Cindy is still looking; here kitty kitty kitty
This is a continuation of the topic Cindy's book of Millions of Cats is in here somewhere.
TalkClub Read 2023
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1cindydavid4
Welcome to my second quarter thread of the year! Im a relative new comer here, joining in 2016. Im a retired teacher (early childhood special ed) for 35 years in Phoenix. Took a bit to get used to free time! Been enjoying it for reading and other pursuits of interest. I read just about anything; lately I have enjoyed reading works in tranlation and really opening up my world. Looking forward to another year of reading and discussing on CRBOOK PLAN I don't do much planning, tho I will post monthly the books Id like to read usually from theme and challenges hereabouts. But I make sure that I have plenty of me books to read for my own pleasure.
Goals:
Dont usually have goals but there are a few things Id like to do this year:
Learn enough about African geography and history from the African Novel Challenge that I wont feel like a fool listening to the news or reading a book
Id like to continue to expand my reading by chosing more new to me authors than I did last year (36)
Last Years Favs
5*
the five thousand and one nights
Chasing Spring nf
wrong end of the telescope
the silence of Scheherazade
damnificados
a thousand ships
Memories Moscow to the black seanf
sovietistannf
when women were dragons
the day lasts more than a hundred years
the great passage
autumn
setting free the kites
wizard of loneliness
book of illusion
our missing hearts
terry pratchett a life with footnotesbio
rating system
1 usually DNF
2 I read it but not happy about it
3 a good read with some issues
4 memorable read
5 couldnt ask for more; usually books I will think about long afterwards, and often will reread
REVIEWS
I structure them using the following prompts, which vary from time to time
Why did I choose this book to read
Summary of plot w/o spoilers
What kept me reading
What was my favorite scene
What did I really not like
Who would I recommend read this book
sometimes I find a review that matches my thoughs perfectly, I may copy and paste it here. but will always credit the reviewer
My fav books from last quarter reviews can be found in the first thread (5*
haven
field
babel
the bridge pf San Luis Ray
garden of light
lighthouse keeping
the brothers ashkenzi
(4.5*)
these precious things
the book of chameleons
first wife
in my fathers court
a far cry from kensington
the wonderul adventures of Niles
Assassins Apprentice
the lily hand
2cindydavid4
The List
African Book Challenge
January - North Africa: Saharan Sands (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco)
hope and other dangerous pursuits4.5
February - Lusophone Africa
the book of chameleons 4.5
the first wife a tale of polygamy4.5
March - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or Buchi Emecheta
April - The Horn of Africa
the wedding of zein 5*
May - African Nobel Winners
ake years of childhoodDNF
things fall apart 5*
June - East Afric
the first woman5*
The Kaffir of KarthalaDNF
after lives 3*
July - Chinua Achebe or Ben Okr
the famished roads
August - Francophone Africa
so long a letter
September - Southern Africa
October - Scholastique Mukasonga or Ngugi Wa Thiong'o
November - African Thrillers / Crime Writers
December - West Africa
African Book Challenge
January - North Africa: Saharan Sands (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco)
hope and other dangerous pursuits4.5
February - Lusophone Africa
the book of chameleons 4.5
the first wife a tale of polygamy4.5
March - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or Buchi Emecheta
April - The Horn of Africa
the wedding of zein 5*
May - African Nobel Winners
ake years of childhoodDNF
things fall apart 5*
June - East Afric
the first woman5*
The Kaffir of KarthalaDNF
after lives 3*
July - Chinua Achebe or Ben Okr
the famished roads
August - Francophone Africa
so long a letter
September - Southern Africa
October - Scholastique Mukasonga or Ngugi Wa Thiong'o
November - African Thrillers / Crime Writers
December - West Africa
3cindydavid4
Reads for themes and challenges
theme books for reading thru time
January Feathered Friends
haven 5*
February 'lions and tigers and bears"
tigers wife
March Notorious Women
the jokes on you 4.5*
April April fool
The talented mr ripley 5,0
May Cities
the city we became
June the 50s
Fredrick the great5*
July Revolutions
ancient harvest
August immigarion
Septermber school days
October traditions
*********************************************
quarterly reads for RTT
1st quarter WWI
Back to the front 4.5*
2nd quarter in between wars April-June
3rd quarter WWII June-September
***********************************************
global reading
1st quarter Jan - March 2023: The Baltic Sea region
fair play4.5*
the summer book5*
The wonder adventures of Nils 4,5*
the line in the world4*
**************************************************
April-July banned books
third quarter: The Black Sea
**********************************************
historic fiction challenge
babel5*
the brothers ashkenazi 4.5
the hidden palace4*
***************************************************
books read for ClassicsCAT
January adventure classics
February before 1900
the blazing world and other writings 4*
March: classics on screen
the bridge of san luis rey 5*
April: classics mystery
May: childrens lit Little Men 4
June: humor pursuit of love 4
July: classic you missed reading droll stories 5
August: classics in translation
*********************************************
books for real life book clubs
January
wrong side of the telescope5*
March
The Assassins Apprentice 4.5*
July
forerunner factor
droll stories 5
*********************************************
Discworld: Death Novels Group Read
February Mort 4.5*
April reaper man 3.5
June soul music 4.5
***********************************************
author reads
Febuary
Sylvia Townsend Warner
kingdom of the elvin DNF
April
Chaim Potok
gates of november
May
Elizabeth Von Armin
The Intoduction of Sally 5.0
June
Edna Farber
show boat4.5
the girls4.5
July
Honore Balzac 5.0
droll stories
***********************************************
books for me!!
January
these precious days5*
mel brooks all about me4*
February
the lily hand 4.5*
small things like these 3.5*
the hero of this book 4,0
March
Royal Assassin 2.5
Dear Fahrenheit 451 2
gardens of light 4.5
lighthouse keeping4.5*
the necessary beggar3.5*
Madame Verona comes down the hill 3*
road to Litchfield 5.0
April
In My Fathers Court 5.0
The avram davison treasury4.5
May
africa is not a country 5*
just one damned thing after another4*
Everybody Has Somebody in Heaven : Essential Jewish Tales of the Spirit DNF
a crown of feathers 3*
the hidden palace 4.5*
JUNE
Afterlives
the elephants journey
liberation day4.5*
first women4.5*
July
the bookshop book
theme books for reading thru time
January Feathered Friends
haven 5*
February 'lions and tigers and bears"
tigers wife
March Notorious Women
the jokes on you 4.5*
April April fool
The talented mr ripley 5,0
May Cities
the city we became
June the 50s
Fredrick the great5*
July Revolutions
ancient harvest
August immigarion
Septermber school days
October traditions
*********************************************
quarterly reads for RTT
1st quarter WWI
Back to the front 4.5*
2nd quarter in between wars April-June
3rd quarter WWII June-September
***********************************************
global reading
1st quarter Jan - March 2023: The Baltic Sea region
fair play4.5*
the summer book5*
The wonder adventures of Nils 4,5*
the line in the world4*
**************************************************
April-July banned books
third quarter: The Black Sea
**********************************************
historic fiction challenge
babel5*
the brothers ashkenazi 4.5
the hidden palace4*
***************************************************
books read for ClassicsCAT
January adventure classics
February before 1900
the blazing world and other writings 4*
March: classics on screen
the bridge of san luis rey 5*
April: classics mystery
May: childrens lit Little Men 4
June: humor pursuit of love 4
July: classic you missed reading droll stories 5
August: classics in translation
*********************************************
books for real life book clubs
January
wrong side of the telescope5*
March
The Assassins Apprentice 4.5*
July
forerunner factor
droll stories 5
*********************************************
Discworld: Death Novels Group Read
February Mort 4.5*
April reaper man 3.5
June soul music 4.5
***********************************************
author reads
Febuary
Sylvia Townsend Warner
kingdom of the elvin DNF
April
Chaim Potok
gates of november
May
Elizabeth Von Armin
The Intoduction of Sally 5.0
June
Edna Farber
show boat4.5
the girls4.5
July
Honore Balzac 5.0
droll stories
***********************************************
books for me!!
January
these precious days5*
mel brooks all about me4*
February
the lily hand 4.5*
small things like these 3.5*
the hero of this book 4,0
March
Royal Assassin 2.5
Dear Fahrenheit 451 2
gardens of light 4.5
lighthouse keeping4.5*
the necessary beggar3.5*
Madame Verona comes down the hill 3*
road to Litchfield 5.0
April
In My Fathers Court 5.0
The avram davison treasury4.5
May
africa is not a country 5*
just one damned thing after another4*
Everybody Has Somebody in Heaven : Essential Jewish Tales of the Spirit DNF
a crown of feathers 3*
the hidden palace 4.5*
JUNE
Afterlives
the elephants journey
liberation day4.5*
first women4.5*
July
the bookshop book
4cindydavid4
Review for in my fathers court
why did I chose this I think jerry was talking about reading this, and decided to after reading the brothers ashkenazi
synopsis w/o spoilers"Like Isaac Bashevis Singer's fiction, this poignant memoir of his childhood in the household and rabbinical court of his father is full of spirits and demons, washerwomen and rabbis, beggars and rich men. This rememberance of Singer's pious father, his rational yet adoring mother, and the never-ending parade of humanity that marched through their home is a portrait of a magnificent writer's childhood self and of the world, now gone, that formed him." The stories take place in Warsaw,just before WWI.
what kept you reading each segment was a story about his life, and each was stand alone interesting. I have background in Hasidic Judaism as well as the beginnings of the Reformation movement of Judaism in germany, but I was surprised by how much more I learned about them in that time period. Loved the stories of the interesting people who called upon his father, loved the stories of his older brother who was chaffing at his fathers strict traditionalist way of life and loved the experiences the author had growing up. I esp liked that the Hasidic life was portrayed very realistically; The inequality of the sexes, the draconian interpretation of the Talmud and Torah, and the refusal to change condemned many to a life of poverty and sorrow. But the book also shows the joy that they took in their life which is what I found in current Chasidic households
what could have been better wish the book carried on longer than the revolution; wanted to see more about how they faired after WWI. But this author wrote many other books that I can probably turn to in order to find more.
who would you recommend this to anyone interested in Jewish life in that time and place. It does help to know some basics about Judaism. but not really nec.
Rating: 5* very much wanting to read more of his books.
why did I chose this I think jerry was talking about reading this, and decided to after reading the brothers ashkenazi
synopsis w/o spoilers"Like Isaac Bashevis Singer's fiction, this poignant memoir of his childhood in the household and rabbinical court of his father is full of spirits and demons, washerwomen and rabbis, beggars and rich men. This rememberance of Singer's pious father, his rational yet adoring mother, and the never-ending parade of humanity that marched through their home is a portrait of a magnificent writer's childhood self and of the world, now gone, that formed him." The stories take place in Warsaw,just before WWI.
what kept you reading each segment was a story about his life, and each was stand alone interesting. I have background in Hasidic Judaism as well as the beginnings of the Reformation movement of Judaism in germany, but I was surprised by how much more I learned about them in that time period. Loved the stories of the interesting people who called upon his father, loved the stories of his older brother who was chaffing at his fathers strict traditionalist way of life and loved the experiences the author had growing up. I esp liked that the Hasidic life was portrayed very realistically; The inequality of the sexes, the draconian interpretation of the Talmud and Torah, and the refusal to change condemned many to a life of poverty and sorrow. But the book also shows the joy that they took in their life which is what I found in current Chasidic households
what could have been better wish the book carried on longer than the revolution; wanted to see more about how they faired after WWI. But this author wrote many other books that I can probably turn to in order to find more.
who would you recommend this to anyone interested in Jewish life in that time and place. It does help to know some basics about Judaism. but not really nec.
Rating: 5* very much wanting to read more of his books.
5Dilara86
>4 cindydavid4: Bashevis Singer is a treasure and In my father's court sounds fantastic!
6cindydavid4
Yes, and one thing he does is dispel the confusion I had between the two brothers. the author is definitely the younger one. What other books of his focus on his family? Id like to know more about his relationship with his brother once he arrived in the states,
7rocketjk
>4 cindydavid4: Fine review! Singer's early memoir provides a really good look I think, and as you described, of the tension between the traditional old ways of Judaism and its proponents and the push among the younger Jews to become part of the modern world. The irony in Poland of that time being that Polish society was extremely resistant to opening up a place at the table for even the more secularly minded Jews.
8cindydavid4
Thanks do need to check out some more nonfiction of his.
Very interesting interviews with Israel Zamit Singer, son of Isaac B Singer. Talks about his childhood and his relationship with his uncle and father. Based on these interviews, think my feeling for the author has come down a peg or two.
https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/oral-histories/interviews/woh-fi-0...
Very interesting interviews with Israel Zamit Singer, son of Isaac B Singer. Talks about his childhood and his relationship with his uncle and father. Based on these interviews, think my feeling for the author has come down a peg or two.
https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/oral-histories/interviews/woh-fi-0...
9rocketjk
>8 cindydavid4: I will check out those interviews. I'm not surprised I.B. Singer was no angel, but will be interested to learn what his son has to say.
10arubabookwoman
My favorite books by I.B. Singer (fiction) are The Family Moskat and The Manor and the Estate. I reread The Family Moskat a few years ago and it definitely held up to my recollections. I want to reread The Manor and the Estate soon.
11cindydavid4
I started Family Moskat before I read Brothers Ashkenazi, need to go back to that, Maybe manor and estate later
April reads the talented Mr Ripley saw the movie, never read the book and Gates of November
April reads the talented Mr Ripley saw the movie, never read the book and Gates of November
13cindydavid4
Just finished the talented Mr Ripley I had already seen the movie and loved it; reading the book makes me appreciate how the movie was written, because it was a perfect match. Which meant I skimmed abit. But still an amazing book.
14cindydavid4
Was introduced elsethread to the world of
Avram Davidsonsci fi writer from the 30s The 100th anniversary of his birth is this year, an a collection of his short stories have been collected and introduced by other sci fi writers in a work called the avram davidson treasure: a tribute collection. Im about half way through and have to say that his work equals what I have read from Bradbury and Clark. The short stories include what happens when dentists are the answer to saving earth, to let us sleep which packs a punch, and author author about the revenge of Butlers that had me howling with laughter. Ill review it when I finish, but its safe to say this is a keeper,(thanks Keith for introducing me to this author)
Avram Davidsonsci fi writer from the 30s The 100th anniversary of his birth is this year, an a collection of his short stories have been collected and introduced by other sci fi writers in a work called the avram davidson treasure: a tribute collection. Im about half way through and have to say that his work equals what I have read from Bradbury and Clark. The short stories include what happens when dentists are the answer to saving earth, to let us sleep which packs a punch, and author author about the revenge of Butlers that had me howling with laughter. Ill review it when I finish, but its safe to say this is a keeper,(thanks Keith for introducing me to this author)
15AlisonY
>13 cindydavid4: I really fancy checking out Ripley now, as I thoroughly enjoyed reading Carol (or The Price of Salt) by High smith recently (although I appreciate they're very different types of book).
16cindydavid4
Hee at first I thought this was two books. the price of salt is about Carol, and I am thinking that I saw the movie adaptation a few years back. Remember liking that very much.
18AlisonY
>16 cindydavid4: Yeah, for some reason they changed the name of the book after many years, which I find odd and confusing.
19cindydavid4
I know some times thats an English/American thing, which I never figured out. notes on a scandal I think was the Englishe title, and the title of the movie (what was she thinking) was American but whats interesting is that when I typed that in, the English title pops up in the touchstones. Loved the book and movie (judi dench was very scary in this role!)
20cindydavid4
review for just one damn thing after another
why I chose this book I love books about time travel, and this had been recommended to me by several folk here and elesewhere
synopsis w/o spoilersBehind the seemingly innocuous façade of St Mary's, a different kind of historical research is taking place. They don't do 'time-travel' - they 'investigate major historical events in contemporary time'. Maintaining the appearance of harmless eccentrics is not always within their power - especially given their propensity for causing loud explosions when things get too quiet.Meet the disaster-magnets of St Mary's Institute of Historical Research as they ricochet around History. Their aim is to observe and document - to try and find the answers to many of History's unanswered questions...and not to die in the process.But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death.
what kept you reading see above! Couldnt resist this story with a fantastic main character and equally interesting colleagues. Lots of fun with the drama, including a romance or two.
what slowed you down the ending was rather over the top and i found myself skimming, since I kinda figured I knew where this was going. But still enjoyed it enough to consider getting the sequel
recommended to lovers of time travel books well written plot mostly, and really intersting characters.
rating 4*
why I chose this book I love books about time travel, and this had been recommended to me by several folk here and elesewhere
synopsis w/o spoilersBehind the seemingly innocuous façade of St Mary's, a different kind of historical research is taking place. They don't do 'time-travel' - they 'investigate major historical events in contemporary time'. Maintaining the appearance of harmless eccentrics is not always within their power - especially given their propensity for causing loud explosions when things get too quiet.Meet the disaster-magnets of St Mary's Institute of Historical Research as they ricochet around History. Their aim is to observe and document - to try and find the answers to many of History's unanswered questions...and not to die in the process.But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death.
what kept you reading see above! Couldnt resist this story with a fantastic main character and equally interesting colleagues. Lots of fun with the drama, including a romance or two.
what slowed you down the ending was rather over the top and i found myself skimming, since I kinda figured I knew where this was going. But still enjoyed it enough to consider getting the sequel
recommended to lovers of time travel books well written plot mostly, and really intersting characters.
rating 4*
21cindydavid4
Review for avram davidson treasury A tribute collection
why did I choose this book it was either Keith or Mark who mentioned adventures in unhistory which I thought sounded wonderful, but couldnt find a decently priced copy. so was steered to this collection. Whats odd for me is that I was reading sci fi/fan during the time of his writing, and I never heard about him!
synopsis w/o spoilersAvram Davidson was one of the great original American writers of this century. He was erudite, cranky, Jewish, wildly creative, and sold most of his wonderful stories to pulp magazines. They are wonderful.Now his estate and his friends have brought together a definitive collection of his finest work, each story introduced by an SF luminary: writers like Ursula K. Le Guin, William Gibson, Poul Anderson, Gene Wolfe, Guy Davenport, Peter S. Beagle, Gregory Benford, Thomas M. Disch, and dozens of others. This is a volume every lover of fantasy will need to own. (from touchstone here)
what kept you reading the first story let us sleep blew me away, as did the golem, or all the seas with oysters , and the woman who thought she could read and.......the list goes on. they made me think, made me cry, scared me and oh my god author author made me laugh hysterically. so I just kept reading! Also loved all of the introductions to the stories by some of my fav authors of that time period. One of the last ones, and don't forget one red rose I think is my fav of the later stories. At first I didn't get the ending, but I went back and reread and oh my I laughed. Perfect ironic revenge!
what slowed me down there were a few stories that were just not my style. I thought the stories in the end of the book were not as strong These were written a few years before his death and I wonder if something was affecting his writing styl.and unfortunately Adventures in Unhistory was not included, but I plan to find it somehow!
recommended to anyone who loved the short stories of Bradbury, Clark and others from that time will love these.
rating 4.5
why did I choose this book it was either Keith or Mark who mentioned adventures in unhistory which I thought sounded wonderful, but couldnt find a decently priced copy. so was steered to this collection. Whats odd for me is that I was reading sci fi/fan during the time of his writing, and I never heard about him!
synopsis w/o spoilersAvram Davidson was one of the great original American writers of this century. He was erudite, cranky, Jewish, wildly creative, and sold most of his wonderful stories to pulp magazines. They are wonderful.Now his estate and his friends have brought together a definitive collection of his finest work, each story introduced by an SF luminary: writers like Ursula K. Le Guin, William Gibson, Poul Anderson, Gene Wolfe, Guy Davenport, Peter S. Beagle, Gregory Benford, Thomas M. Disch, and dozens of others. This is a volume every lover of fantasy will need to own. (from touchstone here)
what kept you reading the first story let us sleep blew me away, as did the golem, or all the seas with oysters , and the woman who thought she could read and.......the list goes on. they made me think, made me cry, scared me and oh my god author author made me laugh hysterically. so I just kept reading! Also loved all of the introductions to the stories by some of my fav authors of that time period. One of the last ones, and don't forget one red rose I think is my fav of the later stories. At first I didn't get the ending, but I went back and reread and oh my I laughed. Perfect ironic revenge!
what slowed me down there were a few stories that were just not my style. I thought the stories in the end of the book were not as strong These were written a few years before his death and I wonder if something was affecting his writing styl.and unfortunately Adventures in Unhistory was not included, but I plan to find it somehow!
recommended to anyone who loved the short stories of Bradbury, Clark and others from that time will love these.
rating 4.5
22cindydavid4
sorry duplicat post
23labfs39
Nice reviews, Cindy. I love your format, some helpful and fun sections, and not always the same.
24KeithChaffee
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the Davidson. It was me who mentioned Adventures in Unhistory, but that's the only Davidson I've actually read. I downloaded the Treasury during the week that it was a Kindle freebie, and am looking forward to it very much.
25cindydavid4
looking forward to your thoughts!
26dchaikin
>4 cindydavid4: fun that you’re reading Singer. I enjoyed Love and Exile, which is, I think, an autobiographical trilogy. It includes In My Father’s Court, which was the best part. Then I think is A Day of Pleasure - not sure that’s right. But his Warsaw life was fascinating. The third part was his awkwardness after immigration and makes for awkward reading, IMO. Anyway i’ll try to check out that interview.
>22 cindydavid4: enjoyed your review of Avram Davidson’s collected stories.
>22 cindydavid4: enjoyed your review of Avram Davidson’s collected stories.
27cindydavid4
review for africa is not a country
why did I choose this? partly for the African Challenge but esp for helping me understand the history starting from when the Europeans invaded.
what is this non fiction book about? "this lively and diverse continent of fifty-four countries, over two thousand languages, and 1.4 billion people, Africa has long been painted with a broad brush in Western literature, media, and culture, flattening it into a monolith. In Africa is Not a Country, the acclaimed journalist Dipo Faloyin boldly counters the stereotypes and highlights the realities of Africa's communities and histories.... Africa is Not a Country is an idiosyncratic and entertaining exploration of a diverse continent that deserves to finally be understood, respected, and celebrated"-
what kept me reading the writers has an easy going style makes reading a pleasure. He takes his mythbusting task seriously, but also has a sense of humor. He starts by telling the sad--and often horrifying--way that those various countries came to be. The dissection of this great land mass into artificial political divisions that ignored the cultural differences of the population was one of the great tragedies of modern history, and the story is told well here. One wonders what if the pre colonial history of the continent was allowed to play out. The theft of the treasures of the countries left me angry and frustrated; I have seen some of these in European museums and wonder what there are doing there. Finally he talks about the future, and it seems to be bright.
what I learned I have always donated to help in places like Biafra and certainly helped with farm aid and other campaigns. Like others who have good intentions, I did not realize the white savior thing is not helping or that much of the money goes to war lords or to the government that is often to blame for the problem. I get that the societies there need to work on helping each other. And yet I want to help. I wish he explained what to do instead as that wasnt really clear.
what could have been better the good thing about this book is its brevity, which would not have happened if he explained each country in detail as I would have wanted. But I know where to find that information. I was surprised not to find a map ; maybe there is one in the book, but there wasn't one in Kindle edition. I shouldnt have to use google to search for the locations.
recommended to anyone who has the same questions I did and want to learn more about what mass media misses.
rating 4.5*
why did I choose this? partly for the African Challenge but esp for helping me understand the history starting from when the Europeans invaded.
what is this non fiction book about? "this lively and diverse continent of fifty-four countries, over two thousand languages, and 1.4 billion people, Africa has long been painted with a broad brush in Western literature, media, and culture, flattening it into a monolith. In Africa is Not a Country, the acclaimed journalist Dipo Faloyin boldly counters the stereotypes and highlights the realities of Africa's communities and histories.... Africa is Not a Country is an idiosyncratic and entertaining exploration of a diverse continent that deserves to finally be understood, respected, and celebrated"-
what kept me reading the writers has an easy going style makes reading a pleasure. He takes his mythbusting task seriously, but also has a sense of humor. He starts by telling the sad--and often horrifying--way that those various countries came to be. The dissection of this great land mass into artificial political divisions that ignored the cultural differences of the population was one of the great tragedies of modern history, and the story is told well here. One wonders what if the pre colonial history of the continent was allowed to play out. The theft of the treasures of the countries left me angry and frustrated; I have seen some of these in European museums and wonder what there are doing there. Finally he talks about the future, and it seems to be bright.
what I learned I have always donated to help in places like Biafra and certainly helped with farm aid and other campaigns. Like others who have good intentions, I did not realize the white savior thing is not helping or that much of the money goes to war lords or to the government that is often to blame for the problem. I get that the societies there need to work on helping each other. And yet I want to help. I wish he explained what to do instead as that wasnt really clear.
what could have been better the good thing about this book is its brevity, which would not have happened if he explained each country in detail as I would have wanted. But I know where to find that information. I was surprised not to find a map ; maybe there is one in the book, but there wasn't one in Kindle edition. I shouldnt have to use google to search for the locations.
recommended to anyone who has the same questions I did and want to learn more about what mass media misses.
rating 4.5*
28cindydavid4
>26 dchaikin: Ill be checking out A Day of Pleasure, and will look for the third book in the series as Im curious abouthis life in the states. Im currently reading a crown of feathers a collection of his stories which I am enjoying
29dchaikin
>27 cindydavid4: oh, yay! The Live-Aid thing was really stunning. All that money sent to Ethiopia because of the famine, and it funded the government that intentionally caused the famine. I had no idea! Glad you enjoyed the book on Kindle as much as I did on audible.
>28 cindydavid4: I own A Crown of Feathers! But have not read it. 🙁
>28 cindydavid4: I own A Crown of Feathers! But have not read it. 🙁
30cindydavid4
>29 dchaikin: actually tbh Im kinda tired of it; the stories all sound a like. I may continue just coz they are an interesting look of Jewish NYC at the time. but think I need a break
Speaking of NYC, Finally reading the hidden palace a sequel to one of my fav books the golem and the jinni Took the author almost a decade to finish it, and Ive had it sitting on my tbr stack; forgot about it till someone mentioned it here. So not surprisingly I am loving it
Speaking of NYC, Finally reading the hidden palace a sequel to one of my fav books the golem and the jinni Took the author almost a decade to finish it, and Ive had it sitting on my tbr stack; forgot about it till someone mentioned it here. So not surprisingly I am loving it
31cindydavid4
also started ake' for this month African challenge
32cindydavid4
I need to think more about hidden palace before I review it. The first half was excellent,much like the golem and the jenni. the second half there was just too much.and yet I come back to the emotion I felt over a disintergrating golem.....and remember what an excellent writer she is. Stay tuned
33cindydavid4
Review of hidden palace
What made me choose this book read the outstanding the golem and the jinni 10 years ago; when this sequel came out I snatched it up and for some reason didnt read it for another two years. Someone here reminded me that I need to do that!
synopsis w/o spoilers "Chava is a golem, a woman made of clay, who can hear the thoughts and longings of those around her and feels compelled by her nature to help them. Ahmad is a jinni, a restless creature of fire, once free to roam the desert but now imprisoned in the shape of a man. Fearing they'll be exposed as monsters, these magical beings hide their true selves and try to pass as human. just two more immigrants in the bustling world of 1900s Manhattan. Brought together under calamitous circumstances, their lives are now entwined. but they're not yet certain of what they mean to each other...Spanning the tumultuous years from the turn of the twentieth century to the beginning of World War I, The Hidden Palace follows these lives and others as they collide and interleave. Can Chava and Ahmad find their places in the human world while remaining true to each other? Or will their opposing natures and desires eventually tear them apart?especially once they encounter, thrillingly, other beings like themselves
what kept you reading the writing which is just as good as her first book. She describes early 20th century NYC, its building its parks it coast, just as NYC immigrants saw it. Also shows strong character development and how their lives unfolded in a time of great change.
what slowed you down A lot is going on in this book including the triangle shirt waist fire, and the Titantic. They helped introduce new characters, but I think they tended to remove the focus from the two main ones. Plus some new characters that werent really necessary except to set up confllict between earlier characters. (the war between the heiress Sophie and the jinneh went on way too long and honestly wasnt necessary, exceptt for the the place setting in pre WWI Middle East, Introducing Lawrence of arabia and Gertrude Bell) While The Golem and the Jinni was remarkably tight and focused despite all of its scope (and even tighter than it first looked, given the final revelations),The Hidden Palace struggles a bit more to keep itself together, sometimes forcing its threads together a little inelegantly, or using history in a way that sometimes feels forced, aka Forrest Gump style. The ending was mix match of all the characters in a nicely tied bow .
That being said I loved this book.
recommended to: you probably need to read the first one, which I gave 5*s to, before you read this. You will be in for a treat,
rating 4*
,
What made me choose this book read the outstanding the golem and the jinni 10 years ago; when this sequel came out I snatched it up and for some reason didnt read it for another two years. Someone here reminded me that I need to do that!
synopsis w/o spoilers "Chava is a golem, a woman made of clay, who can hear the thoughts and longings of those around her and feels compelled by her nature to help them. Ahmad is a jinni, a restless creature of fire, once free to roam the desert but now imprisoned in the shape of a man. Fearing they'll be exposed as monsters, these magical beings hide their true selves and try to pass as human. just two more immigrants in the bustling world of 1900s Manhattan. Brought together under calamitous circumstances, their lives are now entwined. but they're not yet certain of what they mean to each other...Spanning the tumultuous years from the turn of the twentieth century to the beginning of World War I, The Hidden Palace follows these lives and others as they collide and interleave. Can Chava and Ahmad find their places in the human world while remaining true to each other? Or will their opposing natures and desires eventually tear them apart?especially once they encounter, thrillingly, other beings like themselves
what kept you reading the writing which is just as good as her first book. She describes early 20th century NYC, its building its parks it coast, just as NYC immigrants saw it. Also shows strong character development and how their lives unfolded in a time of great change.
what slowed you down A lot is going on in this book including the triangle shirt waist fire, and the Titantic. They helped introduce new characters, but I think they tended to remove the focus from the two main ones. Plus some new characters that werent really necessary except to set up confllict between earlier characters. (the war between the heiress Sophie and the jinneh went on way too long and honestly wasnt necessary, exceptt for the the place setting in pre WWI Middle East, Introducing Lawrence of arabia and Gertrude Bell) While The Golem and the Jinni was remarkably tight and focused despite all of its scope (and even tighter than it first looked, given the final revelations),The Hidden Palace struggles a bit more to keep itself together, sometimes forcing its threads together a little inelegantly, or using history in a way that sometimes feels forced, aka Forrest Gump style. The ending was mix match of all the characters in a nicely tied bow .
That being said I loved this book.
recommended to: you probably need to read the first one, which I gave 5*s to, before you read this. You will be in for a treat,
rating 4*
,
34cindydavid4
Now reading afterlives by abdulrazak gurnah (have read a couple of his books now, really like his style) and the bookwoman of troublesome creek which a few people hereabouts mentioned liking it
35labfs39
>34 cindydavid4: I started Afterlives today too.
36dchaikin
I loved Afterlives. 🙂 (i listened to it right after listening to a George Saunders book analyzing classic short stories; and Saunders’ essays actually really enhanced how I took in Afterlives)
37cindydavid4
interesting, I happened upon a ARC of his short storieswhich book were you listening to? will have to tag team them
38cindydavid4
>35 labfs39: excellent! do you want to do a group read thread; I know other people have read it or want to. Or just read separately and then connect?
40labfs39
>38 cindydavid4: I am in a bit of a reading funk at the moment. Reading slowly and sporadically, not the best conditions for a group read. But I'm happy to discuss as I can. Only 20 pages in at the moment.
41cindydavid4
>40 labfs39: no worries; we'll touch base as you are able to
42cindydavid4
my review of Fredrick the Great by nancy mitfod
why did you choose this book? The RTT theme this month is The Fabulous 50s ("the goal for this month is to read a book about an event or person associated with the fabulous fifties of any century after the year 1000 CE and continuing to the present day). Thought about time periods I didn't know much about and realized the Europr in year1700s fit the bill, Just so happens the 7 year war happened in 175O. Id just read something by mitford and when I saw this book I thought it would be perfect to read about Fedrick the Great
synopsis from Amazon The Prussian king Frederick II is today best remembered for successfully defending his tiny country against the three great European powers of France, Austria, and Russia during the Seven Years’ War. this book in the end provides a good overview of Frederick's life and times
what kept me reading this history felt like I was reading a novel, one with lots of names and places, and people who influenced Fredrick. I learned about his abuse from his father Fredrick William and that he managed to survive. Learned about his relationship with Voltaire, and his battles during the war. He was a writer, a musician, a leader, /and loved France. I found out why England and Prussia, along with Hanover were allies against France, Austria and Russia, the negotiations, the thouand upon thousand of people (soldiers and civillian) who died in what some call the real First World War that stretched from England, Sweden, Russia, Poland and of course the American colonies. I learned some of the geography at that time, just where was Prussia and the places they fought over. Learned about Poland being carved up, and learned about the empress Maria Theresa of Austria, as well as some of the other strong women leaders of the time. I learned that the french indian war in the colonies was just a mirror of the battles taking place in Europe. And I wondered what would have happened if france had won that war
what slowed me down lots of battle descriptions lots of people he interacts with, fights with family, the royal families of said countries, all the negotionaations all got to be too much. that being said, Id pick up where I left off and continued for a bit more. Also his death takes a hell of long time to happen......but I still liked it
recommended to anyone interested in this history time and place, and anyone wanting to know about this kings life.
rating 4*
why did you choose this book? The RTT theme this month is The Fabulous 50s ("the goal for this month is to read a book about an event or person associated with the fabulous fifties of any century after the year 1000 CE and continuing to the present day). Thought about time periods I didn't know much about and realized the Europr in year1700s fit the bill, Just so happens the 7 year war happened in 175O. Id just read something by mitford and when I saw this book I thought it would be perfect to read about Fedrick the Great
synopsis from Amazon The Prussian king Frederick II is today best remembered for successfully defending his tiny country against the three great European powers of France, Austria, and Russia during the Seven Years’ War. this book in the end provides a good overview of Frederick's life and times
what kept me reading this history felt like I was reading a novel, one with lots of names and places, and people who influenced Fredrick. I learned about his abuse from his father Fredrick William and that he managed to survive. Learned about his relationship with Voltaire, and his battles during the war. He was a writer, a musician, a leader, /and loved France. I found out why England and Prussia, along with Hanover were allies against France, Austria and Russia, the negotiations, the thouand upon thousand of people (soldiers and civillian) who died in what some call the real First World War that stretched from England, Sweden, Russia, Poland and of course the American colonies. I learned some of the geography at that time, just where was Prussia and the places they fought over. Learned about Poland being carved up, and learned about the empress Maria Theresa of Austria, as well as some of the other strong women leaders of the time. I learned that the french indian war in the colonies was just a mirror of the battles taking place in Europe. And I wondered what would have happened if france had won that war
what slowed me down lots of battle descriptions lots of people he interacts with, fights with family, the royal families of said countries, all the negotionaations all got to be too much. that being said, Id pick up where I left off and continued for a bit more. Also his death takes a hell of long time to happen......but I still liked it
recommended to anyone interested in this history time and place, and anyone wanting to know about this kings life.
rating 4*
43LolaWalser
Hey, Cindy! Sorry if I misled you about Good Omens--I think that my library may have separated the discs so it seemed to me there were two parts? Like, there was a long pause between the two or something (time for a third watch!) Yeah, I saw too that there should be more--can't wait.
I haven't read that Mitford but her bios of Madame de Pompadour and Louis XIV are superb. I have her Voltaire in love on the everlasting TBR too.
I haven't read that Mitford but her bios of Madame de Pompadour and Louis XIV are superb. I have her Voltaire in love on the everlasting TBR too.
44cindydavid4
>43 LolaWalser: ah ok that makes sense. Ill just wait patiently for july 28 to quickly come! After reading this book Im interested in reading about Madame de Pompadour. And esp from this book I should read Voltair - very interesting character
45cindydavid4
finished Afterlives, review coming
46cindydavid4
Reads for themes and challenges
theme books for reading thru time
January Feathered Friends
haven 5*
February 'lions and tigers and bears"
tigers wife dnf
March Notorious Women
the jokes on you 4.5*
April April fool
The talented mr ripley 5,0
May Cities
the city we became
June the 50s
Fredrick the great4.5*
July Revolutions
mixed harvest4.0
August immigarion
Septermber school days
October traditions
*********************************************
quarterly reads for RTT
1st quarter WWI
Back to the front 4.5*
2nd quarter in between wars April-June
afterlives 3*
3rd quarter WWII June-September
***********************************************
global reading
1st quarter Jan - March 2023: The Baltic Sea region
fair play4.5*
the summer book5*
The wonder adventures of Nils 4,5*
the line in the world4.5
**************************************************
2nd quarter April-July banned books
the hills we climb 5*
**********************************************
3rd quarter Black Sea
the Broken Road from the iron gate
Border: a journey to the edge of europe
historic fiction challenge
babel5*
the brothers ashkenazi 4.5
the hidden palace4*
***************************************************
books read for ClassicsCAT
January adventure classics
February before 1900
the blazing world and other writings 4*
March: classics on screen
the bridge of san luis rey 5*
April: classics mystery
May: childrens lit Little Men 4
June: humor pursuit of love 4
July:
*********************************************
books for real life book clubs
January
wrong side of the telescope5*
March
The Assassins Apprentice 4.5*
*********************************************
Discworld: Death Novels Group Read
February Mort 4.5*
April reaper man 3.5
June soul music
***********************************************
author reads
Febuary
Sylvia Townsend Warner
kingdom of the elvin DNF
April
Chaim Potok
gates of november
May
Elizabeth Von Armin
The Intoduction of Sally 5.0
June
Edna Farber
show boat
July
Honore de Bazak droll stories4.5
***********************************************
books for me!!
January
these precious days5*
mel brooks all about me4*
February
the lily hand 4.5*
small things like these 3.5*
the hero of this book 4,0
March
Royal Assassin 2.5
Dear Fahrenheit 451 2
gardens of light 4.5
lighthouse keeping4.5*
the necessary beggar3.5*
Madame Verona comes down the hill 3*
road to Litchfield 5.0
April
In My Fathers Court 5.0
The avram davison treasury4.5
May
africa is not a country 5*
just one damned thing after another4*
Everybody Has Somebody in Heaven : Essential Jewish Tales of the Spirit DNF
a crown of feathers 3*
the hidden palace 4.5*
JUNE
the elephants journey
liberation day 4.5
JULY
theme books for reading thru time
January Feathered Friends
haven 5*
February 'lions and tigers and bears"
tigers wife dnf
March Notorious Women
the jokes on you 4.5*
April April fool
The talented mr ripley 5,0
May Cities
the city we became
June the 50s
Fredrick the great4.5*
July Revolutions
mixed harvest4.0
August immigarion
Septermber school days
October traditions
*********************************************
quarterly reads for RTT
1st quarter WWI
Back to the front 4.5*
2nd quarter in between wars April-June
afterlives 3*
3rd quarter WWII June-September
***********************************************
global reading
1st quarter Jan - March 2023: The Baltic Sea region
fair play4.5*
the summer book5*
The wonder adventures of Nils 4,5*
the line in the world4.5
**************************************************
2nd quarter April-July banned books
the hills we climb 5*
**********************************************
3rd quarter Black Sea
the Broken Road from the iron gate
Border: a journey to the edge of europe
historic fiction challenge
babel5*
the brothers ashkenazi 4.5
the hidden palace4*
***************************************************
books read for ClassicsCAT
January adventure classics
February before 1900
the blazing world and other writings 4*
March: classics on screen
the bridge of san luis rey 5*
April: classics mystery
May: childrens lit Little Men 4
June: humor pursuit of love 4
July:
*********************************************
books for real life book clubs
January
wrong side of the telescope5*
March
The Assassins Apprentice 4.5*
*********************************************
Discworld: Death Novels Group Read
February Mort 4.5*
April reaper man 3.5
June soul music
***********************************************
author reads
Febuary
Sylvia Townsend Warner
kingdom of the elvin DNF
April
Chaim Potok
gates of november
May
Elizabeth Von Armin
The Intoduction of Sally 5.0
June
Edna Farber
show boat
July
Honore de Bazak droll stories4.5
***********************************************
books for me!!
January
these precious days5*
mel brooks all about me4*
February
the lily hand 4.5*
small things like these 3.5*
the hero of this book 4,0
March
Royal Assassin 2.5
Dear Fahrenheit 451 2
gardens of light 4.5
lighthouse keeping4.5*
the necessary beggar3.5*
Madame Verona comes down the hill 3*
road to Litchfield 5.0
April
In My Fathers Court 5.0
The avram davison treasury4.5
May
africa is not a country 5*
just one damned thing after another4*
Everybody Has Somebody in Heaven : Essential Jewish Tales of the Spirit DNF
a crown of feathers 3*
the hidden palace 4.5*
JUNE
the elephants journey
liberation day 4.5
JULY
47cindydavid4
review for liberation day
why did you pick this book? our library had a stack of ARCs on a counter so this is one I picked up. Never read him so I though short stories would be a good bet
synosis w/o spoilers "the best short story writer in English is back with a masterful collection that explores ideas of power, ethics and justice and cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in commnity with our fellow humans" (from back cover)
what kept you readingthe six stories try to follow the descrition above and does a pretty good job; Two of the stories particularly impressed me liberation day and My house The first set up a family way in the future where some humans become entertainment for others; in a very bizarre way, reminded me somwhat of never let me go but with some humor. The second was about a man who is trying to by a house that is falling down around the owners head who is refusing to sell Some stories didn't work well for me but i think for the most part they suceeded.what really comes through is his respect for his characters and sense of humor; I was also struck by the way he uses language In the first story he makes up a way of talking that you could see evolving that surprised me
What slowed you down?Not so much slowed down, but like other short stories this was easy to put down and easy to pick up where we left off.
I think I would like to try Lincoln in the Bardo, have read different reviews. but his unconvention language interests me
recommended to anyone who likes good short stories, anyone whose read his nov
Rating 4.5
why did you pick this book? our library had a stack of ARCs on a counter so this is one I picked up. Never read him so I though short stories would be a good bet
synosis w/o spoilers "the best short story writer in English is back with a masterful collection that explores ideas of power, ethics and justice and cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in commnity with our fellow humans" (from back cover)
what kept you readingthe six stories try to follow the descrition above and does a pretty good job; Two of the stories particularly impressed me liberation day and My house The first set up a family way in the future where some humans become entertainment for others; in a very bizarre way, reminded me somwhat of never let me go but with some humor. The second was about a man who is trying to by a house that is falling down around the owners head who is refusing to sell Some stories didn't work well for me but i think for the most part they suceeded.what really comes through is his respect for his characters and sense of humor; I was also struck by the way he uses language In the first story he makes up a way of talking that you could see evolving that surprised me
What slowed you down?Not so much slowed down, but like other short stories this was easy to put down and easy to pick up where we left off.
I think I would like to try Lincoln in the Bardo, have read different reviews. but his unconvention language interests me
recommended to anyone who likes good short stories, anyone whose read his nov
Rating 4.5
48dianeham
>47 cindydavid4: I don’t usually do audiobooks but the audio of Lincoln in the Bardo is suberb.
49cindydavid4
I dont either, but I just might do that, thanks!
50cindydavid4
Review for After Lives
why did you choose this book Ive read Paradise and By the Sea and liked both, and I wanted to read this one for the African author challenge
synopsis w/o spoilers"interwoven stories of three protagonists in an unnamed coastal town in German East Africa in the early 1900s, a period when virtually all of the continent “belonged to Europeans, at least on a map: British East Africa, Deutch-Ostafrika, África Oriental Portuguesa, Congo Belge. Colonial history in every aspect of the word is described and described from the point of view of the locals using the example of a small Tanzanian family in former German East Africa, extends from the late 1880s to the b of the post-war period (1960s). (amazon review)
what kept you reading this was a difficult book to read, not becaue it was poorly written, but because it details how the african population was treated during coloniall times. I had no idea of the battles against the population, wars that caused thousands of deaths in the 1800s. I also did not know that WWI was fought here, and I had no idea of the damage and destruction that brought these countries to its knees. But iwhile these details upset me, I continued reading to see the journey of the main characters through this time period There was a place that made me smile, the budding romance of two people and how that played out was really charming. And I enjoyed the friendships in the community, and how the new migrants were accepted and included by the characters
why I was ultimatly disappointed in this book
the first sign of a problem was when the author signals that later on a character will find what happens. I don't care to know that. Let the reader discover it as the character does. He does this several times. He also describes in great details of how people look and what they wear, and often repeats these details thorought the book, that got rather tiresome. There is even a exorcism that just goes on and on.
I was also confused by the disappearance of who I thought would be a major character, until the end of the book. Totally out of character for him to just dump his previously rescued little sister and go off to join an army he knew next to nothing about.
But what really did it for me was the pacing, esp midway through the book. "While the vast majority of the story encompasses a period of maybe a decade or more, the headlong rush to summarize and finish the individual tales in the last dozen pages struck me as bizarre and hurried, almost as though the author suddenly realized he was on a deadline or was no longer interested in his characters. Very strange and completely out of character with the leisurely pace of all which preceded it." (amazon reviewer)
who would i recommend it to readers who want to learn more abot the impact colonialism had on the cultures and people. The research in this book is outstanding, and I learned a lot.
Rating 3
why did you choose this book Ive read Paradise and By the Sea and liked both, and I wanted to read this one for the African author challenge
synopsis w/o spoilers"interwoven stories of three protagonists in an unnamed coastal town in German East Africa in the early 1900s, a period when virtually all of the continent “belonged to Europeans, at least on a map: British East Africa, Deutch-Ostafrika, África Oriental Portuguesa, Congo Belge. Colonial history in every aspect of the word is described and described from the point of view of the locals using the example of a small Tanzanian family in former German East Africa, extends from the late 1880s to the b of the post-war period (1960s). (amazon review)
what kept you reading this was a difficult book to read, not becaue it was poorly written, but because it details how the african population was treated during coloniall times. I had no idea of the battles against the population, wars that caused thousands of deaths in the 1800s. I also did not know that WWI was fought here, and I had no idea of the damage and destruction that brought these countries to its knees. But iwhile these details upset me, I continued reading to see the journey of the main characters through this time period There was a place that made me smile, the budding romance of two people and how that played out was really charming. And I enjoyed the friendships in the community, and how the new migrants were accepted and included by the characters
why I was ultimatly disappointed in this book
the first sign of a problem was when the author signals that later on a character will find what happens. I don't care to know that. Let the reader discover it as the character does. He does this several times. He also describes in great details of how people look and what they wear, and often repeats these details thorought the book, that got rather tiresome. There is even a exorcism that just goes on and on.
I was also confused by the disappearance of who I thought would be a major character, until the end of the book. Totally out of character for him to just dump his previously rescued little sister and go off to join an army he knew next to nothing about.
But what really did it for me was the pacing, esp midway through the book. "While the vast majority of the story encompasses a period of maybe a decade or more, the headlong rush to summarize and finish the individual tales in the last dozen pages struck me as bizarre and hurried, almost as though the author suddenly realized he was on a deadline or was no longer interested in his characters. Very strange and completely out of character with the leisurely pace of all which preceded it." (amazon reviewer)
who would i recommend it to readers who want to learn more abot the impact colonialism had on the cultures and people. The research in this book is outstanding, and I learned a lot.
Rating 3
51kjuliff
>50 cindydavid4: So relieved in knowing I was not alone in finding this book disappointing. I was interested in reading more about colonial East Africa and has read a couple of other books by Abdulrazak Gurnah. I had trouble getting into the novel and in understanding the main characters. I think this was partly because I read it in audio format and the first chapters seemed rather flat.
Interestingly it was one of Obamas’s best books of last year (?). I’m still waiting for By the Sea to come out in audio and have hopes for that.
Interestingly it was one of Obamas’s best books of last year (?). I’m still waiting for By the Sea to come out in audio and have hopes for that.
52rocketjk
>50 cindydavid4: "the first sign of a problem was when the author signals that later on a character will find what happens. I don't care to know that. Let the reader discover it as the character does. "
It's not that infrequent for authors to do this sort of thing, but I'm with you, I'm always a bit disappointed when they do it, and I've never been able to figure out why they do it, how they think it adds to the unfolding of the story. It is obviously a conscious strategy. There's some particular narrative effect that's being created, or at least attempted, but I've never understood it. Perhaps the author is trying to direct our attention from one element (whether or not the character will make the discovery) and toward another (how the discovery will change the character's perception of events??). But that's just conjecture on my part. Like you, I could do without it most of the time.
To be clear, I haven't read After Lives, so my comments are general in nature.
It's not that infrequent for authors to do this sort of thing, but I'm with you, I'm always a bit disappointed when they do it, and I've never been able to figure out why they do it, how they think it adds to the unfolding of the story. It is obviously a conscious strategy. There's some particular narrative effect that's being created, or at least attempted, but I've never understood it. Perhaps the author is trying to direct our attention from one element (whether or not the character will make the discovery) and toward another (how the discovery will change the character's perception of events??). But that's just conjecture on my part. Like you, I could do without it most of the time.
To be clear, I haven't read After Lives, so my comments are general in nature.
53cindydavid4
Review for the first woman in the UK, a girl is a body of water U
why did you choose this? Read for the African Author Challenge, The books Ive read for this challenge have been difficult for the subject matter . I looked at the synopsis and decided to give it a try
Synopsis without spoilers
"This coming of age novel is a sweeping and powerful portrait of a young girl and her family, who they are, what history has taken from them, and most importantly, how they find their way back to each other. The story transitioned from Kirabo’s life in Ugandan village of Nattetta, Eastern Africa.
what kept you reading
It was easy to connect to Kirabo, see how her family lives and watches her play with friends. Loved the stories they told each other, and the sense of community during troubled times Its a page turner; one night while reading my body fell asleep. I woke up with the book in my hands!
The book references many Uganda customs, dialog, regions and terminology which got me looking them up for more information. Feminism plays a big place here, and we see how the women are put down but how they are finding their strength. The author also discusses the effects of the English rule esp the concept of time, which messed up how the consider time, and brought English education with them
I was also appreciative that while Idi Amin and his reign of terror is in the background, characters become aware of it. It gave the reading a chance to focus on the story
This book is perhaps the most hopeful book I have read in this Challenge. Appreciated the change of pace
what drove you up a tree
First when characters in your book are traveling to and fro though the book I would be thrilled to have a simple map showing the main places.
Second, when you have multiple characters who are related or who arwimporant figures, have a character list. This is esp the case when many names are spelled alike She does have a short list, but its not enough
Third: lots of local terminology that was not explained or translated. a little glossary would be nice
Fourth the book was badly in need of a good editor, There are some sections where many people have gathered for ritual that go on and on, and much of the information repeated. The many conversations about feminism had me nodding my head but much of that was repeated. And some conversation did not fit the time and place esp when she says the boy was helping her deal with her feelings of anger Wha?
Despite these technical problems I really really liked this book
.who would you recommend it to
anyone with curiousity about another place, and who likes historic fiction
rating 4.5*
why did you choose this? Read for the African Author Challenge, The books Ive read for this challenge have been difficult for the subject matter . I looked at the synopsis and decided to give it a try
Synopsis without spoilers
"This coming of age novel is a sweeping and powerful portrait of a young girl and her family, who they are, what history has taken from them, and most importantly, how they find their way back to each other. The story transitioned from Kirabo’s life in Ugandan village of Nattetta, Eastern Africa.
what kept you reading
It was easy to connect to Kirabo, see how her family lives and watches her play with friends. Loved the stories they told each other, and the sense of community during troubled times Its a page turner; one night while reading my body fell asleep. I woke up with the book in my hands!
The book references many Uganda customs, dialog, regions and terminology which got me looking them up for more information. Feminism plays a big place here, and we see how the women are put down but how they are finding their strength. The author also discusses the effects of the English rule esp the concept of time, which messed up how the consider time, and brought English education with them
I was also appreciative that while Idi Amin and his reign of terror is in the background, characters become aware of it. It gave the reading a chance to focus on the story
This book is perhaps the most hopeful book I have read in this Challenge. Appreciated the change of pace
what drove you up a tree
First when characters in your book are traveling to and fro though the book I would be thrilled to have a simple map showing the main places.
Second, when you have multiple characters who are related or who arwimporant figures, have a character list. This is esp the case when many names are spelled alike She does have a short list, but its not enough
Third: lots of local terminology that was not explained or translated. a little glossary would be nice
Fourth the book was badly in need of a good editor, There are some sections where many people have gathered for ritual that go on and on, and much of the information repeated. The many conversations about feminism had me nodding my head but much of that was repeated. And some conversation did not fit the time and place esp when she says the boy was helping her deal with her feelings of anger Wha?
Despite these technical problems I really really liked this book
.who would you recommend it to
anyone with curiousity about another place, and who likes historic fiction
rating 4.5*
54cindydavid4
Book Review of the girls
why did you pick this book
This author was selected for the June Monthly Author Challenge. I had read a few of hers already including big that one a pultizer in 1924. I had started show boat but saw this and was hooked and couldn't stop reading.
synopsis without spoilers
The Girls is Edna Ferber's first novel to depict multiple generations, a theme that would reemerge in much of her work. In the book, she tells the story of the Thrift women--a great aunt, a niece, and a grand niece--who live on Chicago's South Side. Published in 1921, the book was written with Ferber's characteristic flair for depicting determined women making their way in the world.
what kept you reading
First the way she talks to the reader while setting up the background and the characters. Most authors do not to this well. This is what hooked me, I was interested in the first chapter. She continues her story bringing in new characters, and when there is a change in fashion, home items, technology she describes how that changes in the characters and surroundings. I had complained in an early book about the amount of description; She does this in a way that doesnt interrupt the story, and you sense the time going by (story starts just before the Civil War, ends at the end of WWI. ) We don't lose track of the characters and she shows the pressure the women are under to conform. There is humor here, empathy and a coicidence that if another author had done it I would have rolled my eyes, but it works in thie story.Even the ending pleased me. Its not a totally happy ending, but its wrapped up in a way that makes sense
what did you learn
That Ferber hooked up with George Kaufman to write for the stage. These include novels written by Ferber such as The Royal family Stage Door and of course Show boat and two plays I have never heard about The Land is Bright and Old Man Minick I now will be on the look out for these books and see if I can find how I can watch these.
That electric cars were thought of in the 1840s and shown off in the 1893 Chicago State Fair. In the book they are called "the electric*
its not perfect
The mother of these girls is a witch, she has no redeeming qualities aside from her business. She screams at every thing the girls want to do and explodes when they do it anyway. I think it was important for the author to show the demands of the times and the social obligations they were forced to follow. But really shs didn't need to be that horrific to make the point. But she did make the point
anyone looking for a good story that makes you smile after reading it. Those interested in the time period
rating 5*
*Batteries that could be recharged came along in 1859, making the electric-car idea more viable. Around 1884, inventor Thomas Parker helped deploy electric-powered trams and built prototype electric cars in England. By 1890, a Scotland-born chemist living in Des Moines, Iowa, William Morrison, applied for a patent on the electric carriage he’d built perhaps as early as 1887. It appeared in a city parade in 1888, according to the Des Moines Register. With front-wheel drive, 4 horsepower, and a reported top speed of 20 mph, it had 24 battery cells that needed recharging every 50 miles. Morrison’s self-propelled carriage was a sensation at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, also known as the famed World’s Columbian Exhibition
why did you pick this book
This author was selected for the June Monthly Author Challenge. I had read a few of hers already including big that one a pultizer in 1924. I had started show boat but saw this and was hooked and couldn't stop reading.
synopsis without spoilers
The Girls is Edna Ferber's first novel to depict multiple generations, a theme that would reemerge in much of her work. In the book, she tells the story of the Thrift women--a great aunt, a niece, and a grand niece--who live on Chicago's South Side. Published in 1921, the book was written with Ferber's characteristic flair for depicting determined women making their way in the world.
what kept you reading
First the way she talks to the reader while setting up the background and the characters. Most authors do not to this well. This is what hooked me, I was interested in the first chapter. She continues her story bringing in new characters, and when there is a change in fashion, home items, technology she describes how that changes in the characters and surroundings. I had complained in an early book about the amount of description; She does this in a way that doesnt interrupt the story, and you sense the time going by (story starts just before the Civil War, ends at the end of WWI. ) We don't lose track of the characters and she shows the pressure the women are under to conform. There is humor here, empathy and a coicidence that if another author had done it I would have rolled my eyes, but it works in thie story.Even the ending pleased me. Its not a totally happy ending, but its wrapped up in a way that makes sense
what did you learn
That Ferber hooked up with George Kaufman to write for the stage. These include novels written by Ferber such as The Royal family Stage Door and of course Show boat and two plays I have never heard about The Land is Bright and Old Man Minick I now will be on the look out for these books and see if I can find how I can watch these.
That electric cars were thought of in the 1840s and shown off in the 1893 Chicago State Fair. In the book they are called "the electric*
its not perfect
The mother of these girls is a witch, she has no redeeming qualities aside from her business. She screams at every thing the girls want to do and explodes when they do it anyway. I think it was important for the author to show the demands of the times and the social obligations they were forced to follow. But really shs didn't need to be that horrific to make the point. But she did make the point
anyone looking for a good story that makes you smile after reading it. Those interested in the time period
rating 5*
*Batteries that could be recharged came along in 1859, making the electric-car idea more viable. Around 1884, inventor Thomas Parker helped deploy electric-powered trams and built prototype electric cars in England. By 1890, a Scotland-born chemist living in Des Moines, Iowa, William Morrison, applied for a patent on the electric carriage he’d built perhaps as early as 1887. It appeared in a city parade in 1888, according to the Des Moines Register. With front-wheel drive, 4 horsepower, and a reported top speed of 20 mph, it had 24 battery cells that needed recharging every 50 miles. Morrison’s self-propelled carriage was a sensation at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, also known as the famed World’s Columbian Exhibition
55dchaikin
Very interesting about Saunder’s Liberation Day. I’ve read a novel and essays by him, but no stories yet.
I enjoyed Afterlives more than you did, but it sounds like you for some good stuff out of it. I agree with Jerry ( >52 rocketjk: ), the one issue that really bothered you is an intentional technique. In Gurnah’s case, he is careful to make the reader aware of his storyteller, and puts little flags in to remind the reader there is a process going on around the storytelling itself.
The First Woman and The Girls are new to me. I’m intrigued by the author of The Girl’s.
I enjoyed Afterlives more than you did, but it sounds like you for some good stuff out of it. I agree with Jerry ( >52 rocketjk: ), the one issue that really bothered you is an intentional technique. In Gurnah’s case, he is careful to make the reader aware of his storyteller, and puts little flags in to remind the reader there is a process going on around the storytelling itself.
The First Woman and The Girls are new to me. I’m intrigued by the author of The Girl’s.
56cindydavid4
" I’m intrigued by the author of The Girl’s."
so am I. " Ferber, who never married and had no children herself, even dedicates The Girls to her dear friend Lillian Adler, a fellow spinster, albeit one “who shies at butterflies but not at life.” That latter phrase, “but not at life,” turns out to be thematically crucial, for this is absolutely a book about old maids, but it is not the dreary narrative a reader might expect.
from https://daily.jstor.org/edna-ferber-revisited/
Given how active she was in the field of literatre and theatre I doubt seriously thata she never had a relationship. The characters she creates have a simiilar indendence that mirros her own, perhaps. She has two autobiographies A Peculiar Treasure (1939), A Kind of Magic (1963) which would be interesting to read I think
so am I. " Ferber, who never married and had no children herself, even dedicates The Girls to her dear friend Lillian Adler, a fellow spinster, albeit one “who shies at butterflies but not at life.” That latter phrase, “but not at life,” turns out to be thematically crucial, for this is absolutely a book about old maids, but it is not the dreary narrative a reader might expect.
from https://daily.jstor.org/edna-ferber-revisited/
Given how active she was in the field of literatre and theatre I doubt seriously thata she never had a relationship. The characters she creates have a simiilar indendence that mirros her own, perhaps. She has two autobiographies A Peculiar Treasure (1939), A Kind of Magic (1963) which would be interesting to read I think
57cindydavid4
review for show boat
why I chose this book
This author was choosen for the June author of the month and tho I recently read the girls decided to read this, since I knew about the movie and musical.
.
synopsis without spoilers
Show Boat is a 1926 novel by American author and dramatist Edna Ferber. It chronicles the lives of three generations of performers on the Cotton Blossom, a floating theater on a steamboat that travels between small towns along the banks of the Mississippi River, from the 1880s to the 1920s. The story moves from the Reconstruction Era riverboat to Gilded Age Chicago to Roaring Twenties New York, and finally returns to the Mississippi River.
what kept you reading I was hooked in the first few paragraphs. this author has a way of introducing her characters in a natural chatty way, as well as decribing the setting to make it easy to visualize the background. With a few exceptions that I will discuss later, I was spell bound by the story and found it an easy page turner. I loved how strong and determined her women charc
what bored me once the main character and her husband get to Chicago its not as much fun. but it really wasnt menat to be, Life in that time and place without money was sad and dangerous The description of the city, esp the 'low life' was as good as the descriptions early on. But because so much description was repeated I found myself skimming One character disappears into a convent boarding school would have liked to know more abot it but she pops up much later on. And the ending felt forced and uneven, I ve been told that the ending in the musical was changed, not sure if Ill like that better or not
The racial issues need to be addressed; like many older books there is language and actions that would be considered inappropriate. But racism was that time period and seeing it in a book of that time does not mean we should ban it or change it. And she story she seems to have sympathy for the plight of minoritie,s possibly, since she had similar run ins and attacks for being Jewish
recommended toanyone who is interested in the time period and the setting, interersted in thearter of the time, and generally a very well written story
rating 4.5*
why I chose this book
This author was choosen for the June author of the month and tho I recently read the girls decided to read this, since I knew about the movie and musical.
.
synopsis without spoilers
Show Boat is a 1926 novel by American author and dramatist Edna Ferber. It chronicles the lives of three generations of performers on the Cotton Blossom, a floating theater on a steamboat that travels between small towns along the banks of the Mississippi River, from the 1880s to the 1920s. The story moves from the Reconstruction Era riverboat to Gilded Age Chicago to Roaring Twenties New York, and finally returns to the Mississippi River.
what kept you reading I was hooked in the first few paragraphs. this author has a way of introducing her characters in a natural chatty way, as well as decribing the setting to make it easy to visualize the background. With a few exceptions that I will discuss later, I was spell bound by the story and found it an easy page turner. I loved how strong and determined her women charc
what bored me once the main character and her husband get to Chicago its not as much fun. but it really wasnt menat to be, Life in that time and place without money was sad and dangerous The description of the city, esp the 'low life' was as good as the descriptions early on. But because so much description was repeated I found myself skimming One character disappears into a convent boarding school would have liked to know more abot it but she pops up much later on. And the ending felt forced and uneven, I ve been told that the ending in the musical was changed, not sure if Ill like that better or not
The racial issues need to be addressed; like many older books there is language and actions that would be considered inappropriate. But racism was that time period and seeing it in a book of that time does not mean we should ban it or change it. And she story she seems to have sympathy for the plight of minoritie,s possibly, since she had similar run ins and attacks for being Jewish
recommended toanyone who is interested in the time period and the setting, interersted in thearter of the time, and generally a very well written story
rating 4.5*
58labfs39
>57 cindydavid4: Nice review, Cindy. I was unaware that the musical Showboat was based on a novel by Ferber.
59cindydavid4
I didnt either till I started reading the author for the challeng.
Now reading droll stories Never read anything by this author and this book is making me laugh so much that Im sure it wont be the last!
Now reading droll stories Never read anything by this author and this book is making me laugh so much that Im sure it wont be the last!
60cindydavid4
I was reading two books off my kindle while we were on the coast, then I managed to leave it in my brothers van, and he lives on the other side of town. Going tomorrow to get it so I can finish droll storiesin the meantime so I pulled up The Forerunner Factorthat my sci fi/fan group are reading next month. Reading it on my laptop and liking it.
61streamsong
Hi Cindy! I've enjoyed catching up with your reading.
It looks like Droll Stories is online with Project Gutenberg. It's soooooo tempting to read it along with you but am currently buried in other book comittments. I'll look forward to seeing your continued reading of it.
It looks like Droll Stories is online with Project Gutenberg. It's soooooo tempting to read it along with you but am currently buried in other book comittments. I'll look forward to seeing your continued reading of it.
62cindydavid4
Oh believe me I understand - I got behind on my reading a bit and trying to start up my July reading and then of course found four books on kindle that I just had to read. So Balzac has been on the back burner; I am getting closer, so you might not be that far behind!
thanks for checking in!
ETA never mind I was close to the end anyway and wanted to finish it
thanks for checking in!
ETA never mind I was close to the end anyway and wanted to finish it
63cindydavid4
Review for droll stories
Im going to forgo my usual structure and just tell you this:
Just finished droll stories and have been laughing through the entire book. He is known for his satiric stabs at religion, nobility, hypocrisy etiqutte and sixteenth-century French life and manners. He is compared with Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Rabelais . I had heard of him, but never experinced his work. Thank you to the members of the Monthly Author Challenge for choosing him for the theme this month, as its been rare that Ive enjoyed a book as I have this one, cover to cover. ...the last story shows 3 pilgrims at an inn, talking about why they decided to go, and all said because of a women. they of course continue to insult the fairer sex and pledge a vow not to have any thing to do with one. Enter the landlady who ovr hears them....Lets just say he does not suffer fools gladly. Now i need to choose another one of his reads....the only caveat is his writing style is a little hard to latch on to at first, but once you do...
Recommend to anyone who needs to laugh , and anyone who needs an example of human nature not changing much down through the ages
Rating 5*
Im going to forgo my usual structure and just tell you this:
Just finished droll stories and have been laughing through the entire book. He is known for his satiric stabs at religion, nobility, hypocrisy etiqutte and sixteenth-century French life and manners. He is compared with Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Rabelais . I had heard of him, but never experinced his work. Thank you to the members of the Monthly Author Challenge for choosing him for the theme this month, as its been rare that Ive enjoyed a book as I have this one, cover to cover. ...the last story shows 3 pilgrims at an inn, talking about why they decided to go, and all said because of a women. they of course continue to insult the fairer sex and pledge a vow not to have any thing to do with one. Enter the landlady who ovr hears them....Lets just say he does not suffer fools gladly. Now i need to choose another one of his reads....the only caveat is his writing style is a little hard to latch on to at first, but once you do...
Recommend to anyone who needs to laugh , and anyone who needs an example of human nature not changing much down through the ages
Rating 5*
64baswood
>63 cindydavid4: Thats interesting
65cindydavid4
edited to remove spoilers
66cindydavid4
It has been a very long time since I sat down with a book and read through most of the day into the night to finish, but it happened now. evening chorus is about the war and what happens to POW and pilots, what happens to people left behind. As usual in her books Humphreys creates characters that you care about what happens to them. the following review puts my feelings perfectl into words. there is not a wrong phrase, turn, or image in the entire book
"the evening chorus serenades people brutaly marked by war, yet enduring to live and relish the tiny pleasures of another day"" Emma Donogu
Read for the Reading Globally challenge 3rd quarter WWII
5*
"the evening chorus serenades people brutaly marked by war, yet enduring to live and relish the tiny pleasures of another day"" Emma Donogu
Read for the Reading Globally challenge 3rd quarter WWII
5*
67raton-liseur
>63 cindydavid4: Thanks for this review. I did not know this book and usually like short books by Balzac. I downloaded a free copy and might use it as a light summer read!
68cindydavid4
Giving up on Famished Road. Now reading Bandit Queen lessons in chemistry, mixed harvest and the bookshop book trying to juggle them all; lets see which falls first!
69cindydavid4
really enjoying the bookshop bookIf you need a read that makes you hopeful and optimistic about the future of reading, you must read this. The author covers bookshops around the world, large and small, popular or specialized. She interviews the owners for their stories and catches the magic each of these shops hold. Many owners talk about thier drive to introduce and encouraging reading and building communities. Not quite finished (didn't realize how large it was) but havent been bored once.Highly recommended (and thanks to whoever recommended this to me!)
70AlisonY
>69 cindydavid4: Noting that one. Sounds great.
71cindydavid4
Reading Harvest: stories from the human past for the RTT July thread Revolution, looking at the journey to the first agricultural revolution. Really interesting so far
72cindydavid4
Review for the bookshop book
why did I choose this? I have a large collection of books about book, with anecdotes about books,book collecting and many many lists of suggested books. This one is the same except its about book stores around the world. whats not to love?
synopsis w/o spoilers
"Every bookshop has a story We're not talking about rooms that are just full of books. We're talking about bookshops in barns, disused factories, converted churches and underground car parks. Bookshops on boats, on buses, and in old run-down train stations. Fold-out bookshops, undercover bookshops, this-is-the-best-place-I've-ever-been-to-bookshops. Meet Sarah and her Book Barge sailing across the sea to France; meet Sebastien, in Mongolia, who sells books to herders of the Altai mountains; meet the bookshop in Canada that's invented the world's first antiquarian book vending machine. And that's just the beginning. From the oldest bookshop in the world, to the smallest you could imagine, The Bookshop Book examines the history of books, talks to authors about their favourite places, and looks at over three hundred weirdly wonderful bookshops across six continents ..The Bookshop Book is a love letter to bookshops all around the world. 'A good bookshop is not just about selling books from shelves, but reaching out into the world and making a difference' the Bookshop Book includes interviews and quotes from David Almond, Ian Rankin, Tracy Chevalier, Audrey Niffenegger, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeanette Winterson and many, many others.(from LT review)
what kept me reading? The seer magnitude of the scope of this book is astounding Its divided by continents with brief introductions for each one, about the history, the owners, the locations and the particular magic each has. She also adds some quotes and lots of good news about books and how they are reaching out and making a difference. This book made me optimistic about the written word and dispells the myth that books are dying. The writing tone was friendly, with some photos and an index in case you want to get a closer look. And oh look at that : maps!
what slowed me down aside from the abscence of my own favs here in the SW (uhum) , I could forgive this given the inclusion of shops from around the world. I did wonder if she actually was able to visit them all, and wish she had more photos. And certainly this list is not complete but aside from that, this book is a gem
recommended to anyone who is worried about books, if they are disappearing, if they will disappear and just need an optimistic vision of what the world of books that are offred up
rating 5*
why did I choose this? I have a large collection of books about book, with anecdotes about books,book collecting and many many lists of suggested books. This one is the same except its about book stores around the world. whats not to love?
synopsis w/o spoilers
"Every bookshop has a story We're not talking about rooms that are just full of books. We're talking about bookshops in barns, disused factories, converted churches and underground car parks. Bookshops on boats, on buses, and in old run-down train stations. Fold-out bookshops, undercover bookshops, this-is-the-best-place-I've-ever-been-to-bookshops. Meet Sarah and her Book Barge sailing across the sea to France; meet Sebastien, in Mongolia, who sells books to herders of the Altai mountains; meet the bookshop in Canada that's invented the world's first antiquarian book vending machine. And that's just the beginning. From the oldest bookshop in the world, to the smallest you could imagine, The Bookshop Book examines the history of books, talks to authors about their favourite places, and looks at over three hundred weirdly wonderful bookshops across six continents ..The Bookshop Book is a love letter to bookshops all around the world. 'A good bookshop is not just about selling books from shelves, but reaching out into the world and making a difference' the Bookshop Book includes interviews and quotes from David Almond, Ian Rankin, Tracy Chevalier, Audrey Niffenegger, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeanette Winterson and many, many others.(from LT review)
what kept me reading? The seer magnitude of the scope of this book is astounding Its divided by continents with brief introductions for each one, about the history, the owners, the locations and the particular magic each has. She also adds some quotes and lots of good news about books and how they are reaching out and making a difference. This book made me optimistic about the written word and dispells the myth that books are dying. The writing tone was friendly, with some photos and an index in case you want to get a closer look. And oh look at that : maps!
what slowed me down aside from the abscence of my own favs here in the SW (uhum) , I could forgive this given the inclusion of shops from around the world. I did wonder if she actually was able to visit them all, and wish she had more photos. And certainly this list is not complete but aside from that, this book is a gem
recommended to anyone who is worried about books, if they are disappearing, if they will disappear and just need an optimistic vision of what the world of books that are offred up
rating 5*
73cindydavid4
one of my fav travel writers is Patrick Leigh Fehmor and I will be reading his The Broken Road: From the Iron Gates to Mount Athos for the RG third quater theme "The Black Sea" When he was 18 years old in 1933 he walked from Amsterdam to Istanbul. In his 30s he publised a time for gifts and between woods and the water which ends at the Iron Gates. This tells the story of his amazing journey but it wasnt until he passed a few years back that his biographer put togeth the compilation of the final journey, much of it that takes place on the coast of the Black Sea. looking forward to this reread!
74cindydavid4
Review of mixed harvest
why did I choose this book?
for the RTT July Theme "revolution', in this case the Neolithic agricultural revolution .also known as the Sedentary Divide
synopsis" Mixed Harvest tells the story of the Sedentary Divide, the most significant event since modern humans emerged. Before the Sedentary Divide, humans followed their food; afterward, everything the human diet had abandoned wild foods by domesticating, and irrevocably changing, plants and animals, staying in one place and keeping them close. Agriculture was so successful that religious and social belief systems evolved to enforce social inequality, exploitation of resources, constrained gender relations, and increasingly devastating conflict"--
what kept you reading?
the stories in this book are sort of panoramas of life from the late stone age through the fall of sumeria. He presents characters that flow through the stories, how they live and handle conflict. At the end of each story is a paragraph of archaeological findings to support his writing, which I thought was very interesting and googled many place names that I didnt know existed
what was not so good his writing, esp once we get into the development of cities, tends to be pedestrain almost YA. Yet TBF, I am familiar about the progression from pre agricultural setting to the founding of religion and empires so this might be good for readers who are not so familiar with it. As you can see by his synopsis above, he has a tendency to hammer hard with his points, and sometimes the dialogue is stilted. But it was still interesting and I found myself drawn into his world
recommended to anyone who wants a better understanding of the origins of our societies and what affect agriculture has on them
rating 4.0
why did I choose this book?
for the RTT July Theme "revolution', in this case the Neolithic agricultural revolution .also known as the Sedentary Divide
synopsis" Mixed Harvest tells the story of the Sedentary Divide, the most significant event since modern humans emerged. Before the Sedentary Divide, humans followed their food; afterward, everything the human diet had abandoned wild foods by domesticating, and irrevocably changing, plants and animals, staying in one place and keeping them close. Agriculture was so successful that religious and social belief systems evolved to enforce social inequality, exploitation of resources, constrained gender relations, and increasingly devastating conflict"--
what kept you reading?
the stories in this book are sort of panoramas of life from the late stone age through the fall of sumeria. He presents characters that flow through the stories, how they live and handle conflict. At the end of each story is a paragraph of archaeological findings to support his writing, which I thought was very interesting and googled many place names that I didnt know existed
what was not so good his writing, esp once we get into the development of cities, tends to be pedestrain almost YA. Yet TBF, I am familiar about the progression from pre agricultural setting to the founding of religion and empires so this might be good for readers who are not so familiar with it. As you can see by his synopsis above, he has a tendency to hammer hard with his points, and sometimes the dialogue is stilted. But it was still interesting and I found myself drawn into his world
recommended to anyone who wants a better understanding of the origins of our societies and what affect agriculture has on them
rating 4.0
75cindydavid4
thanks all for reading! my 3rd quarter page is up here
https://www.librarything.com/topic/351927#n8194989
https://www.librarything.com/topic/351927#n8194989
76AlisonY
>72 cindydavid4: The Bookshop Book sounds great. I may already have this on my wish list - if not, on it goes.
