1ritacate
I was quite excited to finish my first Alphabet challenge with titles and will now start an alphabet by authors' last names. My goal is to finish by December 31, 2022.
A - Andrews, Donna - Six Geese A-Slaying *2022 January
B - Burt, Mary Elizabeth - Poems that Every Child Should Know *2021 August
- Berry, Wendell - Jayber Crow *2021 August
C - Currie, David B. - Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic *2021 August
G - Gunders, Dana - Waste-free Kitchen Handbook *2022 March
H - Heinlein, Robert A. - Friday *2021 August 20
J - Jackson, Joshilyn - The Almost Sisters *2021 November
K - Kreeft, Peter- Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know About Them? *2021 September
L - Lang, Andrew - The Yellow Fairy Book *2021 September
M Moon, Elizabeth - Oath of Fealty *2022 April
O - O'Connor, Flannery - The Violent Bear It Away *2022 January
R - Russell, Mary Doria - Doc *2021 August
S - Schwab,V.E. - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue *2021 September
T - Todd, Charles - A Duty to the Dead *2022 February
W - Webb, Wendy - The Fate of Mercy Alban *2022 April
A - Andrews, Donna - Six Geese A-Slaying *2022 January
B - Burt, Mary Elizabeth - Poems that Every Child Should Know *2021 August
- Berry, Wendell - Jayber Crow *2021 August
C - Currie, David B. - Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic *2021 August
G - Gunders, Dana - Waste-free Kitchen Handbook *2022 March
H - Heinlein, Robert A. - Friday *2021 August 20
J - Jackson, Joshilyn - The Almost Sisters *2021 November
K - Kreeft, Peter- Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know About Them? *2021 September
L - Lang, Andrew - The Yellow Fairy Book *2021 September
M Moon, Elizabeth - Oath of Fealty *2022 April
O - O'Connor, Flannery - The Violent Bear It Away *2022 January
R - Russell, Mary Doria - Doc *2021 August
S - Schwab,V.E. - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue *2021 September
T - Todd, Charles - A Duty to the Dead *2022 February
W - Webb, Wendy - The Fate of Mercy Alban *2022 April
2ritacate
Friday by Robert A. Heinlein
Owned about 30 years, last read in the late 90s
In this Alphabet challenge losseloth mentioned reading a Heinlein, which reminded me of this book. What has stuck with me for over 20 years was the idea that rudeness is the root cause of most trouble. So I decided to read it again.
And the idea is still there, the sign of a dying civilization is common, everyday rudeness, simple lack of manners. Remarkably it took less than three pages of 357! This was a tiny sidenote in the story, but still my main takeaway, I think.
Best part of the book was finding a scrap of paper I'd left in there with a quote from my son who was 7 at the time:
"It's hard when you have a dream in your head to keep your eyes open. "
Owned about 30 years, last read in the late 90s
In this Alphabet challenge losseloth mentioned reading a Heinlein, which reminded me of this book. What has stuck with me for over 20 years was the idea that rudeness is the root cause of most trouble. So I decided to read it again.
And the idea is still there, the sign of a dying civilization is common, everyday rudeness, simple lack of manners. Remarkably it took less than three pages of 357! This was a tiny sidenote in the story, but still my main takeaway, I think.
Best part of the book was finding a scrap of paper I'd left in there with a quote from my son who was 7 at the time:
"It's hard when you have a dream in your head to keep your eyes open. "
4ritacate
>3 AnnieMod: thank you!
5ritacate
Doc by Mary Doria Russell
This was reviewed in one of these challenge groups and sounded interesting. I enjoy learning history through stories and this did a very good job giving a sense of the time. As always the story can't help but be filtered through the author's interests, beliefs, personality, but through my prior knowledge of the era and the author's explanation where she used limited artistic license, it seemed to present a very accurate picture. Until listening to this book I didn't realize how little I knew about Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, despite their names being part of basic American lore.
This was reviewed in one of these challenge groups and sounded interesting. I enjoy learning history through stories and this did a very good job giving a sense of the time. As always the story can't help but be filtered through the author's interests, beliefs, personality, but through my prior knowledge of the era and the author's explanation where she used limited artistic license, it seemed to present a very accurate picture. Until listening to this book I didn't realize how little I knew about Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, despite their names being part of basic American lore.
6ritacate
Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David B. Currie
Mr. Currie details the process of his conversion, how the more deeply he studied the Bible, the more he came to understand the claims of the Catholic Church. He addresses the topics with respect and intelligence.
Mr. Currie details the process of his conversion, how the more deeply he studied the Bible, the more he came to understand the claims of the Catholic Church. He addresses the topics with respect and intelligence.
7ritacate
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
I already have a B author, but this is such a wonderful book I had to add it in anyway.
Wow! What a beautiful book. Near the end Jayber says "This is a book about Heaven," and it truly is. This book takes us to a slower place, sitting on the porch, by a cool spring, under the stars. Jayber retired to a riverfront cabin where he can watch all the city folk "relaxing" on the weekends. He notes "this resting involves traveling at great speed, first on the road, then on the river. The people are in an emergency to relax." Jayber observes the people in his life as a gardener watches his emerging seedlings. He has a beautiful patience about him.
I already have a B author, but this is such a wonderful book I had to add it in anyway.
Wow! What a beautiful book. Near the end Jayber says "This is a book about Heaven," and it truly is. This book takes us to a slower place, sitting on the porch, by a cool spring, under the stars. Jayber retired to a riverfront cabin where he can watch all the city folk "relaxing" on the weekends. He notes "this resting involves traveling at great speed, first on the road, then on the river. The people are in an emergency to relax." Jayber observes the people in his life as a gardener watches his emerging seedlings. He has a beautiful patience about him.
8ritacate
The Yellow Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
I started this for Y in my Alphabet of titles, but read something else so now it satisfies L for Mr. Lang!
I grew up with many original, pre-Disney fairy tales and really enjoyed reading these closer to the original stories. I was surprised at the cultural diversity included in this book; I had expected only western European and British Isles. I also enjoyed the many new to me stories interspersed with a few very well known ones.
I started this for Y in my Alphabet of titles, but read something else so now it satisfies L for Mr. Lang!
I grew up with many original, pre-Disney fairy tales and really enjoyed reading these closer to the original stories. I was surprised at the cultural diversity included in this book; I had expected only western European and British Isles. I also enjoyed the many new to me stories interspersed with a few very well known ones.
9ritacate
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Schwab,V.E.
Hmmmm. I liked this book and have to say four stars even though I found so much lacking.
The premise is fascinating. When a young girl makes a deal with the devil, or is it an ancient god or.... well, whatever, to escape the strictures of her life, to have complete freedom, how will that be interpreted by the one granting her request? We all know wishes never turn out according to what we meant by our words or our vague notions at the time of wishing. Here, too, the invisible life was definitely not what Addie had in mind though strictly speaking it does comply with the words of her request.
There were so many places, however, where the book approached a serious reflection and then veered off like avoiding a deer in the road. One example is when Henry is taken aback by her stealing: she snaps that she has to, he says it's still wrong and the story continues. What a beautiful opportunity to explore some of the ramifications of her situation! Or not. Also, despite her being born at the end of the 17th century, Addie is pure spoiled millennial.
Fortunately in the audio version I wasn't subjected to the free form poetry of the narration to quite the degree noted in another review.
And yet, I enjoyed it and give it 4 stars. Hmmmm.
Hmmmm. I liked this book and have to say four stars even though I found so much lacking.
The premise is fascinating. When a young girl makes a deal with the devil, or is it an ancient god or.... well, whatever, to escape the strictures of her life, to have complete freedom, how will that be interpreted by the one granting her request? We all know wishes never turn out according to what we meant by our words or our vague notions at the time of wishing. Here, too, the invisible life was definitely not what Addie had in mind though strictly speaking it does comply with the words of her request.
There were so many places, however, where the book approached a serious reflection and then veered off like avoiding a deer in the road. One example is when Henry is taken aback by her stealing: she snaps that she has to, he says it's still wrong and the story continues. What a beautiful opportunity to explore some of the ramifications of her situation! Or not. Also, despite her being born at the end of the 17th century, Addie is pure spoiled millennial.
Fortunately in the audio version I wasn't subjected to the free form poetry of the narration to quite the degree noted in another review.
And yet, I enjoyed it and give it 4 stars. Hmmmm.
