Profilo di aluvalibri

Just thought I'd come by to speak on the off-chance that you are still here. (You posted not 10 minutes ago!) I love and adore being at home on Monday morning! Lots to do but no inclination to leave her immediately.
Do I need to go ahead and read my Jane Urquhart? Never mind. Of course, I do.

scritto da LizzieD alle 10:47 am (EST) il Mar 15, 2010

Paolina dear;
No, I am not in that picture but my husband is. That particular picture was taken the day of Pa's "Celebration of Life". And it is of his family. His younger sister Sue, his mother, the older sister Kay, (she is a spitfire and I love her), and in the back row his brother Jerry is on the left and my sweet husband is on the right. I didn't even realize the picture had been taken until it showed up on facebook.
That was a good and a close guess though. I do not even have a picture of me loaded into my computer because I do not know how to do such work. I can only "save picture as" and put it in a file. And then I have trouble finding it. But that is why there has never been a picture of me on my profile.
hugs,
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 4:39 pm (EST) il Mar 5, 2010

Thanks for your comments! In browsing your library, I came across "500 Great Books by Women: A Reader's Guide" and decided to order it. Which of course will pique my interest in many of the books listed within and lead to further purchases. Hmmm. Well, I guess I've already committed myself to this merry-go-round, so yes, still thanks.

scritto da aquaticus alle 9:56 pm (EST) il Feb 23, 2010

Hi Paola, I'm very proud to be added to your interesting library list. I just started with the favourites from my fiction collection, but also have a lot of gardening, cookery books, history and autobiography that I'll get around to adding at some stage. I see that you are of Italian background. That reminds me that one of my all-time favourite books is "The name of the rose" by Umberto Eco. I wonder if it's a different experience to read it in Italian instead of translated into English?

scritto da Eurydice2 alle 12:46 am (EST) il Feb 22, 2010

I own Arabella (as if that carried some kind of virtue in itself). I think it's one I read years ago. I plan to read what I have off and on this year until I've worked my way through them.
I need to spend less time with this machine and more with the books.
Hope your weather is contributing to joy and peace of mind. I am tired, tired, tired of rain.
Peggy

scritto da LizzieD alle 10:44 pm (EST) il Feb 7, 2010

A grin apiece, dear Paola, for you, me, and Frederica!

scritto da LizzieD alle 1:07 pm (EST) il Feb 7, 2010

Thanks!
:-)

C.

scritto da seekingbooks3 alle 7:50 pm (EST) il Feb 3, 2010

Thanks!
Just trying to better organize my books. This site seems like a great tool in which to find books, organize them, etc. etc.

Regards,
C.

scritto da seekingbooks3 alle 8:01 am (EST) il Feb 3, 2010

Well, I am going to read her and I AM going to love her!~!

scritto da rainpebble alle 10:47 pm (EST) il Jan 27, 2010

My dear, dear friend Paolina;
Please tell me that you have enjoyed the works of Christina Stead over time. I do not wish to commit seppuku due to an author whose works I have just begun to collect.
sobbing hug,
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 7:58 pm (EST) il Jan 27, 2010

Thank you, Paola! I'm really enjoying Georgette Heyer mixed in with a little Elizabeth Taylor and H. Rider Haggard at the moment. You could not ask for a more diverse reading experience than that!

Jeremy :-)

scritto da acidneutral alle 12:30 am (EST) il Jan 23, 2010

My lovely parcel arrived today! Hooray, and thank you so much - what great choices that I am so looking forward to reading. And how did you find a relative of my Dot cat on the cover of a Virago?!!

Thank you again

Liz x

scritto da LyzzyBee alle 1:58 pm (EST) il Jan 13, 2010

Thank you so much my dear Paolina.
Erin did so great. Came through with flying colors and presented a beautiful little girl.
thanx again,
luvs n hugs,
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 8:33 pm (EST) il Jan 11, 2010

Why thank you "mah" dear friend Paolina!~!
How are you feeling? You were so sick for so long that all of your friends were worried about you.
The last time I had pneumonia, every time I coughed for about 2 months, I peed my pants. (too much info?) hee hee!~!
love ya,
belvina

scritto da rainpebble alle 7:02 pm (EST) il Jan 10, 2010

Hey Paolina;
No problemo!~!
I am now a great grandmother. My 23 year old granddaughter, Erin, gave birth at 6:43 last evening to a beautiful little baby girl. She weighed 8 lbs, 1 oz and was 19 inches long. Mommy named her Madisen (or Madison) Lena. I love the Lena part. We haven't got to see her as of yet. They are about 5 or 6 hours away from us and my mother is ill and I can't leave her. But we are proud. Her pictures are on F/B if you want to check her out. Her, mommy, grandma, and mommies sisters Rachel and Haley. Haley and I are especially close and always have been. She is 19 and Rachel is 16.
Life is good!~!
hugs,
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 3:11 pm (EST) il Jan 10, 2010

Paola, yes the covers are great. I am going to start collecting her historical novels when I can afford to. I read a lot of them in the 60's and enjoyed them - time for a reread.

How are you? I hope you are feeling better.

Valerie

scritto da englishrose60 alle 10:17 am (EST) il Jan 8, 2010

Paola -- thank you so much for your presents! I am looking forward to reading them, and taking them on my trip "home." Which will, I think, incidentally take me somewhat close to where you live. I grew up in the Pocono Mountains in northeast Pennsylvania, and when we drive from Boston to "home" we drive along route 84, which I think may be sort of close to your area. Maybe someday we could meet up! Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful holiday, and that Secret Santa comes through to you soon. All the best -- Jen

scritto da outrageoussocks alle 10:29 pm (EST) il Dec 24, 2009

Right back atcha babe!~!

scritto da rainpebble alle 3:03 pm (EST) il Dec 19, 2009

Hi Paola,
Thanks for directing me here. Delighted to hear you like Australian authors. When my book is published (I refuse to say 'if') I'll be nagging you to add me to your list of favourites. lol.
Calamity

scritto da Calam alle 7:11 pm (EST) il Dec 9, 2009

Paola,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE????
Since you are, hasten over to Almack's for revived and reviving discussion about G. Heyer. Several of us have just joined and are having a great time quoting, mentioning titles, and generally reveling in having found fellow Heyer lovers.
Rest. Eat. Cough.
Love,
Peggy

scritto da LizzieD alle 8:25 pm (EST) il Dec 1, 2009

Our current vicarage is an ordinary early 60s box, though comfortable. Our previous one was a HUGE Victorian pile - fabulous to look at but short of heating and other comforts, and with 12ft ceilings and old and draughty door and window frames you certainly noticed the lack. However it fitted us at the time - my children were young enough to enjoy the three acre wilderness we had for a garden and had plenty of space to spread out their toys indoors. Just as they were old enough to want to visit their friends independently we moved to this village where they could walk along the street unaccompanied instead of having to be driven the two or three miles to the nearest town where they went to school.
Anyway, libraries rather than life stories. I see you don't share my taste for 'Girlsown' literature but otherwise you share getting on for half of my fiction titles. I'll have to look through yours for more ideas!

scritto da CDVicarage alle 1:24 pm (EST) il Nov 25, 2009

Paola,

Thank you again. I will write to them over the weekend about the book, and I will let you know. My heritage is southern Italian, so I think I will enjoy it.

Lisa

scritto da LisaCurcio alle 9:13 pm (EST) il Oct 15, 2009

Paola,

Your recent addition of "Preserving the Italian Way" caught my eye. I love cookbooks and I particularly like home style Italian cooking cookbooks. And yes, I like to cook from them, too. But when I tried to find a copy, I only came up with three on Abe books for almost $40 before shipping and they are all in Australia!

Is it worth trying to find?

And I never finished my Italian history quest. As usual, I wandered off to other things. I will wander back, eventually. There is a relatively newly written history of Florence 1200 - 1575 written by a fellow named John Najmey that I have on my wishlist and will buy at some point. Another expensive book, however.

Regards,
Lisa

scritto da LisaCurcio alle 4:00 pm (EST) il Oct 1, 2009

Just dropping by to say thanks for the info about Tarrytown. We have tickets for Legends night and I've been able to order a Sleepy Hollow cemetary map.

scritto da mstrust alle 6:05 pm (EST) il Sep 30, 2009

Hi Paola, Just wanted to let you know that I've done your pesto recipe a few times now and you're right it really doesn't need black pepper or any pepper at all. I'm going to do your strawberry risotto next. I'll let you know when I post about it.

scritto da tuppy_glossop alle 10:27 pm (EST) il Sep 29, 2009

I'm glad, Paola!!
xoxo

scritto da lindsacl alle 7:40 am (EST) il Sep 24, 2009

Paola, thanks! Got your comment. Yes, everyone seems to say the same thing about Drood. I won't waste money on it then. I've read Palest Blue Eye. Yes, please recommend some more. If not a mystery, then I'm also in the mood for historical fiction if you know any good ones. What are you reading now?

scritto da tuppy_glossop alle 7:13 am (EST) il Sep 23, 2009

Hi Paola,

I came across a thread where you mentioned you read Drood by Dan Simmons. I can't seem to find the thread now. I'm just wondering if you thought it was good and recommend it? I came across it at the bookstore the other day and I'm just really in the mood for another long mystery after all the Persephones I've been reading. If you can think of another long and engrossing book to recommend that would be great! I'd really appreciate it. Historical fictions would also be nice.

Astrid

scritto da tuppy_glossop alle 8:58 pm (EST) il Sep 22, 2009

Whoo Hoo!~!~!

scritto da rainpebble alle 3:30 pm (EST) il Sep 17, 2009

Sounds good----the "fan" thing.
But is she still writing?
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 3:14 pm (EST) il Sep 17, 2009

Noooooooooooooooooo; only eight?
My heart just hit my gut with that.
Yes, Pym's style is very different from Clayton. At this point, I prefer Clayton but hope to end up loving both. I only have one of Clayton's but have 9 of Pym's. The one I read of hers was "No Fond Return of Love".
b

scritto da rainpebble alle 5:29 pm (EST) il Sep 12, 2009

You are way too clever for me to fool.
You are exactly right!~! I am loving this Victoria Clayton.
This is the only one I have, but I will soon fix that "my little pretty"!
I am enjoying the read, enjoying the laughter, just the whole experience of Victoria Clayton.
I also read my first Barbara Pym the other day. And I do believe that I am enjoying this one more.
big hugs,
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 5:10 pm (EST) il Sep 12, 2009

"We're only just in time", he said, leaning forward to peer into the fan shapes cut by the windscreen wipers. "This road will be blocked in another hour. Are you cold? I'll put the heater on."
He pressed a switch and immediately there was a blast of icy air on my feet.
"It'll warm in a minute," he said with a confidence that proved to be quite unfounded. "Luckily the trees meet overhead in this part and they seem to be diverting the snow. Lammas Hill might be a bit tricky. More exposed, you know. It's fortunate that I've been travelling these roads for twenty years and I know them backwards."
These words turned out to be prophetic for halfway up Lammas Hill we began to slide down it again.
"Sorry," he said, crunching through the gears, "I think I got into neutral there. Ah, this feels like first."
With a roar and a spin of the wheels we leapt forward and I struck my forehead painfully on the edge of the sun visor. By the time we got to the top I felt as though I had driven the old Austin up the hill by mental powers alone for my stomach muscles were locked in a scissors-hold and the relief was so great that I was perfectly calm as we swooshed down the other side at extraordinary speed into blackness.
At last the car beamed it's single eye on to a pair of iron gates. Mr. Liddell got out, despite my protests, and rattled manfully at the latch for at least a minute before he discovered the padlock. He rapped on my window which I wound down with a shrieking, the window that is, though it might as well have been me for the next moment he stuck his head in through it and showered me with snow from the brim of his hat.
"It's not good, I'm afraid. Firmly locked. There's a side gate which is open. Perhaps you'll allow me to carry your luggage up to the house?"
I spoke very firmly against this plan and said that I was well able to manage for myself and wouldn't dream of putting him to any further trouble. He was round and in the car in a trice and who could blame him? I thanked him and waved as he lurched off into the swirling darkness with the window sucking in volumes of arctic air, having resisted all our attempts to wind it up again.
"Handbrake!" I shouted but the wind whipped the word heedlessly away.

Can you guess what I am reading and loving and LMAO whilst doing so??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/
hugs,
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 4:55 pm (EST) il Sep 12, 2009

Oh wow, I love your picture at the top! A book, a cat and a dog is all one needs :)

scritto da Assumpta_Rainer alle 3:44 pm (EST) il Sep 12, 2009

Hello and thank you so much for adding me to your interesting libraries. I gladly return the honour, with this massive treasure trove of yours!

scritto da GingerbreadMan alle 4:47 pm (EST) il Sep 9, 2009

Hi;
Mark and I have been discussing the possibility of another group read in November and want your input. We have narrowed it down to two books at this point. "The People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks and "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. So chat it up with friends or us and let us know if you are up for it and what you think. Probably the same plan as with "Pillars of the Earth" which seemed to work out perfectly for almost all of us.
Think it over and give one of us a shout.
hugs and looking forward to hearing from you,
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 10:51 am (EST) il Sep 9, 2009

Hello Paola;
I have one of hers. It is "Out of Love". Have you read that one?
I think one of the "Roses" sent it to me just out of love. ha ha ha Pretty punny, huh? "Oh, Belva---stop being such a stoodge!~!"
Sorry, no sleep last night.
I will get to it probably in September after I finish the 999 challenge.
Are they really good romances?
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 2:39 pm (EST) il Aug 29, 2009

Hi Paola;
Just got home late yesterday and wanted to stop over and say "Hey, how's it going?"
Have you been reading any good books while I was gone? I only read one complete book while at Robbi's. "Battle Cry of Freedom" and it was mesmerizing. She and my friends kept me very busy for all of the 2 weeks. I was able to almost finish another on the flight home.
It was soo good to get home until I got home and found the dishes hadn't been done in 2 weeks; my last coffee cup was still in the sink. But apparently they ate out a lot. But the hubby took awesome care of the grandsons while I was away and of my mother also (and was happy to do it so I could go and spend some time with Robbi) so I didn't say anything about anything. I am just so appreciative that I was able to go and be with her for those two weeks. I got up at 5 A.M. today and cleaned the bathroom and did the dishes. The rest I will catch as catch can, but at least now the bathroom doesn't smell like a latrine and when I want to eat I can find a clean dish. So it's all good.
We went to the Pocket Sandwich Theater while I was there and they were showing a vaudevillian type play in which the actors interact with the audience. Popcorn fights are the rage and we had a blast throwing popcorn at the actors and other patrons and having popcorn rain down upon us as well. I can't wait to go back the next time!~! It was so much fun.
And they have Half Price Books stores all over the Dallas/Ft Worth/Plano/Irving/McKinny area. I think we hit everyone of them and I had to go to the P.O. and ship books home so as not to have to pay the heavy toll to check baggage at the airport. I travel so light. One very small back pack and my purse. That's it. Needless to say I do a lot of laundry while there, but traveling light just works for me.
Missed you and our conversations while I was gone. Can't wait to catch up on your thread and all the others. But I wanted to say hello as I know it will take time to play catch up.
Will see you on your thread.
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 11:38 am (EST) il Aug 25, 2009

thanks for replying the other day. iv not read a virago in ages, but when i next do ill come jump in and chat. how did you get such a massive collection?

scritto da weaponxgirl alle 3:47 pm (EST) il Aug 11, 2009

hiya, hope you dont mind me adding you to my interesting libraries. Noticed that we share a few books and that alot of the rest are books iv mentaly book marked anyway.

scritto da weaponxgirl alle 2:14 pm (EST) il Aug 2, 2009

Dear Paola, - Thanks for your comments and your support for my blog. I've just gotten out of a 14 hour flight and am now in Holland...vacationing for a month. I hope to post some recipes and stuff while I'm here but it might not be as frequent as it would have been if I was back home. But oh...there are so many lovely ingredients here and fruits I have to try. That strawberry risotto sounds lovely! Do you have the recipe. The strawberries here are beautiful right now.

Are you still in Italy? How is your mother?

By the way, did you receive the book I sent, Summerhouse Trilogy? It was going to take a few weeks so I'm not sure if you have.

Astrid

scritto da tuppy_glossop alle 5:22 am (EST) il Aug 2, 2009

Hi Paola;
How ya doin'?
Huge favor to ask of you if you have time. Since I am such a novice to Virago and have only read 2 of them thus far; with the challenge
for August I am feeling a little inadequate,lost and like I am kind of hanging out there.
If (and only if) you have time could you hitch over to my profile and check out my Viragos; look under the tag "virago modern classic" and
check out my books/authors and give me kind of an idea of which ones would/could be good starting place for me?
Thank you. I am so excited for August reading. I should be "old hat" at Virago by the time the "All Virago/All August" challenge is over!~!
Thank you and remember: just if you have the time.
hugs,
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 3:42 pm (EST) il Aug 1, 2009

Thanks so much, Paola. I just found your comment. I've been busy working on another draft of my current novel and just now starting to figure out how Librarything works and become more active hre.

scritto da liliannattel alle 4:07 pm (EST) il Jul 30, 2009

Thanks for the message! Sorry, I've only just figured out librarything messages...

In terms of school books - Angela Brazil is a classic - but also very dated. I like Anne Digby's Trebizon books.

Another favourite is the Marjorie Lloyd "Fell Farm" series...

I'm also just re-reading some of Joan Lingard's teenage books - the Maggie series in particular.

scritto da verityjdo alle 4:26 am (EST) il Jul 30, 2009

Thanks for the friend request Paola! Mum always talks about you, and your library (of 4800+ books!) looks very interesting... but where do you keep them all?!
Glad that my youthful face could keep things fresh around here :)
Kieran.

scritto da kJ. alle 8:51 am (EST) il Jul 28, 2009

Hello,
Thanks for replying. Regretfully although I have a short wish list already on Amazon UK,I have been unable to locate any 'link-type button' on the page anywhere.
Sorry about this,but any more thoughts would be welcome as this would be really useful.
Thanks again
Peter

scritto da devenish alle 3:29 pm (EST) il Jul 16, 2009

Hi Paola,
Hope you are well.I have just spotted that you have an 'Amazon wish list 'connection on your Profile page. Would you be kind enough to tell me how you do this,as I think it would be very usefulfor me to have too.
Many thanks.
Peter

scritto da devenish alle 4:47 am (EST) il Jul 16, 2009

Paola - Thank you for your message. With every book I read in the Montalbano series, the more convinced I am that this is 'the best' mystery series I've read. I only wish I could enjoy it in it's native language. Perhaps you can comment on the comparisons between the original Italian and the English translation.

I see in your profile you are interested in Australian authors. May I ask why? Is there some family connection? As an Australian, I see we share quite a number of Australian books in common, although I haven't entered these books on the LT system, except where they pertain to military non-fiction. I just finished the excellent "Gallipoli" by Australian historian Les Carlyon. Reading this book will give you an excellent insight to one aspect of Australian popular culture - i.e. the ANZAC spirit!

Regards
Peter

scritto da petermc alle 7:20 pm (EST) il Jun 30, 2009

Come ti è capitato di leggere "Un Ebreo nel Fascismo"?

scritto da goghi alle 9:59 am (EST) il Jun 25, 2009

Oh I've just noticed, you've just added Restless House - What a coincidence! I'm reading La Bete Humanine (in translation) right now. I've just made it my lifetime ambition to learn French well enough to be able to read at least one Zola novel in his native tongue.
X

scritto da purpleelephant alle 4:57 am (EST) il Jun 21, 2009

Paola,

Thanks for the feedback!

Mark

scritto da thorold alle 4:38 pm (EST) il Jun 7, 2009

Thank you, Paola, for the affirmation.
I think I wanted to say something else, but it's gone now.
Patience with the elderly!!!
Peggy

scritto da LizzieD alle 11:06 pm (EST) il May 30, 2009

And Paola;
Is there somewhere to get a list of the Virago Classic titles? I can go to the Persephone website to get theirs but I don't know about the Viragos.
Thank you so much for helping the 61 year old waa waa baby.
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 11:56 am (EST) il May 29, 2009

Thank you so much Paola.
You are indeed a kind and gracious lady.
I will be anxiously awaiting the post.
Have I told you yet how much I LOVE your
profile picture. It is so very appropriate.
I hope you have had a good day. It was lovely
here and I hope there as well.
belva

scritto da rainpebble alle 8:55 pm (EST) il May 18, 2009

Yay that it's arrived!! Hope you like it. I haven't read it yet but at this rate it'll be years. I have 3 more crazy weeks of teaching then I'll get a break...

And thanks for this morning's pictorial email - very funny!!

scritto da cmt alle 10:16 pm (EST) il May 12, 2009

Paola! It's here it's here! Thanks so much for sending The Unlit Lamp. I adore the Dial Press Editions! You're wonderful! ;)

scritto da hjelliot alle 1:55 pm (EST) il May 7, 2009

Thank you very much, Paola! I am enjoying perusing your wonderful library, which is giving me many new ideas for my wishlist.

Gina

scritto da gharader alle 11:50 pm (EST) il May 5, 2009

Hi Paola,
I just mooched for you a copy of The Southwest Corner, by Mildred Walker. I haven't heard back yet from the book's owner as to whether she'll send it, but I'll let you know when I receive the mooch acceptance.
Maggie

scritto da MaggieO alle 2:35 pm (EST) il Apr 29, 2009

Hi Paola,

You're most welcome. I've actually added several members from Club Read 2009 based on some of my favorite threads. Partially it's a reminder to check out your library when I have some more time...I'm always very interested in libraries of those with that "disease" you mentions above.

Cheers,
d

scritto da dchaikin alle 9:48 pm (EST) il Apr 26, 2009

Oh Paola, I didn't know about the breast biopsy. Thank heavens it was negative. The book sales sound wonderful. No fair! No fair!

scritto da urania1 alle 5:10 pm (EST) il Apr 25, 2009

Someone has been book shopping. I'm going to tell. A Year of Reading Proust: A Memoir in Real Time sounds scrumptious.

scritto da urania1 alle 5:02 pm (EST) il Apr 25, 2009

Paola -- You are very welcome! I hope you enjoy the book and I'm very glad it has such a loving new home! -- Jen

scritto da outrageoussocks alle 9:07 am (EST) il Apr 21, 2009

Paola, hello. I almost think I visited you back in January when I first arrived. At any rate, the Johnson Johnson mysteries number 5, I think. Johnson is a bon vivant portrait painter who travels the world in his sailing yacht, Dolly. The books are Dolly and the Starry Bird, Dolly and the Cookie Bird, Dolly and the Nanny Bird, Dolly and the Doctor Bird, and Dolly and the Singing Bird. I have all but "Singing," and it's been a long time since I read them. I'm afraid they're out of print, but now I probably have to reread the ones I have and hunt the last one.
Let me tell you that teaching Latin is not what it was even 10 years ago. You don't want me to start singing my sad song. I read all the "best practices" list serves, but I was a pretty traditional teacher. I took early retirement because I finally was not getting anybody to learn anything. This year has been wonderful!
Enough!
Peggy

scritto da LizzieD alle 8:31 pm (EST) il Apr 10, 2009

New entry on the Esenin Translation thread. Do have a look.

scritto da polutropos alle 9:20 pm (EST) il Apr 5, 2009

C'e un problema con Guicciardini. Le Storie comincia al 1378, dopo che Dante e morto.

Sorry for the bad Italian! I am going to read it because it is interesting, but it will not help put Inferno in perspective. Perhaps I will try Macchiaveli. There is a contemporary author, John Najemy, who has written a history of Florence, but I am going to have to try to get it through an interlibrary loan. It must be a text book because it sells for more than $80.00 and it is only available in university libraries. It does get great reviews in academic circles, however.

scritto da LisaCurcio alle 9:33 pm (EST) il Mar 30, 2009

Paola,

The library notified me it has the Guicciardini for me. I am going to get it tomorrow, and will let you know how it looks.

scritto da LisaCurcio alle 3:51 pm (EST) il Mar 25, 2009

Paola, the Louisa May Alcott book arrived yesterday -- quite a treat, as I had forgotten it was coming! Thank you so much!!!

scritto da aviddiva alle 4:31 pm (EST) il Mar 20, 2009