julie

Thanks for the comments, Pontalba. I'll go look up your review . I have some of the free kindle ooks about Holliday,so maybe I will compare them to how the novel goes . An interesting character,wasn't he ?

Funny you should both mention that book. I had one listed in my favs that was called The House at Tyneford ,which is by the same lady. It's a Kindle book,so would be easier to purchase. I'm trying now to switch to those if they are available . Hurry up payday !

Thank you Janet & Chalie Will also look for that one . I really enjoyed the show,so thought it'd be fun to read a book that leaned in that type direction, learning what it was like with the rich people,and also how thr working class in their house lived. Interesting how everyone in the house had their own type rules that must be followed to be "proper" and do what is expected .

Hi Jessi I'll go look it up on Amazon. Thank you for the recommendation .

Hi folks For those familiar with Downton Abbey,which was a mini-series here on our PBS channel : I found a book at amazon about it,and also a book on which it was based --something written from a maid's point of view. I'm wondering if any of you would know of a Classic that would most closely resemble this type book ? Something very interesting with lots of unique characters that isn't dry and stuffy,but has some humor tossed in here and there like the show does. I plan on ordering the books next time I get some spare cash,but for now I wondered if there were any classics which would probably be free,that would resemble it ? Thanks very much for reading ~

So glad I found a thread on this show. I had never heard of it til I found it on my Kindle fire and am able to watch all the episodes for free (for the first 30 days ). I have watched Season 1,and it shows that there are so far 3 of season 2. I havent started them yet. Trying to drag it out a little longer,but will watch them soon . I also found a book on it ,so want to order that too . My favorite character is Daisy. The poor little skinny kid,she keeps doing the wrong things,but towards the end of the first season,she starts saying such funny lines. Definitely an A PLUS show .

Frankie Yea, I don't quite know how I'd describe it . Not spooky .I think some people might just be able to deal better with situations like that . I honestly had never seen anything like it before .I'm not saying anything bad about the patients,but more about the poor and terrible lack of care these people got . It was really distressing to see these poor people who had so many different mental disorders,but the fact that they really got treated badly .It almost seemed more like a Human Zoo if you can imagine . All kinds of sounds,smells,and sights. Full grown people so profoundly retarded, they were in adult-sized cribs,with a cage-like thing on top ,locking them in so they wouldn't crawl out and get hurt . People who had to wear football helmets to keep from injuring them selves. One teen boy just kept bashing his forehead into the brick walls over and over . Bath -time ? They stripped all the patients who could stand up NEKKID, then stood them in a line down the hall. They used the SAME bath water for them all . It was one of the most upsetting sights I've ever seen . They weren't kept clean, the ones that were able to sit up were seated at a long table with only spoons,due to safety reasons. Very few knew how to use a spoon,so they just used their hands and crammed the food in their mouths .They'd also reach over and grab other people's food off their plates . They had all ages in there,from small toddlers to an old man who was proably 70. He had his own record player in his room, and played The Sound of Music album over and over and over and over ...... GEEZ, I'm re-living it just thinking about it . I might be odd in my reading habits, but I find nonfiction less scarey than fiction . Something about reading a really gross ,twisted,scarey story that someone made up inside their brain . WOW ..... creeps me out .

Hi Frankie Yea, I think 2 or 3 others may have read it or at least have it . It was on Kindle for a low amt -either free or a dollar or 2 . One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a much more detailed book,but so hard for me to get through . I remember the year they made it into a movie was when I was in my nursing classes .We were required to work one week in a mental institution . I had a lot of difficulty getting through that week. I truly admire people who can work in those type places. I can do fine in nursing homes ,but not those places . The one we worked out, they gave REALLY poor care to the residents ,and even as students, we all saw lots of things done very poorly .They closed the place down the next year. I'm not sure what happened to everyone in the place . Anyhow, that was the same year the Cuckoo's Nest movie came out and it honestly gave me nightmares. I'd still have them if I thought about it much .

Hi Karsa I'll give you an update once I get further into it. I bought it awhile back and started it and it was very good. I can't remember what happened to sidetrack me, but I will restart it today to refresh my memory of the part I already read .

RE-starting Doc by Mary Doria Russell . A novel about the life of Doc Holliday , I started it previously and got sidetracked by something ,so will need to start over .

Beautiful review Poppy ! I loved it too . The picture you added was priceless .

I jut read Haunted Ground : Ghost Photos from the Battlefield of Gettysburg. It was a VERY short book,and more along the line of a guidebook of sorts,telling about an elderly couple who went to Gettysburg a lot to take photos. They began finding orbs abd mists in the photos taken at particular battlefieldd spots. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it's a really short book with some neat pictures . I wouldn't pay much for it though,since it is so very short . 2/5 ( got a 2 because I like anthing about the Civil War. As a book ,I'd probably only give it a 1 though )

Thanks for checking in VF I actually read a book just this evening. A VERY short one at that. It was either a freebie or a dollar bargain one but it was interesting,and I'll count it,even if it is short. I'm not that speedy of a reader sometimes,so every one counts .. Will list it above, then give a quickie review .

Kel The baby sampler is so pretty .

Hi guys Back to tell you a little more from fiddling with the Fire today. It has apps for all kinds of gadgets ,some of them are free,while a large number cost money . I signed up for a bunch of the free ones,so they have several for news, tv news and newspapers . They have magazines,which I didnt sign up for ,since I'm not a magazine person. They have weather gadgets ,news from the UK ( so I signed up for it ) .It's much easier to get around than I thought it'd be. I have this website on, youtube so I can watch videos ,and right now a few free apps to watch free movies, although I think most of them go with the one month prime free thing,which I won't renew . As for the battery life, I'd say it uses a little more power to watch videos. I haven't let the battery run clear out .I plug it in after a few hours. The website says it will run 8 hours before needing plugged in . The main problem I have seen with it so far is that there are so many other things to do on it, you kinda forget to spend time reading . I love the lit up backscreen though and think it'll be great for reading at night . So,that's the update after having more time to check it out further .

Oooh,that sounds like a good one ! Hope you enjoy it .

Very understandable. The exercising has to become a part of daily life so your body is used to it,and after taking time off, there will just be a time of adjustment,then you will be right in the saddle again and doing great . I admire your stamina in trying . I should do the same . We did join up for awhile . Our wee little town actually built a Rec Center a few years back,with a pool, a walking track, exercise room, gym ,etc . After I had my knee surgery we both signed up so I could get in some extra therapy on it . It was nice and fun,but we just gradually stopped going . It's about a block behind my house so no excuses . Maybe we'll sign back up, because this time of year we don't always get much outdoor-walking type time in. Too cold and wet . Glad to hear you are doing well .

Hi folks For those interested in the Kindle Fire, I thought I'd come in and give my review on mine. It just arrived yesterday ,and only got the opportunity to work with it a little last night . I have been looking around on it and trying to learn how to set everything up on it ,so I don't have the full scoop on it yet,but here goes : It arrived in a timely manner,well packaged and protected . It is a little bit heavier and tiny bit bigger than my Kindle 3 . The edging is plain shiny black with no visible buttons at all. The only botton is on the bottom,a small switch to turn it on . Beside that is where you plug it in to charge it . I think it will need charged more frequently than a regular Kindle because of the lighted and colored screen and all the doodads on it . The picture is clear,bright and unbelieveably sharp . It comes with one free month of Amazon Advantage or Prime, whatever they call it,so certain things are free on it for this month ,like some of the movies and tv videos, etc. They have so many Apps for it, I have no clue. I started leafing through them today,but gave up after about 3 hours . I got tired of looking through them all .. There is a search to look up a particular one .If you touch the search,the keyboard comes onto the bottom of the screen .. I did choose several of the free Apps. They have lots of video games if you are into that, then they have tv channels, news channels and newspaper apps ,all types of learning type apps,say if you have small kids and want them to practice math,whatever they have several things on there for that,but I have no kids here so no need for those . They have radio apps ,music,geez, I just don't know how to describe them all. I chose several freebie ones to load, but haven't turned any on to try them yet , I can also reach my email and browse the web on it . I have BCF on it,but not sure how to log in from it, it seems a little stubborn,but it's probably because I am not doing it right . I'll get it figured out . I can read the boards on it though . It also has a very neat feature that takes a bit of getting used to ,which is if you hold it vertically, the screen will read in that direction,but turn it a bit,and the screen goes horizontal ,so the horixontal is nice for movies ,but the upright way would be best for reading I'd think . The reading screen does show in 3 colors, white, black,and tan. I like the tan,makes the pages look more like real book pages . VERY easy to see the words on all colors ,plus you can change the print to many more sizes and fonts which is also neat. My books all show up on there on colored shelves with covers out ,which looks so pretty . It has touch screen for everything ,which will take a bit of getting used to,since I don't have anything else with a touch screen,but it will be fine in a day or two of getting used to it . The sound quality is good on the music and videos .. Trying to think of other stuff I am missing, which I probably am. I'll come back later and post more if I think of something else or if you have a question I can answer .

Hi there VF I read Shadow of the Wind awhile back and really liked it .Haven't gotten to the Angel's Game yet though . Hope your mood is better today -- I have those too,and lots of them .

Hiya Frankie and Kylie Thanks for dropping in to visit . VF Right between books at the moment . Yesterday was a very bad day to say the least ,and sadly ,reading was nowhere on the agenda . The only good that came from yesterday is that my new Fire arrived . Spent a bit of time with it last night before falling asleep ,but back at it this morning trying to learn how to work all the gadgets. It is one really neat item ! It's back on the Reading Bandwagon today. Gotta choose a new book to start on .

Great Karsa ! Good job on completing a Whopper !

Great rview Karsa I have my copy primed and ready to go, but will await a few others to possibly jump in with me sometime soon ,whenever all our book times click . What's next on your agenda, have you decided ?

Thank you kindly Laura ~