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

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

Larry- Harrison's is wonderful. I was attracted to that word Mimsy, and I thought it was a typo. Realized it's from Alive in Wonderland--
mimsy (comparative mimsier, superlative mimsiest) (nonce word) A nonce word in Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky combining the senses of "flimsy" and "miserable".

And then the dog -- seeing the rabbit and walking after it- is really magical, because it's all mixed up - a dog would chase a rabbit and a rabbit is not in the bedroom, but a dream could be.

How can a poem like this not be autobiographical? I am currently struggling with what is fictive in poetry and what is autobiographical.

Larry wrote: "John wrote: "I have thought about reading all of Elizabeth Bishop eventually. She published about 100 poems. Something must be said about a poet of economy, since most of today’s active poets publi..."

Larry- thank you for sharing this edition from LOA. I also saw elsewhere about your dedication to LOA and then many volumes you have. I was also really happy to read that as I agree wholeheartedly about the quality of the editions and the importance of this publishing house. The program yesterday about Charles Schulz the creator of Charlie Brown-- was wonderful!

If you have read an excellent book covering Judaism - please post it in this thread.

The Dispossessed I've read all the books now in Hainish series written by Ursula le Guin. And, although I recognize this is intellectual or philosophical science fiction-- this last book left me rather chilled. I had mixed reviews of the series overall. This book jumped from two worlds so often it was unsettling, and I felt little empathy for the primary character - so that did not help. But, many really like this book ...

The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time This is one of those books that changed my view of history and science. It's about researchers who study finches on islands in the Galapagos, and their findings present a new light on Darwin's theories. Well written and unforgettable discoveries enhancing Darwin's theory of evolution.

Jyoti wrote: "Hi everyone!

I am currently reading Huế 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam and this is the first time I'm reading anything focuses on war/military and is a nonfic..."

Hello Jyoti:
Thanks for sharing your current read...how are you enjoying this book so far-- especially since this is a new topic for you...? I have been reading a book about the oil industry and I am finding it slow going even though the book is clearly written, because I am not strongly into the topic...

Hi John,
I know you really enjoy armchair travel books. When you were younger did you travel a lot? I know it is enjoyable imagining what a place is like, especially if the writing is excellent, but I am curious if these books have ever prompted you to actually visit the place?

Hi John,
I just posted one of his most well known -- and ever so poignant sonnets in poem a day thread.

This is a memorial sonnet written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for his wife who died from a fire in their library. Longfellow was also badly burned trying to save her, and he wore a beard the rest of his life to cover the facial and neck scars he bore. She died in 1861, but Longfellow was unable to write about her death until 1879, and this poem was not published until 1886. Because of its personal nature the poet felt uncomfortable about releasing this poem, but now it is one of his most beloved works --especially by a modern audience.



“The Cross of Snow” (1879)

In the long, sleepless watches of the night,
A gentle face—the face of one long dead—
Looks at me from the wall, where round its head
The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light.
Here in this room she died; and soul more white
Never through martyrdom of fire was led
To its repose; nor can in books be read
The legend of a life more benedight.
There is a mountain in the distant West
That, sun-defying, in its deep ravines
Displays a cross of snow upon its side.
Such is the cross I wear upon my breast
These eighteen years, through all the changing scenes
And seasons, changeless since the day she died.



Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. A new book published about the poet's life.

Carol,
Two wonderful lines in my mind--

By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

The imagery and sound grab me --- birds singing madrigals to waterfalls.

The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers I will make the second entry by telling your about this biography covering Mister Rogers- Fred Rogers. I liked the book a lot, because I was so interested to know more about Fred Rogers the man behind my favorite TV show when I was growing up.

If you are a fan, you'll enjoy this book, although the writing is somewhat repetitive and unsophisticated. But the author does a great job explaining how the show came to be and you get a much fuller picture of the man. Yes, he was really good and kind, and very dedicated to children's education, PBS, and -- was quite an exacting producer.

Carol,
The books you are posting remind me of a book I wanted to read when we read a slew of biographies on the Founding Fathers in another group. It was a recently published book covering a variety of people - the common working man or woman, and how the revolution affected them. Your postings make me want to go back and read it! Need to find it in the list... Thanks for all of your recommendations. I assume so many of these works have helped you with the book your are working on.

Has anyone read Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

There's been a lot of hype surrounding this book, and I am scheduled to read it in 2021, but...

Does it bring new light to the topic of race divide and tension in America? Is it compellingly written and argued?

Has anyone read this book, and can you make comments or recommendations about it?

If you are considering reading a book, you might want to know what others thought about the book-- especially if you are on the fence about reading the book.

Please post your inquiries in this thread ---

I've noticed some of the books that have lingered in my memory and that I go back and find, because I want to share here - not all of them are 5 stars. They linger for many reasons, but it is interesting not all of them rate fantastic in the star rating, but they are unforgettable and I want to share them.

Has anyone else noticed this when looking back at books that have staying power?

I'd like to share The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, The River of Doubt is the true story of Theodore Roosevelts harrowing exploration of one of the most dangerous rivers on earth.

I'll add beside the adventure and harrowing amazing nature of this journey - the book helps you see into a past president who was aging and who had the drive and will for one more last conquer. Also, Theodore's Roosevelt's son (kermit?) was on this journey and readers get a view into this man and his relationship with his father. Plus-- PBS has a film that goes with this book, and my husband and I watched it--highly recommended.

Last year I read a book that made a huge difference in the way I view the comprehensive all reaching aspects of climate change (global warming) -- The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming

So many books offer solutions and hope for the climate and our ability to keep our present way of life. but this book isn't like that. Or I did not find it to be so... instead we get a broad based view of the many, many, many global warming affects upon the human species. Even art and culture is covered. I loved the super hard hitting smack of this book's message.

Interesting comments about "Reflective."

Weeds in the West are something that don't belong and that have to be managed or removed otherwise - they take over. This is a common view and a common struggle of ranchers and farmers out my way in the U.S.

That aside-- here's my first response to this poem -- to see a weed - that which doesn't belong - one has to have an element of the weed in oneself to recognize it out there in the world.

John wrote: "Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Sher. I was unaware of the book."

I'm glad you saw the post John.

One River
two
I wondered if John from Seattle might enjoy this book?

`It's a dual biography that traces the lives of two researchers. The writing is stunning, and the descriptions of what happens to the mind and body when imbibing on hallucinogenic plants is unforgettable -- for example all the sense get mixed up- you smell what you see and you hear smells--

I am getting ahead of myself-- Amazon explains more clearly--

The story of two generations of scientific explorers in South America—Richard Evans Schultes and his protégé Wade Davis—an epic tale of adventure and a compelling work of natural history.

In 1941, Professor Richard Evan Schultes took a leave from Harvard and disappeared into the Amazon, where he spent the next twelve years mapping uncharted rivers and living among dozens of Indian tribes. In the 1970s, he sent two prize students, Tim Plowman and Wade Davis, to follow in his footsteps and unveil the botanical secrets of coca, the notorious source of cocaine, a sacred plant known to the Inca as the Divine Leaf of Immortality.

A stunning account of adventure and discovery, betrayal and destruction, One River is a story of two generations of explorers drawn together by the transcendent knowledge of Indian peoples, the visionary realms of the shaman, and the extraordinary plants that sustain all life in a forest that once stood immense and inviolable.

Back to my voice-- the problem I had with the book was that it took on too much- in my view, and also the author puts a ton creative nonfiction and mixes it up with nonfiction. So, complete scenes were recreated using dialog and effects of fiction-- it was the over th top and unbelievable. In addition the book had virtually no notes and really no explanation that we felt was solid as to how he reconstructed the adventures ...

Again difficult to review- disappointing in some ways--totally unforgettable in other ways...

I thought John might enjoy taking this wild armchair trip!