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JulieLill's 2019 Reading Challenge
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madrano
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Nov 18, 2019 04:41PM
Congratulations on completing your 2019 Reading Challenge, Julie! That's a real feather in your cap to accomplish in under a year. Your categories have been delightful and your comments useful. Thanks for sharing your reading year with us. I've learned much & added many titles to my TBR. Enjoy the rest of your reading year!
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The State Boys Rebellion
Michael D'Antonio
4/5 stars
This is the true story of a group of boys and girls from the 1940’s in Massachusetts who were imprisoned in asylums during the time of the rising theories of eugenics. Entry into these schools was not equal and some of these children should not even have been in there. These children were abused, made into laborers, poorly educated and experimented on until they rebelled. Unfortunately, after release some did not do well and had trouble adjusting to outside life but they felt fortunate to be free. The book also talked about the influence that Pearl Buck and Dale Rogers had on opening up the institutions. They kept their developmentally disabled children at home which influenced families of the disabled to do the same thing. This is a shocking book and though I was familiar with the time period, I never realized the extent of the abuse at these homes. Well written! My Never Ending Reading List Book
This is one of those sad stories about the US past & the way its children were treated. While i knew Pearl Buck & Dale Evans kept their children at home, i wasn't aware of the impact their actions made on the nation at large. Thanks for the info & title, Julie.
madrano wrote: "This is one of those sad stories about the US past & the way its children were treated. While i knew Pearl Buck & Dale Evans kept their children at home, i wasn't aware of the impact their actions ..."This is Buck's book on her daughter.
The Child Who Never Grew: A Memoir----Pearl S. BuckA “groundbreaking” memoir about raising a special-needs daughter in an era of misinformation and prejudice—a classic that helped transform our perceptions (Publishers Weekly).
It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity and that all have the same human rights.
Pearl S. Buck is known today for earning a Nobel Prize in Literature and for such New York Times–bestselling novels as The Good Earth. What many do not know is that she wrote that great work of art with the motivation of paying for a special school for her oldest daughter, Carol, who had a rare developmental disorder.
What was called “mental retardation” at the time—though some used crueler terms—was a disability that could cause great suffering and break a parent’s heart. There was little awareness of how to deal with such children, and as a result some were simply hidden away, considered a source of shame and stigma, while others were taken advantage of because of their innocence.
In this remarkable account, which helped bring the issue to light, Pearl S. Buck candidly discusses her own experience as a mother, from her struggle to accept Carol’s diagnosis to her determination to give her child as full and happy a life as possible, including a top-quality education designed around her needs and abilities. Both heartrending and inspiring, The Child Who Never Grew provides perspective on just how much progress has been made in recent decades, while also offering common sense and timeless wisdom for the challenges still faced by those who love and care for someone with special needs. It is a clear-eyed and compelling read by a woman renowned for both her literary talent and her humanitarian spirit.
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author’s estate.
In the early 70s we visited Buck's home in Danby, Vermont, where she died. As i'd read The Good Earth in high school, the visit meant something to me. However, i can only recall that we were there, nothing else. As i recall her daughter Carol was born & raised when the Bucks lived in China. I wonder how that worked for the family. I found this online, which helped a bit--https://pearlsbuckbiography.weebly.co... And here i found out about their adopted child, who was influenced by her sister into creating a career in the field of occupational therapy. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obitu...
Alias Reader wrote: "madrano wrote: "This is one of those sad stories about the US past & the way its children were treated. While i knew Pearl Buck & Dale Evans kept their children at home, i wasn't aware of the impac..."Thanks for the link!
madrano wrote: "In the early 70s we visited Buck's home in Danby, Vermont, where she died. As i'd read The Good Earth in high school, the visit meant something to me. However, i can only recall that we..."We also read The Good Earth in high school and enjoyed it and I love the movie.
The Essential HoudiniWilliam Pack
4/5 stars
Author, William Pack has written a captivating biography of the life of Houdini. The book is short (about a 130 pages) and covers the very interesting highlights of his life and career. I found out about this book when the author came to our library and did this wonderful program on Houdini. He even demonstrated Houdini's escape from a strait jacket. He also does other programs, including one on PT Barnum. I am hoping they bring him back to the library for another program.
What a clever author to include such feats in a presentation. Was Houdini's interests in afterlife explorations? I long found that a curious but also obvious fascination of his, if that makes sense.
Into the Water
Paula Hawkins
2.5/5 stars
A writer comes to town to do research on a book about a death at a lake and is found dead in the same location. I am not sure how to review this book. I had a hard time with this book though at times I really enjoyed the writing and I felt like I was understanding what was going on and then another narrator is introduced and another side to the story and I just got discombobulated. However, I had to see who the killer(s) were and so I finished it. According to Wikipedia, there were 11 narrators or narratives in this story and it seemed like it. I would read another Hawkins book because I loved her first book but this one - not so much.
The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World
Abigail Tucker
3.5/5 stars
This is the fascinating history and evolution of the rise of cats and their dominance in the animal world. Tucker talks about their popularity as pets and the extremes humans will do to take care of them. Definitely for cat people but others who love animals will also enjoy this book.
Julie, i appreciate your honesty about the Hawkins book. I don't know if it's my age or what but the multiple narrated stories are losing their appeal for me. Yes, i understand how useful they can be for an author, but weren't there novels written prior to this popular form which managed to do the same? I'm not sure if that's true but i don't recall as many as we see today.My daughter is definitely getting the Tucker book this holiday season, thanks to you, Julie. I know now she will relish it.
Julie wrote: "The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World
[autho..."
Love the title. :)
madrano wrote: "Julie, i appreciate your honesty about the Hawkins book. I don't know if it's my age or what but the multiple narrated stories are losing their appeal for me. Yes, i understand how useful they can ..."I thought it was so interesting. We have had a few cats but knew little of the history of the cats or the effect they had on the environment and other animals.
Requiem for a Wren
Nevil Shute
4/5 stars
On return to his parents’ home in Australia after the years following WWII, Alan Duncan finds the family and staff quite upset. Their former maid, Jessie, who was very good with her job had been found dead, possibly by suicide. The family was very fond of her and could not understand why she killed herself; they also can find nothing of her possessions. Alan searches the house and finds hidden in the attic, her suitcase and passport. When Alan sees the name on the passport, he realizes that the maid had used a different name and it was someone he knew personally. But why did she do it? Shute weaves a tale of love and loss and the effects of war on the women and men who served. Well done!
There are two titles for this book. The one I listed was the English version but the American version is titled The Breaking Wave.
I am trying to read all of Shute's books- I certainly enjoy his writing.
Favorite Authors On My Reading List
This sounds like a good story. Shute was the way i learned much about Australia. Thanks for the dual titles, Julie, as it would be easy to miss it.
Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her
Robin Gerber
4/5 stars
This is the story of Ruth Handler who was looking for an adult female doll for girls to play with. At the time there were only baby dolls or paper adult dolls for girls to play with. While traveling in Germany she saw a Bild Lilli adult doll which inspired the creation of the Barbie doll and which became a toy sensation. This was the beginning of the rise of Mattel but life for Ruth and her family would be a whirlwind of ups and downs. What an interesting read!
Sometimes such books are eye openers. I appreciate the story & am adding it to my list, Julie.
madrano wrote: "Sometimes such books are eye openers. I appreciate the story & am adding it to my list, Julie."This wasn't a long book so I flew through it but I just really enjoyed. The writer did a nice job.
We just donated some '90s Barbies & near-Barbies to Salvation Army today. I hope someone makes some money from them!
madrano wrote: "We just donated some '90s Barbies & near-Barbies to Salvation Army today. I hope someone makes some money from them!"I am one of four sisters and we had a lot of Barbies growing up. I know my oldest sister had a early one though I don't think it was a original one. My daughter had some Barbies but then came out the American Girl dolls and she received a couple of them and a ton of the accessories provided by her grandparents. When she moved out of state, we gathered all her toys and brought them to her.
That is so sweet. What a load of memories for her. While i did, indeed, have an original Barbie, that swimsuit bugged me no end. It seemed ugly--just black & white stripes. I think i kinda ruined her because i brushed her hair. We put it back to resemble the original style but it looked sad.
madrano wrote: "That is so sweet. What a load of memories for her. While i did, indeed, have an original Barbie, that swimsuit bugged me no end. It seemed ugly--just black & white stripes. I think i kinda ruined..."
If you look at the old pictures of Barbie, you would never think that they would be popular but prior to that there were only baby and paper dolls. This is the German doll that inspired Barbie https://i.pinimg.com/originals/48/6f/...
American Barbie - https://images.mattel.com/scene7/0850...
The Graveyard Apartment
Mariko Koike
4/5 stars
A young Japanese couple with a child is living in Tokyo but they decide to move out of their current lodgings and buy a condo. The condo is a steal but is located next to a cemetery. Shortly, after moving in to their new apartment they find out that few people are living there. They make friends with the people that are there but one day their child and a friend are playing in the basement and are trapped down there. Luckily they are rescued but unusual and eerie events continue to occur impelling the residents to leave until they are the last family in the building. I enjoyed this fast and eerie read.
That German version looks so close to the Barbie i knew. I’ll wager there were lawsuits over the similarities.Thanks for the introduction to Koike. I don’t believe i’ve heard of her but GR gives her raves.
madrano wrote: "That German version looks so close to the Barbie i knew. I’ll wager there were lawsuits over the similarities.Thanks for the introduction to Koike. I don’t believe i’ve heard of her but GR gives ..."
Production of the German Bild Lilli doll that inspired Barbie ceased after Mattel bought the copyright.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild_...
This gives a very interesting account of the Bild Lilli doll and the doll's history.
Good info in the Wiki article. I wasn’t aware of the “sex doll” notoriety. It seems it was all business in attaining the rights. Very Tidy.
madrano wrote: "Good info in the Wiki article. I wasn’t aware of the “sex doll” notoriety. It seems it was all business in attaining the rights. Very Tidy."Most of that information wasn't in the book but it added to the history of Barbie.
Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
Mary Roach
4/5 stars
Mary Roach, one of my favorite non-fiction authors, loves to explore the most unusual subjects and she doesn’t fail in this book about the science behind the problems that crop up when soldiers are defending us. Topics include stink bombs, flies on the battlefield, how to make shark repellent and much more. Not for everyone but for those curious in unusual topics.
Julie, we were on the road so i missed many new posts. I want to thank you for adding the fact what was shared here wasn’t included in the book.The Roach book could be one of those fascinating books that flit across related topics and grab hold. I’ve read nothing by her, i must add.
madrano wrote: "Julie, we were on the road so i missed many new posts. I want to thank you for adding the fact what was shared here wasn’t included in the book.The Roach book could be one of those fascinating bo..."
I would read anything by Roach. She writes about the weirdest topics but makes them so interesting. My favorites of hers so far are Gulp and Stiff.
Stiff has been on my TBR since it was published. Neat topics, i must say.
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks
Annie Spence
3.5/5 stars
Annie Spence, real life librarian, writes of her love of reading and the books she adores by writing quirky love letters to them. Of course she also writes about some of the duds that she has read and those get breakup notes. A very charming book but be warned this may increase your to be read book list!
Julie wrote: "Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks
Annie Spence
3.5/5 stars
Annie S..."
Looking at the table of contents on Amazon I see I only read two of the books.
Anna Karenina
Misery
Julie, i agree about the fact my TBR increased while reading Spence’s book. There were some more recent titles i hadn’t heard about & others i’d passed up. She had me wondering what i’d missed.
Echo
Pam Muñoz Ryan
5/5 stars
This is the wonderful story that starts with Otto, a young man who was lost in the forest but saved by 3 girls who are trapped in the forest. They give him a harmonica marked with an M. If he passes it on and it saves someone, the girls will be released. The harmonica touches the lives of three families and we learn of their tragic stories and what has become of them and the girls trapped in the forest. Written for children and young adults but adults will enjoy this too!
This story sounds very good. Thanks for calling it to our attention, Julie.
Turbo Twenty-Three
Janet Evanovich
3.5/5 stars
Stephanie, once again is embroiled in another mystery when Ranger, a bounty hunter she occasionally works for, needs her to go undercover at an ice cream factory after a dead body covered with chocolate and pecans shows up in an ice cream truck. All the regulars make an appearance in this story including her Grandmother and her crazy friend Lula. I like this series, always a fun fast read.
They are a fun crew, i must say. I wasn’t aware there were so many in the series, though.
madrano wrote: "They are a fun crew, i must say. I wasn’t aware there were so many in the series, though."I am behind - I think there are at least 2 more already published. Too many books-too little time!
Wow. I thought 23 was the latest because i happened by one in a book store last week. They come so fast!
The Westing Game
Ellen Raskin
3.5/5 stars
A group of residents from the same apartment building are invited to the home of the wealthy Samuel W. Westing to hear his will being read. To receive money from the will, they will have to partner up and play a game. But the game is very tricky and dangerous and they will have to rely on their partners to win! The core reading group for this Newberry Medal winner is teen and older children but adults will enjoy it too.
That's my last book finished for 2019. On to my challenge for 2020!
Great reading job, Julie. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on them as the year passed.The Raskin novel sounds fun, so i’m going to see if i can find it.
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Westing Game (other topics)Turbo Twenty-Three (other topics)
Echo (other topics)
Anna Karenina (other topics)
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ellen Raskin (other topics)Janet Evanovich (other topics)
Pam Muñoz Ryan (other topics)
Annie Spence (other topics)
Annie Spence (other topics)
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