I haven’t read any of those books. I tried Pride and Prejudice a few different times in my life and hated it.
My favorite all-time books:
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Watership Down
Going Postal
I, Robot
The Prydain Chronicles
That’s what I can think of right now. Best books would be a different list but would have to include Shogun.
I’ve given it some thought. I’m probably going to come up with at least fifteen more books before the end of the day, but here’s a few of my favorites–many of them are books I’ve read so many times I actually had to buy multiple copies because I’d read them into oblivion.
The Alienist, Caleb Carr
The Dragon Reborn, Robert Jordan
Outlander, Diana Gabaldon
The Witching Hour, Anne Rice
The Talisman, Stephen King/Peter Straub
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling (I think this one’s my favorite because it makes me weep)
The Eight, Katherine Neville
Um, that’s all I’ve got for now. Discuss. 
Yeah, there are stiff penalties for killing off the dean.
The meeting went very well. She was genuinely interested to hear what grad assistants have to say and was receptive to the suggestions I made. She even heard a complaint I’ve got about financial aid (who doesn’t have a complaint about financial aid) and is going to look into it.
Robin
After some thought, I realised that the books I re-read most often aren’t my favourites. I’ve re-read Diana Gabaldon’s books a whole lot, and the Recluce series, and the Kushiel series, but I think it’s because they’re easy and fun. I don’t love them. Weird, huh? I practically don’t re-read LOTR at all anymore, because I’ve (almost) got it surgically implanted on the insides of my eyelids. I don’t re-read Orthodoxy very often, because I’ve almost memorised it.
The cake turned out quite well. Very buttery. I’m eating some with custard and strawberries right now.
I love the Alienist. The Alienist was set in my town, and the sequel was set in Saratoga, not far from here.
Robert Jordan? :falls over dead:
I could never finish The Talisman. Anne Rice I only ever read Interview. I liked it, but none of her others.
HP is good, but I’d never count it amongst best books for me.
I initally read this as “The cat turned out very well. Very buttery.”
meOW
Oh, dear, I nearly finished Marley And Me at lunch. As I suspected, it had me weeping like a baby. I could have bypassed those pages, but nooooooooo, I had to read them. 
It’s way to hard to pick a favorite book cause I love them all but I think if my life depended on it, I’d have to say Shogun. I don’t remember ever reading a book that took me so far out of real life that coming back was a jolt.
Next would be Koontz’ The Watchers. I just loved that story.
Of the many many places you’d like to be, having a “your Mom” fight against me should be on the very bottom of that list. Trust me on this one.
I can’t help it. Wheel of Time was the first fantasy I’ve ever read, and it stuck with me. I can’t not read it. It’s an addiction, and moderately embarrassing.
On preview I see that you didn’t get one, but I’m gonna post my advice anyway in case you change your mind. I’m all helpful that way.
Yes you can, That’s how I found out that daytime TV was so excruciatingly awful.
We got a Schwinn recumbant stationary bike at Costco 3 or 4 years ago, but I wouldn’t recommend anything by Schwinn nowadays, not since they’ve been bought out. (by Huffy IIRC). Get a recumbant instead of an upright, your butt will thank you, trust me on this.
Also make them let you try it out for comfort and ease of programming. A good seat is all important here. Our Schwinn is a PITA to program for hills and stuff. Anymore I just get on and hit ‘start’ and then ‘up’ to set the resistance.
One last thing, they can be a PITA to assemble too. If you can get one assembled, go for it.
Having your own exercise bike definately makes it easier to exercise, it also makes it easier to avoid exercising for a lot of people. If you wind up getting one, just remember to think “I paid good money for this thing and I’m gonna get my money’s worth!”. You can throw some expletives in there too if you want to.
I can’t recall too many of my favorite books just now. I used to be a voracious reader, but my eyes won’t take it any more.
The books I re-read however might be a good indication:
The Lord of the Rings I’ve read 3 or 4 times.
Mission of Gravity - Hal Clement, Science fiction. I’ve read at least 4 times. I go back and re-read all of Clements books from time to time, but Mission is his best.
Broca’s Brain Carl Sagan, Science. What can I say? I’m a geek.
The Outline of History H. G. Wells, History. Much more interesting (to me anyway) than you’d think. I unfortunately lost my copy and haven’t replaced it yet.
I’m sure there’s more, I just can’t think of any right now.
I have a recumbant bike - Schwinn c 2000. I like it, or rather liked it because I haven’t used it in a while - it stares at me, every morning when I get up and every night when I go to bed. It says “I’m a $400 clothes hamper!” I keep promising myself I’ll get back on it but somehow never do. Any suggestions for getting back into it?
Large print books!
Favorite books I have multiple copies of:
The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon
The Path of the Fury/In Fury Born by David Weber
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly
A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
**Swordspoint ** by Ellen Kushner
Patience and Sarah by Isabel Miller (4 copies and counting…)
Favorites that haven’t fallen apart yet:
**Devil’s Cub ** by Georgette Heyer
The Grass Widow by Nanci Little
**Deerskin ** and **Beauty ** by Robin McKinley
And, of course, my battered and worn Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, 2nd ed. What? Doesn’t everybody read the dictionary?
My list for my bookstore outing now has several cross-outs, updates, and question marks on it. Originally on the list, Light Through the Darkness by Jon Chryssaugis. It’s a book about Orthodox Christianity (but not Christian orthodoxy, like the Chesterton book), and The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, a recent bestseller that a friend recommended. I’ve added Strangers and Sojouners for me, and Deerskin because I think my daughter & I might both go for it (she’s currently re-reading Spindle’s End by the same author. I’m going to have a look at I, Robot, too. I’ve heard lots about it. I also loved The Alienist, and Angel of Darkness was really creepy. Bumba your list is just too science-y for me. Tupug, I wouldn’t go near Marley and Me because I knew it would only end in tears. If you can handle some children’s fiction, as a remedy, read No More Dead Dogs by Korman. It’s great! Ellen - I’ve read most of your list, and it’s funny but you’ve got both books I love (like Garp) and books I would never read again (like Cold Mtn).
My home exercise equipment is a stair stepper. It’s right next me where I can see it every day. But somehow, days or weeks can go by and I never even notice it. I don’t think I’ve taken more than two steps at a time on it since it was a month old. Fickle, fickle me. So, rosie, if you figure something out, please let me know!
Sean - please tell us what it is you know about spatial’s mom. Will it explain the puns?
It’s not what he knows about my mom - it’s what I know about his.
and I won’t even go into what happened last night …
Hello, all.
I am still at the tile–actually, I told the tile guy that he is on his own now (why am I paying someone if not to do this work?). My hands, back and neck are sore–who knew that tiling was hard work? Not me.
Books that are favs would take all day for me to list. Jahdra --I love Georgette Heyer myself. My fav of hers is The Grand Sophy.
Love Jane Austen-sorry, Mika
all time favorite book: The Tale of the Land of Green Ginger by Noel Langley.
More later–no time now. I joined imac–and I get my own web page! Wahoo! Soon I’ll set it up and then load the kitchen pics on there…
We have an private laundromat, which means only apartment people can use it. There was a sign there that said:
Whoever took my work uniform,
please give it back.
You’ll notice the blue Sunoco logo.
Building _, Apt _.
It must be an accident - who the heck takes a Sunoco uniform - but we’re now wondering how it happened. And I have had things taken out of my laundry but only two silk chemises which I guess I can understand but still feel like :dubious:
Mika I’d be on the lookout for a freak who likes to wear chemises under Sunoco uniforms. Ya just never know about those pervs!
It’s been raining! YAY! It’s stopped for now but it’s supposed to be coming back. ACBG has a meeting tonight, so no snuggle while it’s raining time which is bad, but I’m so glad for the rain I won’t get to upset. Though rain snugglin’ is some of the best snugglin’ there is. We’re supposed to get rain next week too, so I’m sure we can make up for it.
I think I want a nice hot whirlpool tub bath. With a glass of wine or two. And some of those ocean breezy smellin’ bath salts. Sounds good don’t it!
Well, if the $400.00 doesn’t do it, think of the health benefits.
You’ll sleep better.
It increases blood flow in the legs and feet, so if you have foot problems it should help. When I’d recovered from my gout to the point that I could stand the pain, I started riding for a few minutes at a time, and my recovery progressed much faster. I’m still not completely over it, but I’m doing real well.
If you ride long enough it’s good for your heart.
It burns blood sugar.
It feels so good when you’ve had a good workout. That moment when you get off the bike is golden.
Ummm…That’s all I got.