Book Lovers Club
Comments
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Ruth... We must have been separated at birth since we tend to read the same non-fiction. I recommended Erik Larson's new book a few pages ago. I enjoyed it along with all of his other books. May I also recommend reading, if you haven't already, A First Rate Madness. There is a chapter on Hitler and his cronies which I think adds insight to Larson's work. After reading Larson's book it begs to answer the question why so many people followed Hitler's orders. Were they also crazy? The author of A First Rate Madness presents an interesting answer to that question.
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We non-fiction girls have to stick together
! I am putting A First Rate on my list to read as soon as I'm done Killing Lincoln. 0 -
Laurie Hopefully you are back on a good book buzz. I've had a difficult time finding appealing fiction. None of the Kindle of the day (cheap books) seem interesting to me. I am really enjoying "State of Wonder", and there is also a book that you recommended to me that I intend to read, although it's title escapes me at this moment. And, I have been enjoying some non-fiction as well.0
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Now I know there are not a lot of Twilight fans on here, but last night I went to a Twilight party...the one hygienist I work with is just obsessed with Edward.....I am attaching a few pics. If you look close you can see my fangs....I was the only one who went with special effects. For dessert I made Death by Chocolate and the hostess actually served food that they ate in the books, like mushroom ravioli and we each got a bag with some fried fish in it because someone, (I think the old Indian guy) had a fish fry.
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Marybe! LOL! Sounds like you had a hoot!
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LOL Marybe!
VR, I have A First Rate Madness pending on inter-library loan, I expect it soon!
Just finished an older (2002) Ken Follett - Hornet Flight - a spy novel set in 1941 and one story of Danish resistance to Nazi occupation, featuring a derelict Hornet Moth airplane. Got it at the library last week along with Follett's Fall of Giants which is up next.
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Badger... Speaking of the Danish Resistance.... You might enjoy the DVD Flame and Citron. Based on a true story about Danish resisters. Also Black Book about the French Resistance.
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I had some time today at work to read through the thread and I have to tell you, it's fantastic! I came home and ordered 5 books on Amazon based on recommendations I found here (I added a few more to my wishlist).
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mcsushi........Can't wait to see what other books float your boat...Now if we only had enough time to read EVERYTHING we wanted to......... 0
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So I finished Stephanie Madoff Mack's book, The End Of Normal. Very difficult to read. I was an uncomfortable voyeur. The part that I found so tragic was when she said, no one had told her that when someone has tried to commit suicide, they remain high risk the following year. After being hospitalized for attempted suicide, within a few months Mark Madoff discontinued his medication but was still under the care of a therapist. I haven't a clue what that was all about. My understanding is that if you tried to commit suicide, you need meds for more than a few months. It is as obvious as the clear eye could see that he was so vulnerable to relapse. Shame on his doctors for discontinuing his meds and not educating his wife about the risks of discontinuing the meds....She was blindsided by his suicide because he was feeling better. How sad.
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I haven't read the book, but the thing that I don't understand about his suicide is that his wife was away on vacation without him at the time I believe? I find that strange that she would leave him alone like that. I really think people (and their loved ones) have a responsibility for their own health and well being. Of course doctors help, but if patients aren't truthful with them about how they're feeling or don't follow up if things change, doctors can't do anything about it. Not sure what his particular story is. Just my opinion.
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Kay... Yes. She was on vacation. She explains it in the book. I just don't understand why he wasn't taking meds. Nor do I understand why she wasn't told about how vulnerable he was during the first year after his suicide attempt. I know someone that was suicidal and the doctors made it very clear to the family that once the patient was feeling better that is when they should be especially vigilant in watching their loved one. When a person is severely depressed they usually don't have the stamina to carry out a suicide. But once they start "improving," that's when they have the energy to go through with it. I think that's what the wife was referring to. Had someone told her, then she would never have gone on the vacation. Also, she claims the Wall Street Journal article that was being published that day along with the lawsuit against their 3 year old daughter, may have been the tipping point. The sad part was that he encouraged her to take the vacation. I guess with people who truly want to commit suicide, it is very difficult to discern and then help them avoid doing it. Sadly, my husband and I know several people who committed suicide and no one saw it coming. For me, reading about her experience and loss left me feeling raw inside.
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well ladies--dh & i are contemplating joining the new century & getting a kindle. but not being techie, i just don't get how you get the books on it cheap. i buy a lot of books on amazon, and the prices for kindle are often close to new book prices. so what am i missing. and how do you do it?? do you have to hook it up to the pc or what. also, we both love to read, so what--do we end up needing two? don't laugh...just have never actually seen one, or know how they work. also, can you read them outside on a sunny day??
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From one non techie to another, I will answer some of your questions. My DH got a Nook a couple of months ago. He got it instead of an Ipad because you can read it outside in the sun at the beach. A Kindle can do that too. A lot of books can be downloaded for free, especially classics I think because they have been out so long. You can also download books from the library onto it. You would need two for you and your DH. Lastly, you don't need to use a computer, you can buy and download books just with the Kindle. I'm sure someone more techie than me will come along and explain more.
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(((((voracious))))))))
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thank you kay--looks like we will be buying two!!
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grdnslve, I am not a techie either, but I love my Kindle. I bought one for my DH for Father's Day last year. I spent so much time using his that he bought me one last Christmas. Sometimes Amazon has sales on Kindle books. I load up on some good and cheap books that way.
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RE: The End of Normal. Haven't read it, but I work in a Crisis Center and I do have some experience with suicide.
Points: you cannot force someone to take meds (unless they're locked up, but even then it can be difficult if the patient doesn't want to take them). It's very common for people to discontinue meds after short period of time -- 1. they start to feel better, and 2. they don't like the side effects.
Also, people who are suicidal are very good about hiding their intent, and there is often no clue. And yes, the doctors should have told the wife about relapse possibilties -- but we all know from our experience with BC that what should happen doesn't always happen, and we have to our own advocates, that drs. don't remember to tell us everything, and that it's up to us to educate ourselves.
If you're interested in learning more about suicide, if you think someone you know may be contemplating suicide (or you are), or if you want to learn about suicide prevention, http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/home is a good place to start.
Thanks for bearing with my taking such a serious note in an otherwise generally light and fun thread, but I thought it was an important topic.
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Recently bought a Nook Simple Touch. Only wanted a lightweight, small e-reader, primarily for borrowing library books, so Kindle was out (still don't allow you to access your own library although they've set up their own lending library). At the moment I don't care about color or other bells and whistles -- I just wanted to be able to read books in an easy-to-carry format. Nook Simple Touch is small and lightweight and incredibly easy to carry in my purse, and I appreciate that it's not backlit, so it's much easier on my eyes.
You do have to use your PC to download library books and then transfer them to your Nook via a PC connection (drag-and-drop), but it's easy.
Books you buy (free or otherwise) from B&N (or whatever your store is, such as Amazon) come in via your wireless connection directly to your Nook/e-reader. If you don't have wireless at home, you can only download books when you're in a wireless zone (or alternatively, you can buy your Nook books on the BN.com website, and then drag-and-drop them to your Nook via a connection to your PC).
I think most of the e-readers operate in a similar manner; depending on which one you buy determines some of the minor features (like who you can buy from, whether there's local, in-person support, and whether or not you can borrow library books) but generally they are all pretty easy to use. Just figure out what you want from an e-reader and the rest is easy
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Laurie.. you might love Kipling
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Kipling? Whats the first name Apple?
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Do you mean Rudyard Kipling the poet?
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grndslve: I got a Kindle for an upcoming cruise. It's great in the full sun but I got a cover w/pull out light for night since I'm traveling w/a friend who is up early as opposed to my reading late. Luckily I can already get books from my local library in Houston. Check out gutenberg.org. TONS of free books that have passed the copyright date. I was an English major in another life and am constantly astounded by the "old" books I want to read or re-read.
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Here are a few fun reading related quotes:
" A classic is something that everyone wants to have read and nobody wants to read." ~ Mark Twain
" The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." ~ Tom Clancy
"Imagination is the true magic carpet."~ Norman Vincent Peale
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Ruth... That Tom Clancy quote is similar to something Sarah Vowell said awhile ago. When asked if she would consider writing fiction she said,"No, because non- fiction is so much more unbelievable."
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minus two--thanks for that info. it doesn't appear we can get any use from our local library. any other sources will be appreciated.
i'm sure many people have been tortured for telling the unbelievable truth.
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Saw Carrie Fisher's DVD Wishful Drinking, based on her book. Hilarious! Just received her new book, Shockaholic, and can't wait to read it!
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I just finished Crooked Letter Crooked Letter By Tom Franklin. I really liked it, it was fiction with a little mystery to it, not in a Patricia Cornwell way if you know what I mean. I just requested another one of his books as well. I also just requested The Wife and If Not Love at the recommendation of you ladies 0
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My bundle of literary love arrived and I'm having a hard time deciding where to begin! Based on books mentioned in this thread I purchased the following: The Book Thief, The Almost Moon, The Piano Teacher, The Memory Keeper's Daughter and The Samurai's Garden. Where should I start?!
While I was waiting for my books to arrive I decided to re-read The Soul of a Chef by Michael Ruhlman. It's an old favorite of mine and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in or passion for food and professional cooking (especially those non-ficiton fans). The book is divided into 3 parts. The first chronicles the rigorous and nearly impossible 10 day exam for the Certified Master Chef distinction from the CIA (talking culinary not intelligence). The second features a rising young chef, Michael Symon (well before he became an Iron Chef), and the third focuses on the deific Thomas Keller, The French Laundry and culinary perfection. It's an easy and wholly enjoyable read.
Now help me choose what next!
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The last time I bought a shipload of books was just before my lumpectomy. I remember feeling the same way, a giddy feeling. If only life were full of those kinds of choices.
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