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What Did You Just Finish, What Are You Reading Now & What Books Have You Brought Home Recently? (Spoilers Possible)
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Cheryl S.
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Jan 09, 2012 01:38PM
Finished 11/22/63 and surprisingly enough it turns out to be a love story more than anything. I did enjoy it although 850+ pages is a long haul.
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I've started Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani, just finished Chapter 1 and like it so far. It's the 1st 2012 selection for the evening bookclub. I haven't started The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo for the breakfast bookclub though and we meet on that one next week! (Just no interest in reading it).
Finally got a copy of
from PBS. Been looking for a long time and am so glad to have it even tho it came after Christmas.Read
which is a memoir about a young man growing up without a father and very well done.Now I've started
which is my Memoir Book Club's selection for January. I was just going to read a few pages last night and suddenly I was on page 65. Captivating and full of interesting info on Bhuddism. Think this will be a great discussion book.
Put Girl w/the Dragon Tattoo down. Not my cuppa tea nowadays. I probably would have liked it back in my 20s during my James Patterson & Thomas Harris days.
Reading "Desert Queen" a biography about Gertrude Bell the rich, high society, Englishwoman who played an integral part with negotiations in the Middle East during WWI. She was quite the character and some of her exploits are almost unbelievable. Imagine a Victorian Era woman traveling in the desert with only servants and meeting with the likes of Ibn Saud and Lawrence of Arabia!
Cheryl S. wrote: "Reading "Desert Queen" a biography about Gertrude Bell the rich, high society, Englishwoman who played an integral part with negotiations in the Middle East during WWI. She was quite the character..."That sounds good! I am currently working on Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
and am enjoying it immensely!
Finished
and found it fascinating. Unusual woman for her time and she certainly lead an unusual life, although at times not a very happy one.
Started
which is a re-read for me, but is our book club choice for this month. It's been a while since I read it so am enjoying it all over again. Next on my list will be
which is this month's choice for my Memoir Club. I'll probably work in a couple of quick ones in between.
So last week I finished Big Stone Gap and today I finished Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter, both of which I was surprised I enjoyed, different than my usual contemporary southern lit reads as they leaned towards chick-lit but glad I read them!
Read
which is another cosy Maeve Binchey and then read
which is a memoir by Dr. Verghese about a young Austrailian doctor he befriends as a tennis partner and loses to drug addiction. A sad book, but also very insightful. You might recognize Abraham Verghese os the author of "Cutting for Stone", a book I really liked. Now I'm reading
which drags a bit and would probably be considered geezer-lit, but has humor and is a sweet story.
I'm reading This One and Magic Life by Anne Carroll George - a different kind of Southern read than I've read before and I'm enjoying it!
Finished Major Pettigrew and ended up liking it quite a lot. Now just finished
and after a slow start couldn't put it down. I find I very much like Walter Isaacson as a biographer and plan to read his books on Einstein and Ben Franklin. Now I'm reading
which I think I've read before, but can't remember what happens so it doesn't matter.
I'm reading Steve Jobs too, about half way through. I'm half way through A Year In The Maine Woods as well.I've recently finished When Men Become Gods: Mormon Polygamist Warren Jeffs, His Cult of Fear, and the Women Who Fought Back and Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria.
Petra X wrote: "I'm reading Steve Jobs too, about half way through. I'm half way through A Year In The Maine Woods as well.I've recently finished [book:When Men Become Gods: Mormon Polygamist Warren..."
All your choices sound very interesting. So many books, so little time!
Would love to borrow the Mormon men becoming gods one. Too bad you don't live closer!
I got it because I'd read several accounts by women who had left the FLDS, including the main witness in When Men Become Gods so this one, detailing the legal fight to bring Jeffs to justice really appealled, and didn't disappoint.
Finished This One And Magic Life last night (incredible novel, beautifully written) and today the short story Famous Blue Raincoat by Colm Toibin from Mothers and Sons (which may be my selection for short story group next month).
Just finished Sara Paretsky's Breakdown. She is one of my favorite "commercial" authors- from the University of Chicago, her stories are based in Chicago, well researched, and my liberal values (against racism, promotes helping the neediest, promotes diversity, making your own family) and great characters. Wallowed in this one for two days, trying to make it last longer.
Miriam wrote: "Just finished Sara Paretsky's Breakdown. She is one of my favorite "commercial" authors- from the University of Chicago, her stories are based in Chicago, well researched, and my li..."Great recommendation, might have to give this one a try.
Just finished "Sisters of the Sari"
which was lent to me by a new friend at my Memoir Book Club. It's not a memoir but was very enjoyable -- good story, interesting characters and a dash of humor. Nice quick read.
Miriam wrote: "Cheryl, that sounds interesting!"I wasn't expecting much and was plesantly surprised with some strong women characters which I like.
Currently reading "The Spanish Bow"
which I found on PBS. Had never heard of it, but it's turning out to be quite good too.
Finished "Spanish Bow" and it was surprisingly good. WWI and II era Spain. Protag a Spanish cellist loosely bases on Pablo Casals. Several very well drawn characters and an unusual story.
Had Memoir Book club Tues night and the Steve Jobs book created one of our most interesting and lively discussions. We all loved the book and marveled at the personality of the man who brought us i everything. Not really an evil genius, but a very farsighted and demanding one.I liked this book so much I ordered Walter Isaacson's other two biographies used from Amazon---Ben Franklin and Einstein. His style of writing had a way of pulling me through the Jobs book as fast as I could go.
Cheryl, the Spanish Bow sounds interesting! I did play the cello as a youth, and had hoped to take it up again once my kids were raised, but my arthritis in my hands makes it painful to play now. I had hoped to take up piano again, too, and even bought one, but could not play for very long at all without pain. So I gave it away. I am currently reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. It is basically a history of the sciences, and is very interesting. I love his wit.
Miriam wrote: "Cheryl, the Spanish Bow sounds interesting! I did play the cello as a youth, and had hoped to take it up again once my kids were raised, but my arthritis in my hands makes it painful to play now. I..."I like Bill Bryson books too, have read a couple, but not that one, have it on my wish list on PBS so hope to get it eventually.
I think you would like "The Spanish Bow". Tons of musical references, some real life characters and a compelling story.
I rarely give a book 5 stars but "Unorthodox"
will affect me for a long time. I knew Hasidic Jews existed but had no idea what their beliefs and culture were all about. To say this book is an eye opener is an understatement. The oppression of women in our world makes me furiously angry and I found myself practically hyperventilating while reading this book. Written by the woman who lived it I will never forget it.
A lot of my mother's side of my family in the UK are Chassidim. They aren't a bit like the book though. They don't wear payot (the ringlets), they don't look any different from anyone else. Modesty for a woman is anything with three-quarter length sleeves, a neckline to the collarbone and at least knee length. My uncle, a doctor, married his nurse, a Spanish Catholic woman who converted. The conversion was very strict and they went to live in Israel for some years as part of it. But the wedding was very fine with a Monsigneur and a Bishop as well as the Rabbis. I grew up in an observing Orthodox family in a small, Christian non-conformist village in Wales, it was interesting having these mixes and different viewpoints around.It's easy to think that one sect is like another but it isn't. There is no overarching authority in Judaism. There is no Pope, the Chief Rabbis of the various countries represent Jews but have no authority over them or the religion. Everyone and every sect interprets Judaism as they please which results in the ultra-liberal as well as the ultra-repressive.
Hasidic Jews have gotten a lot of bad press in Iowa due to a clique living in Postville and using their Jewishness as a weapon against others in the community. When they are asked to obey the same rules and regulations and laws as everyone else, they have screamed ANTI-SEMITISM! but there was a wonderful book written about the situation. A journalist went there, basically to say how horrid the people in Iowa and the INS were for descriminating against these Jewish people, and ended up writing a book about how there are "bad" people in all faiths and this group is using their religion in this way. It was really an interesting read. I wish I could remember the title of the book. There are sects in many religions who give the religion a bad name. Another word for these groups that others might understand better is GANG of BULLIES!
Chasidic Jews comprise many, many sects. They don't keep any more laws, aren't any more religious, don't have different rituals than modern Orthodox, but they have different cultures. In some places, some of these sects, like in Iowa, in Israel even, have made themselves very unpopular. But to blame all Chassidim, or Jews, for the behaviour of particular sects, or even to think they are all like that, is like saying that all Christians are like Jerry Falwell or Al Sharpton's followers, or worse, like the FLDS who do consider themselves Christian. The Postville Chasidim are Lubavitchers. Lubavitch is a huge movement, and split into many small sects in many countries. The ones I know in London are a particularly jolly bunch who like singing and dancing a lot, wear payot and (on Saturday's) black hats, and the women wear either wigs or always cover their hair. But I've also met ones who ar very unfriendly to me because I am not at all observant (I am an existentialist and don't follow any faith but I am of the Jewish 'tribe', to say otherwise would be a bit Uncle Tom-ish) and dress the way I please.
There were two Lubavitchers going through the islands a couple of years ago and they wanted to see my son but they weren't all that nice to me, probably thought (correctly) that I was an apostate! They were though, a bit friendlier than the Jehovah's Witnesses who were extremely rude to me on hearing that I don't believe in Jesus or Christianity and didn't want their tracts. And a whole lot less upsetting than the two Mormon missionaries who came into my shop. On hearing that I was Jewish, one of them said that he'd never seen a Jew before. Seen! I said sure you had, you just didn't know. He was very adamant that he hadn't seen one and would know if he had. Gee did he think I had horns or something? (His friend was very embarrassed and said absolutely nothing!)
How funny, Petra! I was trying to make the same point you did in your first paragraph, but since I was hurting from my fall, was not very eloquent. But essentially my message was that there are bullies in all faiths, and they will use the religion to further their ambitions to be bullies regardless of the religion, even the peace loving Buddhists!Yesterday I almost threw my homeless roommate out of the car when explaining why he didn't vote he was complaining that voters had elected a black man president (with horror and disdain in his voice!). Then I remembered that he cannot think for himself and is just repeating the trailer trash viewpoint he has heard. I tried to explain that the color of one's skin has no effect on one's heart, soul, and mind and that Obabma has actually done a pretty good job, especially at repairing the USA's reputation around the world, and that I was voting for Obama again and was terrified that he would NOT get a second term. Hopefully I made a dent in the racist ideas he has. I was sick to hear them.
I have Michelangelo's statue of Moses- and he does have horns! There was a mis-translation at that time that mistranslated curley hair to horns or something like that, so the statues of Moses in the early renaissance have horns! Anyway, the statue was just a plaster of Paris cheapie, so it has been yard art for over ten years. It is almost all decayed now. I set it beside my Buddha.
I have horns! (Curly hair, red too!)Obama's re-election will probably have something to do with gas prices. High and he won't. Get them lower and they won't be a factor. But I could be wrong on all that.
"Unorthodox" has certainly sparked a fascinating discussion!! I am aware there are many different sects and every one is different. My problem with the sect in this particular book is the degradation and oppression of women. I get an equal yuk factor when someone knocks Pres. Obama just because he is black. I don't know if any of you have read the "Left Behind" book series but evidentally in the series the devil is black and he becomes the world leader or something like that. When I was still working and the election was coming up there were people at work who were beside themselves because of the possibility of a black person becoming president. I just had to walk away a couple of times.I have a hard time identifying with any one religion as I think there is a God who loves us all, but religion is the cause of much of the strife in our world. It seems to me a lot of the religions breed hatred instead of love for their fellow man. I am fascinated with learning about all the different religions and sects as I try to understand how each one thinks they are right and everyone else is doomed. I do volunteer at a Lutheran church but I don't attend services. I'm pretty sure my friends comment on that fact but I have to march to my own tune. To me the Golden Rule says it all.
By the way, Petra, I love curly red hair.
"I have a hard time identifying with any one religion I sympathise with that. I respect anyone of any religion that believes the should treat others as they wish to be treated. Religions and people who don't believe in that, well I keep my thoughts to myself, but they don't get my respect. In any case, I think organised religions are all boys' clubs who to some degree or another seek to control women even up to the point, in some cultures, of owning them. There aren't any religions set up by women with women's 'rules' or 'laws', unless you count Wicca, which a) i don't and b) I have my doubts if that is quite so feminine in origin and modern mythology would have.Living on a Black island and having lived in a few countries across the world I can confidently say that politicians are all alike whatever colour they come in. Ie. they are a self-interested bunch to whom corruption, nepotism and spending the public purse for private interests is common everywhere. There are exceptions, a few who work for the public good, there are even fewer who work only for the public good, but whoever heard of a poor politician?
The last three years in the US have been a political disaster as far as I'm concerned, but not because of who is or is not president. From the instant Obama was elected the Republicans seemed to forget about their constituents and spend all their time figuring how to get him out of office and their party back in. Nothing gets done in congress, negativity is the order of the day. When there are so many important issues facing us today it's really depressing that compromise seems to be a word no one understands no matter what party they come from.
I think its the nature of politics. They might have fire in their belly when they first stand, but by lunchtime of the first day they are elected, they have realised this is a job and like any job their first responsibility is to themselves, to hang on to it, no matter what 'compromises' they might have to make. So if they are out of power they really don't care at all about the electorate (who didn't elect them) only about themselves and getting back into power and getting more money.They don't try and suggest better policies than the ruling gvt is making, only slag them off and try to foment gossip and trouble. And people accept that.
I am not talking about the US, although I could be, nor my island, nor the UK or anywhere really, just everywhere.
Cheryl: I agree. The last time I remember it being this bad is when Clinton was President. I think we spent the last two years of his Presidency dealing with the "Lewinski scandal." Everything else seemed to take a back seat. Ridiculous! I get so irritated with the whole situation, I basically stop watching TV during election year (which now seems to last for two years instead of just one). I record any show I want to watch on my DVR and speed through the ads. Debates, conventions, news I can do without. I pick a candidate (after researching) and then I wait to vote. The problem is, it seems our votes are futile when it comes to changing the system. I just read that a Republican Senator from Maine has just decided to withdraw from the next election--not because she wouldn't win--but because she's sick of the political gridlock and doesn't feel she can do anything to change it. Pretty sad.
Cheryl and Petra, I agree 100% with both of you about both religion and politics! I get so mad when I read in the news that Obama hasn't done something or has done something. If they say he has done something the truth is usually something else, and if he hasn't done something it is because the Republicans in Congress have thwarted his efforts to make anything better! Petra, do you think the Republicans who own the oil companies are manipulating the prices to keep Obama from being reelected? That is my thought!
I can't answer that Miriam. I don't really know much about US politics other than what gets into the world news.I hope that doesn't make me sound ignorant or uncaring, but like most people I don't really have much interest in the internal politics of any country other than my own.
I'm just disgusted with the whole process. I feel like shouting WAKE UP!!! We have a particularly irritating congresswoman from Minnesota who is constantly on TV. The minute I hear her voice I use the mute button.
Started reading "Einstein"
and am finding it very interesting so far. I can even tolerate all the physics and theories because E is such an interesting character. I'm also finding myself making comparisons between him and Steve Jobs and am finding they have some similar characteristics.
I'm dying to read that Cheryl. It's on my TBA list. (To Be Acquired).
Terri wrote: "I'm dying to read that Cheryl. It's on my TBA list. (To Be Acquired)."Wish we were neighbors so I could just hand it to you when I'm done. I got my copy used on Amazon for about 6 bucks with shipping. I plan to post it on Paperbackswap when I'm done, so if you're a member look for it there.
Hey Cheryl: I am a member of PBS and the book is on my wish list. If you're interested, there's a way you can ship it to me and you still get your credit and it still costs me one. I did it with my sister. If not, no biggie. I think I'm number 3 so not too long to wait. Glad to hear it was good. I've also got his book on Benjamin Franklin to read.
Cheryl: I must have been delusional when I wrote that. I'm actually 67th on the list. Wishful thinking on my part I guess. LOL.
Here's a way to get a copy very cheaply. Alibris has it in Good condition for $1.34. Enter the coupon Salinger and you will get $1 off, then postage is $3.99. http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwo...
Terri wrote: "Hey Cheryl: I am a member of PBS and the book is on my wish list. If you're interested, there's a way you can ship it to me and you still get your credit and it still costs me one. I did it with..."I have the B. Franklin one ordered from Amazon too, but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm about half done with Einstein and am finding it very interesting.
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