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KillerTomato
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#26 Post by KillerTomato » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:10 pm

minimetoo26 wrote: I just bought Silas Marner (got a bunch of books on a list that my son had to do a report on, and made sure he had some fallbacks in case he struggled) so I may read it myself.

My short-attention-span self has a bunch of half-finished books in the bathroom. I just finished I Am America (And So Can You!), and I'm re-reading The Mouse That Roared and The World According to Garp. I'm also halfway through Rigged, by Ben Mizrich. None is compelling enough to drag me away from American Idol tonight!

I've never read "Silas Marner," but I recall being surprised that it's the book Ralphie's class is supposed to be reading in "A Christmas Story". I thought "Whoa, 'Silas Marner' for the 4th grade???"

I also have a B&N Classics copy of "Oliver Twist" sitting in my "to be read" pile. I'll get to it one of these days.

BTW, "The Mouse That Roared" is one of my all-time favorite books. So incredibly absurd, yet...plausible. Especially nowadays. And the movie is hilarious.
There is something wrong in a government where they who do the most have the least. There is something wrong when honesty wears a rag, and rascality a robe; when the loving, the tender, eat a crust while the infamous sit at banquets.
-- Robert G. Ingersoll

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PlacentiaSoccerMom
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#27 Post by PlacentiaSoccerMom » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:44 pm

Tocqueville3 wrote:I won't comment too much on the whole childbirth thing but I will say that I am very glad that I was in a hospital with doctors and nurses present when things went wrong with Madeleine. So is my husband. My OB is fabulous. The man is a miracle worker. And my scar is very small.
I had what is known as the doctor's wife special. My labor was induced both times. I was given opiates, then an epidural a few hours later, and pushing lasted for about 15 minutes for each kid.

I was sick for eight months with each kid, so I deserved nice deliveries.

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PlacentiaSoccerMom
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#28 Post by PlacentiaSoccerMom » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:46 pm

I am reading Lady Susan an unfisnished novel by Jane Austen.

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cindy.wellman
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#29 Post by cindy.wellman » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:21 pm

fuzzywuzzy wrote:
tlynn78 wrote:
just finished "In the Company of the Courtesan" by Sarah Dunant. I enjoyed the book, so I went ahead and ordered another one of her books titled, "The Birth of Venus" It should be here any day
.

Cindy-

If you enjoyed "Courtesan" you will love "Birth of Venus" - I read it first (of the two) and thought it was the better book. Dunant is remarkable in how she can virtually transport you to the setting of her books. Very richly detailed.

t.
Read them both...tlynn is right..."Birth of Venus" is the better of the two! Liked them very much!

fuzzy 8)
Hey thanks you two! :D

I found out about "Courtesan" via the DearReader.com program. Has anyone ever heard of it, or does anyone else use it here? I really enjoy it because I've been introduced to quite a few books that I would have otherwise overlooked.

Each Monday you receive the start of a new book, from the category of your choice (fiction, Christian, business etc) Then through Friday you receive a new email with another portion of the book. It is a short read each day, perhaps 1-3 minutes. Much like PSM's hubby who is reading the classics right now, the lady (Suzanne?) from dearreader.com has a classics section as well. I've been interested in catching up on some of my favorites, as well as starting the ones I haven't read in the past.

Our library here is pretty pathetic (though they recently received money for computers paid for by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation....) so I end up ordering the books. Our library in Italy rocked, and when it didn't it called up one of the sister libraries in Europe and they would send over whatever book/material you wanted.

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marrymeflyfree
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#30 Post by marrymeflyfree » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:45 pm

Tocqueville3 wrote: It sounds as if you have a good plan. Anesthesia can be very tempting. Especially when that pain becomes signifigant and you've been dealing with it for a long time. More power to you!
It's such a personal choice...everyone is different. I spent a lot of time with a midwife years ago and thought about doing it myself, so I've always known I wanted to avoid the whole hospital thing - and all the research says it is actually safer for low-risk situations anyway. But being philosophical about it and actually doing it are two very different things, so no telling how it will actually turn out. ;-) I've seen a few unmedicated births, so at least my brain knows it can be done. That will help. :-)

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mikehardware
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#31 Post by mikehardware » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:06 pm

Uncle John's Triumphant 20th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

At our childbirth class, they went around the room asking what everyone's goal was. I told them this was our second child, so my goal was to not throw up this time.

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Sir_Galahad
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#32 Post by Sir_Galahad » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:16 pm

Right now I am reading Eric Clapton's autobiography. If I could consider anyone to be an idol of mine, he would be one. I have followed his career from his early days with John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers and it's interesting to read what happened in between all of the in-betweens.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" - Edmund Burke

Perhaps the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about...

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gsabc
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#33 Post by gsabc » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:24 am

Oh, one more book on my list:

"The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Being the Father of the Bride, second edition"

:D
I just ordered chicken and an egg from Amazon. I'll let you know.

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minimetoo26
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#34 Post by minimetoo26 » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:31 am

KillerTomato wrote: BTW, "The Mouse That Roared" is one of my all-time favorite books. So incredibly absurd, yet...plausible. Especially nowadays. And the movie is hilarious.
One of my son's assignments is going to be to read a book together with one of your parents and both write about it, so I've been combing my shelves for something appropriate for an 8th grader (bye-bye Tom Robbins, even if I could re-read him, and possibly John Irving, since the only linear book I've ever read by him was Cider House Rules, and that may be too heavy), so I picked up MTR and started on that again. I hope they don't make us pick from a list of stinkers. It hasn't been assigned yet, so I've been looking ahead the whole year and don't know what the selection criteria will be.

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silvercamaro
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#35 Post by silvercamaro » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:01 am

mikehardware wrote:Uncle John's Triumphant 20th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

At our childbirth class, they went around the room asking what everyone's goal was. I told them this was our second child, so my goal was to not throw up this time.
Wait. Is this a subtle but effective announcement that the Hardware family is contributing to the BB baby boom?

If so, congratulations!

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a1mamacat
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#36 Post by a1mamacat » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:16 am

Just started the new John Grishem book The Innocent Man.

Apparantly it is a true story, so we shall see.
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PlacentiaSoccerMom
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#37 Post by PlacentiaSoccerMom » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:18 am

a1mamacat wrote:Just started the new John Grishem book The Innocent Man.

Apparantly it is a true story, so we shall see.
I assume it's not about OJ. :)

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mikehardware
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#38 Post by mikehardware » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:11 am

silvercamaro wrote:Wait. Is this a subtle but effective announcement that the Hardware family is contributing to the BB baby boom?
No, that precious little (ha! 9 lbs 10 oz) baby boy is now a sophmore at college, studying web design.

I'll add that during our first child's birth, I only tossed my cookies after all the excitement was over, and they were cleaning things up. I blamed it on being tired (22 hour labor) and on my feet for almost the whole thing, which got amazingly little sympathy from my Pretty Person :)

That's OK, I took a quick picture of her right before we left for the hospital. She hadn't put her shoes on yet, and she's in the kitchen, so she's barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen. I had to hide that one. :D

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silvercamaro
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#39 Post by silvercamaro » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:35 am

mikehardware wrote:
No, that precious little (ha! 9 lbs 10 oz) baby boy is now a sophmore at college, studying web design.
Okay. For a moment on there, I thought you were sneaking in momentous new news.

Hey, I'm just glad that Bingo has siblings! :D

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Appa23
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#40 Post by Appa23 » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:45 am

a1mamacat wrote:Just started the new John Grishem book The Innocent Man.

Apparantly it is a true story, so we shall see.
Is that the book about the Oklahoma capital murder fiasco(s)?

I got that book by Grisham last Christmas. Based on my background, I "enjoyed" it. It is good to put faces to the stories of innocent people on death row.

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Appa23
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#41 Post by Appa23 » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:52 am

marrymeflyfree wrote:
Tocqueville3 wrote: It sounds as if you have a good plan. Anesthesia can be very tempting. Especially when that pain becomes signifigant and you've been dealing with it for a long time. More power to you!
It's such a personal choice...everyone is different. I spent a lot of time with a midwife years ago and thought about doing it myself, so I've always known I wanted to avoid the whole hospital thing - and all the research says it is actually safer for low-risk situations anyway. But being philosophical about it and actually doing it are two very different things, so no telling how it will actually turn out. ;-) I've seen a few unmedicated births, so at least my brain knows it can be done. That will help. :-)
Clearly, my wife and I were incredibly lucky. We did not worry about reading tons of books during the pregnancy. We had a fantastic doctor (who really wanted to avoid a c-section). All of the nurses, pre-delivery and post-delivery were helpful and likeable to my wife. The "actual" labor only lasted a few hours. (Granted, I am glad that I did not have to actual push the bowling ball through the keyhole.)

Plus, I got to use the line that was dying to use, when they asked if I wanted to cut the cord: "Isn't there someone more qualified in the room?"

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Catfish
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#42 Post by Catfish » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:31 pm

cindy.wellman wrote:I found out about "Courtesan" via the DearReader.com program. Has anyone ever heard of it, or does anyone else use it here? I really enjoy it because I've been introduced to quite a few books that I would have otherwise overlooked.

Each Monday you receive the start of a new book, from the category of your choice (fiction, Christian, business etc) Then through Friday you receive a new email with another portion of the book. It is a short read each day, perhaps 1-3 minutes. Much like PSM's hubby who is reading the classics right now, the lady (Suzanne?) from dearreader.com has a classics section as well. I've been interested in catching up on some of my favorites, as well as starting the ones I haven't read in the past.
I use something similar:

http://www.dailylit.com/about

I get a page a day by e-mail. I am now on page 231 of Don Quixote.

My current night-stand book is What Is the What by David Eggers.

My current audio book is The Glass Castle by Janette Walls.
Catfish

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Flybrick
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#43 Post by Flybrick » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:45 pm

Appa23 wrote:
a1mamacat wrote: It is good to put faces to the stories of innocent people on death row.
I like to see the faces of the guilty that are on death row.

Or the families of the victims that finally get justice.





Sorry to hi-jack the thread.

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Bob Juch
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#44 Post by Bob Juch » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:52 pm

a1mamacat wrote:Just started the new John Grishem book The Innocent Man.

Apparantly it is a true story, so we shall see.
It's great!
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)

Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.

Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.

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Shade
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#45 Post by Shade » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:31 pm

I'm currently reading Pebble In The Sky by Isaac Asimov

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mellytu74
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#46 Post by mellytu74 » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:26 pm

Since we've been moving books from TLAF's to The Boyfriend's house, I am taking the opportunity to revisit some old favorites.

A couple of Damon Runyon collections, including his columns when he covered the sensational murder trials of the 1920s.

The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila

And A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which I revisit every couple of years.

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ulysses5019
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#47 Post by ulysses5019 » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:41 pm

My avatar buddy recommended his book, "Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself".
I believe in the usefulness of useless information.

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mrkelley23
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#48 Post by mrkelley23 » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:42 pm

I'm just reading textbooks and incredibly underinformed lab reports.

Tomorrow starts my night class at Alcoa. That will be more bearable.
For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled. -- Richard Feynman

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ulysses5019
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#49 Post by ulysses5019 » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:47 pm

I'm just reading textbooks and incredibly underinformed lab reports.

Tomorrow starts my night class at Alcoa. That will be more bearable.
Did you ever watch Scientific American Frontiers with Alan Alda?
I believe in the usefulness of useless information.

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a1mamacat
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#50 Post by a1mamacat » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:48 pm

also, working with Big J using "French for Dummies", as he is having trouble with pronunciation
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