false 33 282 280 true 5672258 read 1 true 2721414 currently-reading 1 true 2721413 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79132505 Eric's review of Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America
by Jonathan Kozol

Your review made me reflect on a book I once read called Without a Net Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America. The author, Michelle Kennedy, writes about her experience as a homeless woman in which she lives out of her car with her three children. Throughout the book she tries to convince the reader that homelessness could happen to anyone really easily but I could clearly see that she continued to make bad decisions that put herself in that situation. I ended up not feeling any sympathy for her and I felt her children were the true victims. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79437718 The Pursuit of Other Interests: A Novel (Hardcover) by Jim Kokoris
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79362399 Joan of Arc (Penguin Lives) by Mary Gordon
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/231026-related-books-you-have-bought-or-borrowed-recently Lennie made a comment in the A History of Royals group:

While out of town over the weekend, I stopped in a used paperback bookstore and bought

Farewell in Splendor The Passing of Queen Victoria and Her Age by Jerrold M. Packard
Ladies in Waiting From the Tudors to the Present Day by Anne Somerset

And then in B&N at the bargain table, I bought

The Kings and Queens of England and Scotland by Plantagenet Somerset Fry

*Having lots of fun expanding my home library with royalty books :)

]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77357204 to: A Prayer for the Dying (Paperback) by Stewart O'Nan
Diphtheria is spreading through Friendship, Wisconsin and since this disease kills quick, people are dying rapidly. Jacob Hansen is the Sheriff/Undertaker/Preacher of this small town and he is forced to make some hard decisions on how to handle the situation. These decisions often test his faith in God.
Since the story takes place post-Civil War, it was interesting to read how people tried to survive this kind of disease or typhus, which was also common in those days, without the help of modern medicine. And while reading this book, I couldn't help but think of our own epidemic that we are going through now, the swine flu, and I could relate to the fear the characters expressed in this story. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/245391-what-do-you-plan-to-read-in-december-or-beyond-the-knock-knock-joke Lennie made a comment in the Pick-a-Shelf group:

For December I plan to read:

How to Be Good by Nick Hornby
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe A Novel by Fannie Flagg
Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen

At this time I would like to extend a Seasons Greetings to all my fellow P-a-S members. Whatever holiday you celebrate, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday! ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77073409 to: Book Tour (Paperback) by Rick Zabel
While growing up, Horace Meeker was never respected but success is the best revenge so this wanna-be bestselling author sets out on a book tour hoping to sell enough of his books to become famous. Along the way he becomes friends with some shady, low-life characters who take advantage of Horace and his vulnerability.
I won this book in a GR giveaway. It's a short and quick read and I found myself rooting for this "underdog" on his book tour which really isn't about selling a lot of books but rather it is a journey in seeking validation. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75921028 to: Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter (Paperback) by Adeline Yen Mah
A Chinese proverb says that falling leaves return to their roots. In this memoir, Adeline Yen Mah, discusses her childhood and growing up in China. When she became an adult, she moved to America and worked as a doctor but she always felt a pull towards her family and her hometown of Shanghai, despite a tense relationship with certain members of her family and political changes of her mother country. In my opinion, this is one of the best memoirs written. I think her book says a lot about family roots and how sometimes those ties never break. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/229331-post-your-november-asian-books-and-reviews-here Lennie made a comment in the Pick-a-Shelf group:

Thanks Lyn! :) ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/25478-what-would-you-like-to-read-for-our-first-official-group-read-in-january Lennie voted on the poll: What would you like to read for our first official group read in January 2010? We've got 7 historical fiction nominations and 3 non-fiction nominations but you can only pick one.

I'll keep the poll open for 2 weeks :) ]]>