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Kat M

Kat M

has 20 followers and is following 15 people

I'm a children's librarian in Virginia. I like to read children's, YA and adult novels. I read some non-fiction but prefer fiction. I have found that I am a very picky reader. A lot of the books I read (or get partway through) I don't like. When I say a book is good it is! (According, of course, to my personal taste in books.) I enjoy... more »
  • VA, USA
  • member since December 12, 2008

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Public Notes

  • BooknBlues

    BooknBlues says

    Kat, I'd love to invite you to our group Crossroads. http://www.shelfari.com/groups/92211/about

    Fran, (AKA Booknblues or BNB)

    posted 2 days ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    It will be me confusing you! Cliff and The Platters were on vinyl 45s. 78s music includes: Frank Sinatra, Evelyn Knight, Tommy Dorsey and his Band, Woody Herman and Mantovani! I love the feel of them - so smooth yet so brittle. I trod on one once as a child, whilst messing about and my mum couldn't hide her sadness - I felt awful. It was a copy of Do, Do, Do by Harry somebody. Scarred me for life! She was never a reader though - she used to skip big chunks of a book when it got 'boring'! My dad read though but nothing fancy. He used to leave his current paperback on the shelf by to loo in the bathroom with a piece of toilet paper for his book mark. By the time I was 9 I had read most of Harold Robins - both parents wondered why I sepnt so much time in the bathroom!
    I will look into the Margo Livesy book, it sounds just up my street.
    I am quite shy too - painfully so as a child, though you would never guess now. I am fine one to one and can talk alot, but in a crowd I revert to only child syndrome. I much prefer to listen. I am just starting an Odd Thomas book and next in my pile is Auto da Fay the autobig of Fay Weldon whom I love -so- witty.
    Must dash now.
    xx

    posted 4 days ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    I am so glad that all seems fine with sis in law, family fall outs are awful and can drag on for years until most people have forgotten the cause! I find we also agree on meanings in song lyrics and too much repetition. I always go for the melody first - that is what draws me in, then I like to hear the lyrics full of meaning. Lots of songs are let down by repetition. Only one I can think of just now and that is Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone'. It is to me a beautiful melody, and I love it, but the lyrics are very repetitive (R Kelly wrote it I think), and this just spoils it for me a little. I do however love all the 1960s Phil Spectre stuff, which is nearly all melody, repitition and meaningless lyrics! I grew up to my mum loving popular music and she always bought records and had on the radio. I also had all her record collection at my disposal from the age of 8. Lots of Cliff Richard, The Platters etc. I still have her collection of 78s.
    Will continue this trip down memory lane - I have just sneaked downstairs for an early Sunday moring coffee to take back to bed with my book (whilst not disturbing Dave), and the kettle has just boiled!
    Speak soon
    xxxxxx

    posted 9 days ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Wow Kat here I am briefly after a varied week of cleaning job and babysitting. I am racing against time to finish a blanket for Nathan's birthday tea on Wednesday next. Three pieces to go and then the dreaded sewing up! He will be 4. Apparently he made everyone at the dinner table laugh by wishing them all a 'happy chinese new year', totally out of the blue, the way only a child can!
    I am also on the last bit of my current book, Midwives. It is a bit upsetting and certainly not one to read if you are expecting a baby!
    We are in the midst of a real cold snap - icy snow and high winds. As I look out I can see it twinkling in the street light - just like Narnia but without Aslan, Mr Tumnus and The White Witch! I could just eat some turkish delight too...
    Hope all is okay with you - have you anything planned for your birthday? I shall post your card on Monday if I dare brave the snow.

    posted 9 days ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    I will definately check out the Pandora site. Your descriptions of the live performances just show how important live music is. I haven't been to many live gigs, but I do know that feeling of total involvement and exhilaration you experience at the totality of it all. This doesn't come across on a 'performed live' music cd, in fact the actual vocals etc is often disappointing. It is a cliche but you have to be there. I went to 10 Michael Jackson concerts, and saw 9 of them, for his History Tour, the first in Czecoslovacia (wrong spelling), then to one in a European country but I can't recall which - it was a good stadium and we had good seats though! Then Germany (my fan friend and coach seat partner was chosen to go on stage and dance with him at this one), Paris, three at Wembley (two of these were back to back - I and some other fans slept on the stadium steps)!, Bremen, (front row), Sheffield, and finally to the one in Belgium that was cancelled due to the death of Princess Diana - we queued all day and came back disappointed. But the feeling of the music at all of the concerts was electric. But often a live album just doesn't sound the same. I don't often watch music videos, but I think seeing the show along with the music is better.
    I am having a quiet day today, reading and knitting. I shall watch an afternoon made for TV mystery film whilst I knit too. I am cooking a cottage pie for our tea and tomorrow Dave and I are meeting a friend of the family for a few drinks in town and a little shopping for me, whilst they watch football in the pub! Dave feels he will be able to cope with this drinks wise. We will also have a meal so all in I will be 'one of the lads! Dave said he will even show me how to put on a bet for the football - how dreadful! I shall take my book along I think and also pop out to the wool shop whilst the match is on. Sunday through to Monday pm I am child minding. What have you got planned? Whatever it is I am sure it is far more cultured and interesting than my foray!
    xxx

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Thank goodness your gift arrived - not very seasonal now so put away for next Christmas! I had better get your birthday greetings in the post......! Feb is a busy time for birthdays in my family - you, my best school friend, my youngest daughter, my youngest grandson Nathan, and now David's new girlfriend Claira, phew - oh and also Dave for Valentine's Day.
    I do remember the Christmas family debacle Kat and I tend to agree that it may be best not to bring it up just now, it could be aired later in the year, but you know how funny families are, dreadful blunders can be totally accepted and yet the most innocent of slips are seen as the worst of intentional slights.
    I'm glad you loved the Pre Raph art link via Facebook - so romantic and beautiful.
    How you tease me with your thrift store adventures too - you know how I love them! I love it when I come across a book or two. I am currently and hungrily reading crime novels and Dave has bought me an interesting book by PD James an English crime writer - her sleuth is Adam Dalglish and the plots are usually around religion and have a good literary bent. Very well written. This latest is set around Pride and Prejudice, with Ms Bennett being involved in a murder, it was written last year I think! PD James I worked out is now 92!!!!!!!!!
    I am also still in love with my Christmas cds from you Kat - I LOVE them! I love to knit to them, I even lost count of my rows in wonderment at the length of time a note was held!
    My daughter Emma, with the two boys is expecting her third child. I hope it is a girl (for pink you know and princesses rather than pirates)! She and Dave are making a go of it. So I hope all goes well - she can be rather tempestuous (dodgy spelling). I will keep you posted no doubt.
    I hope you got your singing guest at the library - let me know! And wow Peru has come round so quickly. I will be with you vicariously. What will you pack for such a trip? Have you a reading list? Tell all in next note
    Speak soon
    xxxxxx

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Me again - I am in heaven listening to Crossroads..........xxxxxxxx

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Well here I am finally - what a busy week it has been - emotionally as well as physically. By that I mean that I have cleared Emma's garden of rubbish(my daughter with the boys). She is a wonderful mum but not house proud and VERY badly organised! hat was the physical. The emotional is that she is expecting her third child! She and Dave will move in together with the boys, so that is good. But it is quite a stormy relationship they have.....the boys love him however and want him to be their dad. I will keep you posted on any developments.
    I hope all is okay with your unintentional family blunder Kat - I know how messy family members can be if they feel slighted. David's ex wife was like that. It is often a reflection on the slighted rather than the slighter, if you get my drift! As if you could do that purposely!
    Dave is still on the wagon. He has a blog via his alcohol group so I am going to see if I can find it.
    Apols again for taking so long to contact you - write soon and tell me any news.
    xxx

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Kat - I just recieved your gift!!!!!!!! How lovely and exciting! Both cds look good, I will let you know as soon as I listen to them. Hope my gift got to you too. Happy New Year to you and yours and hope you had a lovely Christmas. I got a lovely boxed set of Antonia Frazer books, on kings and queens and a set of all 22 James Bond dvds!! Did you get any surprises?
    xxx

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Well I now think the Victorian candlelight tour has pipped all others to the post - how lovely! We have Brodsworth Hall near us that has beautiful gardens and they do a night time couple of tours but all the tickets are snapped up years in advance. I had the chance to go with Dave to a brass band christmassy evening at a local hostelry, but typically it is when I have the kids! I have been suffering dreadfully with my throat but am now finally getting over it just in time for Christmas thank goodness. Your gift was sent last week so look out for it as it contains my love for a happy and peaceful Christmas to you and your Kat.xx
    PS I will deffo check out the photography website - you know me and my love of photos.

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Well the Soundworks soiree now officially takes the biscuit for me! How lovely to be sat around chatting and eating and have them break into song! And how nice that they mentioned you too! It is also good to know someone who cares about the demise of the local library. Well now I have got over my terrible tummy bug, I now seem to have a touch of laryngitis - my throat is red and swollen and very painful and I have a hacking cough - what next I ask myself?! These things are sent to try us. I always get ill around Christmas time.
    Dave is still doing really well with his drinking. He has joined a group and has a blog! No wine since this all began, just low lager and cider. He still needs to have a drink next to him, but they are working on that with him. He really is a different person, and I am getting much more relaxed too. Well done to Dave is what I say. I guess you just have to want to do it yourself to make it happen. He says he can't imagine going back to how he was before.
    I am having a quiet day today. I will write some cards, knit my latest cushion and maybe bake a cake. Dave is off work for his birthday for the next three days so I will be out and about then so it will be nice to relax today.
    I shall post your card and gift tomorrow.
    Take care
    xxxx

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    I too am not sure which exhibition it was but we didn't queue. We did queue with the kids for the Titanic exhibition at the Maritime Museum in London and it was amazing. All those lost lives and private little artefacts. We sttod behind a couple of lovely american guys - college types I guess you'd call them - check jackets longish hair and glasses - really nice guys who made a great fuss of the kids.
    We are still in a real cold snap - icy wind but no snow this year as yet.....more soup I think! I am child minding tonight and tomorrow and both boys have hacking coughs - medical advice is plenty of water for the kids and ear plugs for us adults!
    i will also finish my knitted orders today so I can start writing my christmas cards. Make sure you check your mail as I will attempt to send you a gift (everything crossed for a successful pond crossing)!
    I love the sound of the informal library concert Kat was it well attended? We should have more of this, but I don't know if you know but our local branch libraries are under threat of closure. Can you believe it? Another part of our working class heritage going....
    I have just started The Lady in the Tower - Alison Weir on Anne Boleyn. I will then read Little Women and The Secret Garden in honour of the festive season.
    xxxxx

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Wow - your music concert sounds excellent I really do envy you you know. As I said before my friend and her hubby are music fans, well it is part of their life really, he teraches piano and she is a churchgoer. I will go to a musical evening with her one of these days. I also envy you your cultural forays - the Egypt exhibition is impressive isnt it - I saw it in 1978 on honeymoon, I think, if not then sometime in the 80s.
    The Culture Club is 4 like minded ladies who try to do something cultural a few times a year - theatre, days out etc, we may even do a weekend next year.I will keep you posted of course.
    Well at the moment I am recovering from a very virrulent tummy bug and feel quite weak, but am still managing to knit! I came down with it whilst visiting my youngest daughter at the weekend - she was mortified and thought she had poisoned me! The weather is very wintery here just now and I have my fairy lights on and we are having homemade thick leek and potato soup for our tea with lots of bread.
    I am reading a book called Sentiment\l Murder bt John Brewer just now, it is about the murder of the mistress Martha Ray, of the Earl of Sandwich in 18th century.
    Will sign off now and will speak soon Kat
    xxx

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Yes the fairy books are by Andrew Lang and look so beautiful. I agree with you that the film makers used much poetic licence in their depictions of Dracula, I am however, a sucker for a silly Hammer Horror film. Hey I made a little joke there!
    You would be proud of me too, as I did a pretend Thanksgiving meal for my Culture Club friend! I did roast chicken in maple syrup, served with spoonbread, creamed nutmeg pumpkin and sweet parsnips - no collards though! We had crackers and charades too - I did The Da Vinci Code and someone guessed it! I think I will make this an annual event.
    I have also just hosted an informal Knitted Goods Party and actually sold some - can you believe it? I was amazed that they like my stuff.
    I am back on duty today - I was reprieved last night - I am known as Nannie, after my Nannie. I will take my knitting as I got some orders from the party, but my current book is a really good little thriller by Claire Seeber. I am popping back to bed now to read a page or two with a nice mug of fresh leaf tea - strong but milky.
    Speak soon.
    xxxx
    PS We did have the Jane Austen conversation and although I love her I can see just why someone wouldn't. I read a comment by a 15 yr old boy taking the Eng Lit o'Level exam who said 'Jane Austen is okay if you like stories about girls in white frocks'!
    xxx

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Here I am - I hope - if it goesslow I will sign off. I have read the Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles and two of the Twilight books. These I liked. I am not so keen on the Morganville Vampire series - too teenage for me! However, my favourite is of course Dracula by Bram Stoker - you just can't beat it for gothic horror. What a creation Count Dracula is - he is so ingrained in our culture that we forget someone actually invented him. A good ironic fun poke at gothic romance is Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey - I so see myself in Catherine Morland running roundan old house wishing for mysery when all is everyday.
    I agree with you Kat - too many books and too little time. A booklet for the Folio Society fell temptingl through my letterbox the other day, and therein were the most beautifully bound Fairy Tale and Myth books £44 each, all a different colour, crimson, pink etc. I haven't ordered any but have left the boklet open and strategically placed - a girl can hope can't she?! Maybe they will be cheaper via Amazon.
    I haven't yet plucked up th curage to order from ebay, I would like to bit for a bucket of lego bricks as it is so expensive. I took up a stair carpe once when my son was well into adulthood and yes you've guessed it, underneath were some tiny sinlge bit lego bricks!
    Will dash now as my letters are just starting to stick on my laptop it is so frustrating! Write and tell me romantic and family tales of Thanksgiving.....xxxxx

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Good to hear your voice again! I am so sorry about the cd birthday gift, I would've loved it as you know. I still half expect it to drop through the letterbox, you never know. I have ordered a dvd set of BBC children's series to watch over Christmas - The Box of Delights, The Snow Queen and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. All three books I devoured as a child and these particular productions retain the childlike magicalness (made up a word there) for me, however I've not seen this Snow Queen, but the other two are just right for Christmas, full of snow, magic and mystery!
    Yes Primrose Valley did used to be like something from Miss Marple, but the hoardes have taken over now, but I still see the halcyon days. We always go in via the old road as this way we pass another of my landmarks - the Egg House! It is where in the late 60s my Nannie and I would collect half a dozen fresh brown eggs every other morning from the lady who lived there. This house still looks the same - white pebbledash and racing green paint. It stands at the top of a forked Y shape as you come up from the old road into the camp. We always take the left fork past Mrs Walker's house (another brief tale for later). As a child it used to be a race to see who could shout 'egg house' first, me or my mum or dad! Needless to say I still shout it, and now I always win!
    Kat I LOVED The Thirteenth Tale, it really is now a favourite of mine - it has the love of books, the thoughts of a true reader, and a heavy helping of Gothic. It was so well written. I am now reading a quick Ruth Rendell, and I then plan to read another Tudor book - Anne Boleyn I think.
    As it is Halloween soon we are watching a scary film every evening too, thank goodness I knit at the same time as that way miss some of the gory bits! To be honest, it is the sounds in a scary film that scare me more though.
    I am glad you are still involved with Soundworks, something like that can really enrich a life, like having a friend who really likes books/music/films to talk to and who doesn't think you are mad - you are mine!
    Dave is doing really well with his drinking and I will talk of this next time. Must close now I have a busy day ahead prepping for my friend from Oz visiting tomorrow.
    Will speak soon
    xxx

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Right, PV was a typical English caravan holiday break - freezing cold and lots of rain - but I love to hear the rain on the van roof it brings back such memories of waking early as a child and reading my Enid Blyton before anyone else was awake, shivering under my covers. It was fun too when a bird would suddenly run along the roof! And that is just what I did this time - woke early to read with the rain thudding on the van roof, only this time I took an atmospheric ghost tale by Michelle Paver called Dark Matter. It was just right - set in snow with a lone man braving the elements, his own fears and a malevalent ghostly presence.
    In the day we walked along the beach to the next village of Filey and had fish and chips and then hot dough nuts whilst watching the sea. I must say though the coastline is notorious for erosion and it is all getting smaller every year. Alot of my childhood landmarks are no more. One in particular has gone, not eroded, but houses have been build on it. It was a war time concrete look out post and I had to crawl in. I used to read in there and no one ever knew about it it was my den. I found it fascinating to look out to see through the peephole. Nature has also encroached on the ravine - the rocky way down to the sea - lots of greenery now covers the sides. I will put a few photos on my facebook page so you can see them. It is a shame there are no proper landscape photos taken back in the 60s to compare. I also found my 'fairy godmother's house' up for sale - all gone to ruin with the garden overgrown! I used to imagine as a child that a family live there with lots of siblings for me and that the mum was my FG and so then I could visit whenever I liked! I sneaked into the garden this time and had a good look round, and it looked wonderful inside if not a little damp and in need of some TLC. I asked Dave if we could buy it and of course he said no. But I will think of it always and decorate in my mind.
    I have just finished knitting some beautiful cuddly winter cushions - all autumnal, and I now feel ready for Halloween.
    I will write again soon. Tell me all your news.
    xxxx

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Here I am finally! I had a week at Primrose Valley and came back to a poorly laptop, then I was straight back to a three night child minding stint, with today cleaning for a friend, so I have literally just hit base, phew!
    I have missed you too.
    No, still no present, it is a shame isn't it, I wonder what happened to it.
    I will close for now, I am so surprised about my laptop worktin that I can't type straight. Tell me your news and I will compose myself as I want to tell you about PV.
    Speak soon
    xxx

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Ooh Kat I didn't realise you had sent a birthday gift, how lovely. However I hate to tell you thast it still hasn't arrived. A card from Dave's son Joe took over five days to arrive and he only lives 40 mins away. I will let you know the minute it arrives. I love pop up books and have bought Jude and Nathan some but they have been ruined through over zealous little fingers I'm afraid. I especially love the ones with pin wheels in them that you can move round to show another picture (kaleidoscope style). I saw a beautiful victorian christmas one last year. Room is really good I read it earlier this year.
    Primrose Valley - it does sound lovely doesn't it. The name came from the profusion of primroses set around the camp way back in the 1960s, now long gone. It is so modernised now with treble the amount of vans and people. I used to visit with my Nannie, an old lady who lived there in a big bunglaow called Chanticleer. Her husband had died but she still kept his bowler hat on a chair in the hallway and his slippers by a chair in the back room. It was a beautiful picture box cottage with diamond leaded windows and a fabulous cooland calm fernery garden. I saw this last visit that it has been fully modernised. I still can't wait though as I see past the new right back to the old.
    Kat you must provide full details of the estate sale it sounds fascinating. I also hope you meet up with Paul it would be a shame to lose touch.
    I must dash now as I am taking some of my knitted cushions for a friend to view who wants to buy some as Christmas presents.
    I shall still think of you in a swirl of leaves.....
    xxxxx

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • KAY W

    KAY W says

    Hi Kat, Once again your concert sounds absolutely fab. You do paint a good picture, I almost feel I was in the seat alongside you! All that and a big bookstore. Maybe you could tell me a few titles from the armful. Does your sister like the same kind of books as you? We do have the Wimpy Kid series but I haven't read any of them. I just bought Little Women and The Secret Garden to add to my pile. I have a penchant for children's classics just now. That will be my next reading period I think. I read a book as a child called Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr about a girl who dreams about her drawings and this becomes mixed with reality. Do you know it? I also love A Country Child by Alison Uttley.
    My Tudor birthday went well if very quietly. I got my DVDs from David and 4 books from Dave as requested so I shall be an expert soon! Books were on Henry V111, the Tudor Children, Anne Boleyn and Bloody Mary. My friend Elaine may be getting us tickets for a talk on her Tudor books by Alison Weir, which sounds interesting. I also had a surprise present from Dave, which is a four day October break at Primrose Valley in a deluxe caravan! I think I told you that this was my childhood haunt for holidays, so it will be a real nostalgia trip for me. Of course when I first went in 1965 the caravan wasn't deluxe - there was no hot water or toilet and we had gas lamps! I sound ancient don't I!
    Re the weather, when I wrote you last we had wind, now we have a mini heat wave of 23 degrees set fair for the next few days. I have just set out out my winter wardrobe too. I always imagine you Kat, in a swirl of autumn leaves walking past a beautiful beech hedge in a red scarf with a book under your arm. How silly am I?!
    I am just getting over a bad cold and still feel a bit ropey, my back also went so I was hobbling around like Quilp, but much better now.
    Oh I also got a jigsaw for my birthday of Renoir's dancing ladies so I am a bit hooked on that too.
    Speak soon
    xxx

    posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )

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