My vewy own virtual blog

Books! Great start! I have a library! No, I really have a library in my house... seriously. Not bookcases -- a library.

Who are a few of your favorite authors?

My absolute, all-time favorite author is Dorothy Dunnett from Edinburgh, Scotland. She wrote, among other things, "The Lymond Chronicles," a series of six books considered to be "historical fiction" covering the ten-year period of, I believe, 1510 to 1520. I may be a year or two off. In the first book, Mary, Queen of Scots is 4 years old, as I recall. I may have to grab them now, just to be certain.

Other than the characters she created, the "historical" part of her "fiction" is accurate, and I did learn a great deal from those books.

Are you familiar with her?

And what American authors have you read? And of those, which do you like?

Reply #541. Nov 02 10, 8:27 PM

Harper Lee, Ernest Hemingway. Edgar Allen Poe, Jack London and of course Mark Twain.
I dont read romance, except for the classic. American detective, Paricia Cornwall, Kellerman. I read Zane Grey's Shane. Lone Star Ranger. I am not into cowboy books but he is a good writer.
Ive read Last of the Mohicans, Catcher in the Rye. most of U.S and British classics.
I also read fantasy, Robert Jordan, Feist, R.R.Martin etc.

Reply #542. Nov 02 10, 9:02 PM

I knew I shouldnt have posted these questions, for now I feel really stupid. But many britons do have these misconceptions if they have never visited the U.S. Both from films and the publicity from the TV and newspapers regarding your gun laws whenever a tragedy occurs.

Reply #543. Nov 02 10, 9:07 PM

I can't get enough of books. If there isn't fresh reading material, I go nuts!

I really enjoy a variety of genres--just give me a book that's well-written and not too slow-moving and I'm occupied for hours!

I can order books from the Library for the Blind (headquartered in Washington, DC, or in Philadelphia) in Braille, cassette or digital cartridge. No overdue fees, and I can keep the book as long as I want.

I can order up to four Braille books from Braille Institute (located in California, I think) in their "special collection" catalog sent out each quarter.

I get audio and Braille magazines from the library (Philadelphia). They're free, and I don't need to send them back when I'm done with them.

My friend reads books she enjoys on cassettes for me--she enjoys reading out loud, and has also helped me with schoolwork in the past (translating printed material into Braille [I tought her how to read and write the basics].

My grandmother reads my college textbooks on cassette for me sometimes, and there's scanning technology available (I also use a Braille notetaker and have a computer with speech-recognition software).

There are also companies, such as RFB&D (Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic) that provide audio books (in the case of RFB, textbooks).

If anyone has questions, feel free to ask-I won't mind, honest I won't!

Reply #544. Nov 02 10, 9:18 PM

Scian, you shouldn't feel stupid-it's far worse to have these misconceptions and not ask.

Reply #545. Nov 02 10, 9:20 PM

Like Elle has said before, knowledge is power (but only if it's accurate information).

Reply #546. Nov 02 10, 9:22 PM

Sian, I love Harper Lee, too, but I do think her only published book was "To Kill A Mockingbird." But if I had only one book in me, that would be the one I would want to have written. Talk about a masterpiece.

The only Patricia Cornwall book I've liked, and I've read a few of them, is the one she wrote about Jack The Ripper.

I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books, but I did read, and loved, the Twilight series. And while I think "True Blood," the TV series, is so bad it's hilarious, the books they were based on, "The Sookie Stackhouse Books," are great!

But I don't like Anne Rice. Go figure.

Clive Cussler scares the bahooties out of me, but I love Clive Barker. I love Caleb Carr, too.

I like Heinlein, but I don't like Tolkein! And I love C.S. Lewis, but not Lewis Carroll.

I love all of James Michener's books, but not all of Tom Clancy's.

And then there are the Stephen Hunter books about Bob Lee Swagger, but those may be an acquired taste. I love them, but they aren't for everyone.

I really recommend those Dunnett books, though. I'm a rabid reader, and it took me 18 months to read just six books. She's not an easy read, at all, but the woman is a gem and her books are brilliant.

Reply #547. Nov 02 10, 9:54 PM

you know Elle, Since coming on to FunTrivia, I have been shocked at how little I knew. But I am now a veritable font of useless information.
Only had the computer to keep in touch with my brother whose job takes him all over the world. He comes to visit Christmastime and sometimes once or twice during the year.
He shows me photographs and talks about these places. and so, I live at home, (no hardship, I have my horse and dog) I have a job, I pay hardly any rent as I help around the farm evenings and weekends.
I go out with the girls, but not that often, that is why I am on the computer so much. I want no romantic relationship yet, plenty of time for that later, if not, tough. I wont lose any sleep over it.
I am saving all my money. I have a list of 10 things to do before I settle down beginning with the Incan temple Machu Picchu.
no good getting married, raising children and going afterwards. who knows what might happen in the meantime. I could get run over by a bus or something.
It would be nice to see how people live for oneself, and like Jazz says. not stereotype them.

Reply #548. Nov 02 10, 9:56 PM

Sian, there are no stupid questions! Jazz is right!

And Jazz, now I'm the one with a pile of questions for you! Everything you just posted about books and magazines in Braille was new information to me. And your voice-activated software is amazing! Is that how you play trivia? I would love to know more!

Reply #549. Nov 02 10, 9:56 PM

Dont bother with Harry Potter, Elle. good films but she isnt a very good writer, I read the first book. Mind you thats my opinion. I may be too fussy.
I read Dan Brown's DaVinci Code. Very disappointing. I think it only became a best seller because of the fuss that was made because of the blasphemy. As they say there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Lord of the Rings. wonderful. I saw the first film but the book had spoiled the film for me and I was disappointed. I didnt see the other two films.

Reply #550. Nov 02 10, 10:04 PM

Ohhhh! Machu Picchu! And what about the Nazca Lines of Peru? Those are definitely on my list!

I would love to hear your Top 10 List of Places to Visit!

(Poor RJ, we really have hijacked his blog. If he objects, girls, we may have to take this somewhere else. He has been SO gracious about this! Let's hope he is as interested in all of this as we are!)

Reply #551. Nov 02 10, 10:05 PM

What books do you prefer Jazz ?

Reply #552. Nov 02 10, 10:09 PM

Elle said:
your voice-activated software is amazing! Is that how you play trivia? I would love to know more!
===
The software's called JAWS (Job Access with Speech) and yes, it's how I do trivia. The program reads everything on the screen to me, whether I've written it mysef or I'm viewing it on a web page or a blog. (The only exception is certain system messages, which a sighted person has to tell me about or the computer doesn't work right. Also, some programs [suh as Microsoft Access] are incompatible with JAWS and cause the program to shut down-or, in some cases, freeze the entire computer!)

Keep those questions coming, for I want to help you understand :)

Reply #553. Nov 03 10, 8:23 AM

Scian said:
What books do you prefer Jazz ?—Scian

===
Mysteries, some young adult fiction, certain biographies...

I've read both Harry Potter and Twilight--haven't watched the films an don't plan to (I'm more of a book woman). [Having just said that, though, I did find that I loved the film "The Princess Bride," and I have several Disney movies as well as "Anne of Green Gables" and "The Sound of Music.] I recently read "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor, "Zeitoun" (the author's name escape me as it was a library book that I sent back after I'd listened to it for the second time), and "A Touch of Dead" by Charlainne Harris, as well as "The Cleaner" by Brett Battles (it's his debut novel). Oh, and I read"Firestorm" (the first in a trilogy dealing with environmental issues.) As to the classics, I love "A Tale of Two Cities" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."

I also enjoy writing (stories, poems, songs) and playing the piano. I have a parakeet named Ethan and live on my own in a fifth-floor apartment.

Reply #554. Nov 03 10, 8:40 AM

_Morpheus_

My Blog blag bleep....whatever. I'm just glad y'all took the time to get to know each other a little better and hopefully gained a better understanding of the differences between our two great nations.
About gun control, all I have to say is...........................................................................................................................................................................................................etc and so forth

Reply #555. Nov 03 10, 11:40 AM

Ah Elle. Not being Scottish, I did some research, and yes, kilts, tights, little lace-up boots and a jaunty beret IS the correct attire.

Scottish customs must be observed when wearing said kilt if you desire nods of approval, chocolate hobnobs, crisps, pork scratchings and enough drink to render you comatose.

A large sporran is also recommended, large enough to accomodate a heavy brick if you plan on visiting Glasgow. It being a very windy city.

Reply #556. Nov 03 10, 12:09 PM

Elle. my favourite book. Wonderful, gory, cruel. plenty of of the other. Roman Empire.
Robert Graves. Two books. I Claudius. Claudius the God.

Reply #557. Nov 03 10, 12:18 PM

Jazz. have you read The Hobbit. Lord of the Flies. Toms's midnight Garden. The Mabinogion ( Welsh legends).

And if you havent read it, please read the Lord of the Rings. Its wonderful.

Reply #558. Nov 03 10, 12:26 PM