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: I agree! SK can definitely be a hoot. You have to learn not to get offended by some of the characters. I've noted over the years that all of his books have one character that is a religious fanatic or one that provides him the ability to get in a few cracks at organized religion. Being from a Pastor's family, I get all the little biblical quotes and inside puns and actually laugh out loud. The gore I kind of just gloss over. It's usually his supernatural elements or sociological comments that I enjoy the most because I they give me something to think about. His characters are well thought out and always have flaws along with their strengths--just like real people.
Cheryl, I enjoy reading about forensics, but wonder if that would have been a good field for me. I am far too trusting of others. Have been taken financially, not once, but twice, by males "borrowing" money, as well as a "boyfriend" who it turned out didn't really like me, just my money. All were con artists. I think that is one reason I am so fascinated- how do people like that come to be? How can you discover them. One book I really enjoyed was The Sociopath Next Door that talks about how not all of them are serial killers- it depends on what their goals are. It was really informative. I should use it like a bible, read a bit every day!
Cheryl, I'm a SK fan but his On Writing memoir is my favorite of his!Miriam, I have Mind Hunter too! I used to find criminal profiling fascinating!
Jo: I didn't think anyone would have read "On Writing" besides me. LOL. But of course, you are a writer so you would have. Wasn't that book great? So many insights into his writing and his life. And the part about his accident was horrific. I did laugh though when he said that it was like something out of his novels--true.
Jo, there is a great book that has an explanation that makes better sense to me than most about how the violent criminal is formed in childhood. When I think about the histories of killers I have read, their experiences fit. You might enjoy it.Why They Kill: The Discoveries of a Maverick CriminologistI saw The House of the Seven Gables at the library, and remembered loving it as a kid. So I started it this morning. Been too busy to get very far in to it, yet, but after learning about Hawthorne's family history of a Salem "witch" judge, the initial chapter makes a lot more sense!
Terri wrote: "Jo: I didn't think anyone would have read "On Writing" besides me. LOL. But of course, you are a writer so you would have. Wasn't that book great? So many insights into his writing and his lif..."I bought it in hard back when it first came out because I was such a fan of his (despite most of his novels scaring the ever living bleep out of me over time LOL) and it's one I've read time and gain, especially when I'm feeling lack-luster in the writing department. (Think it's time for another re-read!)
Miriam wrote: "Jo, there is a great book that has an explanation that makes better sense to me than most about how the violent criminal is formed in childhood. When I think about the histories of killers I have r..."Thanks for the recommend, I'll look into it!
Jo wrote: "Terri wrote: "Jo: I didn't think anyone would have read "On Writing" besides me. LOL. But of course, you are a writer so you would have. Wasn't that book great? So many insights into his writi..."Miriam wrote: "Cheryl, I enjoy reading about forensics, but wonder if that would have been a good field for me. I am far too trusting of others. Have been taken financially, not once, but twice, by males "borrowi..."
LOL! I was fairly trusting when I was young until I went through my divorce many years ago and since then I have worked hard to learn to read people. I've loved the John Douglas book for that very reason and find it fascinating how he and others in his field have developed their insights. Also working in the Emergency Department for many years and seeing all the cons patients try to work for various reasons really honed my BS detector.
Jo wrote: "Terri wrote: "Jo: I didn't think anyone would have read "On Writing" besides me. LOL. But of course, you are a writer so you would have. Wasn't that book great? So many insights into his writi..."Another book on writing I love is "Bird by Bird" and at the moment I can't remember the name of the author. I think I still have it around here somewhere and if I find it I'll let you know the name of the author.
It is Bird by Bird Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. I remember reading it and laughing out loud. It's a keeper.
I just finished Leave me Gasping by T.C.Beacham, a fun little online mystery. It's set in Tampa, Florida and was quite descriptive of Gulf Coast life. I just brought home Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, The Help, and Sufficient Grace from recommendations I read here. Thanks y'all.
I bought a new book The Double Comfort Safari Club. I shouldn't have really as I am reading seven already, but I so like that series. I think of Precious Ramotswe almost as an old friend now, after reading about her in so many books.
Just finished Tales from Spandau: Nazi Criminals and the Cold War . Hard to get through at times, but I learned a lot about Cold War politics.
Loved saving CeeCee! This one is a treasure that will go on the bookshelf to share with my daughter and her children.
Cheryl S. wrote: "Jo wrote: "Terri wrote: "Jo: I didn't think anyone would have read "On Writing" besides me. LOL. But of course, you are a writer so you would have. Wasn't that book great? So many insights int..."Bird by Bird is by Anne Lamott. I remember reading that in college. I love Anne's writing, always open & honest.
Sally wrote: "Loved saving CeeCee! This one is a treasure that will go on the bookshelf to share with my daughter and her children."I loved Saving CeeCee! And Sufficient Grace. I'm still reading The Help now. Hope you enjoy them all!
Oooo, good to know about CeeCee, I just received it in the mail so I'll be reading it in the next month or so. Glad to hear it's good.Still reading Under the Dome. If you haven't read it yet Jo, you should. It's not scary like The Shining. But it has plenty of tension--which he's a master at. I can barely stand to put it down. I'm already sad that I I'm half way to the end. LOL. Best book of his that I've read in a long time.
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Bloomin’Chick (Jo) aka The Eclectic Spoonie
(last edited Apr 11, 2011 03:31PM)
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I'll have to look into it Terri! I do love Stephen King :-) but I haven't read anything (new) from him in a long time.
My books are more romance fiction. :) I am reviving an old favorite author of mine, Nora Roberts. Reading her Three Sisters Trilogy, again, and then a book by a new author (for me), Robyn Carr. Just finished reading some of my favorite serial books by Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lynsay Sands, Angela Knight, Karen Marie Moning, and Jeaneine Frost. So, March and April have been successful reading months for me.
I love Nora Roberts' In The Garden Trilogy! (Blue Dahlia, Black Rose and Red Lily). Have you read it?
Jo wrote: "I love Nora Roberts' In The Garden Trilogy! (Blue Dahlia, Black Rose and Red Lily). Have you read it?"Hey Jo,
No I never finished that series, but did read the Blue Dahlia and Black Rose. Gonna add that to my "to read" list though. Thanks for the reminder.
I also enjoyed her "Key" and "Harbor" series...
Just finished "No Ordinary Time" by Doris Kerns Goodwin and really enjoyed it. I found it much more readable and interesting that "A Team of Rivals."
Good to know Cheryl, I have that book too. :)
Now I'm reading "Falling Leaves" a memoir by a Chinese female physician who grew up with a very abusive stepmother and indifferent father and rose above their insensitivity and control to lead life on her own terms.
I've just finished the epic Les Misérables It was wonderful. I haven't read classics for years, I'd forgotten the pleasure of those big, detailed books.
I just reread The House of Seven Gables, Hawthorne. It was fun, but I am out of the habit of reading that flowery speech! I think I liked it more the first time I read it since at the time I was reading all of Poe, Dickens, and other contemporaries!
I don't like authors like Hawthorne and Fitzgerald like I used to love them when I read them now and it's that long winded flowery speach that gets to me! When one sentence lasts a page, I give up now, lol!!!
I have never been able to get in to Fitzgerald. Tried over and over again with various books. Just read a quickie on the mine disaster, Our Story: 77 Hours That Tested Our Friendship and Our Faith, and also Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps that I picked up at the library yesterday afternoon. Both interesting quick reads. Tried to get in to Out of This World: A Journey of Healing but after several chapters of increasing dislike for the woman, realized that she reminded me too much of my narcissistic, Munchausen mom! Could not take anymore of it!
Spent the day reading The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers Her Father's War. It was engrossing. Part history, part travel, part moral musing, part autobiography. Very good. (WW2 Pacific theater)
Obviously, the weather here is still lousy, so read another short book, We Band of Brothers: The Sullivans & World War II. Interesting to learn about how average (or slightly below average?) they really were.
Almost done with Under the Dome. Also finished reading After Life: Answers from the Other Side--it was a quick read and interesting. I'm never quite sure how I feel about mediums/psychics whatever you want to call them, but I did find the stories very interesting. I've never watched his show either. I find myself drawn to these type of stories right now, probably because of the death of my MIL. Anyway, I gave it three stars.
The Help
4 of 5 stars, may upgrade to 5 of 5. Have to gather my thoughts on this eye-opening southern read for a bit.
Moral Combat: A History of World War II
Just finished this very well written book on the development of the moral decisions during WW2 and the trials. 600 pages, no light reading! Author was very knowledgable, but also very readable, at times sounding more like a conversation than a book. He has the British humor, including a few puns on words or names, as well as some dark humor. An example is on page 410, where he is dealing with the staff that euthanised the mentally ill and mentally/ physically disabled in institutions, he states, "Some T-4 people may have grumbled about their 'shit work', but given that their job was to kill people with mental problems, nervous breakdowns would have been inadvisable."
Thanks Miriam, I'm adding that one to my list. Sounds like my kind of book!
Spent Sunday reading Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
and was very impressed. Well written, thoughtful, helped me understand racial tensions even more. Incredibly good book.
Okay, added that one too. Sheesh Miriam, you're adding to my huge TBR pile! :)
Lol Terri! Too bad we don't live closer, we could share books! Save us both some money! I am reading Eleanor & Franklin
right now. At 700 pages, it may take a while. I tried to get my library to give it to me, since no one has taken it out in 17 years! but the director said no!
Miriam wrote: "Spent Sunday reading Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance and was very impressed. Well written..."Read this a while ago and also thought it was very good.
Miriam wrote: "Lol Terri! Too bad we don't live closer, we could share books! Save us both some money! I am reading Eleanor & Franklin right now. At 700 pages, i..."Hope you like it, I just finished it a couple weeks ago and really liked it.
Finished "Constant Princess" which was kind of blah. Didn't care for the format.Now I'm reading "The Sparrow" and so far think it is going to be a winner.
That would be nice Miriam! I also have a Eleanor and FDR book to read. It's called No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II written by the same author as Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham LincolnI think Cheryl read it already if I remember correctly and she said she liked it better than TOR. Am I remembering correctly Cheryl?
Oh, Terri, I want that one! I am quite a fan of both the Roosevelts, as well as Lincoln. I was a fan of F.D.R. even before I got in to reading so much history. Then I toured Hyde Park- his place, and Eleanor's Val K something (not enough coffee yet)and became a big fan of hers too. I highly recommend the tours to anyone in the NY area. I was traveling from the Albany area where one of my sisters lives, to D.C. for a meeting, and had some extra time. Now I want to go back and spend more time there- didn't get to his library...
Terri wrote: "That would be nice Miriam! I also have a Eleanor and FDR book to read. It's called No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II written by the sam..."Yup. I thought it was a much easier and more enjoyable read although it may have helped that I'm much more familiar with that time period than with Lincoln's time.
Miriam wrote: "Oh, Terri, I want that one! I am quite a fan of both the Roosevelts, as well as Lincoln. I was a fan of F.D.R. even before I got in to reading so much history. Then I toured Hyde Park- his plac..."
I especially enjoyed learning more about Eleanor from this book. She had her faults like everyone else but she was such a crusader for human rights and of course the first First Lady who every carved out a role for herself while her husband was in office. I love reading about strong women.
I am always amazed at how respectful the media was at the time, compared to now. They respected FDR's wishes to be photographed only sitting, or after he was "in place" and they didn't rake over the coals his philandering. I suspect that many of their society friends had no idea how others lived, but through her volunteer work they both were exposed before he began public life, and it impacted both of their careers. Great people.
I'm reading Grahame Greene's Our Man in Havana, several non-fiction books I've been reading for a while, The Madness of Prince Hamlet and Other Delusions and Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival and trying to decide if I want to read another Trollope (I've just finished He Knew He Was Right or attempt Ulysses.I've also just finishedLook Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's and got a long review swallowed by GR yesterday, so I might write that again.
(I really hate the underlining of links. I know it was introduced for 'greater visibility' but I think it just makes things look too cramped-up).
Petra: What a bummer! I hate it when I lose a long post. God knows where it vanishes to. Somewhere out in the great void of computer land. Jo: Can't wait to hear what you think of Bloodroot as I bought it a while back so I will be reading it once I finish the 12 books I'm reading right now. LOL!
Miriam just think of the money we'd save if we were neighbors! "Course we'd both be saying--"haven't you finished that book yet? I'm dying to read it so hurry up!" Especially because I read so many books at once lately it takes me awhile to finish one.
Have any of you read "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell? I'm finding it one of the most unusual and intriguing books I have ever read. I'm marveling at the wide range of information the author needed to bring this story to life and her expertise with creating interpersonal relationships between her characters. It is Sci-Fi and for that reason I don't know what I was expecting, but this has been a wonderful surprise.
Gardener's Group
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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I just picked up Hangman at the library today and finished it abou..."
That's such a bummer about your library group. I don't belong to the one here, but they are very active and actually got a new library built a number of years ago. The previous one had been in our old depot building with cracked plaster, loose windows and a mildew problem, but they still had to really fight to get the new one built.
I like reading about forensics too and often wonder if I were a young person today if I would have chosen criminology as a profession over medicine. I don't have any regrets, I loved what I did, but when I see what my daughter is getting to do with her new profession in landscaping architecture I think I would want to do that too. LOL. Probably a good thing I'm retired!!