Larry’s Comments (group member since Nov 23, 2020)

Larry’s comments from the Nonfiction Reading - Only the Best group.

Ron wrote: "On another nonfiction group I'm in they chose this one for their April/May BOTM:

Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs

It's a book right in my wheelhouse since it's Indigenous history. I ended up ordering a copy this morning so I can have it ready for then..."

Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs is an amazing book. It's a combination of history and historiography as it explains how the conquest in Mexico played out and how Aztec historical sources were preserved both in original codices and in Spanish translation. I was surprised to learn how Moctezuma's family survived with some relocating to Spain. It's not the easiest book to read ... the writing is pretty good, but there are so many individuals involved that I wish that I had made some notes of the major ones to refer to.

Carol wrote: "Husband, Andy, back in hospital again with a severe pain. Son, Gareth, arrived the same day so has been a great help and it is lovely to see him."


Carol, I am so sorry about Andy have to go back into hospital. I am just glad that your son has arrived to help out.

Ron, I think what you got was a pretty ignorant answer from that B&N employee. I don’t have statistics at hand, but I think that there is a steadily growing demand for books on Indigenous People’s history, culture, etc. at least when I asked at our local B&N store, the person could find the section. I’m not sure how many shelves there were dedicated to the subject.

There is actually an Aldi’s about two miles from us. I should make stop there to see what we are missing besides cheaper Hot Cross buns … and that’s assuming that they are cheaper in our U.S. Aldi’s.

I enjoying hearing the commercials on some overseas radio stations, like the ones I’m hearing on Jazz FM. You tend to hear them if you listen with the MyRadio app and don’t hear them if you use the TuneIn app. The latter will insert U.S. (usually local ones based on your location) commercials.

John, Jean is good people. I would gladly do almost anything she asked me to do. But I am glad for you that the work is short.

I’ve been listening to Jazz FM ( out of London) this morning. Good music and I enjoy the commercials. Aldi’s has six Hot Cross buns for 99p … Morrison’s has the same for 1£. I bought them at Giant Food earlier in the week for $5.99.

I’ve been away for awhile … medical tests for both my wife and myself … and imagining (ultrasound and then MRI) for myself followed up by more bloodwork. Basically all is well. Just need to see one more specialist next month (when it can wait a month, it’s good.) I wish it was as easy to do things on GoodReads as it is on FaceBook with a smartphone. You can read messages, but detailed stuff works so much easier when access occurs with a computer. And while all the medical stuff was going on, so was the sorting and packing. Sigh. No whining here … just explaining. Life is Good.

Eileen, I’ve watched Sandel’s video in which he lays out the Classic Trolley car thought experiment. He is a very good teacher.

I am reading the second chapter now. Taking my time as you all come on board.

Sandel, in the first chapter, really lays out the kind of matters that are ethical issues to be considered in the book: price gouging for basic commodities like bottled water after a hurricane in Florida, who should get a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat, and then life and death matters. One of the "life and death matters" is the classic trolley car problem of whether you would sacrifice one person to save five. The other is a real world story from combat in Afghanistan.

Christine wrote: ""
One of the most heartbreaking, incredibly sad book about cobalt mining in the Congo. /i>

I vaguely knew what was going on with the cobalt mining in the Congo. Knowing how the populations of countries like this are taken advantage of doesn't surprise me that the story is heartbreaking.

I started her Elvis Presley short bio and will get back to it. Really good. My great grandfather came from Tupelo, Mississippi the hometown of Elvis) and moved up into Indian Territory to dig wells for the railroads. So I have a special interest in the most successful person ever to come out of Tupelo, namely Elvis. A strange story today. I was listening to Isaac Hayes’ HOT BUTTERED SOUL album … the reissue of the album was reviewed in the current UNCUT magazine. And he came from my mother’s hometown, Covington, Tennessee.

Mer & Cynda, your questions and information about Lady Hamilton are so good.

Getting warmer up here in Northern Virginia also. But not as warm as down in NC. I enjoyed the weather a lot during the eight years I spent in NC. A month more of spring and a month more of autumn than we get in the DC area. But the hotter summers have gotten a lot worse over the decades.

It was a very good book and really portrayed very how the UK handled the threat from Napoleon over the time leading up to Trafalgar. It was disappointing how poorly the UK responded to Nelson’s dying request that Lady Hamilton and their daughter be provided for.

Cynda, enjoy the cool … and I am sorry indeed about the smoke afflicting parts of Texas.

Christine wrote: "Faith: A Journey For All by Jimmy Carter | audiobook read by Author | My Thoughts

The 39th President of the US reflects on how he leans on his faith through specific ..."

In going through all of our books as we get ready for our move, I picked up this one by Jimmy Carter. Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. It's an autographed copy that my wife got when she met President Carter. Yeah, I think we'll hold onto this one.

John wrote: "Tomorrow is February 29th. I had an old friend from my working days, Sharon, who was born on February 29th. When we had to, we celebrated it on the 28th."

My daughter-in-law will celebrate her 11th birthday tomorrow ... although she is really 44 years old. We will celebrate her wonderful life over dinner tomorrow with her, my son, and our two granddaughters ... and a little wine.

So much work to do on a house that you have lived in for 37 years. So many things to make decisions about: keep, store, gift, donate, or sell. Luckily my wife and I agree on about 95 percent of the decisions … and just put aside the other 5 percent to decide on later. Our son is a huge help also. I do get some breaks … right now I’m waiting at the dentist to get two permanent crowns put in. :-)

Carol, this: "Never mind, a bird is not a dinosaur (or is it?) " Some paleontologists/evolutionary biologists argue that birds are still dinosaurs. Well, birds are what they are. I will say, that if you look at a photo of a baby heron, you will swear that's a dinosaur!