JulieLill's 2022 Reading Challenge

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: ". But science shows that the cells make those decisions on how long we live and not us. "

Interesting idea. However, one I don't totally subscribe to. I think your genes may load the gun, but how you choose to eat, diet and exercise can pull the trigger. This is not the case 100% of the time, but I would think in a large percentage of cases it is important. Epigenetics I believe has show we can turn on or off gene expression. Also we can't forget ones economic status also is a major factor. Not only in terms of quality medical care but also access and time to exercise, eat a healthy diet etc.

Of course one can always point out outliers like the grandfather who lived to 100 and smoked, ate a poor diet and never exercised a day in their life. At the other end of the spectrum there is the person who does everything humanly possible and gets ill. However, I think these are outliers. For the vast majority I think ones health habits matter very much. I am not saying stress yourself out and go nuts, but being a proper weight, exercise, diet, doing something to help you cope with daily stress etc. is important. For me, it's not only about longevity but more about quality of life as one ages. So I will continue to do my best to have healthy habits.


I know Barbara Ehrenreich had breast cancer and wrote a book called Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. I have the book on my TBR list. I agree with her that positive thinking or negative thinking is just putting blame on the patient and so wrong.

I also read Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America I just mentioned this book to my sisters while we were on vacation. I noted how very hard being a maid is. It's often back breaking work. So I always leave a tip and try to leave the room with as little work for them as possible.

Thanks for the review of the book, Julie. I was going to pass on the book, but I think I will put it on my TBR list.

[madrano]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this & genes, Alias. Genes, their effects on our behavior, and other components are still in such a state of flux, however your points are strong. And remembering to include economic factors is important, regardless of what is under discussion.

I recall how much you liked and shared about Nickel & Dimed. I agree about tips in motels/hotels. When i pass some rooms being cleaned here, i am astonished at the mess left behind by one-nighters, which we often get on weekends. NOTHING has actually been left in the trash and the counters are cluttered with abandoned food, bottles and such. I'd hate to see the bathrooms!

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: When i pass some rooms being cleaned here, i am astonished at the mess left behind by one-nighters, which we often get on weekends. NOTHING has actually been left in the trash and the counters are cluttered with abandoned food, bottles and such. I'd hate to see the bathrooms!."

Wow ! Some people are just rude and selfish. :(

[madrano]

It is remarkable to witness. Not unlike our discussion earlier this year about trash. The attitude to let "the help" do it saddens me.

[Julie]

Warner Bros: The Making of an American Movie Studio
David Thomson
4/5 stars
Thomson writes about the four Warner brothers that built a film studio, the stars they hired and some of the famous films they made. I really enjoyed this book. There are other longer books about them but if you want a book that just gives the basics, some interesting facts and what happened to the brothers this is the one for you!

This was not on my reading list but I found this book on the free shelf and had to read it.

[madrano]

It typical of me that i never gave the idea of the Warner Brothers any thought. Still, i immediately knew who they were when you posted. Good idea for a bio. I relish your random readings from the free shelf, Julie, and am glad you share them with us.

[Julie]

They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera
4/5 stars
Interesting book about two young men who meet up when they are selected to be on the death list and are to die today but they don't know when. They meet through an app called Last Friend and become good friends on their last day on Earth. As far as I remember the author doesn't discuss why people are selected to die - but I am assuming due to overpopulation. This book sounds weird but I enjoyed it. LBGT

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera
4/5 stars
Interesting book about two young men who meet up when they are selecte..."

Interesting. The title certainly is catchy.

[madrano]

What a good concept for a novel. I see it’s first in a series. Curious. Thanks for the title, Julie.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "What a good concept for a novel. I see it’s first in a series. Curious. Thanks for the title, Julie."

I didn't know it was a series. Interesting!

[madrano]

Hmmm. Something to consider when stuck for your next book…if such a moment arises, that is.

[Julie]

The Lady of the Lake
Andrzej Sapkowski
4/5 stars
Ciri has been trying to get home after escaping from the Tower of the Swallow. For all that she has gone through she needs to rely on her inner strength to return to her family and friends. Will she be able to get away for good from Bonhart, the man who hurt her? The Witcher Series
One more book to go!

[madrano]

Julie, do you anticipate a real rip roaring ending? I hope it satisfies!

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Julie, do you anticipate a real rip roaring ending? I hope it satisfies!"

I don't know but so far so good!

[Julie]

The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home
Denise Kiernan
4/5 stars
This was quite an interesting story of George Vanderbilt, his wife and the building and history of the Biltmore House on 125,000 acres in North Carolina. The author takes us through the good and bad times of the family including what happened to them from both World Wars and the Depression. I have never been to the estate but I really enjoyed this book. Architecture

[Alias Reader]

I've been to the Vanderbilt mansion in Hyde Park, NY. The house and grounds are lovely. It's right on the Hudson River.

https://www.nps.gov/vama/index.htm

[madrano]

I’ve seen photos of the NC mansion and grounds but haven’t been there. Like Alias, we saw the one in Hudson Valley and appreciated the size but the grounds seemed minuscule.

[Julie]

Woman in the Dark
Dashiell Hammett
4/5 stars
A young woman on the run shows up on the doorstep and is taken in to help her. However, the couple who live there have no idea what they are getting into. Dashiell Hammett Book



The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines
Mike Madrid
4/5 stars
Madrid discusses the history of the comic supergirls from the beginning in the 1940’s until the 2000’s. Very detailed and interesting. Comics' History

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Woman in the Dark
Dashiell Hammett
4/5 stars
A young woman on the run shows up on the doorstep and is taken in to help her. However..."

Your link is to another language. That's okay. I was was wondering the year it was published and it noted 1933. I'm
glad to see it still reads well. I've not read Hammett, yet.

[madrano]

Two very different books, Julie. Thanks for the Hammett title. It’s a new one for me.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Two very different books, Julie. Thanks for the Hammett title. It’s a new one for me."

It is a very short book. I read it in a couple of days!

[madrano]

Even better!

[Julie]

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Woman in the Dark
Dashiell Hammett
4/5 stars
A young woman on the run shows up on the doorstep and is taken in to hel..."

I updated the book with the English title but when you click on it, it still has it linked to a different language! So I changed it to another English version but it has a different cover than what I read.

[madrano]

Odd how that happens, particularly on GoodReads.

[Alias Reader]

Thanks ! I really only wanted to know when it was published and that date was listed in the foreign language link.

I think GoodReads librarians are volunteers. So we do need to cut them slack.

[madrano]

True. I didn’t know they were volunteers.

[Julie]

The Devotion of Suspect X
Keigo Higashino
4/5 stars
Detective Kusanagi gets involved in a case of murder of a divorced man but has no clue who is involved. The man had a contentious relationship with his ex, Yasuko Hanaoka. He had been threatening her and he ended up dead. The wife goes to her neighbor, Ishigami who has feelings for her and he helps deal with the body. The detective has no answers and reaches out to his friend, physicist Dr. Manabu Yukawa, also known as “Detective Galileo” to help his solve this mystery. Very interesting !

[madrano]

Julie, this was my first Higashino mystery. I really, really liked it and learning about Japan this way.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Julie, this was my first Higashino mystery. I really, really liked it and learning about Japan this way."

I would read more of his books!

[madrano]

Julie, i’ve only read the second in the Galileo series, Salvation of a Saint. For me it wasn’t as good but still interesting.

[Julie]

The Adventures of Sally
P.G. Wodehouse
3/5 stars
The story surrounds the life of Sally Nicholas, dancer, her adventures with her friends and her beaus during the 1920’s. When she inherits a fortune, things change for her and her lifestyle. It originally was a serial but then became a novel. A fun romp! PG Wodehouse Novel

[Alias Reader]

One of my friends loves the P.G. Woodhouse books. She rereads them all the time !

[madrano]

I read one (forgotten which) and am glad i did for a sense of the humor.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "I read one (forgotten which) and am glad i did for a sense of the humor."

This was the first book I read of his. I enjoyed it!

[Julie]

Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend
Mitchell Zuckoff
4/5 stars
Charles Ponzi, an immigrant from Italy came to America in 1920 to make it big. Unfortunately, life was hard in America but he eventually latched on to a scheme in Boston that made him a lot of money at the expense of others. Unfortunately, his scheme ended to be a house of cards falling when he thought he had it made! Well written and very interesting! Book On A Scandal

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend
Mitchell Zuckoff
4/5 stars
Charles Ponzi..."

This sounds interesting. I'll add it to my TBR list.

I see the paperback notes Illustrated. If you read the eBook, does that also have illustrations ? Thanks !

[madrano]

Sounds interesting. I’m passing the title on to my husband, who likes such books.

[Julie]

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend
Mitchell Zuckoff
4/5 stars..."

I didn't read the eBook, so I am not sure if there are pictures in it.

[Alias Reader]

Ok. Thanks.

[Julie]

The Sisters Brothers
Patrick deWitt
3.5/5 stars
Set in the 1850’s in the old West, Charlie and his brother Eli are on their way to kill Hermann Kermit Warm, a prospector as ordered by the Commodore for stealing from him. Things do not go well for them in their travels to find Warm. This was later made into a movie. I enjoyed DeWitt’s tale of mishap! Western

[madrano]

I hadn’t heard of this one, Julie. Sounds good.

[Julie]

Heart of a Dog
Mikhail Bulgakov
4/5 stars
This is the strange tale of a dog, Sharik, in Moscow in whom a scientist transplants a man's glands into the mongrel. Sharik, the dog, turns into a man who then wreaks mayhem in the scientist's life. This satirical novel written in 1968 exposes the flaws in "creating a new Soviet man". Short but very enjoyable. I would read more of this author. Satire

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Heart of a Dog
Mikhail Bulgakov
4/5 stars
This is the strange tale of a dog, Sharik, in Moscow in whom a scientist transplants a man's ..."

Sounds unique.

[madrano]

What an idea, Julie. Thanks for the title & comments.

[Julie]

Strong Boy: The Life and Times of John L. Sullivan, America's First Sports Hero
Christopher Klein
4/5 stars
Klein does a wonderful job describing the colorful life of John L. Sullivan, pugilist and sports icon who was born in 1858 as he follows the ups and downs of his life and career till his death in 1918. Despite the lack of TV and radio, Sullivan’s popularity was one of the highest in the US and he was considered the US’s first sports hero. Highly recommended! Sports

[Alias Reader]

That sounds like an interesting book, Julie. I am not a boxing fan so I am not familiar with his name. This would make a good jeopardy question !

[madrano]

Thanks, Julie. This is now going to be a gift for my husband, who likes to read books about sports.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Thanks, Julie. This is now going to be a gift for my husband, who likes to read books about sports."

I had two sports books picked out - this one and one on Joe Dimaggio but I went with this one. I might read the Dimaggio book next year but I am glad I went with this one.

[Julie]

I Moved Your Cheese: For Those Who Refuse to Live as Mice in Someone Else's Maze
Deepak Malhotra
3/5 stars
The author who wrote this book comes from Harvard Business School and discusses the book Who Moved My Cheese in where the topic of change is inevitable. However, Malhorta feels that we are more than mice in a maze and that we can make our own changes and create the life we want to live. Short but interesting. I

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
[book:I Moved Your Cheese: For Those Who Refuse to Live as Mice in Someone Else's Maze|10418591..."

I read Who Moved My Cheese a long time ago Maybe 20 years. I only remember it was a short quick read. At the time it was a bestseller. It's interesting that the book you read references this long ago book.