Stone Hill Launch Times
March 1997
A Wade in the Water publication by Raggedy Ann Morris
74273.1607@CompuServe.com
ph: 813/677-6347
P.O. Box 2076, Riverview, FL 33568
Web pages: http://www.stonehill.org and http://www.milieux.com
NOTES FROM ANNIE'S ATTIC WARNING ! LARK'S VOMIT! Okay,
there is no lark's vomit but this is a rant. You have now been duly notified and if
you read on, it's at your own risk.
Have you ever joined a book club, falling for the enticing 4 books for a
dollar (plus shipping), thinking you would have no problem living up to your
obligation to buy 4 more books during the next two years only to find that in the
book club bulletins, there never were any more books you'd want in your house?
This has happened to me. I joined a large print book club because the small
print in ordinary books is getting harder and harder for my visually impaired eyes
to deal with. The four books I chose from the opening offer were pretty cool. I got
a large print dictionary, a book about the lives of the First Ladies, a mystery, and
an historical novel by Mary Stewart. I had hopes that there would be at least a
few useful non fiction books and some science fiction and fantasy books in some
of the club selections. However, in the seven or eight bulletins I have gotten
since joining the club there has not been one book I wanted to purchase. I have
a feeling that whoever chooses the books for the club has the idea that people
who need large print only read romances and mysteries. I like mysteries but they
don't offer the ones I like most such as the Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard
books. The non fiction seems all to run toward psychological self help, which
some of you may think I need but I don't want to read. Oh, how they tease me
with bulletins that show beautiful cookbooks and the classics I didn't read when I
was young but would like to catch up on now. Then, they dash my hopes with
that nasty little tagline that tells me all those neat books are in regular print!
What's up with that. It's cruel. Why would I join a large print book club to get
news about books in regular print? Those, I can get at my local bookstore.
I have written to the club asking for information about science fiction and
fantasy selections that might have been offered in the past only to find out that
since the large print book club began there has not been one SF or fantasy
novel offered and that the list of classics that have been offered contains only
about fifteen books! Pathetic. What really amazes me is that the book club is
owned by the same one that runs the SF Book Club. They certainly have access
to plenty of titles they could publish in large print but they choose not to. Augh!
The only large print SF or fantasy book I've ever read was printed
especially for me. My big brother Andy Offutt wrote a book called Deathknight
and though I purchased a copy, the print was just too small for me to deal with
for any length of time. I happened to mention this to Andy in a letter and a few
months later I got a big surprise. He went to the trouble to print the whole book
out for me in large, friendly type. That was one of the best presents anyone ever
gave me.
I suppose what I really ought to do is go to the Internet in search of a
source of large print SF and fantasy. And, I can find some books on tape. But I
still have to figure out how I am gong to buy those 4 books I must buy before the
book club police come after me. Anybody want a Danielle Steele book for
Christmas next year? I thought not. Oh well.
Now here's an even more absurd idea? Suppose they'll ever offer any
books on fencing in large print?
I really must go before you think I've completely lost my mind.
STONE HILL BIRTHDAYS We only have a few birthday people this time but
that doesn't mean they don't merit hearty, good wishes for their special days.
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you all!
Colleen Claire Hillyard--March 3
Mike Geraghty--March 25
Samantha Smoot--March 30
John T. Robinson--March 31
A STONE'S THROW AWAY The April 13 Stone Hill meeting will be at the
Bennett's house at 12215 Spottswood Dr., Riverview, ph: 813/671-2859. As is
always the case when the meeting is at the Bennett house, this will be a blood
drive meeting. I'll forego the preaching at you about blood donation and let you
off this time with a simple JUST DO IT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!
A FEW LAST WORDS This issue of SHLT is short but, well, I've got spring
fever and even though my buns are in the chair and my hands are at the
keyboard, my mind is out romping, frolicking, and cavorting in a field full of
yellow flowers somewhere. Hope you are the same.
TILL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE AND HAVE FUN!
Email the STONE HILL SF ASSOCIATION AT:74273.1607@CompuServe.com
Snail mail to: P.O. Box 2076, Riverview, FL 33569
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