahead or skip pages?
No, but I do skim through some sections.

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
I read the book, but don't mangle it. Sometimes the spine breaks, especially on huge paperbacks. Not an issue. (Copied from Jim, this is exactly me!)

11. Do you write in your books?
Nope. I'll use a separate piece of paper, but I just can't write in a book.

Joy, I read Storm Front, the first book of the Dresden Files series, as a common read in another of my Goodreads groups, and gave it four stars. I was able to get a copy of the second book, Fool Moon, through BookMooch recently, and it's on my to-read shelf. Here's the link to my review of the first one: www.goodreads.com/review/show/34121324 . When the one-season TV series was on, I watched it when my schedule allowed, which wasn't often. But as Jim said, the TV series differed significantly from the books. I'm not sure you'd like either the novels or the adaptation.

The series is basically a creative blending of the supernatural genre with the classic noir gumshoe tradition. As with all established genres and traditions, these have certain conventions and tropes, so the issue of cookie-cutter sameness is a valid one here, as it is with other genres as well. I'm inclined, with types of fiction that I basically like, to look for the nuances of treatment that sets one apart from others, and to enjoy comparing and contrasting them. With genres I don't basically like, of course (like "romance" or techno-thrillers), I'm much more aware of and less patient with the "sameness" factor; and that's no doubt a pretty common kind of reaction. In this case, I really like supernatural fiction; and while I'm not really into the classic noir tradition, I like seeing it changed and tweaked (especially by a writer who doesn't take it too seriously).

Jackie wrote: "I see, that's good to know. I just didn't want you ordering a movie and then getting a bunch of unexpected episodes, lol Does it tell you on Netflix that there's multiple episodes?"

Yes, Jackie. Netflix offers 3 separate DVDs of "Dresden File"'s Season 1 (2007), each containing several episodes. - http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Dres...