The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

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Has anybody requested specific books for Christmas, and if so what?

For my part, I've been getting the Peanuts complete collection at two volumes a year (Christmas and birthday) which is how they've been published since they started coming out about eight or ten years ago, and I'm expecting the latest volume for Christmas.

I've also requested several woodworking books, the Modern Library hardback edition of Hard Times to replace my very worn out pages falling out paperback edition from fifty years ago (it's the next read for the Pickwick group here), Jacob Klein's Plato's Trilogy, and Alan Moorhead's The White Nile and The Blue Nile.

Anybody else making specific request?

Then after Christmas we can all say what we actually did get!

I have requested Amazon vouchers which I will spend on audio books. I hope Santa ihas your requests in his bookshop Everyman:)

MadgeUK wrote: "I have requested Amazon vouchers which I will spend on audio books. I hope Santa ihas your requests in his bookshop Everyman:)"

Oh, I have a pretty reliable set of Santas in the family!

I only use audio books for light books (mostly mysteries) to go to sleep with. I can't use them for serious reading. I wish I could, but my brain just doesn't have that capacity. You're lucky that yours does.

I'm fine with all kinds of audio books, perhaps because I have always been an avid Radio 4 listener. The only problem is that you can't bookmark or copy and paste for RR:(

I've asked for the entire set of Anne of Green Gables books. I'm planning to read them all this year for the first time.

I've just started listening to audio books this summer. I'm still figuring out which books I can or can not listen to, and which activities I can do while listening. Folding laundry and lab work are good activities. Trying to listen in bed is bad - I always fall asleep and then wake up an hour later and have to rewind.

Books for Christmas has been less in my direction (my family firmly believes I have too many already -- they are right -- but they also know I will continue to purchase for myself). My gift books challenge is selections for nine children/youth a few months to 15 years of age. This is my fourth year of this project (for seven of them - two new ones this year). In the past I have depended heavily on my DIL and teacher friends. This year I've braved the selections pretty much on my own, except for the 15 year old, for whom I got some (hopefully) wonderful, astonishing recommendations from the Literary Fiction Dialogue board.

Lily wrote: "In the past I have depended heavily on my DIL and teacher friends. This year I've braved the selections pretty much on my own, except for the 15 year old, for whom I got some (hopefully) wonderful, astonishing recommendations from the Literary Fiction Dialogue board. "

You might see whether your library takes The Horn Book. It's a quite reliable source of reviews of children's books. My wife relied on it heavily when she was teaching, and we still check it out for good new books for the grandkids. Comes out twice a year.

Linda wrote: "I've asked for the entire set of Anne of Green Gables books. I'm planning to read them all this year for the first time.

I've just started listening to audio books this summer. I'm still figuring ..."

I frequently listen all night to an enthralling book and have to nap the next day. I did this with both Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, listening 21 hours continuously. You can have a sample listen to audio.com books which helps to sort out good and bad narrators. As with radio, I listen to them anywhere, anytime.

Both my teenage boy grandchildren have requested Terry Pratchett books this year.

I love the folio society editions, but feel that they're a little too expensive to just go out and buy for myself - so I always put them on my wish list for christmas and birthday gifts :-)

This years candidates are and

Topical BBC broadcast on the history of carolling:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03kv1f3

I've got two books on my list, but like Lily, everyone thinks I have too many. I did get a book gift card for my bday in November. The two on my list are the second and third volumes of Twain's autobiography and the new book about the Salem Witches by Schiff.

And Eman I found something we agree on :). I, read mysteries in bed. I call it my junk food for the mind reading. Of course, they must be well written so many of them end up being British.

If I read mysteries in bed they keep me awake puzzling whodunit!!

MadgeUK wrote: "If I read mysteries in bed they keep me awake puzzling whodunit!!"

I've been known to blink myself awake in order to finish the book. Not so much anymore. I've been reading them since I was a child.

On child-rearing: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/18/ups...

"Children from higher-income families are likely to have the skills to navigate bureaucracies and succeed in schools and workplaces, Ms. Lareau said." This aspect I find particularly interesting. Someplace long ago I encountered the view that it takes three generations to create a "professional family", i.e., a generation with the ambition, smarts, and luck to break away from pure physical labor, another to learn the ins and outs of more complex and demanding economic relationships, and finally a third to institutionalize into the family structure that knowledge.

I find very sad to see scenes of squalor with young men leaning wearily against the door frames and pillars because they have no jobs -- nor apparently any sense of how to initiate the creation of (economic) value.

That accords with the old Lancashire proverb 'clogs to clogs in three generations' meaning that your hard work and skill may pluck you out of povetty, that the next generation may sustain it but that the third generation may slip back into poverty again. I have seen that happen in my own formerly working class family where 'middleclassness' has been hard to attain and is easily lost through ill health and/or unemployment. It is particularly true for the post crash generation whose parents had free university education, secure employment and mortgaged homes, all things they are unlikely to have. My own children all had a degree, a mortgage and a secure job before they were 25, their children will struggle to achieve this given the current economic climate.

Quiz: 2015 in books – how closely were you reading?

http://gu.com/p/4f89m?CMP=Share_Andro...

News and pic from the young royals:

http://gu.com/p/4f7h7?CMP=Share_Andro...

Deborah wrote: "And Eman I found something we agree on :)."

The foundations of the world have just shaken. [g]

But yes, they must be good mysteries. Right now I've started bingeing on the Evan series by Rhys Bowen. I have several on my shelf I'm bringing down one by one, and also was able to download several from my library, so I'm good for the next few weeks.

MadgeUK wrote: "That accords with the old Lancashire proverb 'clogs to clogs in three generations'..."

My wife's great aunt said "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations." Same thought, different types of work.

Everyman wrote: "Deborah wrote: "And Eman I found something we agree on :)."

The foundations of the world have just shaken. [g]

But yes, they must be good mysteries. Right now I've started bingeing on the Evan se..."

I've read several of the Evans stories and enjoyed them.

Deborah wrote: "MadgeUK wrote: "If I read mysteries in bed they keep me awake puzzling whodunit!!"

I've been known to blink myself awake in order to finish the book. Not so much anymore. I've been reading them si..."

Should we discuss favorite mystery authors here, maybe find some new ideas?

Everyman wrote: "Deborah wrote: "MadgeUK wrote: "If I read mysteries in bed they keep me awake puzzling whodunit!!"

I've been known to blink myself awake in order to finish the book. Not so much anymore. I've been..."

I'm game if you are.

Deborah wrote: "I'm game if you are. ."

Okay. Favorite mystery authors round one, just off the top of my head.

My top ones are probably pretty obvious. Dorothy Sayers. Rex Stout. Josephine Tey. Ngaio Marsh. Margery Allingham. Arthur Conan Doyle. These are the authors I can read over and over even though I know the plots almost by heart because the writing is so good.

Close behind them: Dick Francis. Ross Macdonald. Mary Roberts Rinehart (also her Tess stories -- magnificent). John MacDonald.

There are others, but those will do for a start.

I'm not a huge mystery reader, but I do love Dick Francis and Sue Grafton, and of course, the Sherlock mysteries.

I also like spy thrillers. Since the summer, I've been into the Daniel Silva books, and just bought David Baldacci's The Innocent, which is the first in a series. I used to love LeCarre, Ludlum, and Follett when I was younger.

Also into the Lisbeth Salander series - I'm reading the latest one right now - The Girl in the Spider's Web.

And last, but certainly not least, I like John Grisham's legal thrillers. Every time I read one, I think, I should have been a lawyer! :-)

I like Ian Rankin and an 'oldie', Francis Durbridge's Paul Temple. Not too keen overall on the genre though. I prefer them on audio because I don't like reading a lot of dialogue, prefer narrative.

I’d second Everyman’s list, adding perhaps Robert B. Parker and Tony Hillerman.

As for asking for books for Christmas, I am sadly in the position of giver, not recipient—the universal caregiver. Fortunately, I make up for the lack myself! On my wish list right now, the Harvard UP annotated editions of Jane Austen novels (exclusive of Northanger Abbey, which I already have). Just in case any of my friends are on this thread!

And my sweetie did give me a subscription to Dog TV, which was very dear of him. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I have to pay for half of it because DirecTV is one of the things we pay for jointly.

It's so nice to read that a lot of folks here give books for Christmas. I've been doing it for awhile, and love trying to find what I think certain people will like.

Everyman wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I'm game if you are. ."

Okay. Favorite mystery authors round one, just off the top of my head.

My top ones are probably pretty obvious. Dorothy Sayers. Rex Stout. Josephine Tey. ..."

I enjoy all of those except Dick Francis who I have not read. Of course there's Christie. I really enjoy quirky characters and for that I read Christophet Fowler's peculiar crime unit stories.

MadgeUK wrote: "I like Ian Rankin and an 'oldie', Francis Durbridge's Paul Temple. Not too keen overall on the genre though. I prefer them on audio because I don't like reading a lot of dialogue, prefer narrative."

I enjoy Rankin as well. I've never read Durbidge

Abigail wrote: "I’d second Everyman’s list, adding perhaps Robert B. Parker and Tony Hillerman.

As for asking for books for Christmas, I am sadly in the position of giver, not recipient—the universal caregiver. F..."

I only have two friends who will take the chance and buy me a book. The others are afraid that I've read it already

Lynnm wrote: "It's so nice to read that a lot of folks here give books for Christmas. I've been doing it for awhile, and love trying to find what I think certain people will like."

I give gifts quite frequently as a gift to friends I know are readers. I have given hubby some (he's not a reader) so now he reads a bit, which is a far cry from reading nothing as he was

I also like the Mysteries by Alan Bradley, his young girl scientist protagonist is a lot of fun,

Deborah - Dick Francis books are wonderful. He was a jockey so all of his books take place in the horse racing world.

My favorite character of his is Sid Halley - there are 5 books with Sid as the main character: Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come to Grief, Under Orders and Refusal (Googled it!!!). If you ever decide to read a Dick Francis, I would start with Odds Against.

Sadly, he is no longer with us, and his son has taken over. He's good, but not as good as his father.

Another that I've thought of is Minette Waters. She's very good.

Abigail wrote: "I’d second Everyman’s list, adding perhaps Robert B. Parker and Tony Hillerman."

Both great additions. Though I find that Hillerman isn't quite as good on second and third reads. (I can finish most mysteries in an hour or two, so get through a lot of them when I'm on a streak, which happens a few times a year.)

Everyman wrote: "You might see whether your library takes The Horn Book...."

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to go looking if I want to find it. Had not heard of it before. Probably will ask my school library friend first.

Lynnm wrote: "It's so nice to read that a lot of folks here give books for Christmas. I've been doing it for awhile, and love trying to find what I think certain people will like."

I found two recent children's books that I'm going to give five stars in my reviews. Each I found absolutely charming:

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems

Lily wrote: "I found two recent children's books that I'm going to give five stars in my reviews. Each I found absolutely charming:."

Thanks. I've passed those titles on to my wife and children for possible grandchild gifts.

Is this book on anyone's Xmas list?

http://gu.com/p/4f8jk?CMP=Share_Andro...

MadgeUK wrote: "Is this book on anyone's Xmas list?

http://gu.com/p/4f8jk?CMP=Share_Andro..."

You've seen the U.S. headlines about the so-called dangers of copying the Arabic calligraphy of the Saudi flag?

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/1...

How ridiculou!! Pure Trumpalligraphy!

It is interesting, though, that this profession of faith is underlined with a sword.

Lily wrote: "MadgeUK wrote: "Is this book on anyone's Xmas list?

http://gu.com/p/4f8jk?CMP=Share_Andro..."

You've seen the U.S. headlines about the so-called dangers of copying the Arabic calligraphy ..."

How ridiculous.

MadgeUK wrote: "Is this book on anyone's Xmas list?

http://gu.com/p/4f8jk?CMP=Share_Andro..."

Not on mine. But on the philosophy of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer," it may make sense to expose more people to it. And it teaches us that no matter how outrageous an extremist idea seems to us, there's always the danger that it will gather enough momentum to actually happen if people aren't adequately prepared and aware.

MadgeUK wrote: "How ridiculou!! Pure Trumpalligraphy!"

Ah, but are you aware of how great the backlash is (including threats to sue) in this country when a school simply tries to have a Christmas carol sung in the school winter (has to be a winter, not a Christmas) concert?

There was a huge hullabaloo when a Kentucky school omitted the lines from Luke that Linus was supposed to say in the school production of Charlie Brown's Christmas. The parents in the audience apparently added them in during the performance.
http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/ed...

Imagine an assignment where students were required to practice their handwriting by copying out the Apostles Creed. Does anybody here think that would be appropriate?

With all this sensitivity about anything having any Christian meaning entering our schools, you're surprised at an objection to students being required to write out the Muslim proclamation of Faith? Having the children of Christians required to write "There is no God by Allah, and Mohammed is his Prophet?"

How about requiring Muslim students to write "Jesus is the way and the truth, no man cometh to the Father but by Him "?

Everyman wrote: "MadgeUK wrote: "How ridiculou!! Pure Trumpalligraphy!"

Ah, but are you aware of how great the backlash is (including threats to sue) in this country when a school simply tries to have a Christmas ..."

How about we take the time to learn about different religions so that we may build peaceful bridges instead of violence?

Wendel wrote: "It is interesting, though, that this profession of faith is underlined with a sword."

And in many schools, even a picture of a weapon is a violation of the rules -- in one cases (cited below, there are plenty more) a students was suspended and briefly jailed for wearing a T-shirt with a gun on it and a statement of the 2nd Amendment, and refusing to takeit off or turn it inside out. The citation is not from Fox news, since some people don't like them, but from the reliably liberal Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06...

In another case, just making a gun with his fingers and "shooting" it (like my friends and I did hundreds or thousands of times in school recess, pretend shooting each other in our cowboys and indians games) got a ten year old boy a three day suspension.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/natio...

A sword on a flag as part of a school assignment? How can this be permitted?

Deborah wrote: "How about we take the time to learn about different religions so that we may build peaceful bridges instead of violence?
"

I agree totally. In theory, at least.

In practice, it can get ugly. Is Scientology a religion that should be taught in schools? If Christianity, which brand -- Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Quakerism, Amish, Evangelical, or what? How about Wiccan? And how about atheism? If Islam, Sunni or Shia?

My Quaker meeting had a program for its young friends where several times a year we went to another church or synagogue and had a teaching session about their beliefs and then participated in their service. It didn't do me any harm at all. But for schools to do this would be impossible. And the parents of the children who most need this are likely to be the ones who would most resist it.

If your Constitution says keep religion out of schools then keep it out, all of it, or let it all in!

There is a difference between giving a lesson on another religion's beliefs and singing Christian songs of worship or reciting Christian creeds etc in a worshipful way. Teaching the history and background of any religion should be OK in a secular education system, bu worshipping/praising any god should be taboo. It is the teaching element which is crucial.

The problem is that in a multi cultural school with children of different faiths, some religious things are offensive and/or sinful and could cause the children and their parents distress so it is best to avoid the practice of religion altogethery and stick t actual instruction as part of, say, a history lesson. And be very even handed in what you do teach or celebrate. If Christmas/Easteris celebrated so should Diwali, the end of Ramadan and Passover, all of which can be introduced via foods, together with a llittle background information. I have a daughter who has been teaching in a multi cultural state school for years where they get around these problems amicably. Schools here also arrange visits to churches, synagogues, mosques and temples as part of their educational programme. It is IMO a very necessary part of a modern, multicultural life. If parents want their children to be taught a particular religion they should use religious schools.

Religion can be very divisive as the UK saw to its cost in Northern Irelabd where Protestant children went to Protestant schools and Cathokic children went to catholic ones. Unfortunately the religious Tony Blair encouraged the building of many more religious state schools and this problem is now rearing its ugly head again with Islamic schools added to the mix:(:( Given our experience, I would caution Americans against allowing any religious observance in schools but allow the even handed teaching of comparative religion and respectful visits to all kinds of religious establishments. Most of our old state schools have this approach but the newer religious schools do not:(