Gardener's Group discussion
Overall Reading Goals&Book Chats
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What Did You Just Finish, What Are You Reading Now & What Books Have You Brought Home Recently? (Spoilers Possible)
Cheryl S. wrote: "Incredible you actually knew someone who had been through such a horrifying experience...."I knew a lot of Holocaust survivors in Israel. It wasn't incredible, it was commonplace to see them. You could see them strap-hanging on a bus with huge numbers tattooed up their arms... They weren't all Jewish. I remember the cobbler who was in the Dutch resistance and screamed a lot (they killed his children in front of him) and the head of the gardens who was a Christian. He had his nails, toe and finger, pulled out with pliers and then was covered with gasoline, set fire too and then rolled up in a blanket and left to die. The Israelis took all these heroes in and tried to give them some sort of life, but some of them like both the cobbler and the gardener weren't really of sound mind at all.
The boss of the kitchens had been a forced whore from the age of 12. She was very tall, had very fine bones and was nasty through and through. She used to do crap to my friend (who was very beautiful) and me like making us sit outside for our whole shift peeling a whole dustbin of onions and missing breakfast to do it.
In that kibbutz there were two sittings for lunch. The first was for most of the concentration camp survivors. They couldn't stand the smell of meat cooking, so until they had eaten, no meat was cooked.
It was a real education in horror.
Petra X wrote: "Cheryl S. wrote: "Incredible you actually knew someone who had been through such a horrifying experience...."I knew a lot of Holocaust survivors in Israel. It wasn't incredible, it was commonplac..."
What an experience for you as well. I've read a lot of holocaust stuff and it's simply amazing anyone survived with a sound mind.
I was 16. It put a human face on the horror of the holocaust which was just words until then.
Just finished reading "Obasan" which is a fictional account of what happened to Canadians of Japanese decent during WWII. I'm well aware of what happened to the Japanese living in the US during that time period but I had never thought about the ones who lived in Canada. So disturbing and shameful.
Treatment of enemy nationals is often awful. I understand why they are interned and I understand why people are whipped up to hate them (look at all the spin againt Muslims that is affecting the average, non-face covering, non-fundamentalist ones) but it's impossible to condone.I never understood the extreme hatred for the Japanese that a lot of older Americans have until I read Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Then I did.
Zevulun, near Haifa
Cheryl S. wrote: "Just finished reading "Obasan" which is a fictional account of what happened to Canadians of Japanese decent during WWII. I'm well aware of what happened to the Japanese living in the US during th..."Interesting Cheryl,published 1981, I'd not heard of it - thanks for posting. I recently read The Jade Peony, also talks about how Japanese Canadians were mistreated, focused specifically on where I live - Vancouver. Would you recommend it?
Osho wrote: "I never got up to Haifa (other than driving through) when I was living ba'Aretz..."Ba'Aretz. :-) L'shana haba...
How did you come to be in Israel at age 16?
I belonged to a youth group and went out for a summer on kibbutz with it. Just as Americans have 'camp', Jewish kids in the UK have kibbutz in the summer.
Hah, I was a wild child out all night at clubs, didn't bother with the singsongs.
Finished Bloom-Again Orchids: Tips and Tricks for Glorious Displays Year After Year and didn´t like it. I´m disappointed. The author didn´t provide any useful informations at all, she just listed all the orchids that bloom again. Did she say how to make them bloom again (as mentioned in book´s title)? No.If you came upon this book in library, give it a try, but don´t buy it. It´s not worth it.
And, other books I didn´t like, for they didn´t serve their purpose:
Orchid Care: Growing and Caring for Orchids Indoors & Out
Container Gardening
Quick and Easy Gardens: A Beginner's Guide to Container Gardening
My favourite gardening books:
House Plants - I adore this one!
The Best Plant Book Ever: The Comprehensive Guide To Living With Plants
Indoor Plants: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Caring for Houseplants
I bought last week . Kursbuch Zimmerpflanzen. 230 Pflanzenporträts and it´s great.
Does anyone know some books about bromeliad care?
I think I´ll read fiction for a while. I usually like to read one fiction and one non-fiction at the same time, but I´m out of luck with non-fiction lately. All more bad than good, especially botanical ones. I don't know if anyone here has problems with this ... but it seems more and more books are written by amateur gardeners than professionals. I don't think this is bad but sometimes i´d like to read a book that´s written by someone who works with plants as their main occupation.
I´ll read
next.
Florence wrote: "Cheryl S. wrote: "Just finished reading "Obasan" which is a fictional account of what happened to Canadians of Japanese decent during WWII. I'm well aware of what happened to the Japanese living i..."It's disturbing and eye opening and something I was totally unaware of. The writing is good, but the names of characters are a bit hard to follow as it seems everyone has at least two names. I'm not sorry I read it as it was very informative for me.
Just finished "The Distant Hours" for my regular book club.
Very enjoyable read. Alternates between WWII and the 1990s in Great Britain, takes place in a castle with some interesting characters and several mysteries. Not a quick read.
Recent finished reads:4/15/13
The Paris Wife
5 of 5 stars.
4/25/2013
March
3 of 5 stars.
5/13/2013
Calling Me Home
5 of 5 stars.
Recent reads for my book clubs:"The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D."
was a disappointment as most of the group felt it was pointless and contrived. "Mountains Beyond Mountains" for my Memoir Club was a huge hit, we all loved it and gave it 5 stars.
. Fascinating and very well written.
Gabi wrote: "Cheryl S. wrote: "Just finished reading "Obasan" which is a fictional account of what happened to Canadians of Japanese decent during WWII. I'm well aware of what happened to the Japanese living i..."Haven't read that one, will put it on my to read list. Thanks for the tip!
Just finished "Second Glance"
. I haven't read many Jody Picoult books but this one did hold my interest.
Gabi wrote: "I am reading Raymond E Fiest's final re-write of 'Magicians End' Most of my reading is Sci-Fi or Fantasy and I always have a list of books reserved at my local Municipal Library.I am Halfway thro..."
Have you ever read Mary Doria Russell's "The Sparrow" and the sequal "Children of God"? I'm not big into SciFi/fantasy but these books fascinated me.
I don't know if anyone here really likes flower photo books, but I do, and this one is a fantastic bargain, $50 reduced to $10 so I thought I'd post it, in case anyone does. (I have the blue flower one on the same page as well)> http://www.daedalusbooks.com/Products...
Gabi wrote: "The Library has "The Sparrow" which is out on loan at present, so I have reserved it. "Children of God" is, so far, not in the catalogue. But if I like the first book, I will order it. Our Library ..."Thanks for the tip. I'll check out that one.
Just finished "Tiger Hills". Gave it 3 stars. Historical fiction, India, late 1800s. Some interesting cultural info but the plot is character driven and I found myself being irritated with the protagonist. 
Just finished "TransAtlantic"
by Irish author Colum McCann. Gave it 4.5 stars. The man can really turn a phrase and I can see why this book won the National Book Award. Saga of four women from the same family over 150 years. Some real people, such as Fredrick Douglas, help move the story along.
Gabi wrote: "Cheryl S. wrote: "Just finished "TransAtlantic" by Irish author Colum McCann. Gave it 4.5 stars. The man can really turn a phrase and I can see why this book ..."The Outlander Series is my guilty pleasure and I can't wait till the next one comes out. I've read them all and they get better as the series goes on. My youngest daughter has also become a fan. I spent many years working in the medical field so I also enjoy the parts dealing with plant lore and medical procedures. Every girl should have a Jamie Fraser in her life. Do you plan to read more in the series?
Gabi wrote: "I have read them ALL, I am waiting for the next one, which is due out in your Fall. I never thought I'd fancy a man with red hair and white skin, but Jamie was too much tempatation. I, too, loved..."
Although I still enjoy Jamie's character I also love his nephew, Ian. I was so relieved when he finally found someone special in the last book. Can you tell I get a little too involved in this series?
What's wrong with white-skinned people with red hair???? (like me!)
No, not my sort of book. One of the most beautiful men I ever went out with was tall, slim, very white skinned, with gorgeous red hair and turquoise eyes.
Petra X wrote: "What's wrong with white-skinned people with red hair???? (like me!)"Both of my grandfathers and many of my cousins would fit that description. Seems normal to me and not unattractive.
Just reread "Frenchman's Creek" and oldie moldy but kind of fun.
Gabi wrote: "Cheryl S. wrote:"Both of my grandfathers and many of my cousins would fit that description. Seems normal to me and not unattractive"Um. Not when they're naked!"
I've never seen any of them naked so I wouldn't know.
I'm lily-white and red-haired and I think I'm reasonably attractive. The only man with that colouring I ever saw naked was absolutely stunningly gorgeous (msg 987). What is wrong with red-haired people that you find so unattractive Gabi? Are there any other colour combinations you don't like?
Just finished "When Will There Be Good News"
. Not great lit but a pretty darn good read.
I just downloaded a book called "Summer Rental," but haven't started reading it yet...
I've been in a light, easy, fluffy, don't-try-to-make-me-think mood for several weeks. Re reading. Life too, but it doesn't work. So,I have been reading and re-reading, depending, Amanda Quick's Arcane Series of paranormal romances (listening too, more like, actually, for the most part, although I read one this week from a book). They are totally non-stressful, a little repetitive in vocabulary and expressions (she needs a theasarus; I need a dictionary..). But pure escapism when I'm trying to go to sleep and not think about other things.
Also, have been reading a fair number of books non fiction about various arts and crafts I am interested in. Moving SLOWLY to setting up a small space to do such things in.
Cheers.
Read "Let The Great World Spin"
by Colum McCann. Didn't enjoy it quite as much as "Transatlantic" which I just read a couple of weeks ago but I can see whey it won a National Book Award.
I've been depressed which means I've been reading a huge number of books as I don't do anything else much. The best recently have been: The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies? which I didn't think I would enjoy because wasn't a fan of Jared Diamond (I am now). 7-star book.
Breakfast at Tiffany's, my first-ever buddy read, with OG Sheila.
Porterhouse Blue So funny, it had me snorking noodles till I thought they were going up my nose.
The Fault in Our Stars I don't read much YA but this was quite good and very enjoyable in a sad way.
Just finished
Running with the Kenyans: Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth A good light, enjoyable read that is an attempt to find out why they are so fast and comes up with nothing anyone couldn't have guessed by themselves.
I've nearly finished
Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood which is nothing like anything I thought a harem would be and is written by a sociologist who grew up in one in the 40s. Just amazing.
And loads more. I keep meaning to rate and review them and will. Sometime.
MissJessie wrote: "I've been in a light, easy, fluffy, don't-try-to-make-me-think mood for several weeks. Re reading. Life too, but it doesn't work. Me too.
I recently discovered (through goodreads)
D.E. Stevenson
, an author who hasn't been around for quite some time. I started with Miss Buncle's Book
(which has a misleading cover) and loved it !It's the first book of these four: http://www.goodreads.com/series/61159... , written in the 1930s and 40s.
I've read 3 so far and they certainly are good for escaping into fiction ! Very engrossing. I've got the 4th coming into the library now.
I'm needing some escapism these days too and I'm happy to find Dorothy Stevenson has written many books. I think her books are being rediscovered because some have been newly reprinted, but I'm finding older copies at the library.
I don't know why the font came up like that, I didn't choose it (and wouldn't know how to choose it).
Thanks so much for the recommendations; I am putting them on my list. The fonts do that to me occasionally and it's a mystery.
Petra, after reading your feedback, I added Dreams of Trespass to my To Be Read pile. It sounds interesting.
Kimberly wrote: "Petra, after reading your feedback, I added Dreams of Trespass to my To Be Read pile. It sounds interesting."I will write a review of it when I've finished. It really is fascinating. I stayed in a harem once. It was the Youth Hostel for girls in Jerusalem. Awful industrial metal bunk beds set among marble columns, gilded wood frames, mosaics and luscious murals of food and fountains.
Petra X wrote: "I've been depressed which means I've been reading a huge number of books as I don't do anything else much. The best recently have been: The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditiona..."
"Dreams of Trespass" sounds like a winner for my memoir club. I've read "The Fault in our Stars" and enjoyed that one quite a bit too.
Procrastination wrote: "I've been depressed which means I've been reading a huge number of books as I don't do anything else much. The best recently have been: The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditiona..."
I need some laughter so I'm going to try your suggestion of Porterhouse Blue
.
Absolutely hysterical is Porterhouse Blues. Although if you are real sensitive, it could be offensive here and there. But truly a masterpiece.
I just finished Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood. I think it would be a book club winner. It is an extremely easy read with pictures of the harem and is nothing at all like anything I have ever read. I'm still depressed and so have run out of books to read except for one of the bf's and I don't like mass market thrillers so I've been holding off on it. I think I can manage one night without a book though! (Unless I get insomnia).
Reading The Kitchen Daughter
(in between taking care of the cat with the hairball and the dog with dementia, no wonder I'm awake).I'm not too far into the book yet.
I am rereading Anne of Green Gables and it is just as wonderful as when I read it as a girl."--because when you ARE imagining you might as well imagine something worth while--" Anne of Green Gables
Petra X wrote: "I just finished Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood. I think it would be a book club winner. It is an extremely easy read with pictures of the harem and is nothing at all like anything I ..."I can't manage without a book. I'll reread if I have to.
I suggested the Harem book for my memoir club. I think it sounds fascinating.
Gardener's Group
Books mentioned in this topic
The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss (other topics)The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health (other topics)
White Beech: The Rainforest Years (other topics)
Orchids of Britain and Ireland (other topics)
A Garden with House Attached (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
D.E. Stevenson (other topics)Margaret George (other topics)
Bernd Heinrich (other topics)
Adriana Trigiani (other topics)
Konrad Lorenz (other topics)
More...
Incredible you actually knew someone who had been through such a horrifying experience. In the case of Beautiful Forevers I think it was the filthy conditions in which the people live that got to me more than anything else. Why any of them survive in such a cesspit of bacteria is beyond me.