Book Lovers Club
Comments
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That book sounds really interesting, minustwo. I put a hold on it at my library, and I'm 41 in line!! They have another book of his called: Better: a surgeon's notes on performance. I put a hold on that one too. I'm next in line for it.Just reading The Rope by Nevada Barr. Somehow I missed this one of hers. It's a flashback book,, takes up her life right after her husband died and I guess by the end I'll learn how she got into the NPS.
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Minus...here's an interesting interview, which I think you would enjoy, of Gawande and my idol Eric Topol, MD.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/815241
FYI....I've enjoyed reading all of his books! Another deeply moving book is Barron Lerner, MD's book, The Good Doctor.
I havent mentioned these books in the past because they revolve around medicine....
A book I haven't read yet,but was on my list BEFORE my other idol, Geoff Dyer, mentioned it was worth reading is, Five Days at Memorial. It is about a nursing home during Hurricane Katrina. I wanted my mom to read it, because I've been busy and knowing she would enjoy it....but she declined. She had followed the tragedy as it unfolded and it truly affected her. As a retired director of nursing for a city hospital, the story hit home for her.
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recently finished The Hundred-Year House by Rebecca Makkai. I had enjoyed her earlier book, The Borrower. This is a multigenerational book starting from late 1990's (remember the y2K hysteria?) and going backwards, so people are trying to figure out what happened - often getting it wrong, but you, the reader find out because suddenly you are plunked down twenty years in the past - but you have to keep your wits about you. The house in question is a big mansion, somewhere north of Chicago, built by a wealthy family from Toronto. Shortly after being built, and after a tragedy - it is allowed to become an artists residence - sort of like Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, NY. You get to meet professors and get embroiled in academic politics, artists! poets! writers!Rich people so concerned about their social position that it ruins their lives, and yet it is very much about people transforming themselves/starting over, it is about love and at some points it seems that no one is who they say or think they are.
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What a thrill! I've gotten books via mail everyday this week from ThriftBooks.com. I ordered 6 fabulous hard back copies of some of my favorite books - all in practically new condition - for $19.
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Wow VR - what a fantastic interview. I did remember we're not supposed to talk about health books and I intended to apologize, but the book was so good I had to pass it on. And while I'm on the topic of medicine, I'm finally reading Emperor of All Maladies. I've put it off precisely because I didn't want to think about sick or cancer or health issues, etc. It's actually a fascinating history that I'm having a hard time putting down.
Sandra - great site. I'll be spending more time there.
Jelson - going to add her to my wish list.
Glennie - I don't think I've read The Rope either. At least I don't remember a back story about her husband dying.
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...I am re-reading E-of all Maladies, for the third time....I read it before I knew I had cancer, so then I HAD to read it again after.
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Thanks kath bookmarked it
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Minus...I'm glad you loved the article! Please don't apologize about recommending a medical book....I've slipped a few in this thread as well. Since this thread is sooooo long with so many wonderful books that aren't medical in nature, I think a sprinkling of medical books is OK. Regarding The Emperor of All Maladies....Ken Burns is producing a series for PBS based on the book.
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Why not start another thread with medical books only - Konakat was specific about why she started this thread.
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Sandy....there have been several threads devoted to medical books....I agree that's where those books should be discussed.....
However, medical books like the ones mentioned here read more like stories...they're not self help books. Five Days at Memorial reads like a thriller...Emperor of All Maladies reads like a history book. On a personal note....I stay far away as possible from the self help books and I think that's what Konakat was trying to do when she started this thread.
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I've read Emperor and agree - it's so terrific that I've given copies to my oncs and my PCP as gifts however, what Konakat was trying to do was to "get away from the medical world" and give us a way out too....
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Finished The Rope. If you like Nevada Barr, I think you will like this backstory of how she got into the NPS.I need to read the Emperor of all Maladies. Would definitely watch if Ken Burns did a documentary on it. I loved his Roosevelt series.
I too agree that a sprinkling of medical is ok here.These books that are mentioned are not the self-help type of books. I know I mentioned when I read Bathsheba's Breast, which is the history of breast cancer. I like reading the historical aspects of medical stuff. I find it fascinating.
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I just bought my own copy of The Emperor of All Maladies instead of borrowing it several times from the library. I got a wonderful hardback copy in nearly new condition for $3 on www.Thriftbooks.com. The news that Ken Burns is producing a movie on it is very exciting.
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Forgot to say that on Thriftbooks.com you can set up a wish list in case they don't have what you want in stock. You can ask to be notified when it comes in.
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Sandra - well, it's a rainy day here. Should I get busy & pay my bills? Or should I spend the afternoon at Thriftbooks? Oh dear - maybe that's like the women who had a brief thought about cleaning house on another thread.
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And a ghostly voice whispered: books,, books,,,, books,,,,0 -
I'm like the little devil on one shoulder saying, "Go to Thriftbooks.com...Go to Thriftbooks.com."
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I agree that Emperor of All Maladies is a fantastic read. I've recommended it to many people. The PBS show is coming out Spring of 2015.
I just finished the Rosie Project and enjoyed it. It was a light, fun read. It has a great depiction of a person with Aspergers.0 -
Thanks, fgm! Will look into it. And Sandra thanks for the idea of getting that book for my onc! Sorry about the intrusion of med stuff, but it IS a true very well done story of real people..Yikes & sorry!
Finally went today to the library and renewed my card- 3 more years!
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We can sneak in a few books with some medical themes, especially when they are historical, not 'self-help', and when they are A GOOD READ, which Emperor and Bathsheba are. Can't wait to see what Burns does with Emperor. I love his work. I bought the whole Roosevelt DVD set, plus the companion book. Great stuff!
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fgm....The Rosie Project is on my must read list. My cousin also recommended it.
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Agree, Ruth!0 -
So here's a new controversial subject. Authors we like... If I remember correctly, a bunch of people don't like Margaret Atwood. What about Joyce Carol Oates? Recently finished Missing Mom. It's a 2005 book that was a NY Times Notable Book of the Year. I do like Oates, but I don't have any other local reader friends who do.
The frontpiece says: "Last time you see someone you don't know it will be the last time. And all that you know now, if only you'd known then. But you didn't know, and now it's too late. And you tell yourself How could I have known, I could not have known. You tell yourself. This is the story of my missing mother. One day, in a way unique to you, it will be your story too."
Two interesting snippets. "More people! More people! If I can't be happy myself, I can make them happy." (her Mother said). " 'When the girls grow up & leave, what will I do..? They can't wait to get away.' Gwen was desperate to be needed you see. She couldn't respect herself if she wasn't needed." We all remember the past through our own eyes and not others.
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Margaret Atwood0 -
Sandra - and Oates?
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I'm not a fan of Joyce Carol Oates....HOWEVER, I was once watching her speaking on BookTV and she mentioned how much she enjoyed reading Out of Sheer Rage by Geoff Dyer. I never had heard of Geoff Dyer. But Oates REALLY got me interested in finding out more about this Dyer dude....so I picked up a copy of Out of Sheer Rage and my love affair with the written words of Dyer began!
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Oates? Meh. So so.
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**looking for the like button for that sign**0 -
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