K8smom

Thanks for the explanations - I don't follow figure skating that closely, so I was a bit confused.

Last night, one of the announcers said something about a new rule allowing women to wear pants. I thought that I remembered Debbie Thomas wearing a unitard at the Olympics, several Olympics ago. Am I confused, or is this not a new rule?

I'm only aware of one of the three; indeed it is Angela Snow.

Yes, thanks! I grew up in the Bay Area going to SFB's Nut, and I miss going now, so it's nice to hear about the new production. The reason that my daughter is a dancer today is because I took her to see SFB's Nut when she was three (yes, she was quiet!). I remember being fascinated, years ago, because Mother Ginger's skirt was a giant house, and "smoke" came out of the chimney!

floss, so sorry, I never saw your post until today! I liked Weir's book, although it was more about Eleanor's family and the times than about Eleanor. There is so little actually known about her, it seems, but a lot of incorrect information and conjecture, which Weir tries to correct. It was good, though. Eleanor WAS a pretty remarkable person, wasn't she? Should I read Marion Meade's?

Wow, vagansmom, pretty impressive list. So far this summer I've reread 14 of Dorothy Dunnett's historical novels (Niccolo and Lymond series), and just finished Alison Weir's Eleanor of Aquitaine. I'm reading (at) Eats, Shoots & Leaves(love it!), and just found The Young Wan by Brendan O'Carroll (prequel to The Mammy, The Chisellers, and The Granny), which I didn't even know he'd written until I found it by chance yesterday. I almost bought The Jane Austen Book Club, but bought O'Carroll's book instead.

Well, in the interview it sounded more like Radcliffe was just giving his opinion, not that he had any insider information. I'd actually be pretty shocked if she killed Harry off, even though she's sort of implied it...

In an interview, Daniel Radcliffe said that he thinks that Ron and Hermione will end up together, and that his character will die.

I've also heard that the three lead actors may be replaced in the later movies simply because of their ages, but don't understand the reasoning here. There are countless examples of older actors playing younger characters in film. Actors in their twenties routinely play teens, so what's the problem with keeping the Harry Potter "trio" as is?

liebs, thank you! Someone else who's read Dorothy Dunnett. I just reread the Niccolo series, and I'm on book 2 of the Lymond series - again. I've read and reread them several times, but they're so detailed that I can't remember anything but the most important points, which makes rereading them much more interesting, of course.

I think Derek Jacobi helps. Another (rare) series that I felt lived up to the books was Cadfael.

minty, I got most of my daughter's Drina books at www.abebooks.com . They have many dealers working with them, and I was able to find all of the missing books within about 3 weeks. So if you can't find them through amazon (which would help to support this site), you might want to give them a try. Good luck!

I WISH that I'd been there to report, Watermill! Thanks for yours...one of these days I'll make it up to Portland.

There are eleven Drina books, all out of print, I believe, but available used. Be warned, though, that some that were published in the US were published under different titles than in the UK. I found this out when I bought some online and realized that I already had them. I believe that books three and four are under different names; in the US, books called Drina Dances on Stage and Drina Dances Alone are called, in the UK, Drina Dances in Italy and Drina Dances in Exile. I THINK! My daughter took all the books when she moved out, so I can't check for sure. Maybe a Drina expert can back me up here...

Just got back from the bookstore with Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Life of Pi. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

Wonderful comments, vagansmom and Funny Face! I am amazed by the level of detail in these books. The author must have written down EVERYTHING in her journal when she got home from school, a party, whatever. Conversations, what everyone was wearing...it's interesting that although almost of the characters were based on friends from high school, she didn't actually meet her husband until she was older. So the early stories of Joe were completely made up, as I understand it (unless I missed something in the Companion). Also, I think in "Betsy's Wedding", there is a painting on the wall of their home of the "Isle of Delos" - I love Delos, which of course was Maud's husband's name. So sweet... I was so pleased when the other three books were published again - Carney's House Party is particularly fun.

Thanks, Hans! Twilight Sleep sounds promising.

Ah, yes, Betsy-Tacy! Kait and I both loved those books - but I didn't read them until after I bought them for her when she was small. I, too, was excited when the Betsy-Tacy Companion was published. I gave it to Kait for Christmas, feeling that she would really appreciate it. I found it fascinating, but she didn't - she didn't like seeing photos of the actual buildings, people, etc. She preferred to see everything in her mind's eye. When she moved out, she took the series, but left the Companion. Maybe I'll "adopt" it .

Funny Face, I have read all of the "Anne" books, and loved them. I didn't know that "Bridget Jones' Diary" (read the book, haven't seen the movie) was supposed to be Pride and Prejudice (I can't recall whether or not I've read P&P). Wasn't the movie Clueless supposed to be "Emma", or am I confused? I've read both The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence. I'm trying to decide whether or not to try more of Wharton - I found both books fascinating, but depressing. I'll check into Atonement, too, since it seems to be a winner.

You all are eruditer than me ...I am so impressed. People who still read! I just finished Standing in the Rainbow, and Hillary Clinton's book (a birthday gift from my conservative Republican parents - they love me) and I'm searching for something else to read. I haven't seen any mention of Dorothy Dunnett. Has anyone read her? I've read both of her (long) series more than once, and am contemplating wading in again, but I'm not sure I have that kind of time. Also, I'm thinking of trying some of the classics that I DIDN'T have to read in college...any suggestions? Funny Face - I gave my son "Me Talk Pretty One Day", but haven't read it myself. Maybe I should.

My daughter (18) LOVES Drina, and I have to admit that I still read children's books from time to time , and I love the Drina series too!

My daughter had a ballet teacher whose cat was named Petti-paws.

Now that I think about it, it is usually the French words that I hear pronounced differently by American and British people. For instance, in the US I usually hear the ballet term "bras bas" pronounced "bra BAH", and the painter Degas "DayGAH", but a Canadian friend who attended RAD school in London says "bra BASS" and "day GASS".

Well, how about the word "ballet" itself? In the US, I have always heard it pronounced ba LAY, but last week, I heard our local radio announcer, who is British, say BAL ay.