Comfort Reads discussion
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What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD)
Gundula, they only come when we are not there. That is the problem.
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, they only come when we are not there. That is the problem."Ah, squatters ...
I'm reading The Brother's Cameron by Jesse V. Coffey. My understanding is this is a remake of the book for her. She is doing a giveaway on my website in a few weeks and she sent me a free copy.
Since the book is only listed at Smashwords I can't seem to pull it up here. Mores the pity, I would have liked to rate it when I'm finished reading. So far I'm really enjoying it.
Felicia, anybody can add books.....
I got a lot of reading time today, and I am almost done with Jane Eyre. (Last night's insomnia helped.)
i am now on Dork Diaries #2 by Rachel Renee Russell!!! loved the first!
Chrissie wrote: "Felicia, anybody can add books....."Thanks. I guess I can do that then! :)
By the way, I've really enjoyed the informative discussion on the different types of birds and their calls. I need that!
Felicia, my son, who is an ornithologist, had been urging me to buy that book Fågelsång for ages. I thought I would never recognize a bird simply by its sound. Then we took a walk and all of a sudden I realized that each bird sounds so clearly different from another, even two birds that look practically the same! Listening was much easier than seeing a bird to identify it! Then I went and bought the book! I am sure such books exist in English, or you could get a book to use with this that gives you the neames in English. In fact I had to add this book to GR. I did a pretty lousy job, but at least it is there.
I have begun Blessed by Thunder: Memoir of a Cuban Girlhood. I was hooked when I read a bit of the text at Barnes & Noble! I loved Allende's The House of the Spirits, and I think that perhaps there really will be similarities between the two books. It is a memoir about a girl's childhood growing up under the guidance of her grandmothers and the mystical stories that were an integral part of her experiences. History too - as Cuba falls to Castro's regime. Having read about 40 pages, I am thoroughly enjoying myself. I am being given Cuban vernacular, customs and "mystical" beliefs all rolled up into a personal story. I just finished The Big Rock Candy Mountain. I wanted to taste Wallace Stegner, that everyone says is such a fabulous writer. I am glad I read it but it was just too depressing for my tastes. Yes, the author does magnificently depict his characters. My spoiler-free review explains my views: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... .
Chrissie wrote: "Felicia, my son, who is an ornithologist, had been urging me to buy that book Fågelsång for ages. I thought I would never recognize a bird simply by its sound. Then we took a walk a..."
Here is an example of a birdsong CD for birds in the US (assuming that's where you live, Felicia)
http://www.amazon.com/Birding-Ear-Eas...
There are plenty like this on amazon. The birds in Sweden might not live where Felicia is, Chrissie. ;)
Here is an example of a birdsong CD for birds in the US (assuming that's where you live, Felicia)
http://www.amazon.com/Birding-Ear-Eas...
There are plenty like this on amazon. The birds in Sweden might not live where Felicia is, Chrissie. ;)
Jeannette wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Felicia, my son, who is an ornithologist, had been urging me to buy that book Fågelsång for ages. I thought I would never recognize a bird simply by its sound. Then..."I think Chrissie's book is a bit different though, it seems that the sound buttons are in the book itself (you know like the noisy kiddie books one can find). Having an audio CD is great, but it does not really work if one is in the field and wants to figure out which bird sound goes with which bird.
Jeannette wrote: "Here is something like Chrissie has:http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Songs-Arou...
:)"
That looks cool, I wonder if there is one specifically for North America.
Jeanette, you can find everything. Yes, the birds could be different. Gundula, it is stated that you should not try andattract the birds by using the book in the woods. It stresses them. You know what birds are out where you are going. Learn the song at home by listening several times and making up your own jungle to remember it. then you go to the forest and listen until when you hear it.
Chrissie wrote: "Jeanette, you can find everything. Yes, the birds could be different. Gundula, it is stated that you should not try andattract the birds by using the book in the woods. It stresses them. You know..."
That's actually a good point, Chrissie, I never thought of that.
That makes sense, Chrissie. You would hate to play a distress call and scare everybody away.
amazon has a NA book listed, but it was out of print. Just google around. I saw another site yesterday with a whole birdsong course.
My local bird seed store sells a little hand-held device to use in the field. Maybe it could be used with earphones?
amazon has a NA book listed, but it was out of print. Just google around. I saw another site yesterday with a whole birdsong course.
My local bird seed store sells a little hand-held device to use in the field. Maybe it could be used with earphones?
I hope others are interested in such books. Walking in the woods, listening for birds, is definitely comforting for all of us.
Sometimes when I need a "comfort read" I veer outside literary fiction to suspense novels - particularly psychological thrillers. I'm currently reading Lisa Unger's Fragile and luxuriating in the pacing of this novel, so subtle, so skillful. I can't wait to find out how the tragedies of the past are refracted through the mysteries of the present...Ex Lit Prof
www.the-reading-list.com
She just came out with a sequel to Fragile, Leslie. Did you know about that?
Christine wrote: "I got a lot of reading time today, and I am almost done with Jane Eyre. (Last night's insomnia helped.)"
Finished it, and loved it!
Finished it, and loved it!
Christine wrote: "Finished it, and loved it!"I'm so glad you loved it, Chistine. JE is one of my all-time favourite books, even though I'm not that keen on other Bronte novels and I don't normally like anything that smacks of melodrama. But this novel works on so many levels. One of my favourite phrases from the book is a bit OTT, though. Near the end Rochester refers to his "cicatrized visage". Whenever anyone refers to having a scar, that's the expression which immediately springs to my mind!
That's funny! I loved some of the phrasing as well.
Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (Dork Diaries #2)over half way done! definitely a cute book for girls! my daughter who is 9 is gonna love it!
I'm reading The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, following after 84, Charing Cross Road.
I'm also reading Someone Like You, my first Dahl.
I'm also reading Someone Like You, my first Dahl.
I just finished reading Emory's Gifta sweet, mystical adventure by W. Bruce Cameron. I'm now reading Blackbird Fly on kindle, and it's really good too. I just recieved
and can't wait to start reading it this weekend. Happy reading to all ;-)
I'm reading The Midwife's Confession by Diane ChamberlainI'm almost finished and wow!! The twists and turns just keep on coming!!! :)
April wrote: "I just started The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie"Great book! I have to get to the sequels!!
Susan wrote: "Today I am reading Sister by Rosamund Lupton."
I just read that! I must know your thoughts on the ending later.
I just read that! I must know your thoughts on the ending later.
Just finished American Nightingale: The Story of Frances Slanger, Forgotten Heroine of Normandy. A very interesting and sad book although I am very glad to have read it and learned about Frances.
American Nightingale: The Story of Frances Slanger, Forgotten Heroine of Normandy -- it sounds interesting, Maude.
Jeanette, It was interesting to me and I very much admired Frances. She was an exceptional kind person who always thought of others first - but not wishy-washy.
I've added it to my list, Maude. How is the "grandcat" these days, btw? :)
Jeanette, Do you mean my grandson or my dog?
Weren't you babysitting a "devil" cat at one time? Or maybe you'd like to forget him. lol
(I thought it was you, but I'm easily confused. Apologies in advance.)
(I thought it was you, but I'm easily confused. Apologies in advance.)
Jeannette wrote: "I just read a beautiful little book: The Snow Goose."Thanks for recommending this book to me; it looks really special (and I love birds).
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I've just started number 8 or 9 in the Gabriel Allon spy series called The Defector by Daniel Silva. The series is excellent if you're into that kind of thing, which I am.
Jeanette, YES, I was babysitting the "devil" cat but she has been returned to her family. I had forgotten about her!
Maude, I remember her. It is so nice you now have Savanah! Has Savanah as a name stuck? ;0)
You wanted to forget about her, I suppose. ;p
Is Savanah a new dog?
Is Savanah a new dog?
Savannah is a new dog, Jeannette. I saw a picture of her in the paper from the Humane Society and went down with my grandson to get her. She is part Australian Cattle Dog and another kind of dog -the name escapes me but similar to a cattle dog. He is black and white and loves me to death. She always wants to be by me and play with her......(which I do every day). She has a huge personality and when she really wants something or knows she did something wrong, she puts her face on my knees and looks up with a pitiful face and makes "sorry" noises. When I brought her home from the Humane Society and took her out on the grass she stood up on her hind legs and put her arms on my shoulders and put her face next to mine. I think she was saying thank you. She was a stray so she does need more work. I am hoping to meed with a woman who helps train dogs very soon.
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Comfort Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael Ondaatje (other topics)Wendell Berry (other topics)
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Edmund Morris (other topics)
Susan Fromberg Schaeffer (other topics)
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Gundula, it sounds like you are describing the Swedish bird "Pärl Ugglan" , which has a wavering spooky call. It really m..."
I love birds, but bird droppings and aggressive birds can be a real problem. (and I would not want to clean up the mess, yuck). I would not be surprised if there were screech-owl like birds in Europe; I think they are distributed worldwide. What does Oscar think of the "Kattugglor?"