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)
Petra X wrote: "I'm reading Body Hunters: How the Drug Industry Tests Its Products On the World's Poorest Patients which is a much heavier book than I thought. It is quite a frightening exposé of th..."I'll be reading "Little Princes" for my April Memoir Book Club selection. We chose it from 10 options so am glad to hear it's not heavy.
4.
Night
4 of 5 stars; re-read, evening bookclub.
5.
The Secret Life of Bees
5 of 5 stars; re-read of an all time favorite for evening bookclub.
I reread the mammoth Brideshead Revisited instead of doing any work at all these last two days. I was bored with heavy books, and although Brideshead is scarcely light literature, it is a really great story. If I rerated (or even entered) rereads I would give it 5 stars.
Sounds much lighter than the anthropological account of cannibalism in N. America that I am reading.
If you look at my currently-reading, you will see they are all heavy books. Little Princes isn't heavy but it isn't the wonderful book that they publicity has made it out to be, its a bit tedious really.I like reading about things like cannibals, that does sound like my sort of book. I love anthropology.
My BA is in Anthropology and Behavioral Sciences. There really is a huge overlap. I have read psychiatrist notes where they consider someone is delusional because they do not understand the culture. And I have also read psych notes where they said someone was delusional because he thought that the police were going to charge him with murdering a man. BUT it was TRUE- he was a suspect! Psychiatrists also don't understand the sub culture of the persistently mentally ill, so cannot address many of the "symptoms" because they aren't symptoms!
Petra X wrote: "I reread the mammoth Brideshead Revisited instead of doing any work at all these last two days. I was bored with heavy books, and although Brideshead is scarcely light literature, it..."I'll have to put this on my to be read list. I love long books if it's a really good story.
Just read "Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia" Old book, and just wrenching. Makes one wonder what has happened to "the princess" in the past 20 yrs.
There are a lot of follow-up books to Princess by Jean P. Sasson. I read a few, some were good, but eventually they got a bit repetitious.
Petra X wrote: "There are a lot of follow-up books to Princess by Jean P. Sasson. I read a few, some were good, but eventually they got a bit repetitious."Thanks for letting me know.
Just finished Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy. Excellent book to learn how we went from Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation to the Jim Crow laws. I had not realized how much damage one man had done to the Reconstruction and the rights of blacks!
Ok, I can't remember if I added that to my TBR or not, I'll have to go check. Sounds extremely interesting. It's really amazing how much you learn about what really happened in this country when you read a biography about a President. I'm reading Team of Rivals right now about A. Lincoln and I'm flabbergasted at all the crap that went on in the North which I always thought was behind him 100%. I don't know how he kept everything together and didn't have a complete and total nervous breakdown.
The author does describe him as being Melancholy, but she doesn't ever refer to him as clinically depressed. Although how he managed not to be is beyond me. Mary on the other hand had huge mood swings which I attribute to her being bi-polar as you previously noted.
I loved that book and learned so much reading it, Terri. And I think Lincoln is an example of what we are calling recovery. He had learned how to function in spite of his depression. He just did what he had to do! A good part of my life, I have been severely depressed, in spite of taking medication. But I learned how to push myself to do what needs done, in spite of how lousy I felt. One thing, knowing what is wrong helps. That it isn't "real" in some way. I think Lincoln had figured that out, too, even though medical knowledge wasn't that far along. I had a great quote of his, that got lost in a move, where he says someday we will come to realize that depression is a physical illness, not an emotional state. He really was an incredibly wise man. The whole idea of having people who were against you on your cabinet, helping make decisions, shows incredible strength of character to accept that sometimes others have constructive input. And he kept it all together in spite of vicious backstabbing by them! That amazes me, as one who had a complete and total breakdown due to the stress from a bunch of backstabbers! The only time in my life I was unable to function, to work, take care of the house, take care of my hygiene. I am such a fan of Lincoln.
Me too! He really did have incredible fortitude to rule a nation under such dire circumstances on every front. And then to have lost his son one year into the war! The amazing thing is throughout all of this time, it was noted by almost everyone who knew him that he was always telling interesting anecdotes and telling jokes--entertaining everyone and making them laugh. That to me is remarkable. Not only to have that strength to withstand so much, but then to keep his humor and ability to enjoy people. Amazing!
The jokes and enjoying people were probably wellness tools for him! I find that humor and people make it easier to cope when I am depressed.
Just finished The Plot to Seize the White Houseand it was fascinating! There was a big-money plot to take control of the government and turn it into a fascist dictatorship prior to WW2! This book is about the Marine General, Butler, who they decided was the only man capable of leading this fascist coup, and his revelation of the plot! Excellent, easy read!
Terri, I just read a news article that might help explain how Lincoln was able to do what he did. The article was reporting the results of functional MRIs on people with depression, mania, and controls. The frontal lobe of the people with depression, the part that thinks, not feels, was overactive in depressed people and the part that feels was underactive. That might explain some of his great abilities, but also how he was able to stand having rivals on his team- it didn't feel as hurtful as it would to someone who wasn't depressed. Although I have been hurt while depressed and it still hurt.In the manic brain, the frontal lobe was underactive, but the feeling part was overactive. So less judgment is exhibited during mania. That part of the brain just is on vacation.
Miriam: Very interesting--I hadn't come across that story. I have another two Lincoln books waiting, a Washington book and a Ben Franklin book. Don't remember the names off hand. And then of course I have gazillions of novels to read. I'm hoping to start a couple of books after the Service on Saturday. Then I can let out a collective sigh of relief and start in on the slow process of purging.
I just received in the mail from paperback swap a book called: The boy who came back from Heaven.
It's a quick read and something I'm hoping will help me through these coming months. I already read 90 minutes in heaven when MIL was still alive--in fact I had given it to her because she wanted to read it. Unfortunately, she never got to finish it.
Good explanation Miriam, thanks! I've only be severely depressed twice in my life and both times I was hardly able to get out of bed and shower let alone care for myself or others--I just can't imagine being able to handle all of that acrimony when I was feeling that way. But...thank God each of us is different and we were Blessed with an incredible man for that time period. I find it interesting that he really wasn't sure about the whole afterlife thing but he did believe that he was placed where he was, when he was for a reason. He believed there was a higher power working unseen around our country. It's very interesting.
It is amazing what having a purpose can do for functioning during depression. I have pushed through severe depression to work and take care of my kids because there was no one else there to do it. I pushed through severe depression for many years after the kids were all gone because I felt I was doing something important, but then similar acrimony to what Lincoln went through got me down, and I crashed big time. The ONLY time in my life I was not able to work. I, too, didn't shower for weeks at a time. About the only thing that got me off the couch was pet care. And, about the only thing that kept me out of the hospital and not committing suicide was pet care. With this many, I know if I am not here to care for them, some, if not all, would end up put down. I could not have, it would not be fair. I also won't suicide for my kids. Made that decision before I ever had them, knowing I would have ongoing battles with suicidal thoughts.
Miriam wrote: "Just finished The Plot to Seize the White Houseand it was fascinating! There was a big-money plot to take control of the government and turn it into a fascist dictatorship prior to W..."Might have to put this one on the to-read list, sounds very interesting.
Just finished a re-read of Devil's Gate. It is about the handcart migration from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, but includes the history of the Mormons from the beginning. It is very interesting. In Iowa City there is a Mormon Trek Blvd. and a Handcart park that is hidden away behind University owned land, so few even know it is there.
Just finished The Meeting: An Auschwitz Survivor Confronts an SS Physician. I didn't find it that good. The survivor was very confrontational, but it seemed that she didn't really want to listen. Everyone came to the meeting with preconcieved notions, and just tried to reinforce them. Unless someone was really in to the history of the Holocaust, I would not recommend it.
Hmmm. I just read Petra's review of this book, and she loved it! Maybe I have just read too much of this genre lately, to have rated it so differently. Read her review, it is interesting. She has been all over the world!
I'm reading Alice Hoffman's new novel The Red Garden. On page 197 and still waiting to like it as much as others I've read by her. Ah well!
Well all have different reactions to what we read and that's okay! Makes for good conversations!
Just finished "Amish Grace" which is this month's choice for my Memoir Book Club. I'm really bummed because I didn't like it much and would not have finished if it hadn't been for a club. There is interesting info but the writing style was stiff, text bookish and very repetitious. Will be interesting to see what the rest of the gang thinks.
I'm reading "The Gargoyle". So far it defies description and my only thought is "What on Earth can possibly happen next?" A friend on GR recommended it and I can see why he liked it and I will say it's a page turner for sure.
Still reading about good ol' Abe Lincoln in "Team of Rivals." I'm on page 543 out of 900+ pages and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I have gotten a lot of insight into Lincoln and I must say I'm enthralled with the book.I just finished "The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life beyond This World," Author: Kevin Malarkey. It was an inspirational story which I needed right now.
Getting ready to start: The Regulators for a book club read (I'm behind); and two books that I won on Goodreads: "The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" and "Face the Winter Naked" by Bonnie Turner. It's about a WWI veteran during the Great Depression who abandons his family and goes on the road to escape his nightmares of the war. I've only read one chapter so far and it's interesting. I'll let you know what I think when I finish it.
On the back burner: I started "I dreamt of Africa" but got so caught up in the Lincoln biography that I haven't picked it up in about two weeks. I'll probably have to restart it after I finish the giveaways. I need to finish them and review them as a way of saying thanks to the author/publisher's for the freebee. It isn't required, but I'm sure they'd appreciate it.
Terri, I am eager for your comments on Face the Winter Naked. It sounds like one I would enjoy!I am slowly plugging my way through Trouble in Mind. It is an excellently researched book, easy to read, but it makes me so angry with the racist attitudes that I have to stop frequently and cool down. It is explaining a lot of black culture that I did not know the roots of.
Short story #3:Finished "A Woman On The Roof," by Dorris Lessing, this month's selection for our final bookclub short story meet-up. 4 of 5 stars.
Collected Stories: To Room Nineteen v. 1
I've been reading Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín which is this month's morning bookclub's selection and I've put it down for a bit; it's been making me sad. I wanted to have a better idea of what my Nana went through when she immigrated to the US from Ireland (her circumstances were similar to the main character's) so I was looking forward to reading this when I saw it on the list. It's doing just that; the old saying comes to mind, 'be careful what you wish for.'
Miriam: I will definitely let you know!
I'm almost done with "Gargoyle" and still don't have a clue about what's going on.
Last night I finished 
Brooklyn
4 of 5 stars; It's been an emotional read but I did like it a lot. Toibin does a fantastic job of of painting an emotional picture of what Eilis Lacey is feeling in leaving Ireland for the US and what she experiences in her first years here; I feel like I've been through this journey with her and as parts of it were similar to my Nana's, she will remain with me for some time.
Finished "The Gargoyle" and probably wouldn't recommend it unless people are interested in the bazaare.
I'm re-reading Beds I Have Known: Confessions of a Passionate Amateur Gardener, a favorite LOL good read.
Jo wrote: "I'm re-reading Beds I Have Known: Confessions of a Passionate Amateur Gardener, a favorite LOL good read."Loved this book, still have it and will probably read it again too.
Just finished "Secret Daughter" the memoir of a young mixed race girl born in the 50s and growing up with a white mother who wanted to keep her out of the public eye. Absolutely heartbreaking. I usually don't advocate violence, but in this case the mother could have used a good slap.
That sounds like an interesting book, Cheryl. Jo, I haven't read that, but it looks fun. Cheryl, I am very anti violence, but there are times I want to slap some sense into people! Sounds like this mom is one.
Miriam, it's a fun, interesting & informative read; a fun read was just what I needed right now too!
I need some fun reads. I haven't been to the library lately, and my stack at home, books I buy, are all history! I think that is part of the reason I haven't been able to get to sleep the last few nights. Today I go!
Cheryl, I was thinking about your post, and my comment, and it occurred to me that most of the people I get an urge to slap are stupid parents! LOL
Miriam wrote: "That sounds like an interesting book, Cheryl. Jo, I haven't read that, but it looks fun. Cheryl, I am very anti violence, but there are times I want to slap some sense into people! Sounds like ..."
I literally found myself gritting my teeth at some of the insensitive things this woman said to her daughter.
I think it was Petra who mentioned she was reading "Brideshead Revisited" which I have meant to read for years. I got it from PaperBackSwap and am loving it. I have a little trouble catching some of the Brit references but it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
I am watching it on Youtube now. Its a really faithful rendering of the book in about 30-odd episodes.
I finished "Brideshead" this aftn and was not ready for it to end. Enjoyed it very much.
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)
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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)
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I feel the same way about reading dark material, I need to mix it up with other stuff.