Book Lovers Club
Comments
-
badger..wow! Are you reading quickly! Dh just finished the most recent Childs book. It was the first one written with his brother Andrew. DH shared some points of the plot with me. He thought it was up to par with the other books in the series. i won't spoil the interesting details. All I will say is that life imitates art in the most provocative way....
Geoff Dyer...Yoga wasn't among my favorites....if you can get your hands on Out of Sheer Rage, I promise it will be worth the trouble. Then...if you really want to devote some serious time to reading his National Book Critics award winning book of essays, Otherwise Known as the Human Condition, then go for it.
i have no doubt that once you read Dyer, you will never look at things the same way again. Dyer was a keen fan of John Berger who wrote the book and series, Ways of Seeing. Dyer's ways of seeing and brilliant writing of it, is second to none. His descriptions are never lofty. Yet, you are left thinking of things in ways you have never thought before....and did I mention how funny his books are? I cry laughing from some of his descriptions...
eula Biss is another great essay writer. Starting her newest book tonight,0 -
VR - I saw an interview with Lee Child about why he's turning the series over to his brother. Glad to know the book it up to par.
Goodness Badger. I used to read a book a day with no problem, but somehow I just don't have the time. Part of that is I'm walking 6 miles a day - so 2 hours gone. Part of that is my new inventive cooking phase. Part of it is my magazine subscriptions. Several require serious reading. I won't give up The Atlantic (used to be Atlantic Monthly). And now I'm getting Harpers also. That's in addition to 6 or 8 other monthly magazines (like Arizona Highways & Bookmarks) and a weekly news magazine (The Week) and the local paper every day and the Washington Post on line. Whew. Anyway, I'm lucky to read a book once every two weeks now.
0 -
I have time to read now, being retired and stuck at home for the most part cuz of COVID. I don't watch much TV and walk 30 minutes a day. (I have sore feet and can't do more than 30 minutes without hurting.) It will be a pleasure to get out more when the virus is under better control, even if it means reading less.
0 -
Badger - I haven't turned on my TV in over 4 years, so that's not a distraction. Guess I'm just too involved in my Civic Club organization & cooking new meal variations.
0 -
0 -
Minus, my DH is a retired chef so I don't do much cooking these days. :-)
Just finished Devil in the White City. Now I want to go back to Chicago.
There are several works of art in and around the WI State Capitol from the Columbian Expo, most notable the "Forward" statue created by Jean Pond Miner.
[For more info see this Forward statue article from the WI Historical Society. The original is in their building. The bronze replica cast from the original was at the State Street corner of Capitol Square but was vandalized during "protests" in June. SMH]
0 -
Ruth - Great picture. It appears that's exactly what I do with books - winter & summer. Heaven forbid I might ever be caught short w/o a new book. That's sad when I actually have shelves full of books that I would be happy to re-read.
0 -
Badger - really interesting about the Jean Pond Miller statue. I like the statue, the fact that a woman was chosen for this honor, and the idea that she was still sculpting at age 101.
0 -
Just found this thread. I'm in a book club and so far have been able to read or listen the selected book enough to participate each month (and hide my inability to concentrate). Thanks for the suggestions. I've had trouble motivating to read (or excercise, clean out, give a sh*%) so thought I'd try some beach reads. Listened (dozing some, but it's a beach read) to Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand. Will try the next in the series.
0 -
welcome nopink2019!
Elin Hilderbrand is a beach read for sure. So is Dorothea Benton Frank.
Mary Kay Andrews is also an easy read. Fluffy and only slightly naughty.
0 -
0 -
So true Ruth! Have done that so many times.
0 -
Ah Ruth - exactly!!! And the next thing you know it's 5am.
0 -
Finished Thunderstruck, by Erik Larson. He weaves parallel stories of two men - Marconi and Crippen - one an inventor and one a murderer. Took me a while to get through it. Mom had a stroke and will be in skilled nursing for rehab at least through Dec, then assisted living or a nursing home. She has to give up her apartment so I've been busy sorting, cleaning & packing up her things for moving into storage.
Still waiting on library books "in transit" requested a week ago: two by Lee Child (Reacher 5 & 6), two by Carl Hiaasen (Squeeze Me and Team Rodent) and one Erik Larson (Isaac's Storm). In the queue for the new Alex Cross by James Patterson (Deadly Cross) and the new Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (The Law of Innocence).
0 -
Badger....hope your mom does well and has a swift and full recovery.
0 -
Me too Badger. It was heartbreaking dealing with my Mother's stroke.
Reading Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan. It's historical fiction about the Italian resistance in WWII. How is it that I've read and know all sorts of things about the resistance in England & France & Africk and war history of Germany & Russia and the South Pacific and know really nothing about the resistance in Italy?? In fact I think the only thing I remember about WWII and Italy is the movie Guns of Navarrone. This is an illuminating book.
Accepted a $12.97 offer to get Harpers for year. Oh my - it's been a long time since I've read that magazine and my brain is definitely challenged. Add that to the Atlantic and my free time for books just dropped again.
0 -
Thanks, ladies. She's doing OK. Can't move the left side of her body but speech therapy has done wonders for her ability to speak and swallow. PT is working on strength & mobility. In one of the cruelest SE's, her vision was affected and she can't read; the words are all blurry. She's on the list for an in-house eye exam and activities is going to hook her up with books on tape.
0 -
Badger...glad you both are moving forward...
And those books on tape! Bravo to her for wanting to continue to read! What a lady!
0 -
So glad I found this post. Books are definitely my escape and place of calm. Lately, I've even been doing much more rereading of old favorites. There's comforting about this, it's like visiting with an old friend. Which I'm sure we all miss in this weird covid world. I just wanted to say thanks for all of the great book suggestions. I have a new list to take with me to the library.
Badger, I'm so sorry about your mom. I knowhow devastating it is. I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers for the best possible prognosis.
0 -
Welcome Poppy! Thanks for the thoughts & prayers.
Mom is doing better. She's getting a lot of PT so is able to stand on her left leg to hold weight & pivot. Eye doc visited and said stroke affected her vision; she needs new glasses. I hope that helps as she is a VR.
Got mom's apartment cleared out so have had time to read the past few days. Knocked off Reacher #5 Echo Burning and Carl Hiaasen's Team Rodent. I am disheartened but not shocked by Disney's business practices. Next up, will start Reacher #6 Without Fail to have it done for DH. He is reading the series, too.
0 -
Badger, that is amazing news she’s able to hold weight and pivot. That’s a big deal! I hadn’t heard about team rodent, but as a kid that grew up in Orlando and had both a parent with a professional job at Dos he and mu first job there, I am very intrigued! I am going to add that to my holiday book list. I’m contemplating two weeks off with a big stack of books and fire logs. It sounds like a cozy and restful way to wrap up the year. And of course, there will be snacks. You and your mom will stay in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping you’re able to find some time for you in the midst of all that you’re going through
0 -
Hiaasen's Team Rodent....sometimes I regret having read the book....also just noticed a web page devoted to incidents reported at Disney World. Oy....
On a much lighter note....read a SPECTACULAR book! Eye candy! Sam Lubell's Life Meets Art Inside the Homes of the Most Creative People. I love art and architecture, so I had already been familiar with some. of the homes. Since the book delves into one page interiors of the homes, I spent much of my time searching the internet for the complete interiors and exteriors of the homes.
I was absolutely astounded by the number of homes that went into the creation of this coffee table sized book.
Did I get ANYONE interested in taking a peek at the book? I promise no one will be disappointed. The book is in alphabetical order and on one of the first pages, you find Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House's interior.Wow! What a book.
0 -
VR- something my Mother would have loved. She had a big living room with a big round table that always had interesting 'coffee table' books. Also my SIL. She went to college when she was older and studied art & architecture. I spent many hours with her & her camera stomping around houses & going on 'road trips' to find old buildings - not to mention tombstones. They are both gone, so I'll take a look at the book to remember them. Perfect timing since today was my Mother's B-day.
0 -
Minus! Glad I reminded you of wonderful thoughts of your mom on what was her birthday!
speaking of coffee tables....books that I am currently reading from the library get placed on my “coffin table,” in the den...not to be confused with my living room, “coffee table.” When the kids were growing up, they found their new library books on the “coffin table.” They were trained to place the library books that they had finished reading on the “coffin table” as well. For years and years you would be hearing me shout through the house, “Hey, are all of the books that need returning to the library on the coffin table.” Of course, one of my kids would be jumping down the steps with a bunch of books that needed returning...But that was the place, in the house, where they always loved to go once they came home from school. They would take snacks into the den and search the coffin table for new books from the library....So, how did the “coffin table” get its name? Well...the DH came home from work one day and saw it in the den. VR asked if he liked it and he replied, he thought it was ok, but it reminded him of the top of a coffin. Rectangular in shape with carved lines around the perimeter, I guess it does look like a coffin. But, VR would not be dissuaded from not keeping it. VR told him she would just cover the table with lots and lots of books. And she did
While most people would enjoy looking at their book shelves or night stands filled with books, VR finds pleasure in looking at her “coffin table.” At this very moment, from the view of the den couch, VR has a lot of reading to do....
0 -
What a great story, VR!
I am going to take a look at the book you just recommended as it does sound quite yummy. I have just been to Yalta and am traveling in the Third Reich right now with the books I heard about at the Churchill lecture. I will say more when I finish.
0 -
oh ruth! I am so sorry I gave you such a long reading assignment. That said, I am delighted you are reading the books and I am looking forward to hearing what you thought of them! I will be surprised if you don’t tell me that the Travellers book wasn't among the best you’ve read. The primary documents that fill the book are amazing....it really answers the question of why people were so unaware of what was happening in Germany during that period of time. Larson’s In the Garden of Beasts gives you an idea of what was happening, thanks to his use of primary documents. But Travellers is a tour de force that does an incredible job of trying to find the answer....
enjoy0 -
Love the 'coffin' table. We had a fold down table/shelf in the kitchen where our library books were gathered. Another good Mother memory. She had a set of spiral library steps like the picture below. Who knows the original wood because she bought them second hand and someone had painted them orange. And she really did have books in the den from floor to ceiling. I don't have floor to ceiling book cases, but do have several rooms with walls totally covered with 6 ft bookcases. I don't technically need the steps, but they are now in my den and that's where books live pre-shelving, post re-reading for return, or (sigh) ready to pass along to friends of the library.
Well, trying again to insert the picture. SO this is try # 3
0 -
minus! OMG! That spiral library steps! OMG! That brings back such a memory for me! Back in the day, I was out with my friend’s mother. For the life of me, I can’t recall why I was out with her....I can’t remember if some of the kids were in the car with us or not....BUT... we were together and we passed an antique store with a spiral library steps in the window. She asked me to stop the car. Of course I did. She ran in the store and moments later reappeared with the antique steps. I had no idea what it was...but I knew it must have been something special because she had the biggest smile on her face. This was back in the mid 1980s when I asked her how much she paid for it. I thought maybe $50 or $60. And then she told me, and I NEVER forgot this....she paid $235 plus tax. She said the store owner had asked for $275 and she got them down to $235. To say I was shocked is an understatement. Now I see that good antique ones like the one in the picture you posted costs in the THOUSANDS. Whew! Who could have guessed how expensive they are
0 -
At 83 pages, Team Rodent was a short book filled with virulence and expletives.
Maybe not the best choice for holiday reading. I have one coffee-table book (on a bookshelf to protect from spills): Earth From Above.
Earth from Above is a United Nations-supported ecological project conceived and led by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The project includes a photo essay-style collection of aerial photography in which the photographer captured vistas of Earth from various aircraft during a ten-year period. https://www.yannarthusbertrandphoto.com/categorie-produit/from-above/
0 -
I have passed along all my coffee-table books to my niece. She has two young boys and her house has become the place where everyone gathers (at least until this year). That way guests or grown family can leaf through the books & try to ignore all the little kids yelling in the background and the cook in the kitchen asking for help.
0
