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July 09
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Judy
gave
 
to:
Suite Française (Paperback)
by Irene Nemirovsky
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Judy said:
"This book has been all the rage since it was discovered and published a few years ago. But Nemirovsky paints a tale where German soldiers during WWII aren't such bad guys after all, and shockingly, there are no Jewish characters. This, from a Jewish ...more
This book has been all the rage since it was discovered and published a few years ago. But Nemirovsky paints a tale where German soldiers during WWII aren't such bad guys after all, and shockingly, there are no Jewish characters. This, from a Jewish author who perished at the hands of the Nazis. Her own anti-Semitism is something very few writers have discussed. I did not see what all the fuss was about in this novel, and didn't even finish it. ...less
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Judy
gave
to:
Seduction of Water (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
by Carol Goodman (Goodreads author!)
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Judy said:
"I loved the cover of the book and the title and took a chance on it, but the story didn't keep me as riveted as the book jacket copy seemed to promise. The story of a woman trying to unravel the secret past of her deceased mother, in part for the pur...more
I loved the cover of the book and the title and took a chance on it, but the story didn't keep me as riveted as the book jacket copy seemed to promise. The story of a woman trying to unravel the secret past of her deceased mother, in part for the purpose of writing a book about her, was simply not a memorable tale. I finished it out of a sense of obligation....less
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July 08
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Judy
gave
to:
No Fond Return of Love (Paperback)
by Barbara Pym
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Judy
gave
to:
Thank You for Smoking (Paperback)
by Christopher Buckley
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Judy said:
"This is my favorite Buckley novel -- hilarious throughout as it follows the travails of a lobbyist for the tobacco industry and the ingenious ways he finds to defend an industry under constant attack. Buckley creates delicious friendships for him wit...more
This is my favorite Buckley novel -- hilarious throughout as it follows the travails of a lobbyist for the tobacco industry and the ingenious ways he finds to defend an industry under constant attack. Buckley creates delicious friendships for him with his sidekick friends who are lobbyists for the alcohol and firearms industries and who are hated almost as much as he is. ...less
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Judy
gave
to:
Boomsday (Hardcover)
by Christopher Buckley
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in June, 2008
Judy said:
"Christopher Buckley always makes me laugh in his politically satirical novels. In Boomsday, a young 20-something sends shockwaves through the nation after she posts middle-of-the-night blogs about the possibility that people over 65 "transition&...more
Christopher Buckley always makes me laugh in his politically satirical novels. In Boomsday, a young 20-something sends shockwaves through the nation after she posts middle-of-the-night blogs about the possibility that people over 65 "transition" to the next life in exchange for tax benefits -- all a way to save HER generation from paying THEIR social security bills. There's also a love interest in the form of a Senator who wants to make hay with her idea; a cussing president, and a cast of other amusing characters. But Buckley's forte is knowing how outrageous the ways of Washington DC are -- somehow, though, most of the characters sound alike in too many of his novels. Still, a fun read. ...less
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March 13
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Judy
gave
to:
When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan (Paperback)
by Peggy Noonan
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Judy said:
"I absolutely love Peggy Noonan. Her writing is so beautiful, but never, ever over the top. This is a terrific biography of Ronald Reagan, a president I could not stand when he was president but whom I learned to appreciate only later, thanks in part ...more
I absolutely love Peggy Noonan. Her writing is so beautiful, but never, ever over the top. This is a terrific biography of Ronald Reagan, a president I could not stand when he was president but whom I learned to appreciate only later, thanks in part to the more honest and thorough perspective of a writer such as Noonan. There are important life lessons in this book about patience, persistence, integrity, and fighting for what you believe in, which are all inspiring. ...less
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Judy
gave
to:
First Ladies: An Intimate Group Portrait of White House Wives (Paperback)
by Margaret Truman
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 1996
Judy said:
"A great and well written overview of America's First Ladies. I liked this a lot!
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Judy
gave
to:
No Way to Treat a First Lady: A Novel (Paperback)
by Christopher Buckley
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 2005
Judy said:
"Christopher Buckley is one of my favorite writers, brilliantly satirical. This novel is about an ambitious First Lady (known as “Lady Bethmac”), who is on trial for the death of her philandering husband. A boyfriend from her law school days, who...more
Christopher Buckley is one of my favorite writers, brilliantly satirical. This novel is about an ambitious First Lady (known as “Lady Bethmac”), who is on trial for the death of her philandering husband. A boyfriend from her law school days, who is now a shameless defense attorney, tries to clear her name. Clearly meant to remind the readers of a certain former First Lady running for president, this hilarious book couldn't be a better read than today. ...less
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January 16
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Judy
gave
to:
Daniel Deronda (Modern Library Classics)
by George Eliot
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 2007
Judy said:
"I hadn't read this book since college when I picked it up again recently, I realized I was in for a long, slow read. This is a densely written book, in a classic 19th century British style, which means there's a tremendous amount of detail about phys...more
I hadn't read this book since college when I picked it up again recently, I realized I was in for a long, slow read. This is a densely written book, in a classic 19th century British style, which means there's a tremendous amount of detail about physical places that frankly, I could do without. The book has its flaws, but it's fascinating to watch the evolution of the self-absorbed, appallingly spoiled protagonist, Gwendolyn Harleth, after she makes a miserable match with a man of fortune. Intertwined with Gwendolyn's saga is that of Daniel Deronda, who enters her life in a way she considers intrusive but whom Gwendolyn comes to rely upon for his emotional and spiritual support when her life becomes troubled. When Deronda discovers he is a Jew by birth, he feels compelled to explore the meaning of his spiritual heritage. The character development is strong for Gwendolyn in particular, and Eliot was brave to take on the topic of Jewish identity and the role of Zionism in late 19th century England....less
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Judy
gave
to:
Hide and Seek: Jewish Women and Hair Covering (Paperback)
by Lynne Schreiber
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 2005
Judy said:
"This is a well-edited anthology of essays by a wide variety of Jewish women who for one reason or other chose to cover her hair, according to traditional Jewish practice. (This applies to married women only.) For many, it was a difficult decision; on...more
This is a well-edited anthology of essays by a wide variety of Jewish women who for one reason or other chose to cover her hair, according to traditional Jewish practice. (This applies to married women only.) For many, it was a difficult decision; one contributor took on wigs while undergoing cancer treatment, but chose to keep up the practice even after she recovered from her illness. The stories are surprisingly compelling, much more than philosophical musings. As one contributor wrote, "Covering my hair helps me remember that I am not only about what everyone else can see." ...less
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