Madhurima

My Favorite books

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  Scarlett says

  Madhurima, so sorry for the late response to your post. I've been busy here as well. I haven't really been working but one day last week but am doing a lot of stuff at home to catch up.
  
  I'm glad you liked my last pic on my profile. That one and this one were taken while visiting my son in Washington state. He was with me in the other one. He's my youngest.
  
  My oldest son was here visiting with his wife for almost 2 weeks before I went to Washington to visit the youngest one. I had not flown in over 25 years and was terrified but decided if I don't do things I want to do, I may never have the chance so I went by myself. I had a great time and saw wonderful things. I am scared of water but am fascinated by it. I am in the ocean in this picture. My son told me to go deeper but I said this was far enough! LOL
  
  I've loved all the Harry Potter books and enjoyed the movies. I listened to "The Half Blood Prince"just before seeing the movie and they had changed the movie a lot so I didn't enjoy it as much but will buy it when it comes out and I'm sure I will like it after not reading it.
  
  I'm reading "The Help" Kathryn Stockett right now. I should finish it later tonight. It's been very good.
  
  No, I don't write. I told my husband (who is a technical book author) that I know a lot of words but I don't put them together very well. LOL I prefer to read them.
  
  I hope things have slowed down for you and hope to hear from you soon.

  Posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Leslie E says

  I'm reading something I think you'd very much like, Madhurima. It's called "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese. It only recently came out here so it might take a little while for the book to make its way to other countries. Verghese is a doctor by training and has written other books, but this is his first novel. First set in Ethiopia, then the main character leaves his family for a sudden, jarring move to America. It's good--hope you like it, too!
  
  Hope you're making it through the monsoon season all right.
  
  Take care,
  Leslie

  Posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Scarlett says

  Oh, I forgot to say, that I do like Mario Puzo. I think I have his latest one in my stacks but haven't read it yet. : )

  Posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Scarlett says

  Hi Madhurima.
  
  Yes, I love to grow my own vegetables. Coming up so far I have, string beans, radishes, lettuce (a little) and one squash plant. I keep my tomatoes on my deck so the deer can't get to them. LOL My husband has still not put the fence up for the garden but needs to soon.
  
  The weather is finally hot here. We've had much cooler and rainy weather than we normally do so it's finally summer. It's so green here and looks nice though.
  
  Sorry to hear you're working so hard. Maybe you will slow down a little and be able to do some things you want to just for you.
  
  Take care and write soon.

  Posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Leslie E says

  Hi, Madhurima!
  
  Thanks very much--I'm fine. The Twilight series is one I don't think I'll read. So many books, and my stack just keeps getting higher! I've just started In Hovering Flight, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and hope to read Tree of Smoke and Updike's last collection of short stories very soon. I should finally be finished with 2666, an amazing, amazing book. I couldn't read it fast--every time I'd read it, he brought up all of these ideas that sent my brain going in many directions.
  
  Sorry this is so short. I'll try to write more soon. Meantime, I hope everything is good with you. Don't work too hard!
  
  Take care,
  Leslie

  Posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Jassafari says

  Thanx for the friendship
  
  JASS!
  
  What are you reading?

  Posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Jassafari says

  Thanx for accepting my offer of friendship.
  
  JASS!
  
  What are you reading?

  Posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Scarlett says

  Hi Madhurima, good to hear from you again!
  
  It's finally warmed up here and I've been busy planting a vegetable garden. Just finished this morning so now hubby needs to put a fence around it to keep the critters out.
  
  I just finished reading "Killer Cruise" Laura Levine. These are very funny books and I look forward to each one. I'm going to start "Dewey the Small Town Library Cat" (or whatever it's name is LOL) this afternoon.
  
  How is everything with you and what are you reading?

  Posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Leslie E says

  Hi, Madhurima!
  
  I loved your story about reading in the cab! I used to read on the bus to and from my job and when the bus got me to the Metro, I sometimes went a few stops in the OTHER direction just to have a longer time to read! I hope things are a little less hectic for you now--continued good wishes. Sorry, I haven't read "Men are from Mars..."
  
  H. and I are great but Mom isn't. The most worrisome thing now is her memory which is failing badly. A few days ago, I spent half an hour convincing her that the glasses she was wearing were her old ones and that we were waiting for the new ones with a new prescription. This is all very hard--for her and for me.
  
  Our trip out of town was really nice, though the reason for going was to attend a funeral. We saw many of H's relatives, including his Mom and sister, cousins and niece with her children. We also had some time to ourselves which was especially nice!
  
  It's Saturday here and we're going to a goodbye party for two friends who are moving to Germany for 3 years tonight. We hope to go visit them and travel with them while they're there.
  
  Take care, Madhurima--
  Leslie

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Leslie E says

  Hi, Madhurima,
  
  I hope work has gotten a little easier for you. Days where you do little but work are so, so wearing. I remember them well, when I worked at the Sierra Club and we were really trying to get a bill passed in Congress and worked for hours past closing time and all weekend to try to make it happen. I wish you luck and hope you can see "light at the end of the tunnel" sometime soon! My husband and I are fine. When I'm not reading or spending precious, wonderful time with him, I'm working on music or knitting or helping out with my mother's care. She lives in an independent/assisted living facility, still in the "independent" part, but she needs a lot of help! For reading, I've been reading some really good books set in the American West by Cormac McCarthy. Some of it is in Spanish and I wish I knew Spanish, but I get the idea of most of what he is saying. I just finished "Lark and Termite" by Jayne Anne Phillips, one of the best books I've read this year. And another really good one I read is "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout. It's a collection of short stories, all with Olive in the story somewhere. So really, it's a novel about a woman and a town. I loved it. I also read "The Journal of Helene Behr"--she was a Jew living in Paris with her family. She kept this journal during the time of the Occupation and tried desperately to go on with her life, even though the Nazis made it incredibly hard to do so. Another woman who lived during that time in much the same way turned her writing into fiction, "Suite Francaise." Her name is Irene Nemirovsky. I thought this was a really good book.
  
  I'd best get on with the day. We're going out of town over the weekend and I need to do some things to get ready (as well as work!).
  
  Take care, Madhurima--
  Leslie

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Scarlett says

  Hi Madhurima!
  
  That's ok about not talking in a while, I've had the same problem here with working a lot. It's kind of slowed down a bit for me right now so that's good, now to just catch up at home! LOL
  
  We're having another snow and cold windy day here. Not so much snow, just some flurries but it's very cold and windy. I thought we were going to actually have a spring this year, it was so nice then we started getting the snow storms so guess we still won't have a spring. We do need the moisture though, it's been a very mild winter until recently. I even drove to work on ice on Thursday! Pretty scary.
  
  I'm reading a book called "Night Passage" Robert B. Parker right now. They have TV movies occasionally based on these books and the main character, Jesse Stone. Tom Selleck plays Jesse Stone and I love him so always watch. Thought maybe I'd start reading the series so this is the first one.
  
  Have you had any time to read at all?

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Leslie E says

  Hi, Madhurima--
  
  Welcome back! Have you been traveling?
  
  Best,
  Leslie

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Suzanne B says

  Hi Madhurima,
  
  Yes, I have been busy; (sorry :( ) but at least work has been steady, which is more than I can say for a lot of people here in America. I'm glad you had a nice trip to Shankarpur--I can't wait to see your photos! Right about now, I could use some of that peace and quiet; not to mention a break from my own schedule. This one genetics researcher is driving me crazy, asking for all of his charts and graphs to be made "pretty". My office is now buried under a mountain of paper! lol!
  
  Send the photographs when you have time and do tell me more about your trip!
  
  To answer a question from your previous post, it was your gmail account, and I'll keep sending you the pictures I have. The next batch is of our home in Kentucky and of our farm. We're taking another trip down there soon, so I'll go and visit up in the mountains and get you some really nice pictures of the rural south. As for ballerinas keeping their balance: the points of the toe-shoes are flat and squared off instead of being round, so when one moves up on to point: there's a small area that the dancer balances on.
  
  Kathak, (I believe I've seen it performed,) is quite graceful and elegant. The movements look peaceful and fluid; but you're right: I always imagined it was complex and more difficult than it appeared.
  
  I'm with you on getting rid of the evil in this world, and it does exist everywhere. We wouldn't be human if we were infallible.
  
  If you love the Beatles, then you would like the music of Jim Croce. He has a nice voice, and his songs are positive, uplifting, and they have a nice harmony. The Eagles are also a great band. They're considered one of the best bands to ever come out of America. My favorite song by The Eagles is "Hotel California", which is a cover of the Bob Marley song of the same name. (The Eagles' version is much better.) Also, Creedence Clearwater Revival is a great band. The songs "Cotton Fields", "Bad Moon Rising", "Suzy Q", "Lodi", and "Down On The Corner" are good to start with; because the lead singer has a unique voice and people either love CCR, or they don't care for them. As for more contemporary singers, Meatloaf has an amazing voice. His song, "I Would Do Anything For Love" is very beautiful. Also try "Hummingbird" by Seals & Crofts, and also by B.B. King. The songs have the same name, but are totally different. I love both of them. These artists except for Meatloaf are all considered Classic Rock. If you like them, let me know, or if you can't find them, I'll send you the MP3s from my iTunes. (That's so awesome that Pink Floyd and Sinatra are popular in India. (Then again, I think everyone should love Pink Floyd and David Gilmour; but that's only personal opinion from a long-time fan.)
  
  Don't worry, I won't forget our family photo! Everyone looks nice today, so we'll take one for you. :)
  
  Regards,
  
  Suzanne

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Scarlett says

  Hi Madhurima.
  
  Thanks, my husband is better now. A lot of people are coming down with it at the school where I'm working, I'm washing my hands about a 100 times a day and trying not to get to close to the kids but you know how it is with little ones. I'm hoping I can make it through next week then take a week off!
  
  Sounds like you did some serious book buying! I would have been as bad though so you won't see me telling you "you shouldn't have"! LOL
  
  Yes the Anne Frank book is very tragic. She was so young. Have you read "The True Story of Hansel and Gretel"? It's by Louise Murphy. I may have asked this already but can't remember.
  
  I never continued on to read "Shall We Tell the President". I really liked the first two books but some people had told me that the characters from the previous books were barely mentioned so I didn't read it. Would you recommend it?
  
  I loved "Pope Joan". Very interesting story and the author adds her notes afterward and tells which facts were true and which were embellished. Very plausible story even though the Catholic Church has renounced it.
  
  Well, have to go to bed, another day with the kids who are more fun when I'm better rested. LOL
  
  Talk to you soon,

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Scarlett says

  Hi Madhurima,
  
  Sorry it's been so long since I've answered but I've been very busy with work! I worked at a High School for 3 weeks and today started another school (elementary) for 10 days. Of course, when I got up this morning, the roads were all snowy! My husband is sick with a cold so I didn't want to get him up and decided to try it myself. It's about 10 or 15 minutes on dry roads so I figured I would just take it easy and when I got there, I got there. Well, I was about 5 minutes away and the traffic all of a sudden was backed up. There were 3 cars stalled, not able to make it up a hill where I needed to go. The hill was all ice! I was stopped way behind the car on my side in case he slid down. I decided to sit for a while and see if any of the 3 cars could get moving. Finally two of them did and they were on the other side. I wanted to turn around and go home but there wasn't anyway for me to do that so when traffic cleared for a minute behind me, I tried it and I made it just fine up the hill and on to the school! I sat in the parking lot for about 10 minutes just to calm myself down and then went in. Next time, I'll call in sick! LOL
  
  The book fair sounds so wonderful! I think if they did that here, I would go broke buying books! LOL How many did you end up with?
  
  How did you end up liking "The Diary of Anne Frank"? Such a tragic story.
  
  I'm reading "Pope Joan" right now and really enjoying it. I think that early history is so fascinating. It is fiction but it's based on history.
  
  Well, take care and write when you can.

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Leslie E says

  Hi, Madhurima--
  
  I'm glad you liked Anne Frank's diary. I've been lucky enough to go to Amsterdam and see the house where she and her family lived in hiding. It's amazing that so many people were able to live in such a small space. Her tiny room is intact, with everything that she had pinned up on her walls placed under glass. It was quite moving. You could almost sense her dream to be in the world again.
  
  Take care, Madhurima--
  Leslie

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Leslie E says

  Hi, Madhurima--
  
  Thanks for your note. My cold is on the wane, finally! It was very cold that day but so very wonderful! I'm so glad you were able to watch the swearing in ceremony. Our President is only one man and we can't expect miracles, but he gives me a lot of hope, more than I have had for a long time. I hope our country has some patience to let him try; he's certainly working hard already.
  
  I look forward to hearing what you think of Anne Frank's diary. I found it very moving and think she would have gone on to be quite a writer if she had lived. Let's talk more after you've read it.
  
  Take care, Madhurima--
  
  Leslie

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Leslie E says

  Hi, Madhurima--
  
  Currently reading "My Stroke of Insight," written by a neuroscientist who had a stroke. Really an interesting book, especially the part where she describes so vividly what is happening as she's having her stroke. Also "The Given Day," set in Boston in 1918. All about power or lack thereof. Enjoying it.
  
  I'm good, just have a post-inaugural cold. It was a 21-hour day, but worth everything to see Obama sworn in. Wouldn't have missed it for the world!
  
  Better go check to see if work is in yet--
  Leslie

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Scarlett says

  Hi Madhurima, good to hear from you again. I've been working also so it cuts the time I can spend here also.
  
  It's actually been beautiful weather here. I'm afraid it won't last though and as you know I don't drive in it. I'm hoping it will hold out until the end of next week because I have a long drive to the school where I am working now.
  
  I just finished reading a romance for a challenge I'm doing called "The Secret" Julie Garwood. it was pretty good. I'm going to read one called "Triangle" a NF about a factory fire.
  
  That's my dog Angel. She brings us her dish when she wants to eat, LOL. Sometimes she gets inpatient and throws it at our feet if we aren't paying attention!
  
  Are you reading anything good?

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )

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  Swarnarekha says

  Hi Madhurima,
  
  Is there a sequel to "Kane & Abel"... I haven't heard about that before...
  
  Currently I'm reading Kane & Abel only....
  
  Now will add 'The Prodigal daughter' in future list...

  Posted 4 years ago. ( send a note )