Hello!

Hello.

I started this group in hopes of providing a place for North Carolinian Librarything-ers to meet and share opinions and conversation on books of all types.

My name is Beverly and I live in Oak Ridge, just the the NW of Greensboro. I read many different types of books, but I especially enjoy non-fiction, American history, Southern authors, and "chick-lit".

Spread the word, and let's recruit some members for this group!

-Beverly

Thank you for the invitation to your group; however, I'm told I "don't play well with others." I tend to be rather opinionated and leave controversy in my wake. I should most probably decline.

I'm not so much a democrat (I'm more an independent with libertarian & democrat leanings) as I am vociferously anti-BushCo republican (moderate AuH2O republicans welcome; all Reaganites be damned to hellfire). And, while I firmly believe in a divine entity, ALL religion is mythology -- no exceptions -- and I have no tolerance whatsoever for anyone who claims that his/her religion is superior than any other for any reason at all. Plus, I'm gay, and I consider anyone who would deny me any right or privilege (including marriage) that he enjoys, regardless of his perceived entitlement, to be an unmitigated bigot.

I hear you. I do hope this group can be a place where book lovers from all walks of life can feel welcome, and enjoy as a place to meet other interesting individuals.

-Beverly

Thanks for the invitation. I'm in Mt. Holly (just west of Charlotte) and collect books dealing with the rare book trade: the buyers, dealers, collectors, etc. Have about 20 1st editions and always looking for more. Latest acquisition is The Bookseller's Apprentice.

Thanks for the invite. I'm always happy to talk to other people who love books. I live in Gastonia and since I'm a librarian I spend a lot of time thinking about not just my own books, but also about the books we're getting in the library. I'm not a native of North Carolina and therefore I've been trying to add books about the state to my reading.
-Dragonfly

Welcome to the group, Kingcvcnc. That is a gorgeous photo you have on your profile. Where exactly is Cove Creek? Are you the photographer? It's an absolutely beautiful scene.

I think I pass Mt. Holly when I travel to Blacksburg, SC down that way.

-Beverly

Dear ELW, I just started reading a new book, Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, by Daniel C. Dennett. Have you seen it? I've only just started it as I said, but it looks very interesting and unusual. Dennett is a philosophy professor.

Hello, Dragonfly. I'm not a native of NC, myself, (Virginia), but I do love this state. Where are you from originally?

Hi all; I'm a New Zealander in grad school at Duke, trying to finish dissertation on flightless birds at the moment. I'm enjoying LibraryThing enormously and recommending it to all my friends. I think I trust the reviews and ratings a bit more than Amazon. Plus it's nice to make little covers of my recent acquisitions pop up on my blog. (I just wish there was a dedicated field for recording book loans.)

Thanks very much for the invite, but in a week I'll no longer be an NC LTer, as we're moving back to Atlanta, where my husband is from. I wasn't too fond of Atlanta the last time we lived there so I'm hoping the second time round is better.

Thank you for the invitation. I'm not a native Carolinian; I grew up in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and lived in Boston for a few years. My husband and I have lived in the Research Triangle area for just over two years, and we love it here.

Can someone recommend some good fiction based in North Carolina? Even more specifically, the Raleigh/Durham area? I've never been a big fan of the Southern gothic writers, but maybe it's time to give them another chance? Any other literary traditions from this area that you enjoy?

You might give Inglis Fletcher (of Bandon Plantation, Edenton, Chowan County, NC) a try: she wrote well-researched, historical romance set in colonial NC. (She was also a relative of mine.)

Hi, thanks for the invite!

I grew up in WNC, but I'm currently finishing up school in Greensboro. I like to read books about history, architecture, historic preservation, and material culture (I'm a Classics major, hoping to work in museums).

Right now, I'm reading Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream.

hi-all sent a message on another page but no results ---i did something wrong?

Hello Corinne,

What an interesting major!

Hey, are you familiar with Blandwood Mansion in Greensboro? Governor Morehead was my GGGGgrandfather, and from what I understand, his Blandwood is the oldest example of Italian villa architecture in the US. I drop by to tour it every now and then. Pretty interesting.

I am a history buff, too.

-Beverly

Blandwood is really wonderful! Are you involved at all in Preservation Greensboro? They do a lot of great preservation work around the city. They also have a showroom where they sell salvaged materials from demolished houses.

Howdy, cousin. Thought this site looked interesting, and figured I'd join it, as well. Regards, John

Hello! I haven't logged into LT in a long while and recently saw it mentioned in School Library Journal and realized it had been too long! Of course, when I logged in I saw the invite and now, here I am!

I am a school librarian in Charlotte and well, like to read a little of everything, though I tend to stick to a few authors, with only the occassional branch out. I'm definitely one for personal recommendations, though, and am hesitant to pick up a best seller or anything that seems to be "popular" unless someone personally recommends it to me.

Anyway, enough for now, but happy to meet you guys! Thanks for the invite!

To TheSoutherner:

John! Hi! I'm so glad you made your way here. I hope you enjoy LT and this group.

-Beverly

To radiantbeth:

Hello, it's nice to meet you, too.

Like you, I love recommendations as well.

Hey--as a school librarian, would you have any recommendations for a 7-year-old boy (who reads on about the fifth-grade level or so)? We have devoured Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles and fallen totally in love with them. But now we are in need of something new. Any ideas?

Here's a recommendation for a "popular" title from me to you: Give Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen a try. I loved it.

-Beverly

I'm originally from Maine and relocated to the Carolinas about 2 year now. I love the weather!

I work part-time in a public library. I'm considering going to grad school for a Masters in Library Science. I was a stay at home mom, for 4 years, until about a year ago. I love working at the library and finding time to read books other than Dr. Seuss.

Hello, twosproutsandabean!

Oh, I love Maine. It is, without a doubt, the most beautiful state I've ever visited. I spent a couple weeks around Acadia National Park some years ago--wow, there's a place anyone wanting to see America should visit.

Now I'm hungry for a lobster roll! LOL.

I'm right there with you--although I love Dr. Seuss, especially reading him aloud, it sure is nice to read "grownup" stuff as well, huh?

Welcome to the group.

-Beverly

SnoopingBunny, I'm originally from Connecticut, but have lived in south Gerogia and in north Florida (south south Georgia) before moving to NC. I'm told, however, that even 30 years in the deep South doesn't make you a Southerner. I've just read several books by John Shelton Reed, the most interesting sociologist I've run across, and I recommend his books to other "immigrants".

I am originally from south Florida, but I've spent most of my life in North Carolina. I've lived in the mountains, the sandhills, and then the Winston-Salem area for the last twenty-plus years.

I am a genealogical researcher and editor, so I do a lot of reading. Most of it is non-fiction, relating to either to my field directly or various areas of history. Of course, I also read a lot of old documents, as well!

For my pleasure reading, I enjoy a lot of English writers. I love the mysteries of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, and I also especially enjoy the works of P. G. Wodehouse. I love to travel, too, so I try to work in travel books occasionally. I have a large collection that I have picked up on various trips, though I haven't had time to read many of them yet.

Hi, what about Reynolds Price? He's written a good number of NC books.

Thanks for the invitation to join the group. My name is Linda, and I am fairly new to Raleigh. I was born and raised in New York City. I have always been a voracious reader, so much so that as a child my parents despaired over my preference for the solitude of reading to the outdoor play of other children. I prefer to own my books, but financil realities force my to the public library for most of what I read. I look forward to engaging in lively conversation about all things related to books at LibraryThing! So glad I found it. It is a treasure trove of literary morsels. Thanks! Hello to all of you here. Linda

Hi Linda! Welcome to the group.

I bet it's quite a culture shock coming from NYC to Raleigh! How do you like it?

My brother and his wife teach at The Ross School on Long Island. Do you know it by any chance?

LibraryThing is great, I agree.

I tend to purchase my books, rather than borrowing them, but when I have finished with a book, I usually don't keep it--instead I pass it along to a friend I think might enjoy it. It'd be a lot cheaper to go to the library, wouldn't it? LOL.

jhaines-

Welcome to the group!

I am into genealogy and American history myself, as a hobby.

It's nice to meet someone with similar interests.

Hello! Thank you for inviting me to join. My name is Liz. I am a native of eastern NC, went to school in western NC. I currently live in Durham and I love it. I read fiction and I try to read books about and practice meditation/mindfulness. I also read a lot of baby/parenting books these days; I have a 7 month-old son. I don't buy a lot of books so I like how LibraryThing gives me a place to record (and display) what I've read.

I don't focus extensively on NC authors but I would like to read the new Lee Smith. Has anyone read Thirteen Moons? It's getting very mixed reviews. I really enjoy Sarah Dessen when I'm in a YA mood.

I'm interested to know how others use the groups feature in Library Thing. Have you joined other groups besides this one?

Randall Kenan is a well-known African American writer from North Carolina--at least he grew up in NC and graduated from UNC-CH. I really enjoyed Let the Dead Bury Their Dead, a book set in North Carolina and nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award. Check it out.

I think most of us use the groups to tell about the books we're reading now or would like to read. Also, we share our general preferences for types of books (mine being books about the rare book trade) and suggestions for where to get books at reasonable cost. I have also joined the "Books In Books" and "Books on Books" groups. It's also interesting to see how many others have the same books as I do, especially since my main interest is quite specialized.

Hi, folks:

I'm yet another carpetbagger - born in New York, raised in Philly, but I've been living here for seven years. I'm a writer and game designer as well as a book collector, and my wife is a published author as well. We live in Durham, where we fill our house with books on a regular basis. It's a pleasure to meet you folks virtually, and I look forward to discussing books with you. My tastes tend to run more to speculative fiction, history, and natural history, but really I'm an omnivore, and will read just about anything that lands in front of me.

Thanks for the invite! I've lived in Fayetteville for all of the 18 years of my life and plan to be here for at least the next four. I love history books, the classics, and books about language.

Hi Beverly (and the rest of the group!),

Thanks for the invite. I'm in Summerfield, right down the street from you. I just graduated with my library degree, but am not currently working in a library.

I love LibraryThing, and was really going to town cataloging my books, but ran out of steam around 300 or so, when I realized I had barely dented one corner of one room of my books. But hopefully I'll regain some energy and start adding more books over the holidays.

I used to read a lot of fiction, but the older I get, the more I appreciate nonfiction. And I'm slowly purging my fiction collection and only saving the writers I really enjoy, as in "I can't wait to read what they write, as soon as it's published". Like P.D. James. Plus I just finished "Prep" by Curtis Sittenfeld. I couldn't put it down, but I'm a sucker for misunderstood adolescent novels.

What I really love to read and buy are nonfiction books from the 1970's, ones about energy conservation, living off the land, DIY anything and everything. They share a very unique perspective because of certain economic issues in the US at the time. Plus, the design and type are always cool!

Take it easy,
Stephanie K.

cheesylibrarian34-

Well, hello neighbor! Summerfield is a great town. You all have a new park, don't you? I keep meaning to check it out.

I have Prep in my library, too. As a fellow "sucker for misunderstood adolescent novels", I will recommend to you another good one, Pretty Little Dirty by Amanda Boyden. It's a little darker, but just as riveting, if not more so, to me.

I like to check out antique stores for old nonfiction books for the same reason you mention--it does give you a window on the culture of the time in which it was written. One of my favorites is an 1890's book on "Hygiene" for adolescents. Especially the sections on sexuality and reproduction. Very interesting in terms of gender studies of that era.

Welcome to the group!

-Beverly

Hello All,

I'm Matt from Raleigh and you've seen my apartment if you've ever been sitting in the right window seat on an airplane leaving RDU going north.

I found LibraryThing from Lifehacker, and I got all my books entered tonight, all 185 of them (I didn't bother trying to enter the ones without ISBNs). My collection is currently limited by space and budget, but I have hundreds on my wish list on Amazon and a couple of databases that I've had on my computers that I hope to get to sometime.

My biggest interests are self-improvement books, christian living, psychology, sociology, and history. A few of my psychology and sociology books are even signed by the author.

Hi there. I've just accepted a two-month old invitation from snoopingbunny (thanks SB!) to join. It's been that long since I logged in. Anyway, to respond to beckyclayton's request for good NC fiction, I always recommend Margaret Maron, the award-winning author of the Deborah Knott mystery series. There are now 12 Deborah Knott novels. Deborah Knott is a 30-something District Court Judge in fictional Colleton County, NC, which lies a few miles southeast of Raleigh.

Hi All!

I signed up for LT a while ago and then never seemed to get going with it, but logged on again today to start cataloging my new reading. (I'm not even going to attempt cataloging books I've read in the past.) And I noticed SnoopingBunny's invitation, which led me here.

I live in the sandhills (Southern Pines/Aberdeen) and I'm currently teaching and writing. I've taught at the university level for a decade, left that to write and edit for an online financial website, then wrote a pair of investment books, which led me into portfolio management for several years. After that I let my love of books overrule my common sense and opened a bookshop which nearly ruined me. And now I'm back in the classroom (albeit at the high school level this time) and writing again.

Contemporary fiction was my area in grad school, but I've since branched out to read a great deal more nonfiction than I ever used to. I'm a big fan of the BookSense bestseller list, actually. And I'm glad to be here.

Hi all, I'm originally from Washington, DC but moved to Raleigh in 1978. Have lived in various places around the state since then; just moved from Wilmington to Durham. My wife is from the Asheville area so we spend time up there too when we can. I tend to prefer fiction but read all sorts of different things. I haven't committed to a paid membership yet so my catalog has just a small part of my library.

Has anyone discussed any in-person get-togethers? I'd definitely be up for something in the middle of the state.

Wow - alot of Triangle LT'er's. I am yet another carpetbagger -- originally from Boston; now in Durham.

I love fiction, mostly - and have read some NC authors such as Charles Frazier; Kaye Gibbons. Haven't read Thirteen Moons yet though.

#25 - Unfortunately, I have to say that I find Reynolds Price dull as dirt! Virtually unreadable. Stay away, IMHO.

Recently, I read Fiery Cross from Gabaldon's Outlander series. There is alot of pre-revolutionary war North Carolina history in it that was interesting -- mentioning the War of the Regulation, Govenor Tryon, New Bern, Hillsborough, Wake County, etc.

To all Triangle LT'ers and folk seeking historical novels set in North Carolina,

I'll be traveling to North Carolina next week to promote my new novel, THE RISING SHORE - ROANOKE, which tells the story of the Lost Colony (1587) through the voices of two daring women.

On June 26, Tuesday, at 7 pm, I'll give a talk at the Regulator Bookshop, 720 Ninth Street, Durham, NC. Title, "Trailing the Women of the Lost Colony."

On June 29, Friday, at 11 am, I'll be signing copies of the novel at the Corolla Bookstore in Corolla Historic Village, Corolla (obviously), NC

On June 30, I'll be in Buxton, NC, on a "dig" with the Lost Colony Center for Science and Research.

Everybody welcome! If you tug on my sleeve after any of these events and let me know you're a LibraryThing-ster, there will be a free book on hand for you ... pulled from the trunk of my car and gladly signed by the author (as long as supplies last). My only request is that you tell your friends about the novel if you enjoy it.

Best wishes,
Deborah Homsher

"Homsher paints a harsh yet believable picture of life in Roanoke, and she skillfully intertwines the narratives of the women, revealing the difference in perceptions based on class, situation, and personality, yet painting a clearer and clearer picture of their lives with every stroke. Homsher's novel gives life to the few scraps of historical documentation of the Roanoke colony and creates strong characters that grab your attention and make you dream of an altered history."
— Historical Novels Review Online Historical Novel Society