Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
ABOUT BOOKS AND READING
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What are you reading or what books have you read or heard about? (Part TWELVE) Ongoing general thread.
Has anyone read "American Dirt,"as there has been so much controversery concerning this book. The publishers had to cancel boook tours because of death threats and it is fiction/not non fiction. I read it. A grim, very grim at times but a real page turner. Stephen King wrote; Wow, I couldn't put it down.An Oprah book club selection in spite of 143 letters urging her not to. Just curios. It is on the # 1 best seller list in NYT.
American Dirt was criticized mostly because of the claims the publisher made, but it seems overblown to me. Of course, there are a lot of snowflakes today & apparently this brought them out in droves.NPR had an article on it:
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/29/801021...
Nina wrote: "Has anyone read "American Dirt,"as there has been so much controversery concerning this book. The publishers had to cancel boook tours because of death threats and it is fiction/not non fiction. I ..."\No, I haven't but maybe my local book club would enjoy discussions!
Yes, the book was grim but I thought it did portray at least some of the terrible things that cartel does when it preys on the people. And not only Mexico was involved in the book; other countries. Judging from events happening in our immediate family due to uprisings and the fact that an American family was murdered I feel the author who after all wrote a Fiction book has undeserved criticism.
Skepticism 101: How to Think like a Scientist by Michael Shermer, founder of Skeptic Magazine, is one of The Great Courses & well worth listening to. Not much new to me, but it was interesting. He's a good speaker. I gave it a 4 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I neglected to name the book that I recommended as it was, "American Dirt."
I just finished Candide. It's been almost 50 years since I last read it &, even though I didn't really get it as a teenager, I remembered a lot. Still, it made a far better impression this time around. I gave it a 5 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As usual a great review and makes me want to read it. I once stood outside Voltaire's home. He lived right next door to Baudelaire and I had just toured that one. They are on the Isle of St. Louis in Paris. I was staying in a garret room on that island.
Human Errors: A Panorama of Our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes by Nathan H. Lents was really good & shows how evolution rewards the 'good enough', not perfection. I gave it a 4 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon by Joshua D. Mezrich was fantastic. Book blurbs often suck, but this one is dead on. Read it. Set your expectations by it & then be prepared to be blown away. By combining the history of organ transplantation with an autobiography & biographical information from his patients, Mezrich made this come alive, complete with victories, failures, & warts. Highly recommended in any format. Well written & narrated. I gave it a 5 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold was a timely read with some good info, if not as well written as I would have liked. It was very well narrated & I gave it a 4 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recursion by Blake Crouch surprised me. I've really liked some of his other books, but time travel has been done to death or so I thought. He actually came up with one that's going to make my top ten list of TT stories. Considering how many I've read over the years, that's quite a compliment. I reviewed it here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"The Rational Optimist" seemed a bit slick at times, but overall it is a much needed book. It's a shame it's a bit dated due to being 12 years old, but that makes its point even better. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jim wrote: "I just finished Candide. It's been almost 50 years since I last read it &, even though I didn't really get it as a teenager, I remembered a lot. Still, it made a far better impression ..."Good review. Like Nina said makes me want to read it!
This month's book club selection is: "Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey - The River of Doubt" by Candice Millard.
I think "Splendid and Vile," is one of best books I've read. It is now #1 on NYT best seller list. Very good author; Eric Larson and loved everything else he has written that I've read.
Linda wrote: "This month's book club selection is: "Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey - The River of Doubt" by Candice Millard."I've been eyeing that one. Let me know how it is, please.
Nina wrote: "I think "Splendid and Vile," is one of best books I've read. It is now #1 on NYT best seller list. Very good author; Eric Larson and loved everything else he has written that I've read."Jim wrote: "Linda wrote: "This month's book club selection is: "Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey - The River of Doubt" by Candice Millard."
I've been eyeing that one. Let me know how it is, please."
I will! Not sure the book club will be meeting to discuss as next meet is April 11. Library had planned on opening on April 2nd but his could all change.
Nina wrote: "I think "Splendid and Vile," is one of best books I've read. It is now #1 on NYT best seller list. Very good author; Eric Larson and loved everything else he has written that I've read."I haven't read anything by Eric Larson. Will check him out as well as "Splendid and Vile."
Jim wrote: "Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold was a timely read with some good info, if not as well written as I would have liked. It was very well narrated & I gave it a 4 star re..."Timely indeed! Ah-choo!
Just finished reading a good book that takes your mind away for the time being of the many faces of the Virus, "Lunch in Paris," a memoir.
I was disappointed by Thomas Perry's latest book A Small Town: A Novel of Crime. He's been one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors since I read Metzger's Dog. I was thrilled to see a new one, but could only give it a 2 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jim I once visited a dinosaur museum in Wheaten IL and was most interesting seeing all those bones. I liked your review. Brought back this memory.
Thanks, Nina. I spent some days at Dinosaur National Park & was fascinated. We've learned an awful lot since then. It's amazing what new tech has been able to show us.
Nina wrote: "Just finished reading a good book that takes your mind away for the time being of the many faces of the Virus, "Lunch in Paris," a memoir."Good to get our minds off of the Virus. Reading certainly helps.
P.S.: Nina, I've sent you an email via Goodreads ... did you receive?
Yes, I hope your blueberry recipe turned out very good.
Reading a good book that is funny at times and interesting data sprinkled in it; "The Road to Little Dribbling," by Bill Bryson. It is his journey through the English countryside and small villages. Interesting data as I read about Jane Austin's parents letting her younger brother go with a couple on their honeymoon and later let them adopt him.
I've been going through my audiobooks trying to read some that have been on my radar for quite a while. For one reason or another, I haven't gotten to them. The results haven't been very good. They're a bunch of OK to not so good.
Nina wrote: "Yes, I hope your blueberry recipe turned out very good."A blueberry crumble. Turned out much better than an apple crumble my hubby and I made.
All this free time and I haven't picked up any of my books yet. Preoccupied with spring cleaning. Weather is getting warmer and nicer. Sure I'll grab a book soon and sit outside and enjoy.
Good book that I am reading now is, "Half Broken Horses," by Jeannette Walls, also author of "The Glass Castle."
Just finished, "Half Broke Horses," by Jeannette Walls. She is the author of, "The Glass Castle," which was translated into twenty three different languages. Jim, I think you might like this one. It was excellent.
I'll keep an eye out for it, Nina. Thanks.
The Wonder of Birds: What They Tell Us about Ourselves, the World, and a Better Future by Jim Robbins got a 4 star review from me, but I almost gave it 3. There's a lot of good information & some really iffy philosophy along with some pseudoscience.
Sounds interesting. Lots we don't know about what a bird is thinking. Like not liking the new bird feeder/wouldn't go near it and even the old one on a post. Finally, after two months we repaired the old one best as we could and back they came, that very day and even went to the other feeder that they had ignored.
I've always found feeder preference bewildering, too.
Nina, that is odd about birds being particular about feeders. Jim, adding The Wonder of Birds to my ever growing list.
I wish you all a Happy Easter because even in this time of trial we have love from our families even if we aren't with them on that special day and good neighbors who care. I am grateful for so many things so Cheers!
Easter was different than previous years for sure. A coffee thermos, sandwiches and a bottle of water - we were set to go for a ride northwest of here to a couple of different lakes - our fishing / birding stomping grounds.Very cold, didn't fish. Did not see one bird, not even a sparrow. Yet the peacefulness and beauty of the lake with the surrounding mountains, food, hot drinks and with the love of my life - my hubby - made for a wonderful afternoon.
As this is the what books are you reading section - I started The River of Doubt - Teddy Roosevelt's Journey. An excellent writer! I'm getting a history lesson and learning much more about Teddy Roosevelt - just enough not too much that my eyes are rolling. Should be an interesting read journey.
Sounds god reading, Linda. The author is from here. I really did like the books, "Hamilton" and "The Splendid and the Vile," and even "American Dirt."
Nina, I just looked at the back flap and Candice Miller is from your area. Definitely will check out her other books. Could be good for the Book Club - which I trust will resume back in September - fingers crossed.
I heard her speak once and she was very effective.
Just finished reading, "The Hope and the Glory," by Jon Meachen. It is the story of the seven words of Christ on the Cross. The author had previously been awarded a Pulitzer prize. He has some interesting quotes sprinkled in his philosophy. I found it interesting reading during our trauma.
Glad you had a peaceful Easter, Linda. Makes me wish we still had our lake cottage.
Nina wrote: "Just finished reading, "The Hope and the Glory," by Jon Meachen. It is the story of the seven words of Christ on the Cross. The author had previously been awarded a Pulitzer prize. He has some inte..."When we are home couped up good to read different types of book.
Oh a cottage on a lake. Love it love it. For the past few years we've rented a cottage on a lake. Very private area. Quite pretty. Only problem is no insulation so if its hot outside its hot inside.
We are hoping to rent the cottage again in June (usually not stifling hot). A full week. Ah, looking forward to being on the lake and gazing at the lake.
I'm still reading The River of Doubt. Reading a chapter here or there - still good.
The Seeds of Life: From Aristotle to da Vinci, from Sharks' Teeth to Frogs' Pants, the Long and Strange Quest to Discover Where Babies Come From by Edward Dolnick was a fascinating look at the history of science. It's amazing how recently we discovered where babies come from & Dolnick does a great job explaining why. I gave it a 5 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It's a wild book. One scientist actually did sew silk underpants for a bunch of frogs trying to figure out how semen worked. It's amazing what they had to overcome to figure it all out. Of course, the church was a huge anchor. Saint Augustine said that to study nature or even the inanimate world was to indulge “the lust of the eyes.” It was a perversion. Incredible!
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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"Nerves of Steel" by Tammie Jo Shults, Captain of Southwest Flight 1380.
Hubby is very into airplanes so he read the book. Thought it was excellent.
https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Tammie...