pontalba

I've actually just put it on our Watchlist on Amazon Prime. We watched a documentary on Orson Welles the other day, Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles. I've always been a fan of Welles, and this doc had some really interesting information. I'd have liked more depth, but it was only an hour and a half. Watched a few Midsomer Murders, and a few X-Files. We watched an absolutely riveting movie called The Travelling Salesman/P=NP. Here is the synopsis from Amazon. "Four of the world's smartest mathematicians are hired by the U.S. government to solve the most elusive problem in computer science history--P vs. NP. The four have jointly created a "system" which could be the next major advancement for humanity or the downfall of society."

All great reviews, Anna. I'm particularly interested in the Carver you mention. I have a bio of him around here, so must get to it and his writing asap!

Great reviews, Gaia. Re childbearing. Never let anyone dictate what you do with your uterus. I know you know that, but positive reinforcement never hurts. I hated it when all these other women in the offices I worked in would go on and on, and on, and on, and on.....ad nauseam about their pregnancies, babies, toddlers etc. Who threw up what, when. And how much. I still get funny looks when I say I didn't have children, or grandchildren. Pox on 'em. I'm not saying anything against those that procreate like mad, if that's what they have wanted out of life, that is their prerogative. Just don't try to push it down my throat, thereby dismissing what I have done, and wanted out of life. /rant over/

/groan/ I don't know if I'll upgrade or not. We have 8.1 on the desktops, and Windows 7 on the laptops, The desktops are touch screens, but the laptops are not, so what's the use? I've read all sorts of things about the privacy issue with 10, so it's put me off.

I'll definitely be buying this one! Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks, Gaia! Downright diabolical! /evil grin/ Thanks, Anna. It's well worth the read. My husband enjoyed it as well, and I don't think I've seen any really nasty reviews. And, yes.....for her to present a range of "ruling" choices made by the different groups was very accurate, imo. Dystopia Lives!

Paul, agreed. It's the quality of writing and one's taste that are involved, not the gender. Although I have to admit I do tend to favor male writers. If I had to analyze my reasoning I'd have to say that, in my experience, male authors are more direct. Of course that is a generalization, but one I've found to be somewhat accurate. And then there is Patricia Highsmith. There is one female sci-fi author, that wrote under a male name for, I believe, all of her career. James Tiptree, Jr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Tiptree,_Jr. Not to mention Andre Norton......https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Tiptree,_Jr. Why? Because they knew that their acceptance would be nil as a female writer of, especially, science fiction. And that just stinks.

And.....wanted to say and

Finished Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.....4/5. Have started Lumen by Ben Pastor, first of a series.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 4/5 It's called the Georgia Flu, but aside from the geographic location no other origin is given, explained or hinted. Not the teeniest of theories is discussed. However it started, or was created, The Georgia Flu decimated populations of all countries in it's path around the world. Exposure, symptoms, and death occur within 24 hours. Within weeks the world as we know it ceases to exist. The survivors are few and scattered, stranded where ever they happen to be at that moment in time. No more air travel, no electricity to pump gas, no computers or any of our electronic toys. No phones, land or cell. Scratching for survival takes every moment of every day, bringing out both the best and the worst in people. But "Survival is insufficient", and a small band of Shakespeareans travel the countryside visiting the extremely varied communities along the way. The communities run the gamut, from benign to totalitarian. The book begins just before, or really just as, the pandemic arrives in Toronto. Appropriately enough we begin during a performance of King Lear. We meet the varied characters that will be expanded upon throughout the story. Mandel shifts back and forth between the arid present and the past filling in the history of the characters. While Mandel shows us the starkness of the situation, she doesn't overwhelm the reader with too many day to day details of the hardship. She concentrates more on the personalities, strengths and weaknesses of the characters. She writes of what they loved, feared, or longed for both past and present. She tells of what they planned for the future, the one that is so cruelly and suddenly cut off. She shows us love. Recommended.

Ohhh....it just makes me want all of them! I'm so happy that children are being exposed to the need.

No separate section, but they'll be in a cat carrier. I always face the grill door towards me, so they don't really see the rest of the room. I'm just hoping the carrier we have is big enough for both of them. I think it is. LOL Yeah, if I grab one, the other will be easy to get. /fingers crossed/ Beautiful pic, above!!

We watched the first two seasons of The Newsroom. Wow. Just Wow!! Watched a few episodes of Boston Legal. Hilarious. Watched the first 10 minutes or so of Veep.....couldn't have been worse. Oy.

Ahh, didn't realize that either. Agreed. More authors should get in on the act.

I've only read one of MacLean's.....Ice Station Zebra. And, only that because I saw the film with the wonderful Patrick McGoohan. I'll definitely have to read more.

Yeah.

Yay! for new bookcases, always exciting! BB, On your earlier post/recommendation I took another look at Station Eleven. I'd been on the fence about it for a while. I'm 67% through it, and loving it! Thanks!

I think that's a great comparative description. And as long as they don't become too buried in the stack, I suppose I'll read them. In a bit.

I think it was 1.99 USD when I bought it. Thanks, Gaia. Fortunately it isn't an everyday occurrence. Yet.

Thanks. I have authors like that, just can't manage to like. I have only read his Cloud Atlas and now this one, Bone Clocks. I understand many of his characters overlap books. I love that concept, and it makes me want to read more of him. Well, you know.....I wonder if it really is "magic realism". It isn't like Marquez, or even Rushdie...not that sort of "magic". The bit I was referring to was more "magic is real". If that makes any sort of sense. I don't like Marquez, or Rushdie, or the guy whose name I can't remember right now...Bone Clocks was different. It demanded more a "suspension of disbelief" in the last section. That had to be dreadful.

BTW, Anna.....I really enjoyed the Cousins War series, and The Red Queen was probably my favorite. Glad you're enjoying it!

Good review, BB. Sounds like the author hit the right note.

Ahhh, nice stacks, Gaia! Good reviews, too. It is horrible to think that the author could write so insightfully about his depression, but be unable to beat it down.

Oh, poor baby! I don't blame her for being scared. Our vet comes to the house for the yearly shots, but this year we only have 2 cats left, so I suppose we'll bring them in for that now. I dread it!

Finished The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz and The Hangman by Louise Penny. Not sure what is next.