The Group Reads Coffeehouse

Come here to this thread to discuss whatever! There seem to be enough conversations started in other threads around various topics - here's a place you can discuss what's on your mind and share ideas about books, etc.

Perhaps introductions are in order? We're spending a fair amount of time together!

OK teelgee, I'll bite! I'm from a small village just north of London in the UK. I'm just finishing a PhD in Molecular Genetics (which is much hampered by LibraryThing and all things book-ey!) I did do a couple of years of an English degree before I went all Mad-Scientist but prefer to keep my reading as a pleasure not a chore. I'm loving this group because it's booting me up the bum to read some of the classics I have on the shelves - I fall into lazy, easy reading habits when the science gets too much so this is keeping me in line!

I'm from just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, and majored in chemistry and mathematics in school. I graduated two years ago and am seriously considering going back to school to get my MLS -- a little weird, right? Like klarusu, I sometimes tend towards the fluffy books when my brain doesn't want to work any longer, but have shelves devoted to the books that I know I 'should' -- and really do want to -- read.

I made a resolution in January to read all of the books that I owned but hadn't read before I went out and bought any more. And then my local bookstore had a wonderful sale, and then I discovered BookMooch, and then my resolution went out the window for the most part. I'm trying, though!

I've always loved reading but the past few years have started to define me as the "book person" in my particular circle of friends. I am fortunate enough to have a room that I can call my "library" in my house, though it's completely overflowing at this point and books are nesting in other parts of the abode.

Early this year I started having some pretty significant health problems, especially for my age (I'm 30). After surgery and some repeated hospital stays, it turns out I have Crohn's Disease. Long story short, the drugs I'm on (steroids and a quasi-chemo drug originally created to treat leukemia and lymphoma) leave me both sleepless AND lazy--a pretty awesome combination if the goal is getting a lot of reading done.

I read pretty much everything, though I tend toward the highbrow (not for any condescending reason; it's mostly because I'm trying to get around to reading all of the classics). I love modern lit, popular history, and 18th/19th century British literature best of all.

I blog a lot at
Lyza.com
and have book-specific blog posts at
Books.lyza.com

I live in Portland, Ore., USA (and love it here. Love it love it love it. Native.)

Hi Everyone,

I live on 40 acres on a hill, in a tiny village in the Finger Lakes Region of Western New York. I am a marriage and family therapist in private practice, I have a husband, four children and a son-in-law, two dogs and a cat, and I am passionate about books. I turn 50 this month!

I grew up in a family of readers, my mother worked part-time in a non-chain book shop, and my father ruined many pairs of slacks from always carrying a paperback in his back pocket (sounds uncomfortable, doesn't it?). I used to read with my younger sister, sharing a couch, lying toe to toe.

LT has become something of an obsession because it is so delightful to have interaction with other bibliophiles!

I live in Northern Norway (county: Nordland) and I work in the local hospital (since 1972). In a couple of weeks (June 23, midsummer night) we (me and my cohab Ann-B) will have our summer holidays (until July 22).

We've got an apartment near the sea (40 metres) some 4 kilometres from Bodø (about 46,000 inhabitants) downtown. We plan to drive (by car) to Sweden and some places in Northern Norway. By the way: In Denmark, Sweden and Norway we understand each other very well (with some efforts now and then, though), since we speak and write almost similar languages (Nordic). Advantageous.

I think there will be a little less reading the next six weeks, but I plan to finish War and Peace and perhaps read some Dickens. Three days ago I received a box containing ("Collector's Library"): A Christmas Carol and two other Christmas Books, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby and Bleak House. More than 4.000 pages !! Three months ago I read 'Great Expectations' in Norwegian ("Store forventninger"), and I loved it. Rating: *****. I hope (and guess) Dickens' other novels are as much readable and interesting as GE.

This year we celebrate a 200 years anniversary of our national poet Henrik Wergeland (born June 17, 1808. Died 1845 (only 37 years old (young)), and I might read a little about and by him as well.
And I am waiting for a (phantasy?) novel by a new Norwegian author: Tilfeldigvis - Arial Footlights forhistorie by Silje E. Fretheim. She is a LT- member: Svada.

I hope to participate in the next group read after The Age of Innocence. When do you think you will finish that novel? I'll surely read your comments.
I'm happy to be a member of this group.
So many interesting people and books.

Greetings from Bodø
:-))

Kjell, I confess I am envious of your apartment near the sea!
Scandinavia is very high on my list of places to visit.
I am sure you will enjoy the other Dickens' you've got. As a matter of fact, I like all of them much much more than Great Expectations!!
I will be interested in hearing what you think of them, once you have read them.
I have not started The Age of Innocence yet, but I plan to do it soon, as soon as I have finished my current reading (a delightful English mystery, btw).
I share your opinion on this group: all the members are great!
:-))

It seems like a lot of people have finished The age of innocence already. Should we start the process of picking the next book?

I'm still getting on with The Age of Innocence but now I can devote a bit more time to it I reckon I'll be through it in a week or so - I'd be quite happy to start the wrangling again!

I'm just starting! If you do start the process, it's helpful to do it on a separate thread. Go for it.

How about we wait a week or two to let some people catch up, then we'll be a bit more synchronous with the start of the next one and not put people who are a bit behind off tackling the next book. I'm sure that most people will have some other reading matter to keep them going and the lovely thing about this group is that a lot of people are reading together. I guess that's the drawback of the shorter books - some people finish before others get going!

Thanks, klarusu - that sounds good, I think I'll be done in a week. Would you post something to that effect on the message board please? It looks like we need to create a new one for June. thx!

No problem teelgee. Message Board Thread and Announcement posted. I'll open up a 'Next Book' thread on 1st July and we can all start suggesting.

I hope to participate in the next group read, but I'm busy being on holiday (until July 20) and reading Dickens and Hamsun.

I found this quote on google, librarything image:

"I was put on earth to read a certain number of books.
Right now I am so far behind I will never die."

kjellika, I love that!

kjell, that is awesome!!!

Love it, kjellika!

Can we use that on our group profile page??

Does that mean we stand a chance of getting the 1001 read *before* we die? !!

That IS a great quote. I guess that's why I still buy green bananas...

#24
You might use it, or maybe there is some kind of 'copyright' ?? As I wrote in #16 I found it on google, but I don't know anything else about this quote (author, from a book, etc.)

I think it would suit as a proverb ('motto' or watever) for this group.
What do other members think ??

I'm sure copyright wouldn't be a problem in this case.

I'm pretty sure copyright doesn't include short quotations.

I researched it a bit and the person who has it on their profile page got it from a bookstore book cover - no author attribution. http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i148/beniowa/BookCover.jpg
I have too much time on my hands.

Well, it looks like I'm alone at the coffeehouse.
Just dropped in to tell that the summer in Northern Norway has been marvellous so far. Very nice weather (sun, high temperature) and some new (second hand as well) books.

I'll finish Midnight's Children in about ten days and have started reading Bleak House (five chapters). I suppose I'll need at least three months to finish BH, because I have to reread now and then to understand the language and the story. Dickens is rather difficult sometimes, I think. I've ordered a Norwegian (Danish?) edition from a second hand book store in Denmark.

How are you, and where are you in the book(s)?
Since there wasn't any coffee to buy here, I'll now have a nice cup from my home percolator.

kik :=))

I am here, kjell!!!!!!!
I am reading Bleak House too, but at the same time I am reading other books as well. I feel I have to take it slowly and also, I must confess, my reading has been spoiled by seeing the BBC production before getting to the book. Big mistake! As good as the series was, it has taken away the pleasure of imagining the characters in my mind's eye and of not knowing what happens next. I think I will not watch another tv production before reading the book.
:-))

Hello, everyone!
I just wanted to say "Hi!" I read Midnight's Children and plan to start Bleak House soon. I need a short break, however, between two such long books. I joined LT to help me to get back into the reading habit. I am starting to really enjoy reading again. At the same time, I have just taken up drinking coffee, so I like that we can meet in the Coffeehouse! Have a great day, everyone!
--BJ
Edited to fix typo.

I'll have to try since this discussion has not ended. I probably won't start for a week.

Nice you came across.
I think I'll visit this place now and then. I haven't been here the last 30-40 days, I discovered....!!

See you (and others)!

I've just discovered this group and am relatively new to LT. So sorry I missed War and Peace and Middlemarch. Will try to jump in on Bleak House, but I may be too late for that, too. If so, I'll anticipate the next selection! See you 'round!

I'm still only on the first couple of chapters of Bleak House and Midnight's Children because I got shamelessly distracted by Twilight and the latest Kathy Reichs. Well and truly looking forward to some classic lit now!

I finished Bleak House a couple of weeks ago and am about 2/3 of the way through Midnight's children of the two, Bleak House is the more enjoyable, although I like Midnight's Children, it's po-moness gets in the way sometimes. I have to stop and think about what's going on on more than a couple of levels which makes for a kind of frustrating enjoyment.

FYI, if any of you are interested we are doing a science fiction version of this project here. We just started, in fact I have not yet started but should soon, The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe. I find that if I limit myself to reading one book at a time, I can get my books read in good fashion. If I try to read more than one at a time, nothing gets read. So I'll start on the SF book when I finish Midnight's Children, which I hope is by the end of next week at the latest and sooner, hopefully.

Hi, geneg!
Thanks for the link to Group Reads - Sci Fi. I have been searching for this group without success as I did not know its name. My girls have been wanting me to read more scifi, so I think I will give it a try.
--BJ

I'm here with my coffee. I just want to say that for me, Midnight's Children is a much more difficult read than Bleak House. I'm about half way through MC and it is getting easier, but it's work. I'm enjoying it on one level, but it's also exhausting.

I guess it's too soon to start talking about the next one, huh?

#37
Maybe a little too soon.....?
I'll need 2-3 months finishing Bleak House (cf. #27), but perhaps it will take that long to find some book(s) for the next group read.
What do other members think ??

A little too soon for me .... I think I remember some posts in the JULY MESSAGE BOARD thread that were plumping for a September start to the wrangling......

I am always ready to discuss the next choice, but I agree that there seemed to be some agreement to wait until September sometime to let folks join late or catch up.......

Yeah, I'm only about halfway through Bleak House, and though it would be fun to go through all the next book possibilites, September at the earliest would be a good idea for such a discussion. Loving the book so far, though.

Well then, I guess I can wait until September.

We will help each other get through the wait.............maybe we could discuss whether or not to maintain the classic/contemporary split?

To maintain the classic/contemporary split?

Well, I hope we do, but maybe we should wait and see what books are suggested.
I guess some (many?) of us are reading other books simultaneously, and the two last chosen are rather voluminous, so...??

Hey, everyone! Don't know why it took me so much time to stumble upon a group reads thread with caffeine in the title! I met several of you when I was touring for The Wednesday Sisters, but my introduction for those I haven't yet met: I live in Palo Alto, CA, and I'm a novelist. My favorite novels or all time are Middlemarch - which is how I found Group Reads - and To Kill a Mockingbird. Followed closely by everything Jane Austen.

I haven't had time to read much since The Age of Innocence, but am looking forward to being back in the swing.

#45
To kill a Mockingbird and Middlemarch are my favorites, too.
Marvellous novels !!!

Hmmm... I can't seem to find the September Group Read. Are we still reading Bleak House (which I'm sitting out)?

I think we'd agreed on September to start arguing the case for the next read. How about I go set up a thread.....

Discussion thread posted here:

http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?newpost=1&topic=44605#lastmsg

Hi,

I'm here to ask some questions:
Where are you in Bleak House and/or Midnight's Children?
Are you ready for a new group read? Approx. when?

(I finished Midnight's Children some days ago, and I've placed Bleak House in my TBR pile, so I would like to take a new group read soon. I've got plenty of unread books, though...)

I put this message here, hoping for more members to post on the thread above (in #50).

kjell :-)

#51 I finished Midnight's Children and I am about 1/3 of the way through Bleak House. I am really enjoying it and plan to finish it before moving on. That being said, it is fine with me to move on to another group read. I did not post in the other thread, but I will go and look it over. Thanks!
--BJ

I just looked at my stats and realised I've posted a total of 49,373 words in 'Talk' .... Oh Crap! If I'd written that much on my thesis, there'd be no problem with meeting my submission date. Stats page is not healthy!

LOL!!! Maybe you can get CEU credits.

I'll tell you: I don't have ten times that much, but close. If I could get paid by the word....hmmmm....

Maybe Tim could give us commission? ;)

#16 kjellika....gotta love that quote.

I happen to come across a poem last night and seeing it's been a while since anyone has written in here I thought I would post it and hope to get the ball rolling once again.

Life’s Harmonies
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Let no man pray that he know not sorrow,
Let no soul ask to be free from pain,
For the gall of to-day is the sweet of to-morrow,
And the moment’s loss is the lifetime’s gain.

Through want of a thing does its worth redouble,
Through hunger’s pangs does the feast content,
And only the heart that has harbored trouble,
Can fully rejoice when joy is sent.

Let no man shrink from the bitter tonics
Of grief, and yearning, and need, and strife,
For the rarest chords in the soul’s harmonies,
Are found in the minor strains of life.

Just beautiful!

I'm off to bed to finish Wurthering Heights, thanks for sending these dear words, a good ending to a perfect day for me!

callmejacx,
Thank you for the nice poem. I believe in that.
Is Ella Wheeler Wilcox a well-known poet/author?

I'm reading a Norwegian edition of Kristin Lavransdatter, using my English version now and then to learn a little about the translation (which seems to be VERY good). I plan to finish volume I (The Wreath) this week-end.

Fall is creeping up on Northern Norway.

I always like finding a new poem to enjoy. Thanks

#59...kjellika...

Ella Wheeler was born in 1850 on a farm in rural Johnstown, Wisconsin, east of Janesville, the youngest of four children. The family soon moved to north of Madison. She started writing poetry at a very early age, and was well known as a poet in her own state by the time she graduated from high school. When about 28 years of age, she married Robert Wilcox. They had one child, a son, who died shortly after birth. Not long after their marriage, they both became interested in Theosophy, New Thought, and Spiritualism.


Wheeler Wilcox's poem plaque at San Francisco's Jack Kerouac Alley.Early in their married life, they promised each other that whoever went first through death would return and communicate with the other. Robert Wilcox died in 1916, after over thirty years of marriage. She was overcome with grief, which became ever more intense as week after week went without any message from him. It was at this time that she went to California to see the Rosicrucian astrologer Max Heindel, still seeking help in her sorrow, still unable to understand why she had had no word from her Robert.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Wheeler_Wilcox

>59 kjellika: And what is fall like in northern Norway? How cold? Any frost/snow yet? What time does the sun go down?

Here in Portland Oregon it's chilly in the mornings (~50 F) but still quite green with late summer flowers in bloom (dahlias, anemones) - but there are some other colors sneaking into the leaves (oranges, reds) and walnuts falling from the trees (the ones that the squirrels leave alone!).

#62
I think it's a little bit colder here than in Portland Oregon, about 10 C (~42 F, isn't it?), fortunately no frost or snow yet (maybe in about a month, ultimo October), the leaves on the trees have got very beautiful colors (some of them are still green (beautiful as well), though). And it's raining now and then, but less than last year (MUCH rainfall during August/September 2007, I remember).

The sun goes down approx. 6 p.m., and about 8 p.m (now), it's rather dark outside. The right time for a stay-at-home to read a book?
\;-)

Hi there,

I guess this coffeehouse ain't selling much coffee nowadays.

Those of you who aren't reading Kristin Lavransdatter: What are you reading now? Bleak House, Midnight's Children, or something else?

Fortunately no winter yet.
I've had a break from reading for some days now, redecorating one of our bedrooms. Glad I did, just an initiative. All the same, I think I'll finish 'Kristin' ultimo october.

Bye-bye and happy reading :))

I'm catching up on some things I've wanted to read and put off for Middlemarch, Age, Bleak House and Midnight's Children. I hope to finish Our Man in Havana today or tomorrow and then it's on to either David Copperfield, Crime and Punishment or a non-fiction about The Great Game. I just don't know.

geneg
If you need help deciding -- I would read David Copperfield over Crime and Punishment; both books are must reads, but David Copperfield was soooo much fun. Dickens's characters in this book are unforgettable.

Thank you rosemaria for your suggestion, but as I was looking for DC I ran across The Revolution Betrayed by Leon Trotsky. I haven't had a fix of the Russian Revolution, one of my favorite subjects, for several months so I grabbed it. Maybe I'll get to DC next.

I'm loving Kristin Lavransdatter, struggling with Bleak House (don't hate it, it's just going slow), enjoying Drop City as a side project, getting woefully distracted by Breaking Dawn (yes, I am ashamed!), being educated by Guns, Germs and Steel and stepping around The Double Helix (which is for the Go Review That Book! group and has been going soo-oo slowly) ... oh, and trying to write the first chapter of my thesis. Not enough hours in the day and too many good books on the pile!

Wow, klarusu, that is a full plate!!! I'd strain my brain with all that.

Bleak House went slow for me too, but it was worth it. I'm in the early days of Kristin Lavransdatter, as well as about 5 other books. I do this to myself.

# 68, That's why I only read one at a time.

Ah, Rosalind Franklin, one of my favorite tragic heroines. Without her X-ray skills there would be no double helix. Watson and Crick did not discover the double helix, Watson, Crick and Franklin did.

The main thing I learned from The Double Helix was that Cavendish was more than a tobacco.

#68 geneg Your like me. I don't think I could get into more than one book at a time. I look forward to reading the one I am on too much. I am having a hard time finding the time to read as it is.

I'm having trouble getting going on Kristin Lavransdatter (I guess we can say it "out loud" on this thread!) because I need large blocks of time to read it and they haven't been available this last two weeks. I am loving it so far--and can't figure out yet why someone on another thread called her a "brat"--but I'm only starting chapter 5 in the first book! Hopefully this weekend I will beable to really get into it.

For "pick-up" reading I'm doing 1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose which is about the aftermath of Katrina in New Orleans. It is a terrific (in both senses of the word) book which lends itself well to short spurts--so far each "episode" is no more than 3 pages long and I want to read it rather slowly so I don't get jaded. This was given to me by an LT member to whom I expressed my interest in Katrina and its aftermath--such a nice gift!

I have just started Part 3 of Book 1 of Kristin Lavransdatter. I am also reading The Name of the Wind for another group read and just finished The Book of the New Sun and The Poisonwood Bible. It has been hard reading so many books at once, but then today I picked up The Thirteenth Tale. So I guess, I will just take the books in turns. I really love Kristin Lavransdatter and the more I read, the more I like it so I do plan to finish it.
--BJ
Oh, and I have set aside Bleak House until I finish this book, but I do want to go back and finish that, too.

Still slugging away with Bleak House. At least I've passed the point where I ran out of gas last time (mid 600's) and hope that this third time trying to read it is the charm. Don't know what it is about this book - it is the only Dickens I've had such a lot of trouble finishing. I do know that every time I am confronted with Lord Doodle and Mr. Poodle (or whatever the names are) I do start mumbling angrily to myself and feel like putting it down. I really do not see the need for Doodle, Poodle, Foodle, etc.

I'm curious - when did we think the discussion of the next book might start? Or, put another way, what sort of time frame was devoted to reading Kristin Lavransdatter?

I must admit to the same curiosity...........

I think people said the read would be about two months. So the next discussion would be at the end of October?

The end of October will suit ME well.

and me!!

If anyone is interested and has time before our next book selection, can join some of us who are participating in a group read of Virginia Woolf's book Orlando. The group is called "I prefer Men to Cauliflowers"; a group for Virginia Woolf fans...

http://www.librarything.com/groups/iprefermentocauliflo

What happens?
Are you still there? Reading Kristin Lavransdatter?
Should we find a "new" book for the next group read?
In a week or so?

Greetings from Bodø, Norway :)

Still reading Kristin and loving it! Good recommendation kjellika.
Up for wrangling the next one whenever everyone else is...

I'm game!

My daughter & I are still reading Kristin Lavransdatter, we are about to start book 3. I'll second that klarusu, a very good recommendation from Kjellika in deed.

Next week sound good to start on the next book discussion.

I'm ready!

I finished it. What a great book! I loved every minute of it.
--BJ

I'm going to go ahead and start up a thread to discuss the next book as quite a few of you are up for getting the discussion underway ....

Quick question for anyone who's been with this group since the beginning:

Which books have already been chosen and read for this group?

Thanks-
AR

Books alredy chosen and read:

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The Age of Innocence by Edit Wharton
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
and
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

I actually AM drinking coffee right now :)

When y'all start reading a book - like those above, do you write down the names of characters as they appear? Just wondering if people have some tricks keeping it all straight.

I did read on another post when there are non-english names in a novel, the reader was assigning nicknames or guy 1, guy2.

A while back I started reading Doctor Zhivago - lots of Russian names. I didn't finish it (darn), but the names sure slow things down.

>#90
Thank you. I just wanted to get it straight in my head so that when next time comes around, I won't be suggesting something everyone's already read, lol.

Missing from the list above are the two current reads, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and The Trial. It wouldn't do to submit either of them, either.

There is a group read of The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe going on at:

http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=46863

Hi all,

What are you reading during Christmas time?

I plan to read Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, and I'll surely continue my reading of Knut Hamsun's novels.

Merry Christmas 2008
and
A Happy 2009

from Kjell,
Bodø, Norway : ))

Hello Kjell, I shall be reading some South American novels for by Reading Globally Challenge.

I'm a little more than half way through David Copperfield and hope to finish it during the holidays. I have a couple of ideas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you out there in LT land.

Happy holidays to everybody!!!!!!!!

I'll be reading Oscar and Lucinda for my book group. I'd like to end '08 with a bang, so when I finish Matrimony I'll pick something yummy in addition to the yummy O and L. Not sure what yet.

Hello and Happy Holidays to all...

I'm reading a bit of nonfiction this month, The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography, from the Revolution to the First World War by Graham Robb. I'm warming up for my French literature reads in 2009. The author of this book Graham Robb has written recent Biographies on Victor Hugo (New York Times Best Books of the Year in 1994) and Balzac. So far a very pleasurable read -- but, I have always love reading history!

geneg .. David Copperfield is one of my all time favorite reads, I liked it better than Bleak House, enjoy.
And, Oliver Twist I just realized that I have read a condensed children's reversion long-long ago but never the actual text. What a good idea for the holidays.

I am reading 84, Charing Cross Road and Tamar over the holidays. Just finished Beloved which was amazing.
--BJ

84 Charing Cross Road is the best epistolary I've ever read. It just made me feel cozy, want to curl up with a cup of hot tea and a good book. Helene Hanff really knows how to bring the reader into her world.

What a great read!

I read my serious literature when I commute to and from work. Since I will be on holidays for two weeks over Xmas, I'm planning on catching up on some of my favourite series: Amelia Peabody, Kinsey Millhone, Joe Pitt, Harry Dresden, and The Gentlemen Bastards. None of which will appear in any sensible list of "literary" works, but all of which are terribly good fun. :)

None of which will appear in any sensible list of "literary" works, but all of which are terribly good fun. :)

...which, imo, is every bit as important!

103 & 104

Right you are. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves--this is our recreation not our job! It should be fun. I'm a big fan of "fluff." It keeps us from becoming lugubrious. ;-) My fluff is Georgette Heyer, Rex Stout (Nero Wolf especially), J.D. Robb (in brown paper, of course, when I go out in public!) and Juila Spencer-Fleming--among others.

I randomly picked a book from one of my shelves and was pleasantly surprised by the book I held in my hand.

Didn't know I owned this book. Always wanted to read this book. Saw only a bit of the movie way back in 1968 when I was 8. Here I am 40 years later reading it.

Enjoying And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

#106 great book and movie!

#106 callmejacx

That was one of her best mysteries--IMO. I loved it and the book is better than the movie.

I've just started reading a delightful book from Collector's Library: "A Christmas Carol & Two other Christmas Books" by Charles Dickens. The two other stories are: The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth.
I'll get into Christmas mood, don't you think?

Sounds like a good start, kjellika! And this is the longest night of the year (in the northern hem.) so along with the Christmas mood, you can look forward to more daylight. How many hours of daylight do you get this time of year? We have maybe 8 1/2 hours at the darkest time. We have a ton of snow here right now too - pretty rare for Portland.

Only 4 or 5 hours of daylight (~10 am - 2 pm). Not very much snow ( I live near the coast), but it surely looks like Christmas. The weather forecast says it's going to rain in a few days, but I hope it'll not come true until --- hmmmm --- say January 2nd 2009.

Here in Bodø we'll be able to see the sun again about January 10th. It has been gone since December 1st (approx).

Back to Scrooge, Marley's Ghost, and The Three Spirits.

#110 teelgee

When you said 'a ton of snow' I assumed you meant Portland, Maine--but then I checked and you are in Oregon. That really is unusual. I lived in Astoria for several years -- went to high school there -- and it only snowed enough to close down the school once as I recall. We spent every Christmas in Portland because that's where my aunt lived and they hosted Christmas for my mom's entire family. (My mom's family were originally from Amity, Oregon.) Thanks for the memory!

teelgee, I'm so jealous! The UK seems to get balmier and balmier the closer to Christmas we get. I lived in Poland (which is eerily similar in spelling to Portland but a whole world away!) for a few years and they really have snow there. I remember walking to midnight mass on Christmas Eve with a small flask of vodka and the -25 degrees cel temperature meant that I got ice crystals on my eyebrows ... now that was festive! (I'm not religious but a Catholic high-Church mass certainly did a good job of heralding in the Christmas season!). I miss snow ... bah! I'm determined to finish a whole heap of the many books I have on the go before the end of the year so I'm not starting anything new before January. I'm still sitting on Bleak House (quite literally ... it's in a bag under my chair!) and I'm maxing out classics to try and finish that category on the 888 Challenge. I could do with some snow to keep me penned in at home ... we're rural and at the top of a hill which becomes impassable with snow and ice ... more time for reading!

Happy Christmas to all of you ... may you all eat, drink and be merry this season!

To all of you who get snow at Xmas: I'm in Sydney, Australia. The sun is currently setting sometime after 8pm (it's the kids bedtime, so I'm rather distracted and can't tell you a more specific time) and it's definitely light again before 6am, the skies are blue, the sun is toasty (we go through a tonne of sunscreen this time of year) and while we haven't had a 30+ deg day for a week or two, Xmas day is traditionally a scorcher. (No idea how to convert 30C into Fahrenheit, sorry. Think hot, anyhow. :)

I shall be spending Xmas day at my sister's house near the beach, enjoying seafood, salads, cold turkey and ham sandwiches, her pool and the sea breezes.

>112 MusicMom41: MusicMom -- this is pretty unusual for Portland, at least in the last couple of decades. Winters have been warmer. We often get snow (and the whole town freaks out!) but it doesn't last more than 1/2 a day in the lower elevations (where I am). Everything is pretty much shut down here, including a LOT of canceled flights. I feel so bad for people who are planning to travel to family for the holidays and can't get there. Problem is we've had ice upon snow upon ice, so the roads are really unpassable.

We're well stocked here, plus have dear young neighbors who watch out for us. Only problem is my partner is getting cabin fever! I hope she can go for a walk tomorrow. She's driving me nuts! ;o)

teelgee

I'm glad you are prepared for the "hibernation!." One of my friends here in California is terribly disappointed--her family from near Portland were supposed to arrive this weekend to spend Christmas with them--but they couldn't get out. It does sound like the worse snow I've ever been aware of in Oregon. Light the fire and stay warm! And I hope your partner gets her walk in--I, too, can suffer from "cabin fever!"

I wish you all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

Kjell, Bodø, Norway :))

#109...kjellika...If that doesn't get you in the Christmas mood not sure that anything will.

With all this snow talk I suppose I should say something about the snow that we are having here in a place called Canada. I live fairly close to Toronto and we have had a tremendous amount of snow. It has a lot of people in the mood for the holidays and others just in a mood. The airlines have been cancelled and many have been making the airport their home for three days or more. These folks might wished that it had never snowed.

I wish everyone a great holiday and the very best in 2009. May we all read the most enjoyable books in the new new year.

We have record snow here in Portland Oregon, USA too. It's beautiful, I can just sit and look at it. But it's also created quite a traffic and airline mess. I'm sorry for those who can't get to their destinations.

Happy holidays to all! May we know peace and harmony in the coming year.

>Enjoying And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

I loved this too, but still think Murder on The Orient Express is her best. But I didn't know there was a movie! (Good thing we're giving the kids the netflix movies-on-demand for Christmas.)

Happy Holidays, everyone! - Meg

God Bless Us, Everyone!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

# 120...megwaiteclayton...I am almost, I said almost, certain that I have seen the movie Murder On The Orient Express. I have several book by Agatha Christie but only started reading them recently.

Right now I am reading The Manning Sisters by Debbie Macomber. I usually enjoy her novels but this is getting to be too long. I sure do hope it picks up soon.

Hope everyone out there in LT land enjoyed their holidays.

I saw a movie from Christie's Murder on the Orient Express several years ago. I think it was one of the ones in which Peter Ustinov (I think I got the name correct) played Hercule Poirot. What a piece of miscasting that was! imo (His acting was okay but he was so wrong in appearance it really didn't work for me--in any of the ones he did.) It was probably in the 80's; I remember there were a bunch of famous stars playing the suspects.

ETA Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

I don't know why I remember seeing Murder on the Orient Express but really can't remember too much about it. I can't even say if I liked it or not. I suppose that could mean that I didn't think much of it. Still might be neat to read the book. I probably have it hidden somewhere in my house.

MusicMom--Interesting! I was in Papua New Guinea back in the 80s with a lot of time on my hands, and spent a couple of months reading almost nothing but Agatha Cristie novels. When I returned to Canada I saw Murder on the Orient Express, and thought Peter Ustinov was perfect for the role. Mind you, I wasn't very particular at the time--what is it that you thought was wrong?

Nickelini

Ustinov could act the role but he was entirely wrong in appearance and mannerisms-- I "see" characters as they are described when I read; when they look wrong on the screen it's hard for me to "identify" them as the character so I never really lose myself in the story. That may be why I rarely enjoy movies of books I have liked. David Souchet as Poirot in the BBC series was so well cast that I now see him when I'm reading a Poirot.

You guys are making me want to go out and get the book and rent the movie. I am not sure if I can afford to be on LT if this keeps up.

How do you wish

MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND
A HAPPY NEW YEAR

in your language??? :))

Here in Norway we say:

GOD JUL
OG
GODT NYTT ÅR!!

And I wish you all
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
GODT NYTT ÅR !!

Darn, my language is English. Boring. But the sentiment is the same! I wish we could do audio so I'd know what that sounds like, kik!

In Irish, "happy christmas" is
"Nollaig shona duit"
(if addressing one person)
or
"Nollaig shona daoibh"
(if addressing more than one person)

"Mele Kalikimaka" - Merry Christmas in Hawaiian, sort of... the words "Mele Kalikimaka" are a phonetic translation. When the missionaries and other Westerners first brought the custom of Christmas to the islands the Hawaiians had difficulty pronouncing Merry Christmas and turned it into words that rolled more easily off their tongues.

"Hau'oli Makahiki Hou" - Happy New Year, sort of... the western Christmas and New Year fell during this same time of the year that the Hawaiians traditionally honored the earth for giving them plenty to eat. This period of resting and feasting was called Makahiki (mah-kah-HEE- kee). It lasted for 4 months, and no wars or conflicts were allowed during this time.

I like the idea of a four month holiday at the end of the year - just think how much reading we could get done!

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

This is what we say in Italian.

Joyeux Noël is a bit late, but certainly:
Bonne année, bonne santé!

I am a newcomer to your group. This had ahappy book-club feel and I love your picks. I read Le Père Goriot many moons ago - it was an eye-opener for me and I have ever since loved Balzac. My pretension is to read all of the Comédie humaine, which according kjellika's quote means that I'm not likely to die anytime soon (all the better!)

I live in Ottawa, Canada and read indiscriminately in English and in French (I'm originally from France). I'm looking forward to your impressions on January's book!

Welcome Cecilturtle! This is going to be my first Balzac so I'm looking forward to it. You're very lucky to be able to read French lit in the original language. My French is a little too rusty for that ...

That's it! It's a sad day in the house of klarusu. My husband actually suggested that we should maybe implement a rule whereby I can't buy any books until I get rid of some and then we should have a get-rid-of-one-to-buy-one rule.

What do you think? Is this just cause for divorce? Could I possibly cite it as unreasonable behaviour? ;)

It is outrageous! You should hit him on the head with a hefty tome!!!!!!!

#136...I have decided that this year I will not buy any books at all. It was a difficult decision. I already have way too many books. Wish me luck. It's only the second week of January. This might be too difficult for me but I am going to give it my best.

>137 aluvalibri: "t is outrageous! You should hit him on the head with a hefty tome!!!!!!!"

Preferably one you have absolutely no intention of ever reading.

#138 - I have decided that this year I will not buy any books at all. It was a difficult decision. I already have way too many books. Wish me luck. It's only the second week of January. This might be too difficult for me but I am going to give it my best.
--------
Callmejacx, maybe we should form a support group. I'm aiming at this too, although I've already failed (I had a gift card, which obviously I had to use). Mine is really a space issue, so I shouldn't even bring home cheap or free books. Anyway, hang in there--I'm sure you have some gems in Mnt. TBR.

Ooo, callmejacx & Nickelini, how will you ever manage? I feel that my knees are a bit wobbly even thinking about it ;)

Mine's seriously a space issue (well, neither do I have any money but I do have a very cheap charity shop nearby ... not helping the space issue ...)

There is actually a reading challenge out there somewhere related to no book buying in 2009. If you're interested, I'll post it here.

I'm interested, thanks!

I am interested too. I want to be with others who are suffering like I am.

Last year (2008) my older son and I made a pledge not to buy any books for six months (until July 1) or until we had read 5,000 pages from books we already owned--which ever came LAST! I'm not sure about him--we live 2,000 miles apart--but I only fell off the wagon once for one book. And I read over 6,000 pages from my personal library plus a lot of public library books.

The problem was when the ban was off for the last 6 months of the year I made up for my deprivation in spades--so now I have books all over the chairs and couches and even on the floor because i have no more shelves! I think I have more self control if I just try to limit my purchases each month--or maybe not. I just looked to see what I've bought so far in January. Ouch!

143, 144 - of course now I can't find it! I'll keep looking though, I know I've seen it in a blog.

Keep on looking teelgee.

Once I set my mind on something I usually achieve my goal.

For the first ,I have set this "Don't buy books this year" goal. I think I can do it without much problem but at the same time don't think I won't be suffereing when I find the book that is a "perfect read" and have to leave it right where it is.

I'm going to try to buy no books for the next three months -- so far so good being thirteen days. Maybe I'll only buy a book if this group picks a read I don't have yet. We really should exclude books chosen for group read, don't you think?

Many of you have it much harder than me -- it is much easier living in the country, the nearest book store is over an hours drive!

You can always list amazon.com on websites to block by your browser.

Toooooooooo late! I've already bought some books this year!

I love LibraryThing! I have an imperative to read the books I missed while getting a technical education and for a while collected used books from a fantastic local bookseller. That store moved and I lost the habit of collecting, probably a Good Thing since, actually, reading is The Thing. (Too many Things!)

With LT, I can borrow a book from the library, catalog it, and, if I choose, review it, comment on it publicly and privately. Then, after I return the book, I still have as much of the book as I need without using up valuable shelf space. For some books I will want my own copy, which I prefer to get used, either locally or through Amazon. Otherwise, I still have access to the book in the library if I need to revisit some detail I missed the first time.

Neither a borrower nor a lender be...unless you record the transfer in LT!

klarusu > I think my husband might be pondering similar ideas! He keeps looking at the new bookcase I just bought with ominous eyebrows ...

Actually, I have been imposing limits on myself lately. I'll go through a period of book buying (say, four or five months) and then I'll stop and forbid myself from buying anymore until I've read all the new/used books I bought in that last batch. I read some Mt. TBR books as well. And then I go on another spree. Works very well for me. I feel so ... cleansed. :)

I'm sad that I am so slow, though. I bought Portrait of an Artist and The Trial and fully intended on joining the discussions for both (for my first time!), but was so busy with other books and group reads that I started late and am still reading them. Maybe if I skip this selection, and wait until the next one is chosen, and I start on time , then I can finally join in a discussion. But I am reading both of the books I bought, so this group is still good motivation!

Should we start discussing options for February?

Ack! I haven't even started January's read!! :)

>152 lilisin:, I'm ready. I volunteer a short work for a short month, how about Heart of Darkness?

Heart of Darkness is on my shelves, waiting for me. I'd be up for it.

Heart of Darkness? Sounds good to me.

>153 wookiebender: No worries, Pere Goriot is a pretty fast read. The writing is beautiful and easy to read; fun story too.

I posted a "what to read after pere goriot" thread here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/55107

FYI, There are two group reads going on in the 75 book Challenge group -- one for War and Peace (which this group has already done) and one for Don Quixote. These groups have just started and are going to take a slow schedule with the first deadline of 2/15. I am sorry that I don't know how to do a link to them. If you already know about this, sorry about the repeat. :)

I can hardly believe that January is 2/3 over! It has been pretty cold, but at least no more ice. Maybe it is going so fast because these cold days make me want to drink a cup of coffee and read, read, read!
--BJ

I need to read War and Peace but not yet. I have read Don Quixote and loved it.

As I read W&P, I am going to go back to the comments posted in this group and read them, too. It will be almost like doing it with the group here, then. :)
--BJ

A link that might be interesting:

http://www.acapelagroup.com/text-to-speech-interactive-demo.html

Hi, members.

How are you?
In Norway it's still winter (approx. 0 deg. C), but in two months spring will be here. I hope.
How's the weather (temperature) at your place right now?
What book(s) are you reading? Pale Fire? The Forsyte Saga? Others?

I'm reading TFS (+ some Norwegian books now and then, just now: Shallow Soil (Ny jord) by Knut Hamsun (reread)).

Hi kjellika! I'm in Sydney, Australia, and we're finally getting over an unpleasant summer (too hot, too humid; often at the same time). Hurrah! (I'm not a summer person...)

Currently *still* reading The Leopard as work's been so busy of late I've been missing out on my usual bulk reading time - the daily commute. (I've been working back late and catching taxis home so I can get home in time to cuddle the kids goodnight. Hideously expensive too!)

And my bedtime read is Anna Karenina, which I'm aiming to finish by the end of the month. I'm enjoying it immensely, even if I was rather bored by the lack of Ms Karenina in Part 3 last night so ended up crunching some numbers and calculating that it's only 20 pages a night to make the goal. ;)

And I was just trying to read The Raven by Poe, but have given it up as a bad idea after the fifth interruption in as many minutes... so I think it's time for bed and Ms Karenina!

I hope to start Pale Fire today.

I just started Pale Fire, kjellika, but I don't think I'll get to The Forsyte Saga until I finish it, because I'm also reading Anna Karenina, and I'm worried that if I read too many books at once, I'll forget what's going on in them! I'm about 1/3 of the way through Pale Fire, though, so hopefully I can start TFS in a few days.

It's cold here in New York, too, though probably not nearly as cold as in Norway. The weather's hovering around the 20s/30s F (0 C? a bit lower?) I think it's time to get out the long underwear!

Hi kjellika and everyone. I'm in New Jersey where we're in the middle of a Nor'easter so the snow is coming down. I'm finishing up the Leopard and hope to start Pale Fire tomorrow.

Hello all, nice to check in about something besides voting for books! LOL. I just finished reading The Book Thief which is a stellar book. And now I'm reading The Secret Scripture. Not sure when I'll be starting the group read or if I will for this round.

Here in Portland Oregon it's been quite mild with many sunny days. Today it was even a bit warm. Spring is arriving slowly but surely. Here's some proof, from our front yard today - for those suffering from too much cold or too much heat.

Hello, after a few sunny days this morning looks rather gloomy and overcast. Rain is forecast.

I was too tired to start Pale Fire last night but hopefully will begin it today.

Here in Texas it's balmy, in fact last Wednesday it was in the low 90's (33C). Supposed to get to 65F (18C) today. For all its beauty, it sucks. Winter is supposed to be cold. I wish I could trade some of this sunshine for some of your snow. But that's just me.

In Ottawa, Canada we are surviving at a balmy -15 °C - apparently a massive snow storm is in store for us on Thursday (yey it means warmer temperatures!)
I've just started Pale Fire and picked up the Forsythe Saga at the library - I'm a little intimidated by the thickness of the book!

Cecil, Cecil, Cecil. You simply MUST move to the west coast. We had +15 yesterday (and the usual copious amounts of rain).

#168 Love the photo. It makes me feel like Spring. Things have been rather cold for Oklahoma this winter, but I think there will be some warmer weather tomorrow! :)
--BJ

I just wonder:
who are reading (or planning to do so) The Forsyte Saga??
You who read it, which part do you read now?

I'm reading it quite slowly, so I'm only at part 2 of The Man of Property. I think I'll use some (2?, 3?..) months to finish it.....

I plan to read The Forsyte Saga when I have finished Pale Fire.

I'll be reading The Forsythe Saga too, but not until I finish Anna Karenina which is a private reading project. (I did suggest it here, but I think after War and Peace, no one was interested in another Tolstoy for a while. Which is perfectly fair enough. :)

I finished The Man of Property yesterday. I have a tendency to gulp down my books, and I usually like to read only one thing at a time, so I am going to put Galsworthy aside and read some other books while waiting for the conversation to start.

I am planning to read both Pale Fire and The Forsyte Saga, but I am trying to make some progress on my The Brothers Karamazov group read, so I won't be able to start right away. It looks like I should read Pale Fire first, right?
--BJ

I finished Pale Fire and I'm going to read Forsyte Saga maybe next month.

#176 wookie There is a Group Read of Anna Karenina going on here http://www.librarything.com/topic/58966 Not sure if that link worked but its the 75 book challenge for 2009 group. They started March 15 and are trying to read 100 pages month. I'm guessing so they can also read other stuff and not be overwhelmed.

Hi - I'm from NEPA (that's Northeast PA) and I am contemplating joining a group read - possibly. I just read Anna Karenina on my own. I liked parts and skimmed parts, but it wasn't too bad as "classics" go. It took me a couple of weeks and a book between each of the eight parts to read.

I'll keep checking here and see what book you all read next (I lived in Alabama for four years, maybe that should have read Ya'll!)

thanks, billiejean, for the suggestion to come here!

#180> Thanks sydamy! I am on the home stretch of Anna Karenina though, and thinking about dropping out of some LT groups, rather than joining any more, so I shall resist temptation to go and natter over there.

Glad you stopped by, koalamom! We usually take suggestions and then vote when we choose a new book. Anna Karenina is one of my favorites books; I'm glad that you liked it.
--BJ

Yes, I'm still here reading The Forsyte Saga (and other books). Slowly.
Do you visit this coffeehouse now and then? Ok, billiejean and some other visitors were here more than two weeks ago, but it might be nice to hear a little from you (and others) again ...
What are you currently reading?
What season do you have at your place? Weather? And so on .............
Here spring is just around the corner, but the trees aren't green yet. They'll soon be, I know.

Kjell :)
Norway

Oh, I haven't started The Forsythe Saga yet! I'll have to make some room in the old reading schedule... I've been catching up on all sorts of other books in the meanwhile, but am currently mostly reading The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, an Australian author. Not an easy read, but quite compelling - always takes a while for me to psych myself up to reading it after putting it down, but once my nose is in, the pages just fly by and the world outside just shuts down.

And it should be cool and windy in Sydney this time of year, but today is an unseasonably warm and sunny day. Not impressed, I want autumn!!

And hurrah! My mother-in-law is arriving this afternoon, and I'll have a sparkling clean house and an extra pair of hands to help with the kids during Easter school holidays! (And she reads incredibly quickly, so she usually hoons through my Mt TBR and gives me a quick update on whether they're worth reading or not...)

What a coincidence, I, living in Texas, in the Northern Hemisphere, too, want autumn. Skip summer and go straight to it.

>185 wookiebender:, 186

If you want autumn because you get more "excuses" to read, I might agree with you. Maybe it's an advatage that summer doesn't last very long here in Northern Norway, at least for me as a bookaholic.....(??)

Summer here drags on with week after week of temps in the 35C range overnight and in the 35 - 40+C range in the daytime, not to mention the fact that we have a half-dozen or so very large man-made reservoirs in the area evaporating literal sheets of water into the atmosphere. Couple that with little or no air movement and a summer long temperature inversion keeping it all trapped within several hundred feet of the ground and you have my image of hell.

There is a reason why this was empty prairie until a hundred plus years ago.

Air conditioning can hardly keep up with it.

K if I could arrange to give you about 10C during the summer, believe me, I would. We'd probably both enjoy summer more.

I lived most of my life in Texas, and now I live in Oklahoma. I loved summer in Texas, because it is perfect for swimming! I can hardly wait for swimming here, although it is colder at the beginning than it was in Texas. :)

By the way, I just finished Pale Fire at last and can now start Forsyte Saga!
--BJ

We have a pool. Swimming in 30C water is not at all refreshing.

I'm a northerner by birth and temperament.

So far I've been totally unable to get into the Forsyte Saga. I'll take one last shot at it today. I'm just not in the mood for a 1,000 page novel of Victorian/Edwardians.

>189 billiejean:, BJ
Hoping you'll enjoy 'TFS'. I do.

>188 geneg:, 190, geneg
I want you to send me your 10C right now. Rather cold outside.
Galsworthy's style and characters (at least his descriptions of them) are great. Try it :)
In about a month (say 5-6 weeks) I'll be ready to start reading a "new" group reads' book here, I assume.

> 190 In the northeast we need a pool heater. It's only fair that you should need a pool cooler.

(Hmm, need a note about reads to justify message.) Richard Seaton, of Doc Smith's Skylark series, encountered a similar problem on Osnome, that hellishly hot planet of his brain-brother Dunark. He found the swimming not at all refreshing, so they chilled the pool for him. He dived in--to find they had cooled it to within a hair's-breadth of freezing. Brrr! They couldn't have known.

Couldn't do Pale Fire or Forsyte. Next time!

I've often fantasized about opening an ice plant down here specifically geared to cooling pools in the summertime. Just plunk a big chunk of ice into the water and enjoy.

>192 WilfGehlen: WilfG - no need to justify. In the Coffeehouse, anything goes! Well, almost anything.... ;o)

We have a solar pool heater for the early and late season. It only manages a few degrees (F) difference, so we swim really fast. :) When it is super hot (not that much up here), we swim in the evening. Mornings would work if we were morning people. Since I grew up in Texas, I was used to the heat. The coastal areas have lots of humidity although milder temps. I have to say, though, that I do like the seasons in Oklahoma. Texas would probably feel hotter to me now.

Oh, I just remembered, if the water is too hot in the pool, we run the solar heater at night and it cools the water. Just a few degrees F. Not sure if that would work in Texas or not.

Y'all have a wonderful weekend! :)
--BJ

I grew up in Texas and now live in Northeast. Though a Texan by birth, I'm a Northerner by temperament. The long winters here, however, are hard to take. Beautiful today, but rain and chillier temperatures are returning day after tomorrow. Eliot was right. April is the cruelest month of the year.

> 194 Thanks, T, for the expansive outlook and a place to hang my hat and chill out.

A woman sitting across from me on the bus this afternoon was reading a book. I didn't notice her until she put away the book, Atlas Shrugged. I thought to shrug back, mentally. She didn't notice. That is, I didn't notice if she noticed or not, since I was putting away my own book. Same stop, vastly different books. A small slice of life from the blue highways of the world.

> 196 Hi T. Thanks for the forecast. Need to do my outside work early. Check out solla for a Lorca fan.

Winter kept us warm, covering / Earth in forgetful snow . . .

Embrace the winter . . .

In the mountains, there you feel free.

. . . with a vodka martini at the Foggy Goggle. Or go to Miami Beach, like my wife.

Will winter ever release its mighty grip?

91 degrees here in the Dallas area today. Summer is officially here. Fall should be here come mid-November. Maybe.

Lovely weather in Portland this week, it's been around 80 and sunny and the fragrance of blossoms on the air is heady!

Gloomy now in NEPA but it is supposed to be near 80 for the weekend. So how come when I was working, the weekends were always lousy but now that I am retired they're nice? Oh, well, it's good for someone who is working.

What book(s) are we going to read after The Forsyte Saga?
Just wondering, as I'll finish To Let in some few weeks.
Should we create a new thread for suggestions?

kjellika - what a good idea! That will give us time to decide which book/s to read and purchase them.

Dear members :))

We are suggesting books for the next group read:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/63381

You can suggest one or more book(s). There's no time limit yet, but hopefully lots of members will suggest books and participate in the next group read.

I imagine few of us are currently reading 'Pale Fire' and/or 'TFS'. I'm not sure why. TFS too old-fashioned (I'm not going to read Pale Fire)?
Going for a change with the next book(s)!!
The more participants, the better, don't you think?

I am reading TFS, but am kind of behind. I like it. I also read Pale Fire, which I found strange at first, but it ultimately captured my interest. I started that one late. I am just late on the group reads this time, but I think that the books chosen were good ones. I was not familiar with either of these books, so I was glad that they were chosen.
--BJ

I'm not sure I am up to make a suggestion, but I am up for getting one.

And I have never read either of the books you mention, billiejean.

I am glad that I was not the only one! :) I am also not ready to make a suggestion, but I love all the suggestions made so far. I will kind of hang out until the vote. Are we going to second books? I might do that.
--BJ

That I could handle, especially if there are books I'd like to read but haven't gotten to (or maybe even thought of!)

Koalamom!
I just saw that some people are seconding already over on the "Next book after 'Pale Fire' and 'The Forsyte Saga'" thread. I will try to look it over later today and second one or two.
--BJ

I am so far behind on the reading I have to do. So I'm keeping fingers crossed that the next group read will be something I've already read, so I can just discuss!

Is it time to start the selection process for the next book?

Looks like I'd better pull up my socks and finish off The Woman in White! :)

Happy to start the selection process at any time, I know I'm running behind most people right now. (And I really don't mind overlapping the two reads, anyhow.)

We'd agreed to read The Master and Margarita for the next book I think -- we chose two last time for consecutive reads. So I don't think there's a hurry. (Correct me if I have the wrong title.) (I know you will!) :o)

#214 Is this a translated book? Which publication is a good one? (If we read this.)

Yes; the Pevear-Volokhonsky translation is highly recommended. I just checked our profile page and indeed that is the plan. (Good thing I have things to jog my memory.)

Oh, excellent! I remember bringing up reading both The Woman in White and Master and Margarita, but I didn't remember what the outcome was. I'm glad your memory's still working, teelgee! :)

I don't think my copy is translated by Pevear/Volokhonsky, unfortunately. (It's at home, I'm at work so I can't confirm.)

I've been away a-thesis writing for a while but I just have to come back now you're reading Master and Margarita as that is just about one of my all time favourite books (I have a copy published by Harvill which is an excellent translation ... will go and check who translated it). This will not help the writing but it will mentally put me back on track. I might have a spare copy of it around if anyone has difficulty getting hold of one ... I'll check and post back here (I quite patently just purchased it because it was in a charity shop looking lonely even though I already have copies in English and Polish at home ... must stop buying orphan books).

When are we starting Vanity Fair? :)

Probably in about six weeks.

I am hoping to finish The Forsyte Saga (how is that for late?) and read Master and Margarita by then, so I will join in on that one for sure. Not sure if I will get to Life and Fate until after the New Year.
--BJ

I'm planning Vanity Fair for my December holiday read. Life and Fate still has not arrived, but I'll start as soon as it comes.

I have Vanity Fair and wouldn't mind giving it a go...how does it compare with the movie? (Recently made - maybe 5 years ago?)

Well, Vanity Fair was written 160 years ago, so I would assume a 21st century Hollywood version would be vastly different. I'd be more inclined to ask how does the movie compare with the classic?

I was curious so looked up some movie reviews, they were all pretty similar in their tone; here's one:

Vanity Fair is a beautiful mess. It combines the beauty of elegant costumes, sets and people with the disaster that is Mira Nair's adaptation of William Makepeace Thackery's novel. Not only is the adaptation bad but also so is what Nair has done with it. If you read the book, the movie will break your heart. It has completely ripped to shreds the pages of the classic story.

#224> Ouch, that's a harsh review. I remember the movie *looked* scrumptious, but never got around to seeing it. There was a rather excellent BBC adaptation from maybe about 15-20 years ago, but I only got to see a bit of that.

I have a copy of Vanity Fair - it's an old copy that belonged to my great aunt. It looks rather small compared to the new editions in the shops, so I'm hoping it's not abridged! (It doesn't say one way or the other.)

I saw the Vanity Fair movie when it came out and really disliked it. It made me completely lose interest in reading the book. Which is probably my loss. But I just can't get the image of Reese Witherspoon playing dress up out of my mind.

I would imagine the BBC doing a much better job with it in a series rather than trying to cram it into a two hour glitzy Hollywood movie that almost by definition has to include a lot of T and A to attract an audience.

I haven't seen Vanity Fair the movie but I have seen the BBC TV series from 1998 and thought it very good (and among Andrew Davies' better productions). I only wish I had read the book before seeing the program....

Was the BBC production only ~10 years ago? My mental timeline is totally out of whack! (Nothing new there. ;)

>229 wookiebender: You might be thinking of the 1987 version?

These are the productions, according to Wikipedia:

"In film and television:

* Vanity Fair (1932 film), starring Myrna Loy
* Vanity Fair (1967 TV serial), BBC miniseries starring Susan Hampshire
* Vanity Fair (1987 TV serial), BBC miniseries featuring James Saxon
* Vanity Fair (1998 TV serial), BBC miniseries starring Natasha Little
* Vanity Fair (2004 film), starring Reese Witherspoon"

Hm, can't say because I'm not getting enough information to jog my memory! (I did go and have a look at IMDB and the full cast list and one cover art, and that didn't help either!) Thanks for the info, though.

At any rate, I haven't seen any adaptation, apart from the opening episode of one of the BBC miniseries! :)

Where will you spend your Xmas holidays?
What are you going to read during your holidays?

I'll be with my family in Bodø, Nortern Norway. We haven't got any snow yet, but I assume it will appear in some days. According to the weather forecast.

I'v just started reading a new Norwegian novel called "Min kamp" ('My struggle') by Karl Ove Knausgård. It is VERY long (about 2,700 pages) and it consists of 6 volumes. The first three volumes was published this fall (2009), and vol. 4, 5, an 6 will be published next spring (2010).

Kjellika, is A Time for Everything one of the volumes in that work?

Robert

Oh, lucky you. I would love to see the Scandinavian countries at some point in my lifetime.
Your book sounds almost like a lifetime commitment!~! I hope it is very good.
I will spend my Christmas holidays here at the family home. The kids and families will come and go except for our middle daughter who cannot make it this year and must remain in Texas.
My reading time will be taken up with group reads of Les Miserables, Clarel, the Christmas stories that are a must for me each year, and this year I also really want to read: Christmas with Anne by L.M. Montgomery, The Virago Book of Christmas and Christmas Treasury by Louisa May Alcott.
I am very much looking forward to the new year and beginning my 10/10/10 challenge in January. I didn't order anything new (or used) for it but picked books off my shelves to fill in all of my categories. Then the ones I want to read again I will keep and the ones I don't, I will PaperBack Swap out or give to Good Will or the hospital or something. Hopefully it will free up some shelf space for my boxed up books that need a home.
We have had weather down to the single digits this week, but mostly around 11 to 19 degree lows but with no precip. I am hoping we get some snow Sunday after we go out and get our tree on Saturday.
Well, back to War and Peace. Just 100 more pages to go.
belva

Sounds like a whopper of a book-- I hope it isn't too depressing. I hear that folks in northern climates prefer humor more during these long dark months?

As for me in California, I plan to spend some good quality time with my kids (ages 4, 4, 6) and read a few shorter books that I haven't had time to fit in between the longer group reads of my two book groups. Currently reading Spring Snow and next up will be Shuttlecock if my hsband will ever finish it up.

We did get our first snow (first since the 70s I hear) this week. It was very surreal, and lasted until about 10am.

Well, I'll be having a hot & sunny Christmas, with cold turkey & ham sandwiches at my parents' place (I bring the plum pudding ice cream, which is made at a small icecream factory just around the corner from my house). My sister and her family will also be there, before they head off to her sister-in-law's for their family do. Hopefully my cousins will be able to make it (they live just outside of Sydney, and are currently without much family nearby). And my mother-in-law will be in town too (she's arriving next week from her home up north of the state to help out with the summer holidays and to enjoy Christmas with her grandchildren).

I'm currently scouring the shops looking for *just* the right box of Lego for Mr Bear (he's always quite specific when he sits on Santa's knee). Miss Boo has proved effortless this Christmas and her stocking is already overflowing (although I'm sure I can cram a few more things in there...).

And I'm hoping to at least finish a few books already started (hello, Wolf Hall and Woman in White), plus Vanity Fair, Howard's End (found my copy!), and then get stuck into the huge pile of borrowed/library/bookcrossing books that have accumulated in my house lately.

And get some sleep. Sleep would be nice.

We'll be having our annual Hanukah party here on Sunday. Then I'll be pretty much focused all next week on my choir's winter concert on the 20th. We'll celebrate Solstice and then mostly have a lot of quiet (reading!) time at home to the new year. We'll have a story telling party again on New Years Day - great way to start 2010!

We don't put a lot of emphasis on gifts, but I did make some photo books for friends and family. And Laurie and I do the holiday stockings, it's fun to stuff them with useful and funny things.

I'm trying desperately to get through my reading slump and hope to finish Life and Fate this month and start on Wolf Hall. I'm making progress on The Lacuna.

#237 I really like that author, Barbara Kingsolver

>233 Mr.Durick:, Mr.Durick,

No, A Time for Everything is not a volume in Min kamp. I've read about 40 pages of the first volume of 'Min kamp', and it seems to be some kind of a very long diary, with Knausgård's family and friends (using their real names, I think) as characters.
I haven't read anything by this Norwegian author (living in Stockholm, Sweden) until now, but I think his project is really interesting. I read some place that he will include some of the reviews in the last volume.
Curious.

Thank you. I hope someday to have time to give him at least a little attention.

Robert

I haven't read a thing today and don't even feel guilty.
Father in law is failing so fast. For the past month he has been in hospital and long term care and has continued to recognize only my husband (his eldest son). But the past two days he has not. He just sits there with his head down, won't eat or drink any longer and has become quite combative with everyone but is too weak to hurt anyone. He is now down to less than 120 lbs. Other that the altzeimers, (and they say that is in the early stages), the only thing wrong with him is that one stroke they know he suffered. I am thinking something else has happened within the past couple of days. We are now very fearful of losing him and he has always been the kindest and sweetest of men. I am fortunate in that my husband is so very much like him in that regard. My sister-in-law called me today and suggested that I stop going to see him. I hadn't been out in 2 days. That she knows he wouldn't want me to see him like this. I gave him his first grandchild and he thinks the sun rises and sets on me. It's hard not to go, but I need to be very careful and not overstep my bounds now too as people become very sensitive at a time like this. It's just so hard.
What coffeehouse chat!~! My oh my. So..........what's for dinner at your house?
We are having homemade mac & cheese with bacon in it and 3 different kinds of cheeses. Sounds good. With salad and garlic bread. Yum, yum.
Thanks for the shoulder guys,
hugs all round,
belva

Nannybebette - Big Hugs! Feel free to unload on us anytime. There are a bunch on LT going through similar experiences this week. Just take it an hour at a time!

Belva, sorry that's happening in your life. It's hard to watch someone go through it. I have a dear friend who is probably in her last week of life, she's had Alzheimer's for six or seven years. I feel like we lost her years ago. So sad.

Dinner? Maybe burritos tonight. Maybe snow tonight too!

Oh, I forgot about dinner --the kids had chicken fingers and mojos (big deli fries), and I'm meeting my husband at Hy's Steak House for a corporate dinner. It's one of those restaurants with $50 steak dinners that include . . . a steak. Baked potato and veggies all extra. And no wine for me because I'm the designated driver. But it's all on someone else's dollar, so I'm not complaining.

We had our first snow here (Vancouver) this morning. It snowed for about four hours and the accumulation was about 1/8 of an inch . . . the tiniest snowflakes I've ever seen!

belva, dreadful news, take care of yourself and your family there.

Well, it's lunch time now, which will probably be just sandwiches, as the kids are both going to birthday parties this afternoon (one a space themed party, the other a pool party). If we can squeeze some dinner on top of the party food tonight, it'll definitely be something quick and simple. Probably toasted cheese sandwiches.

No snow in sight (naturally), and it looks like it's going to be a hot Christmas this year in Sydney! I'm already looking forward to autumn.

Belva, Teelgee, I'm sorry to hear of your family circumstances, death watches are just plain hard on everyone, even the dying. Buck up, do what you think you must, and this too shall pass.

Dinner last night, Domino's Pizza. Tonight? Hey, that's hours in the future!

Oh, Domino's Pizza; love them!~! So nummy!~!

Nickelini;
Which Vancouver are you from. If it is Washington we are just 2 hours apart. Hmmmmmmmmmmm!~!
belva

Thanks for all the support guys!~! You're the best.
belva

Interesting reading for the coffeehouse:

NEARLY 50 years after Boris Pasternak was awarded the Nobel prize for a body of work culminating in the epic Doctor Zhivago, it has emerged that British intelligence and the CIA secretly facilitated the accolade to embarrass the Kremlin, which had banned the novel.
Read more...

That was interesting, thanks rosemeria.

Fascinating article. Thanks for posting it Rosemeria. How sad that Pasternak's mistress and her child spent years in a Siberian camp for living off revenue from the book's sales overseas.