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May 05
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New comment on Alicia's review of
Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope
reply to this comment
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April 16
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Brenda
gave
 
to:
Water for Elephants (Paperback)
by Sara Gruen
bookshelves:
fiction
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in March, 2008
Brenda said:
"Several people had recommended this book to me so I decided to try it. I enjoyed it. It made me think about aging... the main character is 93 and in a nursing home and thinking back on some of the adventures in his life (including years he spent work...more
Several people had recommended this book to me so I decided to try it. I enjoyed it. It made me think about aging... the main character is 93 and in a nursing home and thinking back on some of the adventures in his life (including years he spent working at a circus). ...less
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April 07
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Brenda
is currently reading:
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (Paperback)
by Jared Diamond
bookshelves:
currently-reading
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in April, 2008
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Brenda
gave
to:
Prodigal Summer: A Novel (Paperback)
by Barbara Kingsolver
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in April, 2008
Brenda said:
"I enjoyed Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible so much that for some reason I delayed reading this one (does that make sense?). I just liked the idea of another unread novel by her being out there, waiting for me to read -- something I was saving like a pie...more
I enjoyed Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible so much that for some reason I delayed reading this one (does that make sense?). I just liked the idea of another unread novel by her being out there, waiting for me to read -- something I was saving like a piece of rich dark chocolate.
Her descriptions of the natural world are lovely. The relationships are complex and sexy and intriguing. My favorite story line is the romance between Deanna and Eddie. It reminds me of the romance in "The River Why", another book I will write about here on goodreads (someday).
Coyotes play a prominent role in the book. I grew up falling asleep to the sound of coyotes howling (whenever I stayed with my grandparents). It is an eerie sound, almost human. This is a book that can make you love coyotes and chestnut trees and even our fellow humans (with all of our quirks and failings and missteps along the way).
Here's the final paragraph (it's not a plot spoiler):
"Solitude is a human presumption. Every quiet step is thunder to beetle life underfoot, a tug of impalpable thread on the web pulling mate to mate and predator to prey, a beginning or an end. Every choice is a world made new for the chosen."
As I expected, I am feeling reader's remorse. There are no more Kingsolver titles out there for me to read. Yet. Write quickly Barbara. I miss you already.
...less
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April 06
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Brenda
gave
to:
The Poisonwood Bible (Paperback)
by Barbara Kingsolver
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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March 22
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Brenda
gave
to:
The Information Society and the Welfare State: The Finnish Model (Paperback)
by Manuel Castells, Pekka Himanen
bookshelves:
school-nerd
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in February, 2008
Brenda said:
"Manuel Castells is a big name in information society thinking and writing. This is a brief book; a case study of Finland. It puts Finland in the same category as Silicon Valley and Singapore... countries that are really thriving in the information so...more
Manuel Castells is a big name in information society thinking and writing. This is a brief book; a case study of Finland. It puts Finland in the same category as Silicon Valley and Singapore... countries that are really thriving in the information society. He talks about Finland has created a culture of innovation that has helped them thrive, despite a dearth of natural resources....less
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March 20
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New comment on Brenda's review of
After Dark
(see all 2 comments)
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January 11
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New comment on Katie's review of
The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book
(see all 3 comments)
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Brenda
gave
to:
After Dark (Hardcover)
by Haruki Murakami
bookshelves:
fiction
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in January, 2008
Brenda said:
"If you have not read anything by Haruki Murakami, I highly recommend that you do so. Just not this book. If you're just going to pick one or two books by him to read then read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore. They are probably his m...more
If you have not read anything by Haruki Murakami, I highly recommend that you do so. Just not this book. If you're just going to pick one or two books by him to read then read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore. They are probably his most "difficult" novels. If you want something a bit lighter, try Norwegian Wood or South of the Border West of the Sun. I still have a few of his left to read, but based on what I've read so far those are my recommendations. After Dark is just not on par with those others. I was disappointed....less
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