What are you reading right now?

If you want a good laugh, read Bill Bryson's "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid." It's all about his upbringing in Des Moines, and I honestly laughed until I cried. Almost all his books are hilarious, but this one is the best in my opinion.

Don't get the audiobook, however. Bryson reads it himself, and as he's lived in England for 40+ years now, tales of an Iowa upbringing told in a British accent sounds really, really odd.

I'm reading everything on this forum lol and the Time travellers wife AGAIN as my grandmother is wandering in and out between here and her bedroom with a billion questions each time . No point starting a new book hahaha . Mama says " hello" .

I'm reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah right now. A fabulous book. I'd highly recommend it and most of this author's work.

I love to read cooking blogs, craft sites, and I listen to a fantastic local station for the blind that tons of sighted people listen to as well. It’s fiction and non fiction, plus newspapers, magazines, medical journals, etc. National best sellers and terrific local authors too.

You can stream it if you want...

wrbh.org

GA, I recently stumbled across some information about the huge energy costs of the cloud and the obscene monopoly of amazon, these modern technologies are not benign. I doubt most people have ever wondered about what and where the clouds actually is and I how vulnerable these facilities are to natural and targeted disasters.
When it comes to land line phones, there has been a big push in my area to upgrade to fiber optic service and guess what, that means the phone lines do not carry current the way copper does. And of course most modern landline phones are cordless, so they always need electricity.

There’s two good things that come to mind about phones. My mom doesn’t want to learn how to use one but she can dial 911 on any cell phone whether there is service or not.

Also, they are providing cell phones to homeless people now so they can keep current, stay in touch with family members and call police for assistance if they need it and other reasons

All the time I read old novels and wonder how different a plot would be with today’s technology and instant access to a phone.

charlotte

Charlotte,

I had heard rumors that cursive writing wasn't being taught in schools.  I didn't believe it at first, but thinking about it, I can believe it now, although I think it's beyond horrible and ridiculous.

I do understand that many people don't write or print any more and only use tech devices, which in my opinion is counter intuitive to addressing climate change through reduction of energy demands.     I only need pencils, pens and paper to write.    There are energy costs to create them, but at least paper an be recycled.    Devices need batteries and SIM cards, the former needing to be charged, replaced and eventually recycled....more electronic junk piling up, and not as easy to recycle as paper.

Malaysia and China no longer take plastic.   I don't know who still takes electronic junk.   So now we have people relying solely on something that increases energy use.  I'm actually surprised that phones are stlll used, especially land lines. 

And what really frosts me about that is that it cuts seniors out of potentially vital communication links.   None of the companies pushing to eliminate land lines has offered any serious alternative to being w/o power for days, such as during storms, blizzards or other disasters.   The only charging method other than having generators which are very costly, would be a solar charger.  But in the winter, how often does the sun appear?  

How does a senior who only has a chargeable phone and not a land line call for help when the phone battery runs down?  

In addition, more tech use creates the need for more permanent storage, and cloud hacking has already occurred.   Someone who scribbles would be safer than someone storing information in the "cloud"!

I think that learning through tablets, especially if children don't have glasses with blue light protection, is a harder, less safe and different way to learn.   I can't imagine taking geometry or econ courses and having to draw graphs and geometric problems on a tablet.   It's so much easier on paper.  

Thinking back also on math courses, writing and working problems on paper is so much easier than using a tablet.

It wouldn't surprise me if this method of learning, which I don't think is intuitive, could result in children being misdiagnosed with learning disabilities.   I don't think I could learn that way.  And I like old fashioned classes with interaction between students and teachers.    There are too many people, IMHO, who don't know how to interact with other human beings.   

And from what I've read, there are more issues of adjustment with younger people than there have been in the past.   Perhaps that's b/c they interact with battery operated devices instead of real human beings.  

I still truly believe that the new method of learning is harder, and less helpful.   

It's good that you have confidence in your grandson; children (and adults) still need that human interaction and support.

Garden Artist,

Did you know they don’t teach cursive in school anymore? At least not here in California. They issue tablets to kids from 7th grade on to do their homework. When I try to help my grandson with homework, I can’t find an example of math problems. Just a video tutorial.

If I try to research the problem on my own and come back to him, his work is leaps and bounds from where I left off.

This poor kid, I used to punish him at home when teacher said he had a bad day and didn’t do anything. I thought he was screwing around in class but he was literally DOING NOTHING! ADHD was diagnosed.

He left that school in second grade. The principal had a “zero retention” rule or he would’ve been held back. They didn’t know he was left handed until he changed schools. Oh my gosh.

It would be sad except he just doesn’t care, which is sad in itself. Not even grandma has been able to spark any interest in learning.

But there is hope ahead! He has had a you Tube channel since he was 8. He learns all the video skills just by breathing it in. He is 15 now and I think he will find a place for himself in this world just fine. I’m crossing my fingers.

He doesn’t like reading anything or having to write at all. So very different from me. I don’t think he even watches movies anymore. The world comes in games or ten minute videos to him. Brave new world.

charlotte

When I worked in commercial real estate I met a lot of contractors. Met a guy who went to work in Saudi Arabia building at Aramco. We have written for about 8 years. He sends me photos of various stuff around the country. I get stamps and new currency they issue. Interesting to see the dresses the women wear under their robes. Very colorful, stylish and European made.

GA,

Your posts always make me smile 😊.

Okay, that settles it. I wasn’t as smart. You were so wise to keep your letters. I am envious. I wish I had. Oh well...

I have not read that but it sounds fantastic. Do you have a favorite style of gardening? I don’t. I like formal and informal gardens. Some people feel that formal gardens are too ‘stuffy.’ I personally disagree and feel they can be quite relaxing. I also happen to feel that a beautiful field of wildflowers are just as beautiful.

I absolutely agree about the psychological benefits of nature. For me, it’s a garden or water, any body of water. Maybe I was a mermaid in a past life, hahaha. I love plant life in water as well.

Also music, music can also transport us into a different realm.

NeedHelpWithMom, here we go on another of our reminiscing ventures, segueing back in time to days when there were so many reasonably priced, rewarding, challenging and fascinating activities!

I too remember the thrill of getting the mail and seeing an air mail letter with a stamp from another country.   I've saved all my Japanese correspondence as well as that with others from other countries.  I know that in my father's attic is a box of correspondence with my German friend, and others who I've probably forgotten.

These are really, truly, such treasures.    My German friend made little gifts, including ones from wheat straw.    I cherished them and kept them (until the wheat straw cross was stolen when my house was burglarized).    I have an assortment of Japanese items upstairs in my studio; it'll be like exploring when some day I go through and sort things out.  

I too am captured by the beauty of Japanese gardens.  The serenity they create is so soothing, and so beautiful.   I'd recommend a Japanese garden trip or book before I'd recommend any mood altering medication!

And on that subject and off thread, have you, or anyone else here, ever read the English Garden magazine?  

https://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/about-us/

It's not a DIY kind of magazine, such as Country Gardens, or Better Homes & Gardens, but rather one of splendor and tradition, featuring well known English historic sites and massive (and often professionally designed) masterpieces.   

The English take gardening to a new level.  And of course I'm captivated by David Austin's extensive rose hybridizations.   

Interesting observation that writing to strangers may be dangerous today.  I hadn't thought of that, but it's certainly true.   The Internet and especially social media have opened new avenues for unstable, malcontent and just downright dangerous people to expand their reach.  

With e-mail correspondence, one can always close out an account if someone dangerous  tries to initiate a relationship.   But from what I've read, there are far too many young people resorting to social media for companionship, and becoming subject to predators with nefarious intentions.

You mentioned writing to servicemen.   One of the attic treasures also discovered were my parents' correspondence during WWII, and just after I was born.   They were sooo emotional.  It was strange to think how the my birth and that of my siblings changed their lives; it's not really something most people think about in terms of being the little one who changed their parents' lives.

During the Gulf War, some folks I knew and I wrote to military, some in country.   That was quite an experience; through mail I met some interesting people.

I'm glad you had a good school experience, but it's sad to learn of the intolerance for students of different levels of ability.    At all levels of society, here and abroad, tolerance for people with differences is an aspect that needs to be pursued and cultivated (except amoral people).

We too explored our area, with never a though as to encountering people with malicious intent.   We were sooo free, something not even adults can always feel these days. 

Oh GA,

You made my day! I haven’t met anyone else who had a pen pal like me. I absolutely loved having a pen pal. Yes, the gifts! He sent me silk bookmarks and photos of beautiful Japanese gardens which are lovely!

Just seeing the stamps made me smile. I wish I had kept those letters to show my kids. One day while decluttering I threw them out.

I tried to get my daughter to write to a pen pal. She selected a girl in Australia. They didn’t correspond long. I wrote faithfully for three years to my pen pal. We just clicked. My younger daughter didn’t even consider a pen pal. I think it would be seen as very old fashioned today. Maybe even dangerous in our modern society.

My gosh, my whole world was so different. I could walk or ride my bike, even take a city bus or streetcar and be safe. A child could never do that in New Orleans today!

He invited me to go ice skating in Japan. Like a foolish young girl I asked my mom if I could go. Of course she said no but I really wanted to go. I kind of had a crush on him.

Look at the women who wrote to the servicemen in WW11 and they fell in love and later married them. Sort of romantic really. Ahhhh, those days are gone and replaced with texting!

Oh, my pen pal, he had incredible writing skills with beautiful handwriting. Better than some of the American kids at my Catholic school! Hahaha 😂. and we had strict nuns as our teachers! They were actually good teachers but American kids don’t learn foreign languages as much as other children in far away countries.

My kids took French in junior high and high school. Their teacher was terrific! She was French Canadian. She was lovely. My daughters learned a lot in her class. They were only allowed to speak French. They couldn’t even ask to use the restroom or borrow a pencil in English. At the end of the year she held a French Cafe’ where parents were invited and we had to order in French. Hahaha 😂.

Some of the things in my school I loved. Other things were really hard for certain kids. We were two years ahead of the public school. If a child couldn’t keep up they were thrown out instead of helped. I think that is sad. I graduated from that school. My brothers were asked to leave and had to attend public school.

One of the girls in my class was a twin. She remained in our class. Her twin had to go to the public school. She said that her twin cried about it.

Char, Senior Centers may take books.    I've called several libraries and some Senior Centers, including their needlework groups, to donate my quilting books but I've only found a few libraries that accept used books, and none yet that want quilting books or magazines.

No one wants encyclopedias though!

The rehab/PC/hospice facility where Dad spent his last days has a fairly decent library.  It wasn't unusual to see a guest relaxing in a comfortable chair while reading a magazine or book in the large lounges located throughout the building.

I've only seen libraries at one other rehab facility, an actual room full of books.   A real library, quiet and peaceful.

Unfortunately, I think reading may become a lost art as people gravitate to texting and using letters to represent words.  I wonder if those people work, and if so whether their jobs require any written communication.    I would think there still are standards of communication in business.

NHWM, I loved pen pal mail!    I don't remember when I started, but I know that when I took French I corresponded (en francais) with some French students, and later with a German woman who spoke 3 languages, including French and English.    That was a very rewarding relationship, and I had a chance to practice writing in both French and German, and in turn, she had a chance to perfect her English (which was better than some native English speakers).

I also remember corresponding with Japanese students; that was sooo interesting and so rewarding.   We exchanged small gifts; I know that somewhere I still have some lovely Japanese gifts.   I do remember receiving a pair of the small Japanese clogs.


Unfortunately, I think abbreviated interaction through the written word is lessening, if not fading out.   So many people think there are so many things to do in a day, and the relaxed environment of enjoying correspondence and preparing little gifts to exchange seems to be taking a back seat to sending texts, posting on social media, taking selfies, and less enlightening or educational activities.

Not to be maudlin, but I sometimes wonder if epitaphs in the future won't be so much of what someone accomplished, but of how many thousands if not millions of times people shared their selfies or texted.   The focus is more on me, me, and me for so many people.  

I often wonder if future generations will be able to write at all.

Fortunately though, there are still people who reach out to others and recognize that interaction is still a major facet and reward of the human life.

I had a teacher that instructed us to choose a pen pal from the Sunday newspaper to improve reading and writing skills. What a fantastic idea that was!

I was 12. I picked a 15 year old boy from Japan because I felt it would be interesting and it certainly was. We corresponded for three years.

He was a very traditional Japanese boy whose parents arranged a marriage for him when he turned 18.

So, when he turned 18 we had to stop writing each other. I learned so much about Japan. I spoke to him about America. It was a great experience for me.

Nowadays, kids would laugh at choosing a pen pal. Back then, the Sunday newspaper was loaded with children’s names and addresses to write to.

TN,

I read to my daughter’s classrooms every week. I loved it as much as they dad. The teacher really loved it because she could grade papers as I was reading to the kids.

TN,

2nd and Charles is a fantastic used book store. We stopped at this store in Birmingham, Al when we were in Alabama for a hurricane evacuation.

Books do get out of hand. We end up with a ton of books.

One local McDonald's recently put up a little library or community sharing library in it's playground area filled with kids books. My little grand nephew loves it! One morning when there were no other kids to play with, we started reading a book from the shared library. When some kids came in to play, they came over to listen to the reading. As we finished my grand-nephew's book and he placed it back in the library, a couple of kids picked books out of the library and asked if I would read them. As the kids realized I would read to anyone who asked, I ended up reading to various kids between their play sessions for the next couple of hours. Very strange and unexpected but fun experience!

I think how to reduce our personal libraries is a problem for every avid reader. I still have that problem although I switched to primarily ebooks more than a decade ago. I keep the kids books and limit myself to two large bookcases of printed books.

Our local libraries have annual book sales to raise money for new books. As some books age and are not as popular anymore, they reduce the number of copies on the shelves but they also accept outside donations. So it's one good way to provide your books with a good home and support the library at the same time. Between book sales, some of the libraries have started having a cart of used books for sale near the check out. Before the library, I used to donate to a used bookstore I liked too - there aren't too many of those around anymore.

Our main homeless shelter runs a thrift center for everything from clothes and toys to furniture and appliances that now accepts books; they particularly like to receive children's and young reader's books so I find myself picking up books in yard sales and dropping them off.

Apparently a lot of people love John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport... the library holds on the first few ebooks in the series are 4-8 weeks! So, I'm starting with #10 in the series. I love a good series!

I love, love, love John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport. I can describe him to a “T” so it’s really disappointing when they make a movie because the actors are always so far off.

I’m enjoying getting to know that “Flowers” character especially because he always has his two burly sidekicks helping out.

Now with the new baby coming along, it should be good.

Did you know that he wrote and illustrated some children’s books?

charlotte

I had a garage sale last summer that I put mine and mom’s old books out to sell. There were so many duplicates I should have been embarrassed!

I shop at yard sales and thrift stores and get home and I’ve bought books I’ve already read! I try to keep a list on my phone of favorite authors and the names of books I haven’t read but I’m too lazy to look.

Sadly, the books did not sell well at all. I always planned to do a BOOK SALE and advertise so I could get readers only. I have enough for a small store, at least a good start.

So now I’m looking to donate them if I can find time. At least I have a car now. That will help a lot!

charlotte

Garden, I’m reading the plays. Sinners less my style.

I try to stay positive. Some days easier than others. You would remember if you had read sandford. He has some memorable characters.

Becky, how interesting that we've both read some of the same authors, and made similar observations!

I think the inclusion of co-authors shifted the focus of Cussler's books away from good quality writing, marine technology emphasis and limited physical entanglements, and deteriorated the enjoyment of his novels as a whole.    Perhaps that's why the one I'm reading is so captivating.  It includes not only basic historical research, with some speculation added in, but there's just as much focus on that as there is on beating up the bad guys.

I gave up on Patterson after reading some good novels.   They deteriorated so much that I just lost interest.  Same thing happened with the inheritors of the Vince Flynn and Tom Clancy rights.

Thought I've read Sandford but can't find any of his novels, so I guess I didn't.   That's why I need to keep a spreadsheet on what I buy and a separate list of what I read, although I think it's time to combine them. 

I used to love Victoria Holt and her various noms de plume novels.  

Which Shakespearean literature are you reading?  The plays?   Sonnets?  I'm partial to 12th Night.   I took a Shakespeare class in college and learned so much; in some ways it's like reading a different language.

We had to read portions of Hamlet aloud; one of my classmates read Ophelia and played the part as she was made for it.   She even kind of dissolved, literally sinking down and collapsing onto the desk as she read the famous mad scene.

You seem like a very adaptable and positive person, reading during dialysis and keeping such a positive outlook.


CharK, no hints at all about Karin Slaughter?   Guess I'll have to make a trip to Barnes and Noble and check out her books!

Anyone ever read the Griffin and Sabine series by Nick Bantock?\

TreeArtist, sounds like your granddaughter is already "hooked on books".  I've never read  at a time; she must have quite an ability to focus and concentrate to read 5 books at a time.

Of all the stores I've been to throughout my life, there still is none to compare to Borders.   Not only was it a store, but it transcended life and created an atmosphere of its own, separate from everything outside surrounding it.   I so much miss it.  

Becky, I loved your memory of you and your grandmother reading through the Bible. And now you keeping a spreadsheet! You are a serious reader!

I do daily Bible readings, but it takes me, probably several years, to go through the entire Book, because I jump from the Old Testament to the New, and stop to read commentaries and history on what I read.

I read a lot too, though if I’m reading non-fiction, I will read several books at the same time.

The other day, at my daughter’s house, I happened to see my 6 year old granddaughter on her hands and knees in the living room with five books open and spread out across the floor. She was reading all five, one page at a time. I wonder where she got that from!! I took a photo that I wish I could post here. The funny thing is, that she has never seen me read several books at the same time, and I know her parents don’t do that. Genes!

Garden Artist, I used to read every Cussler as soon as it came out. Quit when he started having co-authors. Did the same thing with early James Patterson books. Now John Sandford is my go to guy. He comes out with two books a year. I’ve read all the Prey series in order twice; same with the Virgil Flowers series.

Back in the 70’s/80’s I was that way with Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy. I love the old Anya Seton novels. I read all the time. I always reread old Rosalind Pilcher novels in the summer.

Now that I’m on dialysis six times a week I’m tied to my chair for few hours and
reading keeps my mind off the treatments. Reading and knitting keep me still for that.

I keep a spreadsheet of what I read. My mother kept an alphabetical journal of everything she read. It was getting full when she died in 2016. She had started it after my dad and her mother both died in 1992. Her mother only read the Bible. She read it all the way thru every year. I took a class at church with my grandma when I was in high school to read the Bible thru one year. I made it thru, but barely. I only missed one Bible class that year. My grandma didn’t drive , nor did I. I walked with her to church every Tuesday evening. My boyfriend at the time would come pick us up and drive us home.

I’m reading “Pieces of Her” by Karin Slaughter who is one of my favorites that I read anything she puts out as soon as I can.

I actually am reading it again! As in, I finished it and started right back at the beginning. It is very exciting and riveting but I started it again because there’s too much I didn’t understand.

Sorry, but I’m not going to describe it as I don’t want to give anything away. Suffice to say, it’s about a grown daughter learning crazy stuff about her mother in an action setting.

It’s a real good read, the fault is mine for not understanding. I’ve been falling asleep as soon as I settle in and lose my place too often to keep track of the action.

Charlotte

Becky, I have to write them down in my calendar; otherwise I don't always remember what I've read, especially when I'm on a roll and read one right after another.

I have so many books that I've been in the process of reading that I don't remember any of their titles.

Rereading Some Shakespeare. I have an anthology from a university class back in the 70’s. Found it in a box of books and started rereading. Interesting to read notes I made in the margins and pieces of paper stuck in the book.

Another Cussler mystery.  Finished one last week and started another one.   The current book is Atlantis Found, and I think it's one of his best.   The research and history are so well tied together, and the plot is actually potentially realistic, as well as complex.  

And it addresses the mystery of whether Atlantis existed and presents a plausible theory for its disappearance.   

In addition, it incorporates Cussler's knowledge of marine engineering and exploration.   I'm beginning to want to go back to school again and learn more about the new technologies, including genetic engineering, which he addresses.

I could easily spend the rest of my life just reading and reading for hours on end


Pronker, are you pleased/enjoying The Goddess War trilogy?    I read a fascinating semi nonfictional novel about the Minoan civilization several decades ago.    If I can find it, I'd read it again.