Nice list. Welcome to our little corner of LT!
Thanks for the welcome.
I am still learning how to use Touchstones, and the whole site, really, but what a great place for an avid reader!
Hello, nice to have you here!
Welcome to both Library Thing and our group!
Hello there! Any favorite reads so far?
Welcome, Nittnut! You've read some great books this year. I've got
Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell on my TBR list. I'm glad to hear that you liked it.
And I know what you mean about summer. It seems like the pace should be slower and I should read more, but in fact, I spend a lot of time playing with my two boys!
To continue my list - you must know I was at the pool nearly every day in July, and my list includes a large number of books I could read and yet not forget to watch my kids.
July
3. The Odyessy - Homer
4-8.
Sigma Force by James Rollins, series #'s 1-5 (compulsive behavior, I believe)
9.
Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber (more compulsive behavior)
10.
The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones - I actually reviewed this one. Probably one of the best books I've read all year.
11.
The Ride of Our Lives by Mike Leonard - a fun book, but beware, Grandma has a potty mouth.
August - Not as much reading, still working on Liberal Facism, and on a long vacation (NM, AZ, CA, OR, WA, ID, UT) this month.
1.
The Turn of the Screw Not my favorite. I think if you want to read a spooky century ghost story go for Poe or Bronte. I have liked his other books better.
2.
Lost In Translation by Nicole Mones - I really like her books!
3.
Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck - a lot to like here, but I have to say that my favorite part was Thomas Paine's Common Sense at the end.
September
1.
Hegemon: China's Plan to Dominate Asia and the World by Steven W. Mosher - anyone feeling paranoid? That said, informative and probably fairly accurate.
2.
The Doomsday Key by James Rollins (have I mentioned compulsive behavior) Please, no more Sigma Force.
3.
Common Sense by Thomas Paine - not only did I learn some interesting things, but I was vastly entertained.
Currently (still) working on
Liberal Facism, started
American Progressivism, and a friend gave me
My Life in France to read.
So, I'm at 72. Feeling pretty good about that. I'm hoping that now that school has started I will have some time to review books a little better as I read them. I've enjoyed eavesdropping on some of your book discussions, and I'd love to hear what people think about books we have in common.
Okay, let's start with this:
Skeletons at the Feast. Richard says "Ghastly." Kath says "not so much--read it!" I'm still wavering. What's your take?
Sorry, I've been away for a bit.
I read
Skeletons at the Feast because I have read other books by
Chris Bohjalian and liked them quite well. Also it got rave reviews on Amazon and other sites.
My take: Another WWII book, not the best one I've read, and I've read lots of them.
I did like that it was based on true experiences of several different people, and that it dealt with an often neglected aspect of WWII - average non-Jewish families. However, I didn't connect with the characters very well. I'm not sure if it's because it's hard to feel badly for someone who has left their home to run from the war in contrast with victims of the Holocaust? So many years in the future, I'm afraid all our readings of WWII history will be very darkly colored by our knowledge of the true circumstances.
I'm not sorry I read it, I think it's healthy to look at other sides of a story.
I hope that was helpful...
# 11
Sorry, I've been away for a bit.
I read
Skeletons at the Feast because I have read other books by
Chris Bohjalian and liked them quite well. Also it got rave reviews on Amazon and other sites.
My take: Another WWII book, not the best one I've read, and I've read lots of them.
I did like that it was based on true experiences of several different people, and that it dealt with an often neglected aspect of WWII - average non-Jewish families. However, I didn't connect with the characters very well. I'm not sure if it's because it's hard to feel badly for someone who has left their home to run from the war in contrast with victims of the Holocaust? So many years in the future, I'm afraid all our readings of WWII history will be very darkly colored by our knowledge of the true circumstances.
I'm not sorry I read it, I think it's healthy to look at other sides of a story.
I hope that was helpful...
#12
I'm still working away on
American Progressivism. Loved the section on Progressivism and religion - it made so many things clearer for me. Will update soon.
I just had to pop in and say hello because of your username - is it related to NittNut in Imagination Movers? (if not, never mind...but my kids loved that show till we ditched our TV.)
You're reading some great books. I loved Ruth Reichl's ones, especially
Tender at the Bone. I have
The Odyssey waiting patiently for me (the Fagles translation)...it's been waiting 10 years and never quite beats out the competition!
#12 - Hello - I haven't been spending much time on the computer lately - but I finished
American Progressivism, and would love to talk about it.
I loved the introduction, the discussions of progressivism and politics, religion, etc. I have occasionally wondered at what point service or the desire to do good and government welfare programs became intertwined. I thought that was fairly well explained.
Anyway, when you have a minute, a discussion would be lovely.
Message edited by its author, Oct 24, 2009, 9:27pm.
Updates on reading - I'm getting so much more reading done with kids in school and snow on the ground (ick). I can't honestly say that my choices have been particularly intellectual...
September (continued)
4.
My Life in France loved it, loved it. I also really enjoyed the movie, Julie and Julia.
October
1.
Firefly Lane a "beach book" but an interesting portrait of two women and their life-long friendship. I couldn't put it down.
2.
When Lightning Strikes For a study in how an author's writing can improve tremendously with time and practice, read this and #5 together. Amazing. The writing was frankly awful.
3.
Year of Wonders Great read! The only downside was the ending. It wrapped up pretty quickly, and I was unsatisfied. An interesting study, isolating a group of people living in tragic circumstances and observe the way people adapt, change and either survive and even thrive, or do not survive.
4.
The Cellist of Sarajevo Oddly similar to #7 in some ways. I loved how the author spent time with each character, portraying how their circumstances and their outlook were altered by the action of one person. I like being reminded that the actions of one person can have great influence. I also think that survival can be a choice (to a certain extent, anyway).
5.
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict I didn't like it much, I think the "voice" of the main character bothered me.
10.
Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict oddly, better than the first one, perhaps I liked the main character better.
6.
Venetia I love Georgette Heyer. She has taken me through my teen years, 2 awful pregnancies, and a couple bouts with the flu - as in this week when I had the flu. The mother of the modern romance novel; she writes witty, clever heroines and gentlemanly gentlemen, she is incomparable. My favorite part is that she never ever gives you too much information.
7.
Sylvester See #11
8.
American Progressivism Loved the first part of the book. Became exhausted by the speeches and writings of progressive intellectuals.
9.
The Maze of Bones Recommended to me by my 10 year old. Great read. Some history, some mystery and adventure.
10.
Slummy Mummy Can't really claim this one, as I did not finish it. A bit too slummy for me.
Am currently working on
Nine Parts of Desire and
Riding Lessons is next in the pile.
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