JulieLill's 2022 Reading Challenge

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "I recall hearing about this book & knowing my late mother would have gobbled it up. Was is fun reading, Julie?"

I enjoyed it - very interesting!

[madrano]

As i recall most folks felt that song was the only positive from the film.

[Julie]

Nora Ephron: A Biography
Kristin Marguerite Doidge
4/5 stars
This isn’t the first book I have read about Nora Ephron but she is such an interesting subject to read about and was such a success in her career with writing and film that not every book on her can contain all that we know about her. When I checked this out from the library I work at, one of the patrons saw that I had that book and she wanted to check it out too. I think Ephron’s life was not long enough for her fans, family and friends yet she will still be a role model to women everywhere!

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Nora Ephron: A Biography
Kristin Marguerite Doidge
4/5 stars
This isn’t the first book I have read about Nora Ephron ..."

I've seen You've Got Mail a bunch of times. Love that movie.

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Nora Ephron: A Biography
Kristin Marguerite Doidge
4/5 stars
This isn’t the first book I have read about Nora Ephron ..."

For those interested the eBook is on sale for Cyber Monday. $3 Amazon.

[madrano]

Thanks for sharing about this book, Julie.

[Julie]

Winch
Paul Winchell
4/5 stars
Probably best known as a puppeteer and TV star, the rest of his life was a series of ups and downs especially regarding his mother. But he was also an inventor and friends with Dr. Heimlich. He consulted with him about using hypnosis during surgery and worked on an artificial heart. He also experimented on electric cars and was the first to develop disposable razors among other things. Highly recommended and very interesting!

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Winch
Paul Winchell
4/5 stars
Probably best known as a puppeteer and TV star, the rest of his life was a series of ups and downs especially ..."

Interesting. Who knew he lead such an interesting and varied life.

[madrano]

What a curious life! Good for him. Thanks for sharing about him, Julie.

[Julie]

Annie's Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret
Steve Luxenberg
4/5 stars
Steve Luxenberg knew that his mother was an only child but then there was an episode that occurred at the doctor’s office when she talked to her doctor about a sibling that was institutionalized when she was quite young. The author had never in his life heard of this sister of his mother. It wasn’t until his mother’s death that the secret came out. He started to research his mother’s family and uncovered the truth about the aunt who he never met. I thought this was quite an amazing story and thoroughly researched.

[Alias Reader]

That sounds like a page turner. Thanks for the title.

[madrano]

What a surprise to this man. Imagine researching those lives. Thanks for sharing about this one, Julie.

[Rachel]

Wow. Imagine how it would feel to get that news after your parent is dead and cannot ask them questions.

[madrano]

Yes, learning later. I've known siblings who recently learned they were only half-siblings but that went fine. Their mother was still alive, so they could ask questions.

[Bella (Kiki)]

I finally worked up the courage to read Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. I resisted before because I knew it would be sad since it depicts four lives cut so short for no good reason. I'm finding it beautifully written, which only makes the horror more horrifying.

[Alias Reader]

Kiki wrote: "I finally worked up the courage to read Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. I resisted before because I knew it would be sad since it depicts four lives cut so short for n..."

I had to read it in high school. The senselessness of it all scared me.

I re-read it again as an adult in 2016. I agree. It's well written.

[madrano]

Kiki, it is a remarkable book. I suppose the fact that two films were made loosely following the same story. I'm glad you gave it a try, as that man could write.

[Alias Reader]

Kiki, if you are in the mood for a holiday read by Capote, I highly recommend this trio of short stories: A Christmas Memory: One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor (Modern Library) . The book is only around 100 pages or so.

A Christmas Memory, including One Christmas and The Thanksgiving Visitor-Truman Capote

[Julie]

The Color of Lightning
Paulette Jiles
3.5/5 stars
Set in 1863 at the end of the Civil War, Jiles tells the story of Britt Johnson, a former slave whose is looking for his wife and children after an Indian raid and Samuel Hammond, a Quaker who works for the Office of Indian Affairs who is to educate the Native Americans (Kiowas) and try to change their lifestyles and incorporate them into living among the rest of the population. I have read at least one other of her books and found this one and her other one very well done!

[madrano]

I've had this book on my TBR far too long. Jiles's News of the World was outstanding, imo.

Therefore, i thank you for this encouragement, Julie!

[Julie]

Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia
Natasha Lance Rogoff
4/5 stars
Rogoff tells her tale of working for Sesame Street in the 1990’s and trying to get the post- Soviet Russians to embrace a Russian Sesame Street to air in their country. I really enjoyed this book and the author does a nice job relating her time in Russia and the people she worked with.

[madrano]

Clever cover, too. Thanks for telling us about this one. It must have been a good experience for her.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Clever cover, too. Thanks for telling us about this one. It must have been a good experience for her."

This was in the pre-Putin era and I not sure what is going on with children's programming nowadays but it was very interesting!

[madrano]

Sad point about what is going on there today, as far as children's programming goes.

[Rachel]

Thanks this book sounds interesting and will cover a few categories in the challenge!

[Rachel]

From my historical novel reading it seems that Russia, USSR and now Russia again has a very authoritarian bent.

[madrano]

This is my impression, too, Rachel. There seemed to be a brief period of reprieve but perhaps that is from my US impression of liberties.

[Rachel]

Yes but I wonder how we are covered there. I am sure we would be shocked to hear how their impression of us and the west is. But they have nothing like a free press.

[madrano]

I agree, Rachel. And let it be known, traveling during a US Presidential election year is a different animal. It seems as though everyone in Greece wanted to talk about the 2008 election. Suddenly, after the vote, we didn't hear another word about it.

Just to make it clear, they were voicing Very Anti-Bush comments. It didn't seem certain whether they understood he wasn't running again, all they knew was they wanted him OUT. :-)

[Rachel]

I have wondered since leaving public office if W in his heart of hearts knows how much damage he did to the world.

[madrano]

And how "guided" he was by his Vice President.

[Bella (Kiki)]

Alias Reader wrote: "Kiki, if you are in the mood for a holiday read by Capote, I highly recommend this trio of short stories: A Christmas Memory: One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor (Modern Library) . The book..."

Thank you, Alias. As we haven't celebrated New Year's yet, I consider this still the Christmas season, so I'll definitely check those stories out. Thanks again.

[Alias Reader]

You're welcome.