What I read in July 2014

[Bobbie]

Alias Reader wrote: "Good motto. I do the same with Walmart."

I had a "survey" call last week which asked to begin with "How often do you shop in any big box store?" and then immediately went to a variety of questions about Walmart. I am sure they were not pleased with my replies. So -- I stand with you Alias on not shopping at Walmart.

[Amy]

I don't shop at Walmart, either. And there are a number of other places where I won't spend my money as well -- Chick-fil-A, Waffle House and Regal Cinemas, to name a few. I also don't purchase products made by certain brands such as Brawny, Dixie or Georgia Pacific because they are all subsidiaries of Koch Industries, headed by the Koch brothers. I know that my refusal to purchase these products and services means literally nothing in terms of their bottom lines, but it makes me feel better anyway. At least I can say that I'm not contributing to their causes!

[Alias Reader]

Good to know, Amy. I don't know if I purchase any products made by Georgia Pacific. I'll have to do an internet search and see.

My sister doesn't shop at Walmart either. I have to say when friends/family hear this they think we are nuts but I don't care. "Be the change you want to see" as Gandhi says. Am I perfect in my shopping? No. However, I do try to be aware.

I don't eat fast food and Chick and Waffle I don't have near me but I wouldn't eat there anyway.

I maybe go to the movies once a year.

I also have on my NO Go list Papa Johns due to his anti ACA stance. Thankfully, with all the great private pizza stores in NYC it's quite easy.

[Alias Reader]

Bobbie57 wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Good motto. I do the same with Walmart."

I had a "survey" call last week which asked to begin with "How often do you shop in any big box store?" and then immediately went to ..."

:) I wish more people were aware or cared.

[Madrano]

Susan wrote: "I heard Louise Penny describe her books as "traditional" mysteries like Agatha Christie's. I recommend starting with the first in the series, Still Life, although I found it a bit slow. ..."

I suppose i can see what she means, Susan. They are somewhat along those lines. I liked getting acquainted with the town, Three Pines, but i kept figuring out the whodunit, which lessened my pleasure. I also found myself tired of the town, believe it or not. Still, as i haven't read one in almost a year i might find that a fresh visit might change my mind.

Thanks for sharing her comment.

[Meredith]

Alias Reader wrote: "The Beautiful Mystery sounds interesting. Meredith, is a stand alone or do you recommend starting the series with book 1 Still Life ?

Thanks !"

Alias,

My recommendation is to read the series in order starting with Still Life

[Alias Reader]

Thank you, Meredith !

[Susan from MD]

Thought I'd add my July reads - there were only four, so not the greatest of months in terms of numbers. There are more notes for all of these in my Determination List thread.

It was a great month in terms of challenging my own prejudices against what I had derisively referred to as the "girls just want to get married" category of books. I was never a fan of Austen et al. but this month, I read two books that I would have put into that category.

Middlemarch - rated it 4/5 stars
I hadn't read this one before - this is one of those two books! This was a terrific book, though. In some ways it reminded me more of Dickens than of Austen. It's been called a novel for grown-ups and I think it is indeed. The characters are well-developed and interesting, the plot moves forward - there is just enough to keep the story moving but nothing feels out of place. I will probably re-read this book again at some point because I feel like I was distracted by work and missed some things. Terrific book.

The Call of the Wild - 4/5 stars
This was a re-read - I was about 12 when I read it the fist time, I think and now 38 years later I was happy to see that it's still a great story. Buck the dog is anthropomorphized but it's such a story of survival and it's exciting! I had forgotten how brutal it was, though. Lots of violence.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - 3.5/5 stars
This is one of the rare cases where I liked the movie more than the book - it made more sense. Miss Jean Brodie is a teacher in Scotland as fascism is rising in Europe. Her impact on "her girls" is a bit disturbing. It is an interesting story, though the writing could have been better, I thought. The girls covered the bases - smart, pretty, athletic, etc. - but I thought could have been more nuanced. It would make a great story for discussion, though.

Emma - 3.5/5 stars
This one was my real challenge - could I be open-minded about Austen? The answer was yes I could, but I'm still not a big fan. However, I thought the story was interesting, it was funnier than I expected, which was great. I think I'm just not drawn to books where "relationships" are the main focus. I'm really glad I read this book because I was able to get over my dismissive attitude! That's progress.

[Bobbie]

Susan, thanks for sharing. It reminded me that I have a copy of Middlemarch that I got at a book sale for a buck and it has been sitting on my shelf for about two yrs. and I need to pick it up.

[Alias Reader]

Very nice reading month, Susan.

In my recent move, I gave away my unread copy of Middlemarch. :(

[Alison]

Alias -- I quite agree with Meredith. Penny's Gamache mysteries are among the few series that really need to be read in order. There is a compelling back story that plays out over the series and really won't make sense if the books are read out of sequence. Additionally, the books build on each other so consequences from one book are revisited and characters' strengths and weaknesses are revealed and relationships forged or damaged will affect subsequent story lines.

The books also stand up to a re-read, although she could lose the repeat descriptions of Gamache's mustache, hair and cologne. Not as annoying as Kinsey Milhone's haircut method, but getting there.

[Madrano]

Alison, i stopped reading a mysteries due to the author's repetitive description of not only her MC but also the character's pals. If i read about one woman's "titian tresses" one more time i feared i'd pull out my own.

[Alias Reader]

Alison wrote: "Alias -- I quite agree with Meredith. Penny's Gamache mysteries are among the few series that really need to be read in order. There is a compelling back story that plays out over the series and re..."

Thanks for the input. I am not really into mysteries, though I will put this on my list since so many seem to like it.

[Alias Reader]

Madrano wrote: "Alison, i stopped reading a mysteries due to the author's repetitive description of not only her MC but also the character's pals. If i read about one woman's "titian tresses" one more time i feare..."
---------

Do any of you have pet peeves about certain words or repetitions?

Mine is whenever someone is walking around their house/apartment they are always described as "padding". She padded to the kitchen. For me, people pad about late at night. I don't like when an author overuses, in my opinion, this word. Even if they are padding I don't want to read that word a half dozen times in as many pages. I'm not sure why it bugs me. Maybe I'll just pad about my apartment and ponder this. ;)

[Madrano]

Funny, Alias. I can't say it bugs me but at least now i'll notice it.

deb
*padding off*

[Shomeret]

Alias Reader wrote: "Alison wrote: "Alias -- I quite agree with Meredith. Penny's Gamache mysteries are among the few series that really need to be read in order. There is a compelling back story that plays out over th..."

I've read and liked a couple of the Gamache mysteries very much and didn't read them in order. What I didn't care for was the theme of alcoholism and/or drug addiction that is a running thread throughout the series. I understand why it's there. Penny is a recovering alcoholic. I'm just not interested in seeing it dealt with repetitively.

[Rachel]

I just found this thread so this is late! Here are my reads for July. Both great ones.

1. The Girl with All the Gifts
Four stars.
Zombie stories need to cautionary tales. The best films featuring zombies force the viewer to question their own unthinking behavior, consumption, the rule of the mob and so forth. This one forces the reader to consider the nature of humanity. Melanie is infected. But she is a thinking contributing member of the little team that breaks out of Hotel Echo Base. Is she human? Are the hungries? Is this plague an extinction event or is it evolution? But this isn’t too philosophical to navigate, it is exactly what a zombie tale should be: accessible, gory and slightly scary in a matter of fact kind of way.
Full review: http://leatherboundpounds.wordpress.c...

2. Rupetta
Four stars.
This novel. Wow. There's just so much going on I don't know where to start. Spanning hundreds of years it is the story of Rupetta. A mechanical woman, made not born, but with a consciousness. With a conscience. With a heart. It is also the story of the lies that grow around her. It is about the fictions that grow in the spaces left by the absence of a single, simple truth. Because there's never any such thing as a single, simple truth. Life isn't like that. It is about blind faith and horror and about love. It's difficult to know how to review this. I don't even know what genre it is. Fantasy? Steampunk? Horror? Quite simply I loved it.
Full review: http://leatherboundpounds.wordpress.c...

[Alias Reader]

Leatherbound_Pounds wrote: "I just found this thread so this is late! Here are my reads for July. Both great ones.

1. The Girl with All the Gifts
Four stars.
Zombie stories need to cautionary tales. The bes..."

Welcome, to Book Nook Café ! Thank you for participating in this thread. People post in the thread all month long, so it's not too late.

[Madrano]

Leatherbound, those books both sound intriguing but i'm really drawn to Rupetta. I'm glad you shared here...and welcome to the group.

[Angie]

Lesley wrote: "That's an amazing looking building Carol.

I have added The Testament of Mary to my reading list. I know the library has a copy which is great. I already have [book:The Enchanted Ap..."

Enchanted April is one of my favorite movies. I need to read the book. :)

[Madrano]

I think you'll like every bit as much as the movie, Angie.

[Deb]

I'm in shock. LOL How do you read so many books in one month? What's your secret? I do read, but only 1 book at a time, okay, one time, I was reading 2 books at once, and that was all I could handle. LOL

[Alias Reader]

Deb wrote: "I'm in shock. LOL How do you read so many books in one month? What's your secret? I do read, but only 1 book at a time, okay, one time, I was reading 2 books at once, and that was all I could h..."

Yes, there are some big readers on this board. :)

Many don't watch much TV and that frees us some good reading time. Others don't spend hours on the computer like I do with FB, games etc.

I usually have 2 books going at one time.
One paper book and one audio book that I listen to at the gym and on my exercise walks.

However, if you read many or just one book a month it doesn't matter to us. We still want to hear all about it. :)

[Amy]

Deb wrote: "I'm in shock. LOL How do you read so many books in one month? What's your secret? I do read, but only 1 book at a time, okay, one time, I was reading 2 books at once, and that was all I could h..."

Don't stress about it, Deb! All reading is good. :)

[[deleted user]]

My July list was pretty small. I only got through two novels this month.

The Fiery Cross was very thick, and took me quite some time to get through. Not because it was boring, but because there is just such a large scope covered in this book!
Rating: 4/5

The Green Mile was good. I enjoyed it because it's quite different form the other Stephen King books I have read. I have not seen the movie yet, and don't think I will. The execution scene in the book was disturbing enough to read about, and I think I might be squeamish should I see it on film.
Rating: 3/5

[Alias Reader]

Maggie wrote: "The Green Mile was good. I enjoyed it because it's quite different form the other Stephen King books I have read. I have not seen the movie yet, and don't think I will. The execution scene in the book was disturbing enough to read about, and I think I might be squeamish should I see it on film.
Rating: 3/5 ..."

I prefer Kings older works. My favorite is The Stand

[[deleted user]]

Alias Reader wrote: "Maggie wrote: "The Green Mile was good. I enjoyed it because it's quite different form the other Stephen King books I have read. I have not seen the movie yet, and don't think I will. The execution..."

I haven't read "The Stand" yet. It is on TBR list though, because it is my one of uncle's highly recommended novels. :)

[Emma]

I've been reading The Stand on and off for several months. It's good, but it's hitting a little too close to home with the recent spread of the Enterovirus and Ebola. (which either makes it a good or bad time to read it, depending on your tolerance for "lifelike" fiction!)

Also, I never read the original version, but I'm not sure the 350 or so pages added in the revised edition were really necessary. It's a long one.

I read several of his books probably before they were age appropriate (middle school) and my favorites going back were actually some of his short stories - The Langoliers (from Four Past Midnight), Skeleton Crew, Cujo, and Misery (full novels technically, but short compared to his larger volumes - It, The Stand, even 11/22/63 is a hefty 800+ pages).

[Amy]

Emma wrote: "I've been reading The Stand on and off for several months. It's good, but it's hitting a little too close to home with the recent spread of the Enterovirus and Ebola. (which either makes it a good..."

If you want to really feel squeamish about Ebola, read The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston. I read it earlier this year completely by coincidence without knowing that the virus would actually make its way into the U.S. It made me want to crawl into a fortified bunker and ban all human contact!

[Bobbie]

I really liked Misery. I find that I can read most anything it doesn't matter if it is scary. But the movie -- no way. Never liked scary movies. Except Hitchcock. I am really referring to the more fantastic.

[Emma]

Amy wrote: "If you want to really feel squeamish about Ebola, read The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston."

Yikes - maybe I'll save that one for when they release a vaccine. Or human-sized disease-repellent hamster balls. :)

[Alias Reader]

Amy wrote: If you want to really feel squeamish about Ebola, read The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston. I read it earlier this year completely by coincidence without knowing that the virus would actually make its way into the U.S. It made me want to crawl into a fortified bunker and ban all human contact! ..."

Amazon had it on sale a few months ago for the Kindle and I downloaded it. I haven't been able to get to it yet.

[Bobbie]

More people die each year of the flu. Get a flu shot and relax.

[Amy]

Bobbie57 wrote: "More people die each year of the flu. Get a flu shot and relax."

Yep. Get one every year. And by the way, a really good book about the flu is The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry. :)