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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
I have completed Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I completely agree Chrissie - an amazing man, but some of the things you criticize are definitely true, the over-optimism for instance. It's such a balance for someone in that position of being socially and legally oppressed - how to on the one hand believe anything is possible in your personal case to power through and make the best of your limited opportunities AND at the same time clear-headedly take on larger social and legal restrictions that are discriminatory and unfair. It really takes both for things to get better. But it's hard to strike a balance between the needed indomitable optimism in personal goals and the clear, sharp perception of existing flaws and roadblocks in the larger social/political system. Booker T Washington is fantastic at the first half, at encouraging personal fortitude, but not so good at the second half. No, the KKK wasn't quite dead, as history sadly shows.
I finished a couple of short books recently:Almost Forever - a lovely tale of a 6-year old who's father was sent to Vietnam during the war. It's a YA story told in verse. Very touching.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But You Did Not Come Back - a wonderful memoir and tribute to a man who didn't return from the Holocaust. This story tells a different perspective on what it's like to come back and be expected to pick up one's life again. Highly recommended.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Have just finished my first book by author Maggie James His Kidnapper's Shoes
. I will be reading more by this author. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Almost Forever - a lovely tale of a 6-year old who's father was sent to Vietnam during the war. It's a YA story told in verse. Very touch..."
I read Fugitive Pieces on a similar topic Petra - how to go on after something like the Holocaust; it's practically unimaginable. Fugitive Pieces though is told in fragments, very much like a collection of poetry.
I added But You Did Not Come Back to my to-read list.
Greg, I definitely recommend But You Did Not Come Back . So moving!
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Thanks Angela - good to know!
Greg wrote: I read Fugitive Pieces on a similar topic Petra - how to go on after something like the Holocaust; it's practically unimaginable. Fugitive Pieces though is told in fragments, very much like a collection of poetry...."Greg, I've read Fugitive Pieces and agree that it was touching. Those fragments seemed like snapshots. It was like looking at specific times in the lives of the boys. I don't remember much more than that.
Greg wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I have completed Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I completely agree Chrissie - ..."
I think what really bothered me with the second half of the book was that I felt its purpose was to get people to donate more to his school.
Petra wrote: "I finished a couple of short books recently:Almost Forever - a lovely tale of a 6-year old who's father was sent to Vietnam during the war. It's a YA story told in verse. Very touch..."
Yeah, we both gave But You Did Not Come Back five stars. Really, an outsanding book.
Four stars for me, but yes, it was very touching.Finished The Book of Polly
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I completely agre..."
I understand Chrissie, but you also mentioned the over-optimism. He was criticized by some of his contemporaries for that too.
Greg, yes, the over-optimism bothered me too. I do think one achieves more through praise than through criticism (dogs and people are similar ;0) ), but he stretches this too far for me. Not once does he ever criticize another. This makes him almost un-human, above all we other mortal human beings. While I do appreciate his dicta, by the book's end you feel they have been hammered into you. I don't think I have the right to deplore his optimism. I think maybe in 1900 they actually thought things would improve. Today we cannot help but be terribly cynical.
I finished Marking Time and thoroughly enjoyed it. The first book of this series focussed on the kids, who were rather young. In this book, the story focusses mostly on the girls, who are in their mid- to late- teens. They are growing and learning about Life just as the world is at war. It's a difficult time for all, the girls and the rest of the family. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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No, I agree, I don’t deplore it or him at all. And I also agree that optimism is very healthy and one can accomplish a lot more with a positive outlook! But some of the other blacks working for justice in his era were occasionally frustrated with him because he neglected the other piece of the puzzle. I can understand that too.
It's difficult to be in a bad social/legal position as he was in that era. It's true then as well as now; it's just different things that shove people down in different eras. I think the healthiest and best attitude in that sort of position is to have a double mind - to internally believe you can do anything BUT to also externally have a clear eye than can judge accurately the obstacles as they pertain to others so you can do your best to help remove those legal/social obstacles, to fight against the injustices so more people can succeed. I think Washington believed passionately that if black people bettered themselves by the first half with education and seizing the limited options open to them, the rest would fall into place. But I think that was a little naive. I think it took BOTH people like him as well as people like Martin Luther King with a clear eye for the real conditions of the external world fighting for legal/social justice.
I certainly don't judge Washington! It's a remarkable thing what he accomplished in his circumstances - he's still remembered after more than 100 years for a reason! I just think life isn't as simple as he thought. Of course sometimes in a very bad situation it can be helpful for us to be a little delusional; otherwise we'd lose hope.
Chrissie wrote: "Alice and Esther, I read The Lover by Duras in my french classes too. I liked it a lot. It moved me. I liked the mood it conjures, and it is better to read books untranslated. If possible."Chrissie & Esther, I think I was more affected by the description of the tense mother-daughter relationship than by the couple's erotic love. Something in the writing bugs me, maybe it's the translation.
I've been reading 4321 for a week and I'm finally giving up:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
It's often hard for 600+ pages to sustain my interest - I do tend to expect a lot from very long books!
I have that one Terri. I am fearful, more so now that you stopped reading.
I've finished Rewriting the Rules of the American Economy: An Agenda for Growth and Shared Prosperity by Joseph E. Stiglitzhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read the third in Tanith Lee's Birthgrave trilogy, Quest for the White Witch, and posted a review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1915122722
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Her books are fun Pam!
I wasn't so keen on this trilogy Greg. Funnily enough, The Birthgrave was the first adult novel she published and the first I ever read - I must've been keener on it the first time or I wouldn't have persevered with her books - I've read a lot of them over the years.
Finished John Gordon's spooky tale, The House On The Brink, and posted a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1920818306.
With over 150 unread comments in this thread, I will never catch up! Sorry if I missed anything great but that is how it goes sometimes...
finished The Time Between by Karen Whitea 5 star read for me
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have completed God on the Rocks. It has an intriguing title. I do like this author. She makes you think.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Behind in reviews (as always), but finished them for:
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritancehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrellhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritanceh..."
Great review of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Sam! I read it pre-Goodreads, but I also would've given it 5 stars.
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Definitely Jason! Like you say, this book is much more about psychology than the ghosts. It's reminds me of The Turn of the Screw in that way.
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My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
That is an intriguing title Chrissie, a strong double meaning there.
Greg, yeah! You should try something by this author. The last one sort of disappointed me, but I have a feeling this was caused by the narration of the audiobook rather than the lines of the author.
I am trying to pick which one to read next. Maybe The Queen of the Tambourine.
Greg wrote: "Sam wrote: "Behind in reviews (as always), but finished them for:[book:Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritan..."Thanks, Greg! There are a few books from pre-Goodreads for me (which was relatively recent, fall 2016) that I'd like to re-read and review and see if my rating changes. Fortunately on Jonathan Strange, I know my rating never changes, it's an all-time favorite.
A quicker turn around with Miguel Street, I enjoyed it, but I wanted more.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I, Claudius was a very exciting read, I thought I'd be reading it in between another book but it took all of the time and attention, I simply couldn't put it down.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished listening to
Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline which I enjoyed rather more than I thought I was going to. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
just wrote the review for A Perfect Home by Kate Glanvillehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
only 2 stars from me
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I guess I should read the third one Phrynne! I've read the first 2.
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My review:www.goodreads.com/review/show/1923741028"
Definitely unusual, gothic, and wildly dark! Have you read The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories? I think in those dark fairy tales, she's at her absolute best. "The Tiger's Bride" is a knockout!
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https://www.goodrea..."
Good to hear Raul, it's high up on my to-read list!
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All About Books
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Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...