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February 24
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Cheryl
gave
 
to:
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation (Paperback)
by Lynne Truss
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended for: anyone
read in January, 2007
Cheryl said:
"This was a fast read and highly entertaining. Writing about punctuation in a humorous yet educational way? Who would have thunk it? But that is just what Lynne Truss accomplished.
Truss does point out many distinctions between British and Ameri...more
This was a fast read and highly entertaining. Writing about punctuation in a humorous yet educational way? Who would have thunk it? But that is just what Lynne Truss accomplished.
Truss does point out many distinctions between British and American punctuation, which is also educational and humorous. The main take-away of the book that I found was that we really should be less sloppy when communicating in formal ways and that it should continue to be properly taught, and for us not to forget its importance. We all make punctuation mistakes (I know I do every day), but we're getting sloppier and more forgiving. This may not be the end of the world, and for such things as conversational email, ichats, instant and text messaging, brevity and creative shortcuts are important, but if you are trying to communicate effectively in more formal or public settings, it's important to at least get the punctuation correct. If you don't, who will take you seriously and give you credence? Apparently more people nowadays.
Funny and informative read. Bravo Lynne Truss!...less
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Cheryl
gave
to:
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster (Paperback)
by Jon Krakauer
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in February, 2008
Cheryl said:
"I first read this book around 1998 and just re-read it. I remember being totally engrossed the first time I read it, but this time I think I was more impatient and didn't enjoy the background information as much. It's important to understand the sto...more
I first read this book around 1998 and just re-read it. I remember being totally engrossed the first time I read it, but this time I think I was more impatient and didn't enjoy the background information as much. It's important to understand the story and I'm glad Krakauer included as much as he did, soI think this time my impatience wasn't a reflection of the quality of the book.
After reading about everything these climbers endure, I asked myself repeatedly, "And why are they doing this?" I understand in an general sense, but I admit that I do not have that drive and desire (nor the skill and ability) to climb Everest and to sacrifice what they did.
Krakauer seems to write pretty honestly about how he felt and how he perceives how other climbers felt about everyting, which got him into some trouble after publication, but I can't see how he wouldn't have someone mad at him. People are people and everyone cannot be a good person all the time, especially under such extreme conditions, but when you read about what some people did, you wonder how can they live with themselves afterwards. Then again, who knows how any of us would act when we're in a life-and-death struggle? We never really know until we'reput to the test, if that indeed ever happens.
There are heroes in this tale as well, very brave and courageous people, which continues to astonish me the depths to which some people will helps others, even when risking their own lives.
Another lesson which we often forget or don't even contemplate is that Mother Nature still rules, and we should never forget that.
I would recommend this to read, even to those who don't think they would like outside adventure tales. I learned a lot, and not just about climbing Everest....less
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Cheryl
gave
to:
Love in the Time of Cholera (Paperback)
by Gabriel García Márquez
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 2004
Cheryl said:
"I enjoy Garcia Marquez's writing style and I know I'm not alone. Again, the imagery and feeling his writing invokes is powerful and makes you feel you are witnessing these events and sharing the characters' emotions.
Denial is a powerful thing a...more
I enjoy Garcia Marquez's writing style and I know I'm not alone. Again, the imagery and feeling his writing invokes is powerful and makes you feel you are witnessing these events and sharing the characters' emotions.
Denial is a powerful thing and how these characters pretend to ignore situations, feelings, people, and their true feelings is interesting to behold. Their is playful humor throughout as well, which only adds to the pleasure of reading this book.
I was disappointed by the movie version that was released in 2007, so to anyone who saw the movie and has not read the book, do not be turned off by the movie--the book is worth reading!...less
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Cheryl
gave
to:
Life of Pi (Mass Market Paperback)
by Yann Martel
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended to Cheryl by:
Abby and Julie Wolf
recommended for: anyone who likes imaginative books
read in August, 2007
Cheryl said:
"I really liked this book. It was inventive, imaginative and philosophical. With only a tiger and a boy in a boat for months at sea as the main focus, it's amazing how much transpired and kept my attention. That's creative writing!
I really don'...more
I really liked this book. It was inventive, imaginative and philosophical. With only a tiger and a boy in a boat for months at sea as the main focus, it's amazing how much transpired and kept my attention. That's creative writing!
I really don't want to say much about the plot because you really just have to read it. I know, that sounds like a cop-out, but there it is.
...less
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February 02
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Cheryl
is currently reading:
How Would a Patriot Act? Defending American Values from a President Run Amok (Paperback)
by Glenn Greenwald
bookshelves:
currently-reading
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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January 21
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Cheryl
gave
to:
One Hundred Years of Solitude (Hardcover)
by Gabriel García Márquez
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 1998
Cheryl said:
"This book was recommended to me by my husband and it opened up the world of Garcia Marquez to me. The play with language and imagery and the characters make this one of my favorite books. I read this during a cold month, but GM's descriptions and f...more
This book was recommended to me by my husband and it opened up the world of Garcia Marquez to me. The play with language and imagery and the characters make this one of my favorite books. I read this during a cold month, but GM's descriptions and fluid writing made me feel like I was in that hot climate. A truly great read....less
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