What are you reading right now?

[Fricka]

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eadieburke wrote:

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Fricka wrote:

Wow! Those are very cool libraries, becke and eadie!

Here's a link to the Spencer Research Library on the campus of the University of Kansas:

http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/

I'm thinking maybe it's time I vist my Alma Mater again!

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My uncle, family name Schaffer, lives in Lawrence KS. He worked at Hallmark. We visited him about 10 years ago and also visited the campus of the U of KS. Go Jayhawks! My mom was born in Americus, KS near Emporia!

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Wow, that's very cool that your uncle worked at Hallmark, eadie. I'm thinking we need to get together for a ROAD TRIP!!!! We could visit the libraries on the KU Campus, and the Lawrence Public Library. Then, the next part of our trip would be to visit that library in Kansas City! After all, Kansas City is not that far from Lawrence.  becke could join us by flying into KC from Cincinnati. Of course, anyone else interested could join in as well! Whattya say? Is that a great idea, or what????

[eadieburke]

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Fricka wrote:

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eadieburke wrote:

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Fricka wrote:

Wow! Those are very cool libraries, becke and eadie!

Here's a link to the Spencer Research Library on the campus of the University of Kansas:

http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/

I'm thinking maybe it's time I vist my Alma Mater again!

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My uncle, family name Schaffer, lives in Lawrence KS. He worked at Hallmark. We visited him about 10 years ago and also visited the campus of the U of KS. Go Jayhawks! My mom was born in Americus, KS near Emporia!

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Wow, that's very cool that your uncle worked at Hallmark, eadie. I'm thinking we need to get together for a ROAD TRIP!!!! We could visit the libraries on the KU Campus, and the Lawrence Public Library. Then, the next part of our trip would be to visit that library in Kansas City! After all, Kansas City is not that far from Lawrence.  becke could join us by flying into KC from Cincinnati. Of course, anyone else interested could join in as well! Whattya say? Is that a great idea, or what????

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Debbie should be included - she lives near St. Louis and what about Jim? Maxcat could cut across and meet us too! Sounds like fun to me!

[Fricka]

I'd forgotten about Debbie living in st. Louis, eadie, and of course, Jim would be more than welcome to join us.

In fact, we could have our own Mini-mystery convention, and Jim could be our featured author! Doesn't he have at least two books out now? He could bring enough books for each trip participant, and we could all get autographed copies from him that way! Then Deb and/or becke could do an interview with him.(Thus combining business with pleasure!)

I think we do need at least a year's worth of planning on this, though-- I for one need to save enough funds and make proper lodging arrangements. I'm pretty sure there's a place on the KU campus for Alums to stay, and I need to check on the cost and reservations requirements, and if there are limits to the number of additonal guests I could bring with me.  Don't know if your uncle is still living and if so, he  would be up to putting up visitors or not, eadie, but that would be another  possible option. We will need to find out how many, if any, others are interested in our "Library Tour" and then we could start making real plans! Oh, how nerdish is this--planning a vacation around visiting libraries!!!! ( I love it!) Send me a message on B& N, and I'll send you my personal e-mail, and we can get started on figuring out if this will really be do-able for us or not.

[eadieburke]

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Fricka wrote:

I'd forgotten about Debbie living in st. Louis, eadie, and of course, Jim would be more than welcome to join us.

In fact, we could have our own Mini-mystery convention, and Jim could be our featured author! Doesn't he have at least two books out now? He could bring enough books for each trip participant, and we could all get autographed copies from him that way! Then Deb and/or becke could do an interview with him.(Thus combining business with pleasure!)

I think we do need at least a year's worth of planning on this, though-- I for one need to save enough funds and make proper lodging arrangements. I'm pretty sure there's a place on the KU campus for Alums to stay, and I need to check on the cost and reservations requirements, and if there are limits to the number of additonal guests I could bring with me.  Don't know if your uncle is still living and if so, he  would be up to putting up visitors or not, eadie, but that would be another  possible option. We will need to find out how many, if any, others are interested in our "Library Tour" and then we could start making real plans! Oh, how nerdish is this--planning a vacation around visiting libraries!!!! ( I love it!) Send me a message on B& N, and I'll send you my personal e-mail, and we can get started on figuring out if this will really be do-able for us or not.

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I just sent you a PM with my email address!

[becke_davis]

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Fricka wrote:

I'd forgotten about Debbie living in st. Louis, eadie, and of course, Jim would be more than welcome to join us.

In fact, we could have our own Mini-mystery convention, and Jim could be our featured author! Doesn't he have at least two books out now? He could bring enough books for each trip participant, and we could all get autographed copies from him that way! Then Deb and/or becke could do an interview with him.(Thus combining business with pleasure!)

I think we do need at least a year's worth of planning on this, though-- I for one need to save enough funds and make proper lodging arrangements. I'm pretty sure there's a place on the KU campus for Alums to stay, and I need to check on the cost and reservations requirements, and if there are limits to the number of additonal guests I could bring with me.  Don't know if your uncle is still living and if so, he  would be up to putting up visitors or not, eadie, but that would be another  possible option. We will need to find out how many, if any, others are interested in our "Library Tour" and then we could start making real plans! Oh, how nerdish is this--planning a vacation around visiting libraries!!!! ( I love it!) Send me a message on B& N, and I'll send you my personal e-mail, and we can get started on figuring out if this will really be do-able for us or not.

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Go for it!

[becke_davis]

After finishing Rachel Hore's book, A PLACE OF SECRETS, I was drawn back to THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON, which I read awhile back. They aren't all that similar, but there's something in the flavor of both books that I like. Time for a quick re-read!

A Place of Secrets 

The Monsters of Templeton   

[dhaupt]

Did Ihear Road trip oh yeah

Thanks Fricka

here are some of the libraries 

this is the library in my small town 

• 

this is the rendition of the brand new three story branch that is just about to open in the district where I sit on the board

• 
• This is the Washington University Law Library
• • 
• 
•  [LIB2436] - The downtown Central Library was built with a substantial gift made in 1901 by Andrew Carnegie, along with six neighborhood branches, four of which (Barr, Cabanne, Carpenter, and Carondelet) are still in use. The original 1865 collection included 1500 books and by 1893 that number had grown to 90,000. Between 1894 and 1917 book deliveries, children’s programs, and a librarian training school all began. By 1938 the collection grew to 900,000 books and other items. Today the system consists of 15 branches and Central Library with 4.6 million items in its collection, 85,000 cardholders, over 300 full time staff, and 2 million visitors annually. [Website]

[becke_davis]

Debbie - Thanks so much for sharing those!

[eadieburke]

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dhaupt wrote:

Did Ihear Road trip oh yeah

Thanks Fricka

here are some of the libraries 

this is the library in my small town 

• 

this is the rendition of the brand new three story branch that is just about to open in the district where I sit on the board

• 
• This is the Washington University Law Library
• • 
• 
•  [LIB2436] - The downtown Central Library was built with a substantial gift made in 1901 by Andrew Carnegie, along with six neighborhood branches, four of which (Barr, Cabanne, Carpenter, and Carondelet) are still in use. The original 1865 collection included 1500 books and by 1893 that number had grown to 90,000. Between 1894 and 1917 book deliveries, children’s programs, and a librarian training school all began. By 1938 the collection grew to 900,000 books and other items. Today the system consists of 15 branches and Central Library with 4.6 million items in its collection, 85,000 cardholders, over 300 full time staff, and 2 million visitors annually. [Website]

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I like your new library - that's going to be awesome compared to the little old one!

[dulcinea3]

Well, since we're sharing libraries...

Here is Memorial Hall Library in Andover:

Cool pic of what it used to look like:

I have lots of fond memories of browsing the children's room in the basement when I was little.  When I was in high school, they had a crossword puzzle contest, and my friends and I spent hours doing research to find the answers.  I won, beating one of my high school classmates by one word!  I got Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, which I still have.

I lived right by Phillips Academy, and this is their Oliver Wendell Holmes libary:

This is the library where I live now:

I don't have a library card, but I've donated books there, and I go there to vote.

[becke_davis]

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dulcinea3 wrote:

Well, since we're sharing libraries...

Here is Memorial Hall Library in Andover:

Cool pic of what it used to look like:

I have lots of fond memories of browsing the children's room in the basement when I was little.  When I was in high school, they had a crossword puzzle contest, and my friends and I spent hours doing research to find the answers.  I won, beating one of my high school classmates by one word!  I got Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, which I still have.

I lived right by Phillips Academy, and this is their Oliver Wendell Holmes libary:

This is the library where I live now:

I don't have a library card, but I've donated books there, and I go there to vote.

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Is Phillips Academy the same as Phillips Exeter? My cousin used to teach there, if it is.

[basson_mommy12]

I finally got my LendMe request approved by my friend in Illinois to read 

Catching Fire (Hunger Games Series #2)  and I'm already more than a third through. Ms. Collins knows how to write some gripping material!

[dhaupt]

OOh Lisa Gardner's 

Catch Me (Detective D. D. Warren Series #6)  

comes out today and to celebrate I've got a Q&A with Lisa on my forum at B&N.com check it out here you'll absolutely love her answers

and of course it's on my blog today too here

[Fricka]

Yeah, Deb, your sharp ears don't miss much! You heard right--we're planning a "road trip" centered around visiting libraries. Thanks for sharing those pictures of your old and new libraries. Since eadie and dulcinea3 are also sharing pics of libraries in their areas, I thought I better get in on the action:

Burton Barr Central LibraryLocationCoordinates

View of the North East corner of the building

1221 North Central Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85004 United States

33°27′45.00″N 112°04′23.50″WCoordinates: 33°27′45.00″N 112°04′23.50″W

Those shots are one side of the outer Burton Barr Central Library, and the lower pic is the fifth floor, which is almost entirely a reading room. Here's some of the building info I got from Wikipedia:

" The building incorporates a Buckminster Fuller tensegrity structure in its roof and features motorized louvers on its south side for improved sun control.( The article admits the louvers never worked properly and are not really in use now). The library is physically oriented for displays of sunlight alignment on equinox days."

See, I learned some things about the library I hadn't known before. It's quite a bit larger and more modern than the former structure on Central Ave., which now has been incorporated into the Phoenix Art Museum. It's too bad Wikipedia doesn't have an inside shot of the libray on the ground floor inside--there's a "wishing pond" for schoolchildren (and others) to toss coins into, and the ultra modern, glass elevators that take the patron or visitor to upper floors, giving the individual an eyeful as it goes up.

( I would personally take the stairs, but it takes too long to locate them, and with my wonky knees, it's faster to take the elevators. I just close my eyes or look steadfastly at the control panel until we get to the floor I want.) Personally, I rather favor the more old-fashioned looks of libraries, like those in Deb's eadie's and dulcinea3's pictures, but alas! Will Bruder did not consult me as he was planning the building. If you like ultra-modern buildings, you will love this one!

[dulcinea3]

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becke_davis wrote:

 

Is Phillips Academy the same as Phillips Exeter? My cousin used to teach there, if it is.

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No, but they are 'brother' schools, or something like that, I think.  Phillips Exeter is in New Hampshire (and is the setting for the novel A Separate Peace), and the full name of the one in MA is Phillips Andover.  It is also sometimes just called Andover.  A lot of famous people have gone there, like Humphrey Bogart (I think he was expelled, though), Jack Lemmon, John-John Kennedy (occasional sightings of Jackie O. at the Andover Inn on the school's campus!), both George Bushes, Dana Delany, James Spader, etc.

[becke_davis]

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dulcinea3 wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

 

Is Phillips Academy the same as Phillips Exeter? My cousin used to teach there, if it is.

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No, but they are 'brother' schools, or something like that, I think.  Phillips Exeter is in New Hampshire (and is the setting for the novel A Separate Peace), and the full name of the one in MA is Phillips Andover.  It is also sometimes just called Andover.  A lot of famous people have gone there, like Humphrey Bogart (I think he was expelled, though), Jack Lemmon, John-John Kennedy (occasional sightings of Jackie O. at the Andover Inn on the school's campus!), both George Bushes, Dana Delany, James Spader, etc.

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Thanks for the explanation!

[becke_davis]

Little Shop of Homicide  

I like this a lot!

[Fricka]

becke, you asked me to let you know how I liked Murder Most Persuasive. Well,

I liked it so well I am now reading the second book in the series:

Murder on the Bride's Side (Elizabeth Parker Series #2)

• by Tracy Kiely

Available on NOOK devices and apps

Murder on the Bride's Side by Tracy Kiely

The first book was such a delight. Not only was there an interesting murder plot line, but there was an interwoven theme of thwarted love, as in Jane Austen's novel Persuasion. The protagonist, Elizabeth Parker, is a JA aficiando, so she and one of her aunts are always quoting Jane(and often Shakespeare as well!). Another charming touch is that each chapter has a quote from Jane Austen

Here's some of my favorites:: " Unfortunately. . . there are many who forget to think seriously till it is almost too late."--Persuasion; " If there is anything disagreeable going on, men are always sure to get out of it."--Persuasion;"Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?"--Sense and Sensibility; " It was a delightful visit--perfect, in being much too short"--Emma; " Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies."--Northanger Abbey; "Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all," Pride and Prejudice, and " Well! Evil to some is always good to others."--Emma.

[ElScorcho101]

On the mystery side I am reading The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo which is the 3rd book in his Harry Hole detective series.  This book, and the ones before it, does not dissappoint.  If you like noir detective stories I can't recommend them enough.

PS - I am reading this on a Nook Simple Touch that I got about a week ago.  I am looking for some Nook friends and mystery is one of my favorite genres to read.  Shoot me a PM and I would be happy to add you to my Nook Friends.  I also like reading Non-Fiction with an adventure or mystery slant(Lost City of Z, Devil in the White City, and others),  and along with The Devil's Star I am finding A Game of Thrones very difficult to put down.

[dhaupt]

I just found a new author in Sci-Fi, alternate history with a great mystery to boot

Shift  

http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-of-shift-book-one-of-chrooshift.html