Challenge: 50 Books discussion
2010
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While in Warsaw- Sheila's 50 in 2010
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5.Strength in What Remains: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness6.Let the Great World Spin
7. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
9.The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story10. Plain Water by Krystyna Zywulska (we just translated this; not sure when it will be released. The Polish version, Pusta Woda, is currently available.
What'd you think of the Zookeeper's Wife, Sheila? I saw Steven Conte speak about this book at Adelaide Writers' Week last month and it sounded really interesting
Heather wrote: "What'd you think of the Zookeeper's Wife, Sheila? I saw Steven Conte speak about this book at Adelaide Writers' Week last month and it sounded really interesting"Heather, I'm glad I read it, especially since I'm living here in Warsaw, on the same side of the river as the zoo. I felt a tiny bit let down in that Ackerman didn't tell us what happened to Jan and Antonia after the war. However, it gave some really interesting insight into the Nazi's view of the Poles. I'd recommend it, particularly if you're interested in the history of WWII.
Sheila wrote: "Heather wrote: "What'd you think of the Zookeeper's Wife, Sheila? I saw Steven Conte speak about this book at Adelaide Writers' Week last month and it sounded really interesting"Heather, I'm gla..."
Not to butt in but I saw you were from Warsaw...are you meaning Poland? If so that is where my boss is from!
Sherri wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Heather wrote: "What'd you think of the Zookeeper's Wife, Sheila? I saw Steven Conte speak about this book at Adelaide Writers' Week last month and it sounded really interesting"..."
Yes, Sherri, I'm in the "original" Warsaw, Poland. Where are you? Thanks for writing.
I live in the United States but my boss, a veterinarian, is from Warsaw. His name is Karol Poderski...don't know if any of his siblings are left in Poland, I know he has one in Australia.
Sherri wrote: "I live in the United States but my boss, a veterinarian, is from Warsaw. His name is Karol Poderski...don't know if any of his siblings are left in Poland, I know he has one in Australia."Cool. We are Americans, but my husband was born and grew up here. I'll ask him if he knew your boss. My husband is Lech Czerski, but he went to med school not vet school.
10. Cuba Diaries: An American Housewife in Havana About to mark my first anniversary of living abroad in Warsaw, Poland, I loved reading this account of an American woman living in Havana in the 90's. I read it as part of an International Women's Group (IWG) reading club here and loved hearing the other women's take on the story.
12. Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing I remember reading excerpts of this in the New Yorker a number of years ago. This is a fine read and offers great insight into one notorious NY prison. Can't believe I'm only on book 12. I really need to step it up.
13. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope Want to read something as inspiring as Three Cups of Tea? This is it.
14. A Country in the Moon : Travels in Search of the Heart of Poland I'd say this is a must-read for any ex-pats living in Poland or anyone with a deep interest in Polish cultural history. Extremely well done. Hats-off to Australian Michael Moran.I hope to finish book number 15 this week but see that I'm woefully off-pace to have 25 read by end of June. Praying for some fast reads.
Sheila wrote: "13. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope Want to read something as inspiring as Three Cups of Tea? This is it."Hahahaha! Classic :)
16. The Cellist of Sarajevo Wonderful novel recounting the Siege of Sarajevo, based on an actual cellist who despite shelling, performed Albinoni's Adagio in G for 22 days straight to commemorate 22 people who died in a mortar attack while waiting to buy bread.
17. The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur I'm on a mission to try to understand some of what's been happening in distant, war-torn or poverty-stricken lands during the last 10-20 years, especially because I find it difficult to tune in and understand the events as they occur. This account of the genocide in Darfur was compelling and a quick read. Kudos to the author. I'll never forget the kindness of his Egyptian jailer and those others who came to his rescue.
18. The Book Thief At first I was reluctant to like this novel, perhaps because it's narrated by Death, but the story of Liesel and her foster parents set in Germany during World War II quickly captured my heart. I've never read about what it was like for ordinary Germans to endure the rise of Hitler. Here the author weaves a heart-warming tale of love, loyalty and bravery about people who opted to do the right thing.
Sheila wrote: "18. The Book Thief At first I was reluctant to like this novel, perhaps because it's narrated by Death, but the story of Liesel and her foster parents set in Germany during World War I..."One of the most beautiful books I've ever read! I'm glad you liked it :)
20.Thinking in Pictures I never would have picked this up but I'm glad I put in the effort to finish reading it. Lots of insight into the way people (Autistics and non-Autistics) think and operate in the world, with a good dose on benevolent slaughterhouse design.
Sheila, there is quite a bit written about Temple Grandin (Thinking In Pictures), including a book about her by her own mother, which was quite interesting, and here is a link to the Powell's (bookstore) interview of Temple in their newsletter. The date of interview is February 23, 2010, and it is in the Interviews, Essays and Blogs section on Page 2. http://www.powells.com/reader/intervi...
21. We Need to Talk About Kevin I'm way behind on my 50 in 2010 pace. I wish I had finished book no.30 instead of no.21. Here's hoping for some quick reads ahead. I read this one for my bookclub and honestly was cursing the choice throughout each of the first 100 pages, each of which I found painful to read. Everything changed once I hit that century mark, though. This is a fascinating, ever-surprising read, masterfully told.
I felt the exact same way, Sheila. I didn't like the book at ALL until Kevin was born. Then everything changed. Everything else aside, she's such a talented writer.
22. The Elegance of the Hedgehog When I read the Amazon reviews, I thought I'd struggle getting through this book, instead I ate it up. I hadn't read something set in Paris in ages, and the characters were so over-the-top and well-drawn and lovable. Highly recommended, on of my favorites of the year.
Sheila wrote: "22. The Elegance of the Hedgehog When I read the Amazon reviews, I thought I'd struggle getting through this book, instead I ate it up. I hadn't read something set in Paris in ages, ..."Glad to hear that Sheila - I've been thinking about reading this book but I've seen such mixed reviews, I think people either love it or hate it. I think I'll give a try.
Others in my book group didn't share my zeal. I hope you like it. I found the characters absolutely lovable.
Sheila, why do you think The Elegance of the Hedgehog was named that? I am intrigued by the name. Is there a hedgehog in the story, or is that just a reference to something else?
Carol, I don't have the text in front of me, but about halfway through the book, one of the characters is described as "having the elegance of a hedgehog," or something like that. So, no, there is no hedgehog in the story.
25. Death in Breslau Good insight into the Silesian city of Wroclaw, then Breslau, before the German invasion of Poland.
26. The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman: A Novel Interesting compression of time in this narrative set in wartime Warsaw.
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman (other topics)Death in Breslau (other topics)
Madame (other topics)
A Fine Balance (other topics)
The Elegance of the Hedgehog (other topics)
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3.Time of My Life: A Novel