Missing my first Superbowl :(

[Cindysphinx]

Whoa! Suddenly Anna Karenina seems like a lucky break for you all.

Who picks these stinkers?

Since you asked . . .

Everyone in the group makes 2-3 recommendations, pitching them to the group. Then there is a blind ballot to pick the ones that make the cut. So there is a consensus for every book chosen.

Almost all of the books I listed above were of more interest to me than Anna Karenina. I can assure you that I voted against it. . . .

My recommendations rarely are chosen because I always go with non-fiction.

 

[heycal]

Almost all of the books I listed above were of more interest to me than Anna Karenina.

well, duh. Who doesn't want to read a book about vehicle traffic?

My recommendations rarely are chosen because I always go with non-fiction.

Here's the thing: I myself will always gravitate to a non-fiction book before a novel. I can look forward to and anticipate reading a book on a subject of interest to me, but it's almost impossible for me to get excited about a novel in advance. I almost have to force myself to start one.

HOWEVER... Once one begins a book and gets into the story, things equal out, and in the end, I find fiction tends to be more memorable and powerful and long-lasting. Novels are capable of a certain "immortality" than non-fiction books can't quite match.

 

[FloridaAG]

I am completely opposite - i would prefer fiction to non-fiction 100% of the time

 

[Cindysphinx]

well, duh. Who doesn't want to read a book about vehicle traffic?



Here's the thing: I myself will always gravitate to a non-fiction book before a novel. I can look forward to and anticipate reading a book on a subject of interest to me, but it's almost impossible for me to get excited about a novel in advance. I almost have to force myself to start one.

HOWEVER... Once one begins a book and gets into the story, things equal out, and in the end, I find fiction tends to be more memorable and powerful and long-lasting. Novels are capable of a certain "immortality" than non-fiction books can't quite match.

Here's a non-fiction book that will stay with you. It's my favorite non-fiction book by a country mile: "In the heart of the sea," by Nathaniel Philbrick. It's the story of a real-life whaling tragedy. I read it in about three days.

I guess with fiction my standards are very high. With non-fiction, the author gets a bit of a pass because they are limited by what actually happened. With fiction, the author can make anything happen. As a result, I demand utter perfection and won't suffer through dull characters, slow starts, and the worst sin of all, unsatisfying endings.

 

[rommil]

How about a dvr or vcr? Seems like an easy problem to fix.

Way too easy of a solution. Sphinxy has to be in a semi chaotic mix that way she can attract some amount of attention to talk about it. Right now she's wondering what to wear to the book club, boxer or briefs.

 

[dParis]

I am in a book club. In fact, it is a couples book club. The presence of both genders makes the book club discussions and selections pretty awesome...

When I hear "both genders" and "book club" in the same sentence, one of the first things I think of is, "affair".

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Enjoy the Super Bowl.

 

[Polaris]

I don't see why it is a big deal to reschedule. It's just a book club.

That said, between Anna Karenina and the Super Bowl, there ought to be no contest. The book is a masterpiece, the Super Bowl is just 11-13 minutes of actual sports action embedded inside 3 hours of opulent time-wasting.

 

[dParis]

I don't see why it is a big deal to reschedule. It's just a book club.

OR...




...she could ask the NFL to reschedule the Super Bowl around her book club meeting. She could send Commissioner Goodell a link to this thread to bolster her petition.

Cindy, if you decide to take this option, please let us know how it works out. I have plans on Sunday that I might need to adjust.

That said, between Anna Karenina and the Super Bowl, there ought to be no contest. The book is a masterpiece, the Super Bowl is just 11-13 minutes of actual sports action embedded inside 3 hours of opulent time-wasting.

You're right. The Super Bowl, for sure. Much better to lavish in opulence with your friends than to sit around and talk about someone else's masterpiece.

 

[max]

Hmm. Maybe I'll pick it up again someday. I do know that when I finally finished "Moby Dick", I didn't feel any sense of Everest-like elation, but rather a feeling of "Gee, that was 3 years of my life I'll never get back..."

We're quite different persons, heycal. I've reread Moby Dick each summer the past three years; a very unique book, very "postmodern" in style.

The big problem for many is that the important novels are treated as high school assignments, so people divert away from them. About ten or so years ago, an author wrote about revisiting some of these great works, and made a pretty convincing argument that one's maturity makes a real difference in relating to them and in finding value in them. I think this is true; they're wasted on high schoolers.

Cindy: when I finished Middlemarch, it was a pretty intense feeling in my heart, and I knew I couldn't crack open another book for two weeks! Great stuff.

Of course, all this is a bit like tennis; you enjoy it the more you do it.

 

[max]

How many people remember who won the Superbowl four years ago? nine years ago?

I have a tough time with Spectating; I"d much rather play the sport. any sport, rather than watch, excepting, of course, the roller derby.

 

[decades]

if the men are there missing the super bowl it still is a "chick's" book club.

 

[FloridaAG]

We're quite different persons, heycal. I've reread Moby Dick each summer the past three years; a very unique book, very "postmodern" in style.

The big problem for many is that the important novels are treated as high school assignments, so people divert away from them. About ten or so years ago, an author wrote about revisiting some of these great works, and made a pretty convincing argument that one's maturity makes a real difference in relating to them and in finding value in them. I think this is true; they're wasted on high schoolers.

Cindy: when I finished Middlemarch, it was a pretty intense feeling in my heart, and I knew I couldn't crack open another book for two weeks! Great stuff.

Of course, all this is a bit like tennis; you enjoy it the more you do it.

Very interesting - I have been re-reading many of the classics for the last 10 years or so - I re-read Moby Dick over the summer on a cruise and found it riveting.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

it was the best of threads, it was the worst of threads...

I've reread Moby Dick each summer the past three years; .

come summer, I don't read Dick

 

[r2473]

The big problem for many is that the important novels are treated as high school assignments, so people divert away from them. About ten or so years ago, an author wrote about revisiting some of these great works, and made a pretty convincing argument that one's maturity makes a real difference in relating to them and in finding value in them. I think this is true; they're wasted on high schoolers.

Spot on Max. Everything you said. Spot on.

 

[r2473]

come summer, I don't read Dick

Call me Ismail:

 

[Cindysphinx]

Yes, in the grand scheme of things the Superbowl is awfully forgettable. Point conceded.

But there is a certain feeling of being left out that is hard to shake. I like to watch the ads just to see what some Madison Avenue person thought might be a good way to move some product. If something happens and everyone is talking about it, I hate to be in the dark.

Anyway, I used to read way more than I do now. I wish I could find my mojo again. Between constantly fiddling with reading glasses and being too bloody tired at night to stay awake to read a book, I just don't read enough.

 

[max]

Geez, I don't mean to be too hard on it. For me, the game's forgettable (usually) but what is more exciting is the party. God, once a couple had us over for a major 7 or 9 course Greek dinner; really fine stuff, and the food was the champion that day!

If I'm doing Superbowl, I want a damn fine party with it.

 

[heycal]

Here's a non-fiction book that will stay with you. It's my favorite non-fiction book by a country mile: "In the heart of the sea," by Nathaniel Philbrick. It's the story of a real-life whaling tragedy. I read it in about three days.

Maybe I'll check it out. And I'm not saying there aren't great and memorable non-fiction books -- Comon Ground, The Power Broker, Death of a President are three that come to mind for me -- but for the most part, non-fiction is not nearly as enduring as fiction.

There's a reason your book club is reading Anna Karenina 150 years after it was written, and not, say, an 1850's non-fiction book about horse and buggy traffic.

We're quite different persons, heycal. I've reread Moby Dick each summer the past three years; a very unique book, very "postmodern" in style.

The big problem for many is that the important novels are treated as high school assignments, so people divert away from them. About ten or so years ago, an author wrote about revisiting some of these great works, and made a pretty convincing argument that one's maturity makes a real difference in relating to them and in finding value in them. I think this is true; they're wasted on high schoolers.

Cindy: when I finished Middlemarch, it was a pretty intense feeling in my heart, and I knew I couldn't crack open another book for two weeks! Great stuff.

I read Moby Dick on my own accord when I was 44 years old (at least I was 44 when I started it...). Maybe I should have waited until I was a more mature man in my 50's?

I recently finished Middlemarch, and it's about 10 times better than Moby Dick.

I'm not sure how that book ever got to be a classic in the first place. One interesting character, Ahab (but not particularly fleshed out), and then a bunch of barely distinguishable supporting players. Starbucks? Stubbs? I couldn't tell ya the difference. Dreary stuff.

I like to watch the ads.

Why do girls like to watch advertisements?

I may dvr the game, as I do tennis and many shows, just so I can skip the ads.

 

[heycal]

Anyway, I used to read way more than I do now. I wish I could find my mojo again. Between constantly fiddling with reading glasses and being too bloody tired at night to stay awake to read a book, I just don't read enough.

Kindle. Kindle changed my life. I went from reading like 20 minutes a day to 3 hours a day. Yes, being old and having to wear reading glasses sucks the big one, but at least with a kindle you can hold the 'book' in one hand in whatever comfy position works for you to avoid those old person aches and pains.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Yeah, I tried to use my husband's Kindle, but the problem was that it was my husband's Kindle. So I would slog through some portion of Anna Karenina, then he would use it and lose my place.

I need my own Kindle, clearly.

I don't generally like to watch ads. But I like these high-stakes Superbowl Ads, where you know someone's career is on the line. There's something about watching the result of someone's professional endeavor and imagining how I would have done it differently, guessing about why they made the decisions they did, reaching my conclusions about what worked and what didn't . . .

I guess I just like to look over other people's shoulders while they work.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must go to Home Depot.

I was cleaning all of the bugs out of the light fixture over the table (remove Halogen bulb, take masking tape, make a ball with the sticky side out, grab the tape ball with chopsticks, swirl it around in the fixture to snag the bugs) and the halogen bulb in the fixture exploded when I put it back in. Shot sparks all over the kitchen and got my son in the face, and blew the fuse.

Gotta go buy a new bulb. If you never hear from me again, assume I was electrocuted.

Which means my husband will be hosting a wake, not a Superbowl Party.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Yeah, I tried to use my husband's Kindle, but the problem was that it was my husband's Kindle. So I would slog through some portion of Anna Karenina, then he would use it and lose my place.

Bookmark it. Just press "menu" and one of the choices will be "add a bookmark". When it adds the bookmark it even makes it look like the corner of the page got folded, . Later, just go to "search my notes and marks" to find the pages you marked.

I need my own Kindle, clearly.

Yes, but still I hope you now know how to use the bookmark feature.

 

[heycal]

Bookmark it. Just press "menu" and one of the choices will be "add a bookmark". When it adds the bookmark it even makes it look like the corner of the page got folded, . Later, just go to "search my notes and marks" to find the pages you marked.


Yes, but still I hope you now know how to use the bookmark feature.

Unless he was also reading Anna Karenina on the kindle, which I suppose is quite possible since he is reputedly a member of the same club, you shouldn't have do any fancy bookmarking stuff. I never have. Kindle automatically remembers your page without you doing a thing; just one of the many, many great things about kindle.

Did you get one yet, Steady? My kindle 3 is holding up well, though I do notice minor and intermittant annoying quirks regarding page breaks when reading the New York Times or the New Yorker (both of which I subscribe to on kindle.)

 

[Steady Eddy]

Unless he was also reading Anna Karenina on the kindle, which I suppose is quite possible since he is reputedly a member of the same club, you shouldn't have do any fancy bookmarking stuff. I never have. Kindle automatically remembers your page without you doing a thing; just one of the many, many great things about kindle.

Right, it remembers where you last where in each book automatically, but, like you said, if her husband is reading the same book, then that feature wouldn't help. The bookmark would. It's easy, not what I would call "fancy".

Did you get one yet, Steady? My kindle 3 is holding up well, though I do notice minor and intermittant annoying quirks regarding page breaks when reading the New York Times or the New Yorker (both of which I subscribe to on kindle.)

Yeah, it's just says "amazon kindle", so I don't know if it's #3 or what. When I see a book I like, I press a button and I have it in seconds!

 

[heycal]

Yeah, it's just says "amazon kindle", so I don't know if it's #3 or what.

Is it black, and a recent purchase that cost between 140 and 189 bucks? If so, it's what informally called the kindle 3. Makes the kindle 2 seem like a model T in comparison.

Are you a whiz on this thing? There's a question I have about the "collections" feature that the manual doesn't address.

When I see a book I like, I press a button and I have it in seconds!

It's a brilliant money maker for those folks, huh? I've spent more on books in the last 3 months than I have in the last 5 years.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Is it black, and a recent purchase that cost between 140 and 189 bucks? If so, it's what informally called the kindle 3. Makes the kindle 2 seem like a model T in comparison.

Good, then I have kindle 3 and the picture is good, and it's very compact.

Are you a whiz on this thing? There's a question I have about the "collections" feature that the manual doesn't address.

Nope, but I'll pass along something I learned when mine locked up. When that happens hold the power switch open for 10 seconds, it's like rebooting a computer.

 

[8F93W5]

........This particular book club meeting is on Feb. 6, the only time when folks were available. Yeah. Super Bowl Sunday. At 7:00. Which means I will miss the whole Superbowl.....

You're lucky. In my kind of work, and a lot of other people's, it's not uncommon to miss them all. I'm a butcher. Each year I get to see or hear about an hour of the show during lunch and almost always miss the end.
Unless your favorite team is involved, it's not that big a deal. BUT whoever scheduled the book event on that day & time is a real dufuss. I say do it Saturday or last week, or next week, or at 8 AM Sunday.

I actually get to see it this year. An unexpected minor surgery became nescessary and I get a few weeks off.

 

[dParis]

I'm a butcher.

We don't see a lot of butchers around these parts. Nice of you to stop by.

I have a few questions I'd like your input on:
1.) Does your profession have a magazine or some sort of publication specific to the field?
2.) Are there such people considered "celebrity butchers" in your field?
3.) What types and brand of knives do you use at work/home?

Thanks.

Enjoy the Super Bowl.

 

[Cindysphinx]

For you Kindle folks . . .

Isn't it amazing how the record industry (and now the publishing industry) has managed to get us to buy their product over and over and over as technology changed?

There are songs that I purchased on vinyl. Then on cassette. Then on CD. And now on Ipod.

And now my book-loving husband is buying books we already own on the Kindle. Gotcha!!

I think I am not mentally there yet with the Kindle. I wanted to get Laura Hillenbrand's latest. I told my husband, and he said he would get it on the Kindle.

I still haven't "opened" the book. Whenever I want the book, someone else has the Kindle. That whole experience of putting the book on the nightstand and reading a bit before turning in doesn't work well when I need to go to my husband's briefcase in the trunk of his car to fetch the Kindle.

I need my own Kindle . . . .

Now if you'll excuse me, it's off to Costco to buy more folding chairs and maybe a couple of TV trays. On a Saturday. Ugh.

 

[jswinf]

Gotta go buy a new bulb. If you never hear from me again, assume I was electrocuted.

Which means my husband will be hosting a wake, not a Superbowl Party.

It'd be a crying shame, but it does sound like an interesting combination...Be nice to have a fine big box with a lid to set the chips and dip and wings on.

 

[Steady Eddy]

For you Kindle folks . . .

Isn't it amazing how the record industry (and now the publishing industry) has managed to get us to buy their product over and over and over as technology changed?

There are songs that I purchased on vinyl. Then on cassette. Then on CD. And now on Ipod.

And now my book-loving husband is buying books we already own on the Kindle. Gotcha!!

This is misleading. I've been listening to an audio-book about Google. It says that Ipods and buying songs on-line pretty much destroyed the record industry. It looks like Kindle and its clones will do the same to bookstores.

Sure, the bookstores are selling their own brand of Kindle like devices. They might as well get something out of this change. But in the long run those things probably mean the end of bookstores as we know them.

 

[heycal]

^^^
I think the analogy is faulty for another reason. While Cindy's husband may be buying books he already owns, I can't imagine that's a widespread practice. I assume most people are like me, buying books they don't own, and also buying more of them because of ease of consumption.

Further, I'm downloading a lot of public domain novels for free, and thus it's unlikely I'll ever spend another penny in a Barnes and Noble on a classic literature paperback, as I did sometimes in the past.

I think bookstores will suffer from e-readers, and probably libraries unless they adapt somehow, but the publishers and authors may well benefit from them. I know I'm certainly spending more on 'books' than I ever did. (Nor am I 'stealing' them like people do with music.)

Oh, and btw, my librarian girlfriend is NOT happy I have a kindle..

 

[Sentinel]

Gotta go buy a new bulb. If you never hear from me again, assume I was electrocuted.

Which means my husband will be hosting a wake, not a Superbowl Party.

dear dear Cindy,
Hope all is well, don't see any more posts so asking.

I accidentally saw the telly at my cousin's place and learned the Superbowl final is on Sunday. I might try to catch it. The last time i saw the superbowl/football was in 1984 when i was in the US. Doug Flutie i remember scoring in the last second.

 

[ruerooo]

Cindy -- whose husband just told her he is going out of town tomorrow and so won't be able to do much to get the house ready

:shock:

Yeah.

Based on this? It would be borscht, "Russian chili", and people using their imaginations.

Unless one enjoys making a martyr of oneself.

How did it go?

 

[pc1]

Missed most of the Super Bowl

I played some doubles this past Saturday morning followed by some singles on Sunday morning (Super Bowl Sunday) when I see a voice mail from a good friend. The man needed a fourth for doubles and it is from 6 pm to 8 pm so I agreed to fill in. My wife also told me after the doubles to pick up some stuff at the Supermarket and some take out food at a restaurant.

So ironically I missed most of the Super Bowl for the first time ever. I did catch the last few minutes.

 

[CCNM]

I was working on a paper for one of my college classes so I didn't watch it either. All I saw was Christine Aguilara mumbling the national anthem.

 

[sureshs]

Did not see it till half-time, due to playing tennis for 2.5 hours followed by a relaxed early dinner at a restaurant. Then, did not pay attention to the post half-time telecast either hehehe.

Much better to play tennis than watch and munch in an unhealthy way.

 

[Cindysphinx]

It went pretty well, on the whole.

I can now see why my friends wanted to go with the Russian theme. One couple showed up in authentic Russian peasant attire, complete with gigantic fur hat for the man. (They lived in Russia for a while and he still travels there for work). Apparently they created quite a stir in Whole Foods on the way to my house.

Guests brought caviar, vodka, champagne and all sorts of Eastern European/Russian cuisine. It was a lot of fun, I have to admit. The baked cod with onions was delicious, and I will definitely make it again.

And now my husband and I can enjoy a sparkling clean house. Until the kids trash it.

Next book: Bill Bryson's "The Lost Continent." Right up my alley.

 

[pc1]

It went pretty well, on the whole.

I can now see why my friends wanted to go with the Russian theme. One couple showed up in authentic Russian peasant attire, complete with gigantic fur hat for the man. (They lived in Russia for a while and he still travels there for work). Apparently they created quite a stir in Whole Foods on the way to my house.

Guests brought caviar, vodka, champagne and all sorts of Eastern European/Russian cuisine. It was a lot of fun, I have to admit. The baked cod with onions was delicious, and I will definitely make it again.

And now my husband and I can enjoy a sparkling clean house. Until the kids trash it.

Next book: Bill Bryson's "The Lost Continent." Right up my alley.

Glad it worked out well.

Did not see it till half-time, due to playing tennis for 2.5 hours followed by a relaxed early dinner at a restaurant. Then, did not pay attention to the post half-time telecast either hehehe.

Much better to play tennis than watch and munch in an unhealthy way.

I think you're right.

 

[sureshs]

It went pretty well, on the whole.

I can now see why my friends wanted to go with the Russian theme. One couple showed up in authentic Russian peasant attire, complete with gigantic fur hat for the man. (They lived in Russia for a while and he still travels there for work). Apparently they created quite a stir in Whole Foods on the way to my house.

Guests brought caviar, vodka, champagne and all sorts of Eastern European/Russian cuisine. It was a lot of fun, I have to admit. The baked cod with onions was delicious, and I will definitely make it again.

And now my husband and I can enjoy a sparkling clean house. Until the kids trash it.

Next book: Bill Bryson's "The Lost Continent." Right up my alley.

What about the orgies that the Czars used to have prior to the Revolution?

 

[max]

Cindy, if you find you like Bryson, try Horwitz' Confederates in the Attic; a sure conversation starter down your way. Me, I played hockey with my son yesterday.