What I'm Reading - June 2012

[Lone]

John wrote: "Sort of, Lone ... If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home. I'm also listening to the first part of Jan Morris' "Pax Britannica", a history of the British Empire, as well."

Hi John, The book sounds like much fun! I shall add to my wish list. The program you are listening to is that available on BBC Radio 4?

[Marjorie]

Sharon wrote "I'm also reading The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East. I'm only at the beginning, but so far it's a wonderful read. I'm pretty sure I'm going to like it."

I really liked Sandy Tolan's THE LEMON TREE. One of my favorite reads a few years ago. A true story that reads like a novel. So interesting and sad. I learned a lot from this book, such as how so many Arab people lost their homes when Israel became a state. Another thing I did not know was that the Bulgarian people had refused to send the Jews to concentration camps in spite of being pressured to do so by the Germans. A book I won't forget.

Marge

[Marjorie]

Elizabeth wrote "Jane wrote: "I just finished Playing For Pizzaby John Grisham. I almost gave the book only one star but I ended up giving it two because I was interested at first. Even though I am not a football fan, I found..."

"My husband usually loves John Grisham. I'll make sure he stays away from this one ;). I liked his earlier stuff - a lot of suspense and character development. But some of his later ones seem less developed to me, or maybe my tastes have just changed a bit? "

I recently read Grisham's THE LITIGATORS (2012) Definitely recommend it. Here's what I wrote about it:

"The first 12 chapters had my sides aching from laughing so hard. Then this book gets into suspense, along with humor. A young married man, a Harvard law graduate, has been working in Chicago for one of the top law firms, and he hates it. One morning he can't make himself get out of the elevator to start work; he goes back down and heads for the nearest bar. A non-drinker, but he sits in the bar and talks to the bartender and drinks all day. He is finally sent home by the barkeeper, but sees the advertisement for the law firm of Finley and Finn on the side of a bus and asks the taxi drivver to take him there. He walks into the nondescript little building next to a massage parlor, looks around and says to the receptionist, "I like it here. I'm going to work for you people." So begins his adventure with the firm of Wally Finn and Oscar Finley. A great book. I loved the characters and the writing. A vast improvement over the last couple of Grisham's books."

Marge

[Elizabeth]

Lone wrote: "I'm enjoying Anglo-Saxon England :-)
Anyone else reading about the history of England?"

Lone - one of my degrees is in Mideval European history. Spent a lot of time on Anglo-Saxon England. Who's the author? I have several on my tbr list.

[Elizabeth]

Marjorie wrote: "Elizabeth wrote "Jane wrote: "I just finished Playing For Pizzaby John Grisham. I almost gave the book only one star but I ended up giving it two because I was interested at first. Even though I am..."

I'll have to make sure I pick that one up when I pick up my July reading ;).

[Sharon]

Marjorie wrote: "Sharon wrote "I'm also reading The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East. I'm only at the beginning, but so far it's a wonderful read. I'm pretty sure I'm going to like it."
..."

I completely agree with you, Marjorie! I'm learning so much. I just finished the chapter that describes how the Bulgarians protected the Jewish people from being sent to concentration camps. I hadn't been aware of that before either, and you're so right - this book really does read like a novel. It's such a complex situation, and the author really does a good job of describing how nuanced it really is from all perspectives. What a powerful read!

[John]

Lone wrote: "John wrote: "Sort of, Lone ... If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home. I'm also listening to the first part of Jan Morris' "Pax Britannica", a history of the British Empire, as well."..."

Lone -

I spent an Audible credit on Part 1 of the Jan Morris trilogy, but the narration is so well done that it's flown by, rather than dragged as much longer non-fiction can do.

[Book Concierge]

Track of the Cat – Nevada Barr
3.5***

Anna Pigeon is a US Parks Ranger who is escaping a tragic past by working in the remote Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which straddles the New Mexico / Texas border. It’s rugged country, mostly desert, but including the highest peak in Texas and some forested land. On a routine patrol to check for signs of the park’s mountain lions she notices an unusual number of large buzzards circling. The carcass must be rather large if so many birds are interested, so Anna descends into the canyon to investigate. What she finds is not a deer or elk, but a human.

This is the debut for Anna Pigeon, and a good debut it is. Anna is a strong woman – not only physically fit, but emotionally and mentally strong. Sure she’s carrying some baggage, but she deals with it and never waits to be rescued if she can save herself. There are some obvious red herrings here, and the experienced mystery reader will recognize them for what they are. Still, Barr writes a good story. There’s a little too much time spent on tangents, but even so, the plot moves fast enough to keep one turning pages, I’ll read more of the Anna Pigeon series.

[Book Concierge]

Flags of Our Fathers – James Bradley
Audio book read by Stephen Hoye
5*****

A lucky photograph captured the imagination of the American people and helped raise the spirits of a nation (and LOTS of money in war bonds). This is the background story of the famous shot of the flag being raised on Iwo Jima.

Author James Bradley’s father was one of those six young men whose lives were changed by a photographer taking one more shot. In trying to explain his father’s long years of silence about his experiences during World War 2, Bradley discovered not only John “Doc” Bradley’s story, but that of the other men who fought to take Iwo Jima.

Though he spends a good part of the book giving us background on the six young men whose destinies would converge on Mount Suribachi during one of the bloodiest battles of the war in the Pacific, Bradley manages to keep the story moving forward. He walks a fine line between personal anecdote and the tension of a battlefield report.

Stephen Hoye is best when reading the battle scenes. When he slows down to give importance to a phrase or section his voice takes on an irritating quality that detracts from the message. Trust the listener, Mr Hoye. We will figure out what is important without your “acting” it for us. Despite this irritation, I still give the book 5 stars because Bradley’s work is gripping, emotional, dramatic, touching and inspirational.

[Sara]

Finished The Age of Miracles. Wow. Just wow. Beautifully written, wholly imagined, great voice, and a book I will remember forever.

[Lone]

Elizabeth wrote: "Lone wrote: "I'm enjoying Anglo-Saxon England :-)
Anyone else reading about the history of England?"

Lone - one of my degrees is in Mideval European history. Spent a lot of time on Anglo-Saxon E..."

Hi Elizabeth,
Its 'Angle-Saxon England' by Frank Stenton that I'm reading. Do you have any recommendations or should I just check your bookshelves? :-)

[Lone]

John wrote: "Lone wrote: "John wrote: "Sort of, Lone ... If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home. I'm also listening to the first part of Jan Morris' "Pax Britannica", a history of the British Empi..."

ah, I see! You have bought an audio book. :-)

[Ann D]

Marjorie,
I just put The Litigators on my TBR list.

There is also a very good Israeli movie called THE LEMON TREE, about a Palestinian woman who is trying to keep her lemon grove from being destroyed by the Israeli defense minister who lives next door. The minister wants a cleared area around his home for security reasons. It stars the wonderful Hiam Abbass. She was also in the American film THE VISITOR.

[Sara]

Finished Keeping the House: A Novel--not a worthy endeavor. Really a big glop of nothing I could enjoy.

Just starting Passage--have loved other books by Connie Willis, so I have high hopes.

Actually, switching to The Mosquito Coast--forgot I had it in my audible library.

[Lyn]

Just now finished The Mosquito Coast. Wow.

[Elizabeth]

Lone wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Lone wrote: "I'm enjoying Anglo-Saxon England :-)
Anyone else reading about the history of England?"

Lone - one of my degrees is in Mideval European history. Spent a lot of tim..."

Lone - I think I only have 3 books listed on my shelf. I haven't put many of my old school books on there. There's some good material online through Anglo-Saxon Books in the UK
http://www.asbooks.co.uk/

[Aoibhínn]

I've finished reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne this morning and now I'm about to start Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner.

[Sue]

I'm continuing A Fine Balance which is really a fine novel, but I'm also breaking up the bleakness with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Will also start The Sisters Brothers soon for the discussion.

[Kat]

Lone wrote: "I'm enjoying Anglo-Saxon England :-)
Anyone else reading about the history of England?"

I just put aside a number of books I was reading on English history for a project--all about the late 17th century.

[Carol]

For those who like Margaret Atwood ,check out the short story thread. Really nifty little story.



http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

[Sara]

Carol wrote: "For those who like Margaret Atwood ,check out the short story thread. Really nifty little story.



http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9..."

Thanks very much, Carol. I love Atwood, and wasn't really paying attention to the thread, so I'll definitely read it!

[Carol]

I will be interested in reading your opinion about Verna. She is disturbing.

[Geoff]

Ellie (#188): That might be the sharpest difference between any two books mentioned in a single post that I've ever seen on Goodreads. . . . .

[Carol]

LOL Geoff. I had to look up her comment. :-)

[Sara]

Geoff wrote: "Ellie (#188): That might be the sharpest difference between any two books mentioned in a single post that I've ever seen on Goodreads. . . . ."

My first thought exactly!

[John]

July thread?

[Sue]

Sara wrote: "Geoff wrote: "Ellie (#188): That might be the sharpest difference between any two books mentioned in a single post that I've ever seen on Goodreads. . . . ."

My first thought exactly!"

I was thinking the same thing at the time.

[Ruth]

John wrote: "July thread?"

Thanks for the reminder. There is now a July thread, and I'll close this one.