Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

And I third! Best group and best moderators. THANK YOU!

Thanks everyone :) This group is fantastic for team effort, especially with all the wonderful members, whose contributions keep everything running!

Brina wrote: "Just want to say a big thank you to Bob, Christine, Kathy, and Pink. This is the most organized group on GoodReads in terms of nominating, polls, and buddy reads, and transitioning from one month t..."

Thank you!

I agree with Pink too -- it is our members that keep the group happening! We appreciate all of you and your thoughts and dialogue.

Thanks! I, too, am grateful for our group's terrific members. :-)

I hate to be the caboose in saying Thank-you and I agree with Pink, Kathy, and Christine, our members are the engine that makes this group go. Thank you all.

You can't be the caboose this time, Bob, that needs to be me.
I appreciate what you guys do to make this group work and love all the other readers who share themselves so freely.

Tonight I am going to young authors night at my kids' school :)

Brina wrote: "Tonight I am going to young authors night at my kids' school :)"

That sounds fun, what exactly is it?

This is preschool through 8th grade school. All the students in grades 1-8 presented a decorated writing portfolio of work they have done throughout the year. The art teacher also had a slide show of student work. It was inspiring seeing all the kids not just my own being proud to show off their work. So that is what I have been reading tonight :)

What a wonderful experience for both parents and kids. I'm so glad the arts are not being neglected.

This is the first year the school has done this. In years past there was either science fair or Torah fair but kids spent a few weeks on one project and it was done. The writing and art was over the course of the year and we can really see how the kids have progressed during the whole school year. I have a first grader and the difference is obvious. The best part was that all my kids loved getting ready for this program. They detest homework and getting up for school too early for their liking but they all enjoyed showing off their work, even my kids who don't like writing. Easily beats back to school night.

Brina wrote: "This is preschool through 8th grade school. All the students in grades 1-8 presented a decorated writing portfolio of work they have done throughout the year. The art teacher also had a slide show ..."

Now that is cool.

That is really neat, Brina. It is so nice to hear of schools making positive, progressive changes. Thanks so much for sharing a part of your life with this heartwarming story. ;-)

Thanks everyone. Its a small school so it's easy to implement changes when needed. As I said my kids- even my fifth grader who prefers math-really outdid themselves and enjoyed a lot.

That is cool, Brina. My Kindergarten granddaughter did something similar in that they drew a picture and wrote a sentence. It was great to see her spelling and sentence structure improve so much over the year. I too am glad the arts aren't being ignored!

Has anyone checked out the google doodle today, i'm defintely going to take a look at some of lotte reiniger shadowmations, they look pretty cool. Several appear to be fairytales... cinderella, hansel and gretal.

They are kind of creepy looking but certainly intriguing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDoja...

Wreade1872 wrote: "Has anyone checked out the google doodle today, i'm defintely going to take a look at some of lotte reiniger shadowmations, they look pretty cool. Several appear to be fairytales... cinderella, han..."

Wow! Thanks for sharing this Wreade1872. These are so cool! :)

Really amazing Wreade1872. Thanks for sharing that. I watched a video that explains a little about how she did it and it is quite the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvU55...

Thanks again!!! ;-)

Thank you both Wreade and Bat-Cat. Very nice. The "birthday" doodles are usually fun.

Good evening everyone. What's up? =)

LunaBel wrote: "Good evening everyone. What's up? =)"

Good evening (or for me, good afternoon!). Not much! :)

What time is it there? It's 6:31 pm here

LunaBel wrote: "What time is it there? It's 6:31 pm here"

1:45pm

You live in the past! :p

LunaBel wrote: "You live in the past! :p"

Yeah. People who know me say that! :)

I don't know you yet, so I only say it according to timezones. Otherwise, I cant judge lol

LunaBel wrote: "I don't know you yet, so I only say it according to timezones. Otherwise, I cant judge lol"

:)

OMG!!! i just watched one of the funniest things ever. Not intentionally funny but still... everyone needs to watch this Lotte Reiniger animation from 1922.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wof9...

Its only 2mins long trust me you won't regret it, just DON'T read the description or anything on the video.
I went into this blind and then couldn't stop laughing... it was just so unexpected given the year and the animation style :lol .

I watched it, thinking what is this about, maybe a book, but no....it would be nice if things were done the same way today!

For ideas of potential classics, I've found the new Penguin Pocket Classics list rather interesting (http://www.pocketpenguins.com) with familiar ones but also some less so (well, to me).

Had never heard of The House of Ulloa by Emilia Pardo Bazan - tempted to read this one for the Women's Century challenge

Here is an article I came across about adverbs. It is rather long but worth it if you have an interest in grammar and writing and such. I enjoyed it immensely since, I seem to have, at times, and periodically frequently, a notably particular and distinctly exaggerated propensity toward that type of expression. Enjoy!!! ;-)
http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_va...

Hi all,

I'm still new to the group and Good Reads. Not many friends of mine IRL are on Good Reads, so I'm looking to make some friends to help my timeline be more interesting and become a resource to finding out books to read, not to mention making friends in general so we can read books together maybe.

A couple people added me a month or so back when I introduced myself, but if you like some of the types of books I've read, or you're just friendly, feel free to add me. Thanks and looking forward to being a part of this group.

Hi Josh, Welcome to the group.

Hi Lisa. Thank you!

Hey everyone, how's your week starting?

Welcome, Josh. I see that we have quite a few books in common, so I added you =)

Josh wrote: "Hi all,

I'm still new to the group and Good Reads. Not many friends of mine IRL are on Good Reads, so I'm looking to make some friends to help my timeline be more interesting and become a resource..."

I like your To Read bookshelf. A rather eclectic mix like mine is. I sent a friend request as well.

Bat-Cat wrote: "Here is an article I came across about adverbs. It is rather long but worth it if you have an interest in grammar and writing and such. I enjoyed it immensely since, I seem to have, at times, and p..."

All I could think when I first started reading about how adherents of the "get rid of adverbs" group think that sentences should be pared down to the barest, cleanest level is that this describes Hemingway to a T. Of course the article finally mentioned him as one who uses adverbs sparingly. The biggest surprise to me was Stephen King. I haven't read his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, so I was unaware how stongly he dislikes adverbs. I can't even write this paragraph without some, so a total ban would be beyond me.

Thanks LunaBel and Laurie. Added you both. :)

Bat-Cat wrote: "Here is an article I came across about adverbs. It is rather long but worth it if you have an interest in grammar and writing and such. I enjoyed it immensely since, I seem to have, at times, and p..."

Thanks for this Bat-Cat! I read it thoughtfully yet laughingly. (An example of why many are not fond of adverbs!) Like with all rules, good to keep an open mind, but I have to say as someone learning to write with others learning to write, it is so easy to lazily fall back on them that I think it is good advice, for beginning writers anyway, to avoid them as much as possible.

BUT, I'm reading Carson McCullers, and I'm so used to screening them out that these jumped out at me, within a page or so:

"he answered non-committally"
"Biff hinted delicately"

And this book is so amazing, anything that Carson McCullers does must be fine just fine!

Laurie, I found that quite interesting about Stephen King as well, although I must say that I have never enjoyed his writing. I guess I lean toward the adverbs can be amazingly handy camp but understand the advise to use them with caution.

Kathleen, I am one who is quite fond of adverbs, perhaps overly so, but I find that I am equally fond of both using them and reading books that use them. They serve, for me, three purposes. First of all, I like using them as a roundabout way of approaching and honing in on the exactness I am looking for in the meaning of the sentence (perhaps a better vocabulary would assist in this regard). Secondly, I seem to be very aware of the sound and rhythm of the sentence as one would pay attention to in poetry. For me, it needs to flow perfectly to the music of the meaning I am looking for, if that makes any sense (almost like how music soundtracks in movies change to amplify the mood of particular scenes). And finally, at least for now, I like how writing seems to be capable of bypassing the habitually used areas of the brain and accessing more remote, dark and unused portions of the subconscious brain in which, as neurology is starting to discover, real therapy, healing and change can occur - especially when it is written in a meandering, labyrinthine fashion. In my view, by giving into the writing and following the maze-like qualities of the text (which is often achieved with the use of adverbs), a form of permanent psychotherapy can take place utilizing the properties of neuroplasticity of the brain. Hence, the reason some refer to Proust as a neuroscientist.

Anyway, I thought the article was interesting and wanted to share it. Your thoughts are, as always, well taken and very insightful. I could use all the help I can get with my rather verbose tendencies. Maybe they have support groups for me. ;-)

Bat-Cat wrote: "Laurie, I found that quite interesting about Stephen King as well, although I must say that I have never enjoyed his writing. I guess I lean toward the adverbs can be amazingly handy camp but under..."

Keep up the verbosity, Bat-Cat! I don't think you're in need of a support group--you have a group here who really appreciate your thoughts and ideas!

I completely relate to your ideas about rhythm and flow in writing. I am noticing that more and more, both in reading and writing, as very important to me too.

And what you say about writing reaching the subconscious is fascinating. I have to share that I've experienced that with my writing group: I will write something not realizing what is behind it, and one of them will pick up on it, and then I will realize the deeper meaning. It is magical. Go Proust!

Kathleen wrote: "Bat-Cat wrote: "Laurie, I found that quite interesting about Stephen King as well, although I must say that I have never enjoyed his writing. I guess I lean toward the adverbs can be amazingly hand..."

Kathleen, you are so very sweet and it sure is nice to know that there are some people out there who find it amusing to humor me. ;-)

Yes, as I have gotten older, the rhythm has become much more important to me. When I am reading, sometimes I will reread the first part of the book several times until I can catch on with the musicality of the prose and then I do my best to continue to be swept along by it, allowing authors to lead me wherever they please. It is lots of fun when I can just sit back, release the steering wheel of my mind and go for the ride.

The labyrinth of the mind is quite fascinating to me and I love when I can catch experiential glimpses of its workings. I am certain there is no limit to how far one can probe and explore its mechanisms, but each time I get another insight, I feel like I have found another tiny treasure chest full of bright colored goodies that seem to serve as yet another piece to understanding the ultimate giant jigsaw puzzle that is life. ;-)

aarrrggghhh! i went to remove some items from my favourites shelf and accidentally permanently deleted them instead :# .

Luckily i post my reviews to another place too
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showth...

I think i've managed to restore them all but not 100% sure how many i deleted .

Wreade1872 wrote: "aarrrggghhh! i went to remove some items from my favourites shelf and accidentally permanently deleted them instead :# .

Luckily i post my reviews to another place too
http://www.boards.ie/vbullet..."

Glad you were able to rectify it! :)

Wreade1872 wrote: "aarrrggghhh! i went to remove some items from my favourites shelf and accidentally permanently deleted them instead :# .

Oh I hate when I do that.

I haven't been reading much of anything this week because I have been cooking a ton preparing for a 3 day holiday. I will be offline from sundown tonight until sundown on Monday. Hopefully I will be able to catch up on some reading and maybe even a classic for this group. Have a wonderful weekend.

Brina wrote: "I haven't been reading much of anything this week because I have been cooking a ton preparing for a 3 day holiday. I will be offline from sundown tonight until sundown on Monday. Hopefully I will b..."

Maybe i've been doing holidays wrong, mine don't usually involve a lot of cooking :P . Hope you have (or have had by the time you read this) a good time :D .

Wreade I am just seeing this now. Jewish holidays or at least my version of them involve lots of food and if I want to enjoy the holiday instead of spending all my time in the kitchen, I cook in advance. I also cook for my synagogue every week. I did get to rest this time around but I only got to read a middle grade kids book my kids have in the house and a light historical mystery. Starting fresh tomorrow.

Brina wrote: "Wreade I am just seeing this now. Jewish holidays or at least my version of them involve lots of food and if I want to enjoy the holiday instead of spending all my time in the kitchen, I cook in ad..."

aaaaah you meant holiday not holiday ;) . I don't think we use the term holiday in ireland for celebrations etc..... i'm trying to think but i don't recall us having a generic term we just say christmas, easter etc.
Holiday always means like a break, going away somewhere etc.
I instantly got a picture of you traveling to spain or somewhere for the weekend with a suitcase full of cakes :D .

Wreade, I think in England and Ireland you use the word "holiday" the way Americans use the word "vacation" (meaning a time off work to go on a trip or stay home and relax). If we say 'holiday' we mean specific days of celebration or national observance or religious observance such as Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, etc