OK, my hat's in the ring! I started making a list of my 2008 books and it's considerably longer than I thought it would be. I'm feeling more hopeful about 75!
Books I've read in 2009:
1.
Word Work: Surviving and Thriving as a Writer - Bruce Holland Rogers (msg 5)
2.
Beard on Pasta - James Beard (msg 7)
3. Place-based Education: Connecting Classrooms & Communities by David Sobel
4.
A Late Chrysanthemum 21 short stories from the Japanese, translated by Lane Dunlop (msg 12)
5.
The Four Agreements: a practical guide to personal freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) (msg 15)
6.
Japanese Lessons : A year in a Japanese school through the eyes of an American anthropologist and her children by Gail R. Benjamin (msg 18)
7.
Start with a Scan: a guide to transforming scanned photos and objects into high quality art8.
Exeter Historically Speaking, Barbara Rimkunas
9.
Mainspring, Jay Lake
10.
American Nerd: the Story of My People - Benjamin Nugent
11.
Spiritual Evolution: a Scientific Defense of Faith - George Vaillant
12.
Mr. Popper's Penguins - Richard and Florence Atwater
13.
web 2.0: new tools, new schools - Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum
14.
Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society - Donna Gollnick & Philip Chinn
15.
Student Successes with Thinking Maps - David Hyerle (ed.)
16.
Peeking through the keyhole: the evolution of North American homes - Avi Friedman & David Krawitz
17.
blink: the power of thinking without thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
18.
Superparenting for ADD: an innovative approach to raising your distracted child - Edward Hallowell & Peter Jensen
19.
Number One Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
20.
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
21.
How the Brain Learns - David Sousa
22.
Invitation to Vernacular Architecture: a guide to the study of ordinary buildings and landscapes - Thomas Carter and Elizabeth Collins Cromley
23.
American Barns and Covered Bridges - Eric Sloane
24.
Social Intelligence: the new science of human relationships - Daniel Goleman
25.
Landscape in Sight: looking at America - John Brinckerhoff Jackson
26.
With Heritage So Rich from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
27.
New Hampshire: from farm to kitchen -
Helen Brody28. I and my chimney - Herman Melville
29.
The Ten Minute Activist: Easy Ways to Take Back the Planet - The Mission Collective
30.
Deer Camp : Last light in the Northeast Kingdom -
John M. Miller31.
The best of the best: becoming elite at an American boarding school - Ruben A. Gaztambide-Fernandez
32.
Saltwater Foodways: New Englanders and their food, at sea and ashore, in the nineteenth century -
Sandra L. Oliver33.
Military Brats: legacies of childhood inside the fortress -
Mary Edwards Wertsch34.
Beyond New England Thresholds -
Samuel Chamberlain35.
Eating New England: A Food Lover's Guide to Eating Locally (from the traditional to the unexpected) - Juliette Rogers & Barbara Radcliffe Rogers
36. American House Styles: a concise guide - John Milnes Baker
37. Historic Preservation: an introduction to its history, principles, and practice - Norman Tyler
38. No Plot? No Problem: a low-stress, high-velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days - Chris Baty
39. Good Fences: a pictorial history of New England's Stone Walls - William Hubbell
40. East Kingston 1738-1800 - East Kingston Bicentennial Committee
41. New Hampshire in the Civil War -
Bruce D. HealdMessage edited by its author, Dec 3, 2009, 9:14pm.
Welcome to the group! Cool ticker, too.
Hi, oops nearly tripped over that hat there, just wanted to say I'll look forward to seeing your reading list.
Isn't that lightning a fire hazard?
Well, it's always nice to curl up with a good book & a cuppa on a rainy day, isn't it? The lightning bolt does seem a bit dramatic, but when I picked it I'd just spent 3 days without electricity and my mother was without it for 12 days. It's sort of a good luck charm!
Edited to add my "books patiently waiting" list (in no particular order) near the top of my 2009 thread:
1.
The Man in the Flying Lawn Chair - George Plimpton
2.
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 20083.
Generation Text Raising Well-Adjusted Kids in an Age of Instant Everything - Michael Osit
4.
The Craft of Science Fiction - Reginald Bretnor, Ed.
5.
Don't Make Me Think: a Common Sense Approach to Web Usability - Steve Krug
6.
The Great Meadow Farmers and the Land in Colonial Concord - Brian Donahue
7.
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 101 Stories of Life, Love and Learning
8.
Parnassus on Wheels audio - Chrisotpher Morley
9.
Web Wisdom : how to evaluate and create information quality on the Web - Janet Alexander
10.
American Photobooth - Nakki Goranin
11.
Green from the Ground Up Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy-Efficient Home Construction - Johnston & Gibson
12.
The Snakebite Survivors' Club Travels Among Serpents - Jeremy Seal
13.
The Game of My Life: a true story of challenge, triumph, and growing up autistic - Jason "J-Mac" McElwain
14.
Lavinia - Ursula LeGuin
15. Tiverton Tales -
Alice Brown16.
Heart of the Comet - Benford & Brin
17. Find the Boy -
W. H. Canaway18.
Dewey The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron
19.
Net Effects How Librarians Can Manage the Unintended Consequences of the Internet - Marylaine Block
20.
Mirroring People: the New Science of How We Connect with Others - Marco Iacoboni
21.
Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton
22.
Jack on the Gallows Tree - Leo Bruce
23.
Getting Things Done The Art of Stress-Free Productivity - David Allen
24.
Education for Judgment: the Artistry of Discussion Leadership - Christensen, Garvin & Sweet
25.
In War Times An Alternate-Universe Novel of a Different Present - Kathleen Ann Goonan
Message edited by its author, Jan 2, 2009, 5:58pm.
Book #1
My first book for the year is
Word Work: surviving and thriving as a writer by
Bruce Holland Rogers. The book is a collection of essays in which the author shares some of his writing techniques and philosophy. Rather than giving advice, the author presents some of the common pitfalls and stumbling blocks that writers encounter and then explains how he deals with them and why his techniques work for him. He also explains different techniques that have worked for friends and fellow writers.
The emphasis throughout the book is on the need for self-reflection to identify the issues and for mindful awareness to keep oneself on course. This was an excellent book, filled with helpful information. My only regret is that it's a library book so I couldn't mark it up and I can't keep it at hand. Perhaps it will go on my birthday wishlist!
Definitely 5 out of 5 stars.
Message edited by its author, Jul 5, 2009, 8:45am.
Looks like you have made a good start on your reading year!
Book #2
Beard on Pasta by James Beard. I never meant to read this, I was just looking for ideas for dinner. In the end, thouigh, I read pretty much the whole thing. Some of the recipes seemed likely, many would require far more time and attention than I'm willing to devote to cooking. I'm quite certain, for instance, that I'll never make my own pasta from scratch, but Spinach-Anchovy Sauce or Pasta Primavera are easily within my means. Beard writes in a friendly, down to earth way that makes the reading enjoyable.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Message edited by its author, Jul 5, 2009, 8:45am.
Hi muddy 21
Welcome!
#7: One of my favorite recipes is in that book - I think it is just called Beans and Pasta. Wonderful stuff!
Ooh -- cookbooks are on my 999 list. I'd love to give that one a whirl. And I'm thinking of sending my dad who is writing the first book you read. Glad I stopped by! I'll do it again soon. --Susan
Book #3
The Reading Globally group is reading books from Japan this month and the focus is on fiction. I'm not much of a fiction reader and I hoped the short story format would make for easier reading. Sadly, I was wrong.
I chose
A Late Chrysanthemum – 21 short stories by seven writers from the first half of the twentieth century, translated by Lane Dunlop.
I read the first four stories by Shiga Naoya and was singularly unimpressed. With guarded encouragement from another group member, I continued on to try other authors. I read two stories by Yasunari Kawabata, which were minimally better, and the tale by Hayashi Fumiko from which the collection took its title.
The last story relates the musings of a middle-aged Geisha-type as she mulls over love affairs from earlier days while preparing for a visit from one of the former lovers. I enjoyed this story more than the others, but not enough to finish the book, I'm afraid.
I'm feeling mired in the mud with this book. I echo the sentiments of another Reading Globally member in feeling that Japanese works are perhaps "too subtle" for me. And the sentiments of another 75 Books member who talked about a tendency to read literally, not always picking up on the hidden symbolism. The understatement and the focus on interior thoughts just moves too slowly to keep my attention. Perhaps this is a result of my mostly having read nonfiction for many years, or perhaps my liking for nonfiction is a result of this inclination – hard to tell which came first!
2.5 out of 5 stars
Certainly not poorly written, just not my cup of tea.
Message edited by its author, Jan 30, 2009, 10:39pm.
Book #4
Icarus at the Edge of Time by
Brian Greene, a physicist and author of
The Elegant Universe and
The Fabric of the Cosmos, is a very quick read and absolutely delightful. It's a retelling of the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun on wings made with wax. This time it's told in an outer-spacey sort of way, illustrating Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
I suppose it's considered a short story, done in a boardbook format and illustrated throughout with stunning images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Do yourself a favor and find this book!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Chosen because it came across my desk at the library, destined for the New Book Shelf
Message edited by its author, Jul 5, 2009, 8:46am.
#12: Sounds interesting and something I would look at for the pictures alone. Thanks for the recommendation!
12> That does sound interesting! I'll look out for it!
Book #5
The Four Agreements: a practical guide to personal freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz. The author, from a family of healers and shamans in rural Mexico, chose medical school and a career as a surgeon. A near-fatal accident caused him to rethink his career choice and he eventually returned to the traditional Toltec ways. He serves now as a Toltec
nagual, or shaman, and argues that each of us lives a life inextricably tied to our perceptions of the external world, both people and events.
Ruiz's guidance is that we should each make four agreements with ourselves:
1) Be Impeccable with Your Word
2) Don't Take Anything Personally
3) Don't Make Assumptions
4) Always Do Your Best
There is also a chapter titled Breaking Old Agreements addressing ways to break free from our old perceptions, allowing us to develop and live in a new reality.
There were some very good insights in this book. It's a little awkward to read in the beginning because the author assigns quite specific meanings to words that have more general connotations in common use. Once his vocabulary is familiar, the going is much easier. I think a re-reading will be valuable.
Information contained: 4 out of 5 stars
Delivery: 3 out of 5 stars
Chosen because the subject matter sounded interesting
Message edited by its author, Jul 5, 2009, 8:46am.
Sounds like something all of us could benefit from doing (his agreements). Thanks for the informative post.
Susan
You just violated the third agreement,"Don't Make Assumptions" :P
Book #6
Japanese Lessons : A year in a Japanese school through the eyes of an American anthropologist and her children by Gail R. Benjamin. This was a very interesting book that aimed to provide some insight into the Japanese education system from an American perspective. The author’s intention was to “…find out what really happens in Japanese schools that is different from what happens in American schools and how those differences in practice affect differences in outcomes…to find paths for improvement in American education.” The author combines her professional analysis of the cultural bases for Japan’s educational structure with anecdotes and observations from the daily experiences of her children, who were attending Japanese schools for the year (one in fifth grade, the other in first grade). There was a lot of thought-provoking material presented in a way that was easy to follow and enjoyable to read.
As Benjamin describes it, the American view of child development is that children begin as helpless dependents and schools need to encourage students to learn about themselves through introspection, to learn to recognize their own individual strengths, and to form personal individual values that will allow them to withstand dangerous peer group and social pressures. The Japanese view is that children begin life as isolated individuals and that it is only when they learn to function well as group members that they will be able to successfully avoid the selfish inclinations of the individual and will live a more complete life filled with the social interaction that is such an important human trait.
Overall, the Japanese system sounds like it is much more deliberate and mindful of intended educational goals, which makes for a much more cohesive and equitable system. The differences between the two national educational philosophies seem to be largely a reiteration of the “nature vs. nurture” debates. American schools assume our personal qualities are inborn; that their goal is to help children discover who they were born to be. Japanese schools assume that it is our experiences that make us who we are as adults; that ensuring that all children have similar educational experiences will ensure that all children have the same opportunities to succeed in school and in later life.
Thirty years ago many scientists were agreed that Nature was a much more significant force than nurture, so our American educational assumptions seemed sensible. Recent advances in neuro-cognitive science are indicating that nurture has a much greater effect than was previously believed to be the case, in particular that nurture continues to be a strong developmental force throughout our lifetimes, rather than just for the first few years of infancy. Hmmmm….
4.5 out of 5 stars
Chosen for a Reading Globally theme read
Message edited by its author, Jul 5, 2009, 8:46am.
Book #7
Start with a Scan : a guide to transforming scanned photos and objects into high quality art, Janet Ashford
A useful book with lots of clearly illustrated projects for adapting and enhancing scanned photos and other odds and ends. I read the older edition, though, and I think the information is a bit out of date, just because there have been so many refinements to PhotoShop and the other programs they discuss.
3 out of 5 stars, mostly because it was dated
Message edited by its author, Feb 2, 2009, 10:26pm.
Book #8
Exeter Historically Speaking, Barbara Rimkunas
This was an enjoyable read, mainly a compilation of local history columns from the local paper. Some were about people (including Abraham Lincoln's son who went to school here and George Washington who stopped at the local tavern one day for lunch and a short speech), some were about buildings, one about a life-sized statue of a Civil War soldier that disappeared ninety years ago and hasn't been seen since. There was even one about Dick, the fire horse, beloved by all and able to get into his engine harness faster than the firemen could get into their suits. Exeter was founded in 1638 and lays claim (along with a few other places) to being the birthplace of the Republican party (or the Democratic-Republican Party, as it was then known). Lots of interest in a small-scale local sort of way.
4 out 5 stars
Message edited by its author, Feb 2, 2009, 10:37pm.
I'm struck again by the variety of topics. Wow!
What did you think of
Mainspring? I liked it - haven't read the sequel yet, though.
#24 I liked
Mainspring very much. I used to read a lot of science fiction and fantasy but haven't read any in a long time. This was my first foray into "steampunk" territory and it was even more fun than I thought it would be. Maybe all the machinery gives me the illusion of nonfiction :o) The whole premise of clockwork planets and the Equatorial Wall was fascinating. The religion part was laid on a bit thick but it was tolerable. The love interest was a bit more explicit than what I'm used to, though it wasn't overly graphic. Still, I don't think it's quite the thing for my younger son, who was expressing interest. I'll have to look for some steampunk that's a bit more kid-friendly.
Message edited by its author, Feb 2, 2009, 12:34pm.
That tracks pretty well with my thoughts. I can give you some more recommendations if you're interested in steampunk.
Yes, thanks, I am interested. We have one at my library that's titled
Steampunk by
Ann VanderMeer and is a collection of short stories, but it's checked out at the moment. I've also heard good things about Gibson's
The Difference Engine, which we also have but I haven't read yet.
Message edited by its author, Feb 2, 2009, 10:14pm.
#23 suslyn - It's one of the hazards of my job. Most of the books I read are ones that come across the circulation desk at work and catch my eye for one reason or another. I'm always afraid that if I just put them away where they belong I'll never remember to go back to them again, so I check them out and bring them home. Now, with the encouragement of all of you, I'm actually making my way through some of them. Of course, with that same encouragement I'm also ending up with more lists of things to look for, but, hey, what are friends for? It does make for terrific variety, doesn't it?
Both of those are good.
Steampunk's a bit up and down - some stories are better than others. Gibson's great, though! Wikipedia's got a pretty decent page on steampunk with a list of books, movies, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteampunkBook #12
Took some time off for classes, but I'm back for the moment. Here's a review of my latest for a Polar Regions theme read with the group Reading Globally...
Thought I’d start with a quick read to ease back into the swing of things…so I started the Polar month with
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, a children’s book published in 1938 and a Newbery Honor winner of 1939.
The setting for the story is actually a town called Stillwater in some unspecified state in mid-US, where Mr. & Mrs. Popper live with their two children. Mr. Popper paints houses and spends his free time absorbed in stories about the far-away places of the world that he’s never seen.
Mr. Popper is particularly taken with the Polar regions and writes a letter to Admiral Drake, Antarctic explorer. To everyone’s surprise a large crate arrives by return post, the contents of which turn out to be a live penguin sent by the Admiral himself.
Various adventures and merriment ensue. Eventually the Poppers are proud owners of a traveling road troupe of twelve penguins. The act is so successful that the penguins are offered a lucrative movie contract by a Hollywood mogul, but Mr. Popper sorrowfully decides that it is best for the penguins to be returned to their proper icebound surroundings.
Admiral Drake intercedes, though, to say that the US government is concerned about the unfortunate Arctic explorers who must go about their lonely expeditions without the benefit of penguins for company. The Admiral proposes to take the Popper penguins north to the Arctic, with the intention of establishing a breeding colony there. Mr. Popper is invited to accompany the expedition as penguin-keeper.
“Mamma,” shouted Mr. Popper to Mrs. Popper…”I’m going, too! I’m going, too! Admiral Drake says he needs me. Mamma, do you mind if I don’t come home for a year or two?” This passage brought to mind one of the titles timjones recommended...
I may be some time: ice and the English imagination, though I suspect that one has a bit more of a firm purchase on reality than does
Mr. Popper's Penguins!
Silly and somewhat dated, but still quite an enjoyable read.
Message edited by its author, Jul 5, 2009, 8:52am.
fun review -- thx for shraing.
Hi Marilyn
Your recent read sounds fascinating. I'll look for this one.
Book #13
web 2.0: new tools, new schools by
Gwen Solomon and
Lynne Schrum.
A book that was used for a class I took recently, Teaching and Learning in the Networked Classroom. Provides explanations of internet tools like blogs, wikis, podcasts, electronic portfolios, and RSS feeds. Discussions of ways these tools can effectively be used in the classroom are combined with anecdotal examples of on-going projects. Also addressed are factors that need particular consideration in a school setting.
An excellent book!
Message edited by its author, Jul 5, 2009, 9:25am.
Book #14
Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society by Donna Gollnick and Lynne Schrum.
Another textbook and another good one. Not as easy a read as #13, but only because it was more dense and written with a more academic view. A lot of good information and reflection on culture - what it is, how it colors our individual worlds, and ways to work on an atmosphere of multicultural inclusion and acceptance, inside or outside the classroom. Also, comes with a CD and an associated interactive website that provide a lot of additional resources.
You have read some good books so far this year and have added to my TBR mountain. Happy reading.
#37 - Glad you found some...they've all been good ones!
#39: Book 22 looks interesting. Thanks for the mention!
>#41 Hi Whisper - yes, I did enjoy the book very much. I'd read and heard so much about it that I was a bit doubtful about whether it would live up to its reputation. I knew very little about the occupation of the Channel Islands, so that part was interesting, and I'm always amazed at how much character development can occur just with a series of letters. The personal relationships were a little confusing for me at first for some reason, but once I got that sorted out it was a quick read - I wished it had gone on longer! Reminiscent of
84, Charing Cross Road, which I also liked a lot.
23.
American Barns and Covered Bridges - Eric Sloane
Recommended to anyone with even a minor interest in Early American settlement and architecture. A short, quick, and easy read that's filled with information about those who came before us and how they lived. Lots of surprising factoids. God bless Eric Sloane for investing the time and energy in recording this information before it was gone forever!
24.
Social Intelligence: the new science of human relationships - Dan Goleman
Everybody everywhere should read this book! There is so much new understanding in the field of neuroscience, most of it connected one way or another with how we think and feel, how we learn, and how we interact with others. You could read this book twice a year for the next ten years and get new information out of it every time!
#43: As someone originally from Pennsylvania, I hold dear to my heart covered bridges. I will look for the book, if only to look at pictures from a part of the country that I love.
See, isn't that funny? I always thought of covered bridges as a New England thing, but in fact Pennsylvania leads the pack! Or, at least, it did in 1954, with 390 covered bridges, followed by Ohio with 349... Vermont was a considerable way down the list with 121, New Hampshire even farther down with 54. Who knew? Well, maybe you did, but I sure didn't!
#45: I did not know that Pennsylvania was the leader, but I am not terribly surprised.
I see that Sloane has several books of Americana out, so I am going to be reading a bunch of his, I suspect.
#43 I read
Social Intelligence last year and thought it was surprisingly well done. I'm glad you like it too!
I'm wanting the bridge book too. Lived in Allentown as a wee thing and I think covered bridges are deeply imprinted in my psyche (along with massive trees). Thx for sharing!
Susan & Stasia
The covered bridges and the massive trees are still here...come visit!
I am hoping to head up that direction next July!
In that case...let's have a meetup!
My family is having a reunion in Pennsylvania July 10, 2010 and I am hoping that my mother and my family all can make it up there. While there, I am really hoping to meet some of the Northern LT contingent!!
26.
With Heritage So Rich from the National Trust for Historic Preservation...a stirring read, originally published in 1966 as a call to arms for the preservation cause. Combines a brief history of land use and settlement patterns of the US with a discussion of the importance of historic preservation - not restricted to our architectural heritage, but clearly considering our cultural heritage as well. Lots of photos - sadly, many of the buildings are no longer with us.
27.
New Hampshire: from farm to kitchen by
Helen Brody. Short profiles of 30 family farms in New Hampshire along with product-associated recipes. Almost makes me want to spend time in the kitchen...or in the field.
28. I and My Chimney by Herman Melville. This is my absolute favorite so far this year! At 33 pages, it’s a much faster read than his considerably better-known
Moby Dick. A must for anyone interested in historic preservation or familiar with old-house living (mine was built c.1771). I never dreamt Melville would have me laughing out loud…who knew?
ETA Touchstones are there, but don't seem to be working tonight.
29.
The ten-minute activist : easy ways to take back the planet by the Mission Collective. As the title promises, lots of basic steps we can each take to make a difference.
Message edited by its author, Oct 9, 2009, 10:11pm.
#43: I just read Sloane's
A Reverence for Wood last night and it was very good. With your interest in Americana and historic preservation, you might be interested in checking this one out. I appreciate your recommending Sloane as an author because without your recommendation, I would never have stumbled across the book on my own.
Stasia...
I'm very excited about your reunion in PA in July!
#56: Thanks, Linda, so am I!
#55: Thanks for the tip about Sloane's other book - I'll watch for it.
30.
Deer Camp : Last light in the Northeast Kingdom - by
John M. Miller. Miller is a Vermont native who returned as an adult to spend three weeks each November for five years documenting the deer season in the family hunting camps dotted around the mountains of his home range. The book interweaves the author's own reflections and memories along with quotes from oral history interviews and a wonderful collection of photographs taken in the camps.
Mirroring my own internal conflict every time this season comes around, the book eloquently portrays the paradox of those who so love the outdoors and the creatures that inhabit it yet whose sparse lifestyles and cultural heritage revolves so deeply around the conquest of those magnificent animals, the white-tailed deer.
Thanks for the great review of your book #55.
#58: Ditto what Linda said!
31. The best of the best: becoming elite at an American boarding school - Ruben A. Gaztambide-Fernandez. The book relates the results of an ethnographic study of the students at a New England prep school. In particular, it looks at social inequalities (race, class, gender) and how students from a wide variety of backgrounds and outlooks on life are able to find common ground and form a cohesive community. The formation of those bonds depends in no small part on each student's ability to internalize, validate and accept the part they each play in the community as a whole.
32.
Saltwater Foodways: New Englanders and their food, at sea and ashore, in the nineteenth century -
Sandra L. Oliver A fascinating look back at the kitchens and galleys of early New England and a selection of recipes to enjoy, as well.
33.
Military Brats: legacies of childhood inside the fortress -
Mary Edwards Wertsch A million thanks to Mary Edwards Wertsch for writing this book. The story of my childhood - but who knew it was the story of so many others as well??
From the final page of the book, "...'Home' for a rooted civilian is a place to return to so that love and values and memories and a sense of continuity can be replenished. What I found is that we military brats have a home like that too, a home that we all share, that lives in each of us, that we can visit in one another.
"...The sharing of stories, I learned, is what roots are all about. Subtract the sharing, and what do you have? Only a bit of dry knowledge fit to be filed in a dusty folder somewhere. Real roots are about connection - the bonding with others who share a similar lived experience - and the recognition that who we are individually is due in large part to that lived experience."
It would be very hard to explain the emotional impact of this book to anyone who did not grow up as a military brat, and impossible to overstate its relevance to one who did!
Books 36 & 37 look like ones I would enjoy, especially since I live in a house that is over 75 years old. I will look for them. Thanks for the mention.
Mine's about to hit 240 years old - give or take a year or two. The books were for a course in Historic Preservation, but they were surprisingly good reads, particularly the Tyler.
While I love older homes, when I was single and owned one, it was an albatross. I spent $17,000 in one year and it felt like a bottomless pit.
Still, I love the feel of an older home--all the memories that the walls hold...good and bad. I shared my house with some spirits that did not feel all that friendly.
#66: 240! That is so cool. I love old houses - one of the things I appreciate in the area that I live is the architecture. I could look at some of the buildings here and study the architecture for hours.
Yes, I do love my old house - but there's no doubt that it's a money sink for sure! We're fortunate that the spirits here are of the friendly sort.
One of the things we've talked a lot about in this class is the way houses are added on to over the years and how to pick apart the bits to see the different styles. Very interesting.
38. No Plot? No Problem: a low-stress, high-velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days -
Chris Baty39.
Good Fences: a pictorial history of New England's Stone Walls -
William Hubbell40. East Kingston 1738-1800 - East Kingston Bicentennial Committee
Message edited by its author, Nov 30, 2009, 10:05pm.
#69: One of the things we've talked a lot about in this class is the way houses are added on to over the years and how to pick apart the bits to see the different styles. Very interesting.
It sounds like a very interesting class!
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