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What did you read last month?
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What I read in March - 2015
Here are my March reads. I very nice month for me. 
Sophie's World by Jostein GaarderFiction
Rate 5/5
This was our group read. The book is really a nonfiction book about the history of philosophy wrapped up in a fiction book. Really well done. If this is to be our last Group Read, (hope not) then I am happy to end on a high note.
The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything...Fast byJosh Kaufmannon fiction
rate 2/5
Disappointing book on the first 20 hours of learning something new.
The Snowflake by Kenneth Libbrechtnon fiction
Rate: 4-/5
Well done short book about snowflakes. The book has some stunning photos.
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copelandnonfiction
Rate: 3+/5
Well done memoir of ballet star Misty Copeland. Her rise to the top of her profession against all odds is inspirational.
Not My Father's Son by Alan Cummingnon fiction
rate: 4/5
Really well done memoir. The writing is quite good. His story is heartbreaking but the way he is able to overcome that inspirational.
Blood Memory by Martha Grahamnon fiction
rate: 3/5
The writing could be better. It's a bit jumpy. I wish she wrote a bit more about her personal life. Still the focus on her dancing is still worth a read of this legend.
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriartyfiction
rate: 5/5
I really enjoyed this book a lot. It's terrific to find a new author whose books I can't wait to read. This one is about secrets and how like the myth of Pandora's box those secrets will change the course of many lives. Well done !
Managed to fit in a few books that weren't work-related reading.The Suitcase - A collection of the stories behind the items in a Russian writer's suitcase when he travels to America. Easily one of the most entertaining books I have read in a long while.
Fiskadoro - A badly-handled coming-of-age tale in Post-apocalyptic Key West. What initially is a bit of character background -- the backstory of one character's grandmother -- soon becomes the most interesting part of the novel. Really hard to tell what the author was trying to do with this one.
The Wanting Seed - A dystopian novel that is part 1984, part Brave New World, and lots of Soylent Green. Overpopulation and its consequences, underscored by a cyclical understanding of history. Pretty good, really.
The Plains - A meta-novel about a filmmaker attempting to make a film of The Plains, the inner region of Australia (in relation to the coastal cities, and the northern Outback). Decent enough, but Borges does this sort of thing a lot better.
Parzival: A Romance of the Middle Ages - Re-read this one after 20 years. It's just a great story, though of course the courtly-tradition stuff is a bit hard to swallow for modern readers. What I noticed more in this reading was the personality of the author, unlucky 13th-century knight Wolfram von Eschenbach, seeping through the tale of two (yes, two, just as in the de Troyes version) paragons of knightly perfection.
Maldoror and the Complete Works - The prose-poetry of an angry young Frenchman. I used to be able to read this sort of thing without making fun of it, but those days are long gone. Part of the Brain Pain reading group.
Good month, Alias & Mkfs. Alias, your description of The Snowflake had me seeking it out. Apparently we don't cotton to books about snow here in Texas, as it's not available. I was eager to see those photos.
Mkfs, the stories from Sergei Dovlatov sound fun. Thanks for sharing.
I was pleased with my reading month, particularly since we had family obligations throughout the time.
Gentlemen Rovers by Edward Alexander Powell was published near the beginning of the last century. It is about US men who roamed the world & the deeds they accomplished. A few went overseas to gain their adventures (India, Asia & the wide seas) but all were US born and mostly forgotten by today's standards. Indeed, i had to look up many names to learn more. The language is florid and painful, at times, but i found so much to appreciate.
A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W. Merry is my Polk bio. While it didn't cover his early years as much as i wished, i learned more about the years the US added the western coast states & Texas. I was pleased with the book, even though i would have preferred better organization, as i was constantly trying to remember what year Merry was describing.
I felt the lack of Polk's youthful days enough to pick up James K. Polk by John Seigenthaler, which is another in the "American Presidents Series" by Time books. I intended only to read the first 2 chapters, covering his youth, but it was well told enough that i ended up reading the entire book, around 200 pages.
Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks by Andrea Lankford is about events in the lives of 4 National Park rangers. I suppose the most surprising fact i learned is that park rangers are more likely to be assaulted in line of duty than any other federal officer, including DEA, ATF & Secret Service. Further, a park ranger is 12 times more likely to die on the job than is a special agent for the FBI. Who knew? I must add this includes mechanical and rescue deaths.
Archaeology, Sexism, and Scandal: The Long-Suppressed Story of One Woman's Discoveries and the Man Who Stole Credit for Them by Alan Kaiser was informative. It shared enough about archaeological digs to allow readers to understand the specifics of what happened. Mary Ellingson was one of three women on a dig headed by David Robinson in Olynthus, Greece, in 1931. The author goes into facts about percentages of females from that time who continued in the field, as well as what happened to those three. The scandal is that in one of the 14 books Robinson authored on the site, he used Ellingson's dissertation as the base with merely an acknowledgement in the intro. However, around 95% of the chapters using her material were verbatim. None called him on it. When he used other student's works, two (both males) got coauthor credit.
The author's third segment to the book was his own story of trying to get the plagiarism published in periodicals within his field of archaeology. He was denied & discouraged, eventually taking it to a mainstream press because in lectures he found an interested audience.
And i'm still working my way through The Story of Architecture by Jonathan Glancey. He covers the ages but almost half the book will be on modern buildings. At least he covers other nations, too.
Books I finished in March:Unrated classic:
1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: I found this book to be much more engaging and entertaining than I expected. Actually, I'm not even totally sure WHAT I expected before I started it -- I think I expected it to be a difficult read. But it's very accessible and fun and thought-provoking, with a story that ranges from the philosophical to the outright soap-operaish!
One thing I did enjoy were Tolstoy’s "essays" on some philosophical or historical or definitional issue at the start of a section. I highlighted nearly the entire section that ruminated on the meaning of war -- why do men fight when they know they will die? Who holds the real power -- the leaders or the men who fire the guns and cannons in order to carry out the will of the leaders? How does history record the irrevocable choices made by one individual that ripple out and affect millions? As the mom of a young man who is planning a career in the military, this section really spoke to me.
However, there are some things about the book that made me roll my eyes. And those were the "soap-operaish" moments I mentioned. I tried to keep the time period in which this was written firmly in my head as I read, but the descriptions of the majority of the female characters often irritated me. Particularly the times when one of the female characters meet and chat with a male -- and then immediately decides she is in complete and total love with him. It happened again and again. I felt as though Tolstoy didn't have a very high opinion of women -- that he thought they were ruled only by their emotions and not by their intellect. Which knocked this book down a bit in my estimation.
FOUR stars:
2. Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick: Nonfiction account of the events leading up to the Boston battle that ignited the American Revolution. What I particularly loved about this book was the unflinching portrayal of the participants as real people with real flaws and real emotions. (George Washington may be the father of our country, yes — but he basically volunteered to lead the rebels because he was still smarting from having been denied a commission in the British army, and taking the reins in New England was kind of a “screw you” on his part.) Reading this makes you remember how human our founding fathers were. And you marvel anew at how truly amazing it was that 13 colonies of “rabble-rousing farmers” accomplished what they did.
THREE stars:
3. Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry: A novel about Bombay through the story of one family undergoing events that are both dramatic and ordinary. It’s about regrets, and loyalty, and family, and obligation, and resentments. A good book, although I enjoyed Mistry’s A Fine Balance better.
4. Memory Lessons: A Doctor's Story by Jerald Winakur: Read this for a postal book group. A memoir/series of essays by a doctor who cares for the elderly – and his own father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s. It was moving and fairly well written.
5.A Special Relationship by Douglas Kennedy: Every time I read a book by Douglas Kennedy, I wind up scratching my head. The dialogue is always, always pretentious and unrealistic. Who talks like that? Nobody I know. But the story is sometimes decent. This one is about an American woman who meets and marries an Englishman and finds herself suffering from post-partum depression about giving birth. A custody battle ensues. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t horrible.
6. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks: A novel about the Sarajevo Haggadah, an illuminated Hebrew manuscript that was saved during the Bosnian conflict by a Muslim librarian at the National Museum and placed in a bank vault. An Australian rare book specialist is given the opportunity to inspect and conserve the book, which dates back to 15th Century Spain. As she inspects it, she finds evidence that suggests the history of the Haggadah as it changes hands traveling from Spain to Sarajevo. In alternating chapters, the novel moves back in time to Bosnia in World War II, to 19th Century Vienna, to Venice during the Inquisition, and to Spain in the 15th Century. I enjoyed it, although it was not my favorite book by this author.
7. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver: Read this as part of a reading challenge (“Read a YA book.”) I normally do not read YA. This one was rather thought-provoking, however. A popular high-school senior is on her way home from a party when she dies in a car accident. But then she wakes up again the next day…and the next, for an entire week. Each day she has an opportunity to see how her actions affect the lives of others around her. It’s kind of like the plot of “Groundhog Day,” but for teens.
TWO stars:
8. Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs: One in a long-running series about a forensic anthropologist. It was a quick, m indless read. Very quick, since I figured out the ending about 150 pages in. Which made the next 150 pages rather superfluous.
9. A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev: I picked this up because I have an inexplicable fascination with literature by Indian authors. I didn’t realize it was a romance novel until I started. I detest that genre. And I discovered that a crappy romance book is still a crappy romance novel no matter what country it’s set in.
10. Viral by James Lilliefors: A thriller about two brothers who race to uncover the details of a massive bioterrorist plot. The idea was better than the execution.
Amy’s Pick of the Month:
11. Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova: First off, a huge thank you to Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. This book is good. It's really, really good. As much as I enjoyed Lisa Genova's previous novels (Still Alice, Left Neglected and Love Anthony), I'd give the nod to "Inside the O'Briens" as my favorite. (Yes--it's even better than "Still Alice." Seriously.) I started it on a Monday and just wanted to stay home from work until I'd finished it. I didn't, but I stayed up way too late because I couldn't put the book down. I finished it within two days. This book was smack in my wheelhouse--I've lived in Boston, so I'm familiar with the locations and the people and the dialect and the fanatical worship of the Sox, Bruins and Pats. The characters in this book were real people to me; Genova did a great job making them all come alive. I felt for them as the family learned about Joe's diagnosis and coped with the aftermath. I laughed in parts and teared up in others. Genova was also very adept at explaining Huntington's Disease in layman's terms without using overly technical language. Just like in her previous novels, I learned something about a particular medical condition without feeling confused or overwhelmed by the specific details. It was nicely done.
Alias Reader wrote: "Here are my March reads. I very nice month for me. Sophie's World by Jostein GaarderFiction
Rate 5/5
This was our group read. ..."
Glad to see you liked the Alan Cumming too, Alias. What a painful childhood and what an amazing career he's grown up to have.
Great reading months everyone!Allegiant - 3/5
Strong finish to the trilogy and a satisfying ending.
Delicious! - 4/5
Pleasantly surprised by this one - very enjoyable read and satisfyingly suspenseful.
All the Light We Cannot See - 5/5
Amazing book, and I can understand how it took 10 years to complete. The story intertwines one of a young German soldier and a blind French girl during WWII, with themes of lost childhood, lost parents, the impact of war on everyone involved, and finding the good in everyone. Heartbreaking, hopeful, and heartbreakingly hopeful moments throughout.
Us - 50%, had to return to library
I read All the Light We Cannot See at a much slower pace to take it all in, and ran out of time before this was due at the library. It had a hold so not available for renewal. Will try again another time.
Soph wrote: "Wow super reading month Alias!"Thank you. It was a good month for me. I just got into a reading groove. :)
Mkfs wrote: "Managed to fit in a few books that weren't work-related reading.The Suitcase - A collection of the stories behind the items in a Russian writer's suitcase when he travels to America..."
I see my library system has The Suitcase. I'm adding it to my TBR list. Thanks !
madrano wrote: "Good month, Alias & Mkfs. Alias, your description of The Snowflake had me seeking it out. Apparently we don't cotton to books about snow here in Texas, as it's not available. I was eager to see t..."
Deb, you can get an idea of some of the pics at this link.
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/sn...
madrano wrote: A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W. Merry is my Polk bio. While it didn't cover his early years as much as i wished, i learned more about the years the US added the western coast states & Texas. I was pleased with the book, even though i would have preferred better organization, as i was constantly trying to remember what year Merry was describing.
I felt the lack of Polk's youthful days enough to pick up James K. Polk by John Seigenthaler, which is another in the "American Presidents Series" by Time books. I intended only to read the first 2 chapters, covering his youth, but it was well told enough that i ended up reading the entire book, around 200 pages. .."
Good job on your Determination List to read a book on each president.
Glad to see you enjoyed the American Presidents Series on Polk. I've read a few in the series and didn't care for it. Really how does one make TR boring?
Since each book has a different author I guess I shouldn't give up on the series.
Amy wrote: 11. Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova: First off, a huge thank you to Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. This book is good. It's really, really good. As much as I enjoyed Lisa Genova's previous novels (Still Alice, Left Neglected and Love Anthony), I'd give the nod to "Inside the O'Briens" as my favorite. (Yes--it's even better than "Still Alice." Seriously.)..."Very nice reviews, Amy !
I really have to get Still Alice. I'm glad to hear her new one is very good, too.
One question. You said, "Read this for a postal book group". What's a postal book group ?
Emma wrote:Glad to see you liked the Alan Cumming too, Alias. What a painful childhood and what an amazing career he's grown up to have. ."He really seems like such a nice guy. Glad to see he turned out a lot different than his father. I don't know if the dad was a psychopath as Alan suggests or had some other mental issue. Still, I'm glad to see that Alan is now happy.
I've also seen him 3 or 4 times on Broadway and like his acting a lot. Also who knew he could write so well ?
Emma wrote: All the Light We Cannot See - 5/5Amazing book, and I can understand how it took 10 years to complete. The story intertwines one of a young German soldier and a blind French girl during WWII, with themes of lost childhood, lost parents, the impact of war on everyone involved, and finding the good in everyone. Heartbreaking, hopeful, and heartbreakingly hopeful moments throughout..."
----------
Glad to see you gave this one a top rating, Emma.
I am on the waiting list at the library for this one.
Alias Reader wrote: "One question. You said, "Read this for a postal book group". What's a postal book group ? ..."There are 6 of us who live in different states across the country. At the beginning of the year, we each select one book and write a review of it in a notebook. Then we each mail our selection and the notebook to the next person on the list. We have two months to read the book we've received and make comments in the notebook that came with it. At the end of the year, we've sent, received, read and commented on 6 books (including the one you chose, which comes back to you at the end). It's fun and interesting to read the comments that everyone has about each book. I like it because it has forced me to read outside my usual comfort zone, and also makes me really think about each book so I can craft a response for the notebook!
Although sadly, I believe this particular group is disbanding after the next book, when the cycle is completed. I may or may not look for another postal group.
Nice job on your presidential bio list, Deb! I probably missed this item, but I thought I'd ask anyway -- are you going in order? Or do you skip around if you happen to come across a bio on a president you haven't read yet?
Amy wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "One question. You said, "Read this for a postal book group". What's a postal book group ? ..."There are 6 of us who live in different states across the country. At the beginn..."
What a terrific idea ! That's too bad you are disbanding.
It's very hard to keep a book group going.
Alias Reader wrote: "What a terrific idea ! That's too bad you are disbanding.It's very hard to keep a book group going.
..."
The people who are dropping out cited as their reason that they find themselves feeling resentment when they are "forced" to read a book that isn't of their choosing. That they feel they aren't able to read the books they WANT to read because they have to devote reading time to a book club read that has arrived in the mail. Which makes me scratch my head, because isn't that basically the entire point of a book club? To read things that you might not select on your own and participate in the discussion? I'm not exactly sure what they were expecting when they signed up for the club.
Amy wrote: Which makes me scratch my head, because isn't that basically the entire point of a book club? To read things that you might not select on your own and participate in the discussion? I'm not exactly sure what they were expecting when they signed up for the club. ."I agree. Book clubs have certainly expanded my reading horizons. I've belonged to both online and in person book clubs. I think one key is to keep the books a reasonable length. Even if I don't particularly care for a book, I can still power through 300 or less pages.
If a book club consistently selects books I don't enjoy, then I would rethink being in the club.
For example, I used to go to a face to face book club and they started to select more and more fluff and chick lit. Even though I really enjoyed the night out, I dropped out.
They are now starting up a classics club. I may go back on occasion depending on the book selected.
Other reasons I've dropped out are that after reading a book club selection and then go to the meeting and the person in charge hasn't read the book and or there is little to no in depth discussion. This has happened on more than one occasion to me.
I don't know what the right formula for selecting books are. I guess it depends on the people in the group. I know for our BNC group, I still haven't found the right formula and now may just throw in the towel. It's a shame as I think a book discussion brings people together. I do find it odd that on a book website like GoodReads it can be hard to have a book club. It was easier on AOL. But then the groups there seemed to be a lot bigger and the posters were more active. We shall see. I'll probably try one more time to see if there is interest in a few months.
One of the things I love about BNC is that the depth of discussion is about perfect for me. There are smart people in the group and therefore the discussions are interesting without being dry or academic. Also, people here tend to have terrific senses of humor! There are a couple of other groups on GR that also have a nice balance in their discussions, but some others just don't hit the right tone for me. Some are too heavy (one history group lectured me on the "proper" way to do links to books - I left that group) and others are too light - focusing more on characters being good or bad, likable or not, etc. but not really having a discussion about the book/plot/characters.
But it is hard to sustain. Since I've been intentionally focusing on classics for the few years, I've been reluctant to shift to something else, so miss some of the other group reads. I don't have a lot of time to read, so it's a balance between wanting to participate in a group and wanting to read the books on my list.
I hope we don't lose group reads, as I enjoy them very much. Though some have really ended up becoming buddy reads!
Susan from MD wrote: Some are too heavy (one history group lectured me on the "proper" way to do links to books - I left that group) .."LOL. I know that group. They are crazy serious about posting GR links to books in a certain format. I'm still a member but don't post there anymore. Also, for me, the board has gotten too big. There seems to be a zillion threads and folders. Still, since they are a single focus group, they do get good participation.
I will try to come up with an another idea for our group reads. I'll think it over and open it up to suggestions in a month or two.
Susan from MD wrote: "One of the things I love about BNC is that the depth of discussion is about perfect for me. There are smart people in the group and therefore the discussions are interesting without being dry or ac..."I truly appreciate the feedback, Susan. :) Thanks for the positive response.
Some great books were read in March. Thank you all for listing them. The Postal Bookclub idea is great! With postal rates nowadays it would possibly be hard to keep one going, which is sad. However, being resentful for "having" to read a book for a group read is odd, I agree.
In March, I read:
Budapest Noir: A Novel - murder mystery set in Budapest. The main character is interesting. It almost read like the beginning of a series but it is a stand alone.
Little Man, What Now? - A lovely story of a young couple trying to make ends meet. The hardships placed on this couple, through no fault of their own, are still valid and around us today. Poverty can strike anyone, jobs are scarce and insecure, one feels as if one is a cog in a giant wheel with no control. A good read; I enjoyed it.
And the Mountains Echoed - I really enjoyed the characters in this book and how their stories mingled, blended, tore apart and continued side-by-side. This is a lovely story of connection and family.
Peace Like a River - Absolutely perfect from first page to last. It's been ages since I've thought that about a book. I loved all the characters, as well as the story, which centers around the perspective of witnessing, loyalty, family ties, faith, character and miracles.
Vanessa and Her Sister - (audio) This book shows a Bohemian lifestyle that is avant garde and exciting, if one could live it. But it also shows lives that don't contribute. That said, this group was amazing in their talents and that itself is a contribution to Life. Their talents and works are not disputed. It's their personal lives that seem self-contained, often detached, arrogant and removed. It's a group of people that would not do well with the rest of us because we're too ordinary. This book would make a good beach or cabin read. It's entertaining and interesting.
The Light in the Ruins - (audio) I really enjoyed this story of actions and consequences, mystery and revenge. The story of the Rosati family focussed on choices that had to be made in order to survive in horrific and troubling times. The consequences of actions beyond control come back to haunt.
Petra wrote: Little Man, What Now? - A lovely story of a young couple trying to make ends meet. The hardships placed on this couple, through no fault of their own, are still valid and around us today. Poverty can strike anyone, jobs are scarce and insecure, one feels as if one is a cog in a giant wheel with no control. A good read; I enjoyed it.."
Great month, Petra ! Thanks for sharing.
I am putting Little Man, What Now? on my TBR list. I see it was published in 1933. The blurb says it's a classic. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I noticed it takes place in Berlin. I just finished reading The Husband's Secret and one of the characters is into reading about the Berlin Wall. So I requested from my library, The Berlin Wall--Christine Zuchora-Walske
I think your book will fit well with my Berlin Theme. :)
I think you'll like it, Alias. It was a really sweet and quirky story in many ways.
Thanks to everyone for sharing the titles you read in March. I will abstain from my usual complaining about how YOU added to my TBR. ;-)Amy, thank you for the good post about the Philbrick book. Like you, i prefer my history "warts & all". How else can we see how incredible these humans were, if we didn't also see their other side? This is why i appreciate the fact many of our founders owned slaves is now a larger part of their biographical story. We missed much when we don't include those negatives.
I liked your comments on the Genova novel, too. It sounds too good to pass by. How neat that you received an advance copy.
Emma, thank you for the comments on the Doerr novel. It fared well in the Australian championship Amy told us about last month. I'm eager to read it.
Petra, i thank you for sharing info on the Fallada novel. A few years ago i saw a movie ostensibly based on this novel and was only so-so on it. Now i know why--the film veered from the book in several ways. I'm pleased to add this classic to my TBR.
And, Petra, i'm glad for the Budapest mystery title by Vilmos Kondor. Sounds good. We spent a few days in the city in '08 & liked it very much.
Amy wrote: "Nice job on your presidential bio list, Deb! I probably missed this item, but I thought I'd ask anyway -- are you going in order? Or do you skip around if you happen to come across a bio on a presi..."Amy, i am trying to read in the order of their time in office. I've read two out of order, both a bit broader in scope than mere biography. Those two, both good ones, were Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin and Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard, which features James Garfield.
Alias, i had to laugh at your comment about the American Presidents Series. If they make TR look boring, what is the point? Still, as Bobbie mentioned on the Presidential thread, they are a mixed bag. As my library seems to have many, i may pick up more later. The last, on James Polk, was informative.
Amy wrote: "The people who are dropping out cited as their reason that they find themselves feeling resentment when they are "forced" to read a book that isn't of their choosing. That they feel they aren't able to read the books they WANT to read because they have to devote reading time to a book club read that has arrived in the mail...."First, what a neat idea for a book group. I think getting some physical comments would be a pleasure. The few pieces of personal mail about a book i've received have lifted my spirits for weeks!
I admit i have said those exact words about book clubs to my husband. But the truth is, i say that when i'm not really reading much anyway. It was just a way to push the blame elsewhere.
Our own needs & times do change over the years, though, so i can understand alterations in such a group. It's tough to step away because there is such pleasure in sharing with other book readers, of whom i have few enough in my face-to-face life. The challenge is to get a group to function well with our disparate lives. A few years ago i was in a group with teachers. Some wanted to spend their summer break reading while others wanted to stay away from anything book-oriented.
Alias mentioned the AOL book groups. Most of the ones i was in were active at some point but petered out once the "requirements" of AOL leadership changed. At present, this is the sole survivor with more than two active members. That is an achievement. One thing i like about the way Alias & this group works is that even when a person steps away for awhile, we don't feel ostracized when we return, whether for a few posts or a longer stay.
Good discussion on groups. Susan, i can see why you left that history book group. I wasn't aware there was a different way to do things but it may be i'm not as retentive as some...
madrano wrote: " i am trying to read in the order of their time in office. I've read two out of order, both a bit broader in scope than mere biography. Those two, both good ones, were Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin and Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard, which features James Garfield...."I loved "Destiny of the Republic" -- it read like a murder mystery, only it was true! Haven't read "Team of Rivals" yet, although the book is on my pile and my husband made his way through it last summer and pronounced it a really good read.
I totally understand your point, Deb, about book clubs changing and evolving as time passes and the members' needs change. I've been in a f2f book club for more than 10 years now, and that one ebbs and flows. With this postal group, however, it's only been in existence for a year. Which is why I'm puzzled to hear several of them complain about feeling "forced" to read stuff that's outside their TBR pile. Maybe they didn't understand how a book club works, and they thought they would only get books they wanted? I don't know. For me, I've been fascinated with the breadth of the selections that I've received in the mail. Each book was a surprise, since we'd agreed at the start that it would be more fun that way. There were a few worries about "what happens if we pick the same book?" But every one of us chose a completely different genre! Which I think is really neat. This year I've received and read a book of philosophy/spirituality, a book of gothic metafiction, a collection of essays, a book of short stories, a memoir, and a historical fiction novel. Most of those I wouldn't have picked on my own. I can't say I enjoyed all of them, but I was grateful for the experience and the opportunity to push outside my comfort zone.
Sorry I'm late. We had a busy month - finally finished renovating our bathroom, in addition to other issues. My goal this month was 10 books and I only was able to finish reading 8 books!✔ 1.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah -- 5 stars!! This story is about when the Nazis invaded France, and how the women were treated terribly: sexually abused, beaten, occupied their homes, ate their food, refusing to give them any of the scraps, so the home owners and children were starved. I really enjoyed this book, it kept my attention. It's also a story about an alcoholic father who sacrificed everything; his younger daughter, Isabelle, determined to help pilots return to their planes, not matter what could happen to her; and the oldest daughter, Vianne, who took orphans are found them a refuge with the nuns. I have to say that this book kept my attention. Only in one place, near the end of the book, reminded me of Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay where innocent French victims were being forced into an area in the city, where they would be removed and taken to a concentration camp.
✔ 2.
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry --5 stars!! I first read Girl, Stolen and thought it was very good writing. I got another book The Girl Who Was Supposed To Die which I just finished reading, and I have to say that I'm a FAN of April Henry's writing. Great characters, challenging situations, and excellent writing!
✔ 3.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg--5 stars!!"Habits can be ignored, changed, or replaced."
The reason the discovery of the habit emerges, the brain stops fully participating in decision making. It stops working so hard, or diverts focus to other tasks. So unless you deliberately fight a habit -- unless you find new routines -- the pattern will fold automatically.
The power of cravings -- 92% of people said they habitually exercised because it made them "feel good" -- they grew to expect and crave the endorphins and other neurochemicals a workout provided. In another group, 67% of people said that working out gave them a sense of "accomplishment" -- they had come to crave a regular sense of triumph from tracking their performances, and that self-reward was enough to make the physical activity into a habit. If you want to go running each morning, it's essential that you choose a simple CUE (lace up your sneakers before breakfast) and a clear reward (midday treat, a sense of accomplishment from recording your miles, or the endorphin rush you get from a jog). Countless studies have shown that a CUE and a REWARD, on their own, aren't enough for a NEW HABIT to last. Only when your brain starts expecting the reward-- craving the endorphins or sense of accomplishment -- will it become automatic to lace up your jogging shoes each morning. The CUE, in addition to triggering a routine, must also trigger a craving for the reward to come.
If you believe you can change -- if you make it a habit -- the change becomes real. This is the real power of habit: the insight that your habits are what you choose them to be. Once that choice occurs -- and becomes automatic -- it's not only real, it starts to seem inevitable, the thing that bears "us irresistibly toward our destiny, whatever the latter may be." ** HONESTLY - I'm glad that I read this, because it really made me committed to staying on my diet (book below).
✔ 4.
Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss by Joel Fuhrman--5 stars!!I started on this diet about 8 weeks ago. I wanted to do this because I suffer from painful inflammation (Lupus and Sjogren's disease). I have to say that it has helped me a great deal, but not completely. The meals are easy and delicious, I have made a variety of meals, some successful, some not. I now love mushrooms (since I eat them daily). And I am now in a size 4 jeans. Hard to believe!!
✔ 5.
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton --it wasn't 5 stars but 3 stars!Set in Amsterdam in 1686, eighteen-old Nella marries wealthy, successful Johannes Brandt, who is older by 20 years. Johannes, barely acknowledges her existence. He’s at work all day and the marriage remains unconsummated. She would like to conceive a child as soon as possible. Later, she meets his sister, Marin, who manages all the business affairs, and is a recluse with repressed secrets. Johannes’s manservant, Otto, is a sign of her husband’s humanity – Johannes rescued him from a Portuguese slaver.
As a “distraction,” Johannes presents Nella with an exquisite miniature version of their marital home, correct down to pictures, utensils and tiny representations of its inhabitants. This wedding gift enchants and disturbs, but when she seeks out its creator, she glimpses only a woman with “hair like pale gold thread” who stares meaningfully before vanishing. The miniaturist manipulates the novel’s events. Marin, also has a secret, she is pregnant. She tries to give birth unsuccessfully, but Nella and Cornelia are there to help her. Sadly Marin's baby boy is born, as she passes away.
Finally, Nella and the rest of the community, discover a secret in her husband's life- he is a sodomist, unfortunately in a repressively pious society. He was brought into court; and his lover confessed their relationship. Johannes is sentence to death by placing a millstone around his neck and to plummet into the waterways. Nella attends, but she cannot watch it happen.
✔ 6.
The Captain's Daughter (Everyman's library #83) by Alexander Pushkin--I give it 4.5 stars!The best of the collection is "The Captain's Daughter." It's a historical novel of 140 pages that grew out of Pushkin's research and writing of "History of the Pugachov Rebellion." In "The Captain's Daughter", young Pyotr Grinyov comes to manhood and pursues marriage of the daughter of the commander of the Belogorsky Fortress amidst the turmoil and bloodshed of the Cossack rebellion led by Yemelyan Pugachov in 1773 and 1774, during the reign of Catherine II. The novel is patterned after the Waverley novels of Sir Walter Scott and it may surpass its model. The story is told in a light-hearted manner, often with boisterous high humor. The action, of which there is plenty, proceeds at an almost breakneck pace. Some of the characters are stock in nature, but several are distinctive and memorable -- it's an enjoyable read.
✔ 7.
Da Vinci's Ghost: Genius, Obsession, and How Leonardo Created the World in His Own Image by Toby Lester--5 stars!I love art, and Da Vinci's work. I like that this book gives me a different viewpoint of his younger years. Fascinating times, struggles and challenges. For a small book, there is a lot packed into it. I recommend it highly.
✔ 8.
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee-- IMO it is not worth the time.The Battle of Hong Kong (The Fall of Hong Kong), set in 1950, where an English piano teacher moves into Hong Kong and begins her career teaching piano lessons, but then we find the same piano teacher also steal from her patrons? Why would she damage her relationships with her clients? It seems very unrealistic; I also thought the characters are very flat. Sadly, I found it very disappointing and a waste of time.
Thanks! Lots of interesting books to add to my TBR list.
1. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming
2. A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W. Merry
3. Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks by Andrea Lankford
4. Archaeology, Sexism, and Scandal: The Long-Suppressed Story of One Woman's Discoveries and the Man Who Stole Credit for Them by Alan Kaiser
read 4 books in March:The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - 3/5. Pure pulp adventure that's more than a little dated for the modern reader (not to mention sexist and racist in spots)
Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk - 4/5. Not for everyone, but I enjoyed it and will read other books by the suthor
The Quiet American - by Graham Greene - 4/5. An outstanding political thriller that takes place in Vietnam during the French struggles with the Viet Minh.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. 4/5. Moving and well done.
Amy wrote:I loved "Destiny of the Republic" -- it read like a murder mystery, only it was true! Haven't read "Team of Rivals" yet, although the book is on my pile and my husband made his way through it last summer and pronounced it a really good read.."
I've read both and they are very good.
I have the new Doris Kearns Goodwin book
The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism on my TBR list. I love TR, so it should be great.
Carol wrote: "Sorry I'm late. We had a busy month - finally finished renovating our bathroom, in addition to other issues. My goal this month was 10 books and I only was able to finish reading 8 books!✔ 1. [b..."
Great month, Carol ! Congratulations on finished the renovation. I am sure it looks terrific.
I'm happy to see you enjoyed
[book:The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|12609433]
I thought the book was excellent. (sorry, for some reason the link isn't working.)
Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss
I'm a Joel Fuhrman fan, too. Though I don't follow his diet 100%, I do try to follow his guidelines. His diet seems to make the most sense to me. He also got me to make a conscious decision to eat more mushrooms. Now I eat a container of the baby bella's weekly.
Jon wrote: "read 4 books in March:The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - 3/5. Pure pulp adventure that's more than a little dated for the modern reader (not to mention sexist and racist in ..."
Very nice month, Jon !
The Quiet American I think is viewed as a modern classic. I should add it to my list.
Jon, I read "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" last year and gave it a 4-star rating as well. I agree--it was very good. Alias--I also have "The Bully Pulpit" waiting in my TBR pile. Don't know when I'll get to it, though -- but I'm looking forward to it!
Quiet American is fantastic. Couldn't bring myself to watch the film after reading it.Bunker Hill: Got a chance to flip through it at the Strand today, though I didn't like their asking price. I'll be reading that one.
Inside the O'Briens: Didn't see a copy at the Strand, unfortunately. Sounds good though. TBR, as they say.
About the Book Club -- I have been part of this group since AOL which means when I still lived in NYC and had recently retired. Www- that is almost 15 years ago.I had been reading mostly mysteries as I just didn't have time. I've read much now that I wouldn't have known about.
Now I have years of lots of reading and years of less because I have taken on other activities and as said above sometimes situations change. But I do remember when there was a concern that this group wouldn't survive.
I think Alias, that even if it isn't always "perfect" you should be pleased that here we are. And the question of survival should not in fact be a question. We will!!
I don't know if it was easier on AOL. I do know that it was a lot of work. We nominated books and we had a broad voting procedure, months ahead of time. We did not have buddy reads. So lets be positive and go with the flow.
Carol, thank you for the quote from The Power of Habit. I remember Alias mentioning the book but your quote sealed the deal. My library has an e-version, so i'll get to it. Glad you shared & am impressed you read so much while undergoing renovations.Good reading month for many here. Amy mentioned how breadth of her own reading was expanded by reading with a group & the books listed here remind me of the same thing. I'm not a fan of contemporary fiction but the pieces i have truly liked were part of this group's reading. It's been an enjoyable process and i look forward to more & more.
Bobbie, i think you put it best. We are still here and sharing well. I'm content.
Amy, i agree with your comments about the short-lived postal group. Perhaps some of them just thought it was be a motivating factor to increase their reading. It's a pity it's turned out as it has because i think it's an innovative way to share.
Alias Reader wrote: "Deb, you can get an idea of some of the pics at this link. http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/sn... ..."
Alias, i finally made the time to look at these "Snowflake" photos. How restful! Who knew all those shapes?! Thank you.
mY March readsThe Sandcastle GirlsbyChris Bohjalian
Rating 4/5
This book told the story or the Armenian genocide. It was very interesting and informative
Saints at the RiverbyRon Rash
Rating 4/5
Meredith, I just downloaded "The Sandcastle Girls" as a daily deal on Barnes & Noble. Glad to see you enjoyed it. I might have to bump it up on my TBR list!
I'm a fan of Bohjalian, so am glad to see your positive rating, Meredith. It looks as though both your books last month were winners. Here's to continued success.
Amy wrote: "The people who are dropping out cited as their reason that they find themselves feeling resentment when they are "forced" to read a book that isn't of their choosing. That they feel they aren't able to read the books they WANT to read because they have to devote reading time to a book club read that has arrived in the mail. Which makes me scratch my head, because isn't that basically the entire point of a book club?..."It can be good to get you to consider books you may not have considered on your own, but if I don't like a book, I don't want to read it. Life is too short to waste my time on things I am not enjoying. I guess that's why I don't belong to an in-person book club!
I just went to see how many books I finished in march and the answer is zero. I guess that's why I don't want to waste my time with other people making me read books I don't care for. :-)
Julie wrote: "It can be good to get you to consider books you may not have considered on your own, but if I don't like a book, I don't want to read it. Life is too short to waste my time on things I am not enjoying. I guess that's why I don't belong to an in-person book club! ..."Exactly. You know that about yourself, so you don't sign up for a book club and put yourself in a situation where you feel pressured to read books you don't want to read. But people who DO sign up for book clubs really should understand that they aren't going to get to pick the book they want every single month. :)
Julie wrote: "I just went to see how many books I finished in march and the answer is zero. I guess that's why I don't want to waste my time with other people making me read books I don't care for. :-)"Funny, Julie. When time is limited i only want to read the books i want to read, not those i feel obliged to read. Still, i usually learn much from the discussions. I can understand Amy's frustration but truly suspect that some folks join such a group in hopes of motivating themselves to read more. It's a shame because they apparently do not understand how a group needs participants to function well.
I always love reading what everyone reads and adding more books to my TBR pile! This is a bonus though to read about a Postal Book Club! I love that! This year I found a F2F book club that I love! I have read so many books that I would have never picked up and have loved. I have grown so much and see what I pick now has changed in this past year because of it. March was an incredible book reading month for me!
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin 4/5 America's first Ambassador to Hitler's Germany. Read it in no time and loved it. I have picked up another Erik Larson book to read because of it.
Still Alice 4/5 It is an easy 4.5 book for me. I loved this book about alzheimer's and how the author set the chapters up in the months.
All the Light We Cannot See 4/5 F2F book club read for March. We all loved the book but there were times that the overly descriptive writing left me having to re-read sections. That happened to just two of us but the rest of the group mentioned they loved the descriptions like that.
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea 4/5 Next month's F2F read and I loved this book. Written by a journalist for the LA Times, she interviewed several North Korean's who escaped and are currently living in South Korea. It reads more like a novel than a non fiction book. It is one of the books that you keep thinking about for several days afterwards and talking about it to others. I think I asked my husband "did you know......" so many times.
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