Thursday, May 24, 2012

Quote of the Day ----- Goodreads

There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.






Joseph Brodsky



The Nobel laureate and author of Watermark was born on this day in 1940.
 
 
 
Read a book!

The Browning Version, a film by Anthony Asquith

The Browning Version, a film by Anthony Asquith.

This is the original film with Sir Michael Redgrave, who won for his performance at the Cannes Film Festival of 1951.

Sir Michael portrays Andrew Crocker-Harris, middle-aged schoolmaster, whose marriage is a sham, who is loathed and feared by his students, and who will be leaving the school at the end of the term, due to his poor health.  His wife is carrying on an affair with one of his fellow schoolmasters, who believes that Andrew is unaware of the affair.  As the term is ending, one of his young students comes to him for a private lesson, this young fellow displays admiration and respect that causes Andrew to re-evaluate his career.  Andrew's wife, although disloyal to their marriage vows, is always honest with him, to the point of cruelity.

We watched this film last night.  It is in glorious black and white.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Harmattan: a journey across the Sahara, by Geraldine Kennedy

1964 - JFK has been instrumental in starting the Peace Corps, however, now his death leaves all those young idealists with major voids in their lives.  5 young Peace Corps women decide to make an unheralded and unusual trek across the Sahara - people from all walks of life, and various nationalities come to their aid during their quest.  At one point, the women are "hijacked" by a group of French military men.  Most people cannot comprehend their desire to undertake this voyage, after all it is 1964, and women are still not "equal" to men in facing this type of journey. 

Well, THEY DO!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, a novel by Trenton Lee Steward

Add caption  Having read the Mysterious Benedict Society series, I was anxiously looking forward to the next book in the series.  However, Trenton decided to do a "pre-quel" to the series, setting up the how's and why's of the Society itself. 

Nicholas Benedict is an orphan, not knowing how he can to be an orphan, as was the usual case in the era this book is set in.  Nicholas is sent from one orphanage, to another, one steeped in mystery.  Due to his rather unusual "condition" he is set up in a room all to himself, and at the top of the establishment, however, he is also locked in the room every evening..........., little do those in charge of the orphanage know that he is a "wizard" at solving problems beyond normal circumstances

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Quote of the day-----Goodreads

Quote of the Day


Happiness consists in getting enough sleep. Just that, nothing more.






Robert A. Heinlein
 
 
Hope you had a good night's rest.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Quote of the Day---Goodreads

Quote of the Day from Goodreads



I'm not young enough to know everything.     

J.M. Barrie
    The author of Peter Pan was born on this day in 1860. 

Happy Reading!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads

Goodreads Quote of the Day from Christopher Morley


There is no mistaking a real book when one meets it. It is like falling in love.     

Christopher Morley
    The author of The Haunted Bookshop was born on this day in 1890. 

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Dancing on the Edge of the Roof, a novel by Sheila Williams

Dancing on the Edge of the Roof, by Sheila Williams

Read in 2004


Juanita Lewis, mother of 3 grown dependent, ill-mannered children, has had 42 years of hard living in abusive relationships, so she has decided to RUN AWAY from Ohio to Montana.   Certainly life can be no more difficult than what she has already faced.  Along the way, in Butte, Montana, where her skin color does stand out BIG TIME, she "runs into" a gay truck driver, who delivers her to Paper Moon, Montana.  Juanita walks into the local diner, owned by Jess Gardiner, with the menu lacking basic breakfast fare, Juanita takes over cooking and NEVER looks back.  Jess doesn't know what "hit" him nor does he realize how Juanita's chance arrival will change both of their lives forever.


I remember how much I enjoyed reading this book.  Hope you will give it a shot!

Don 't forget to visit your local library.

Quote of the Day-------Goodreads

Quote of the Day by author of "I capture the Castle"


Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.     

Dodie Smith
    The author of "I Capture the Castle" was born on this day in 1896


If you haven't read this book, I hope you will give it a try.  It is one of the most popular "older" books, some might not consider it a classic, however, it needs to be considered........

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Back of Beyond, Travels to the Wild Places of the Earth, by David Yeadon

Back of Beyond, Travels to the Wild Places of the Earth by David Yeadon.

Could not locate a current photo of this book, I did notice it seems to be available e-book wise.

Read in 1995

An account of some of the most unusual places that David Yeadon traveled to - 13 countries, some are generally considered common destinations, although the villages are out of the way places tourists do not usually visit.  One of the better places was a village in the Canary Islands, where David and his wife lived among the locals  for 4 months.
2 of the more unusual places were chronicled in chapter 14 - India, Rann of Kutch, and chapter 15 India, Getting to Goa. 
Of all the places David visited, chapters 2 Haiti, 3 Costa Rica, 4 Gran Canaria and 5 Morocco - The Last Caravan, were the most enjoyable.