I found my way to this diary in an odd way. My book club chose The Journal of Mrs Pepys, the fiction journal of the wife of the famous diarist, as itsI found my way to this diary in an odd way. My book club chose The Journal of Mrs Pepys, the fiction journal of the wife of the famous diarist, as its selection for January of 2022. I had already read that book in 2021, so I decided to read this book, the actual diary kept by a civil servant in England during the 1660s.
I can see why so many have been compelled to read this book over the many years of its existence. Pepys tells about not only the big events of his day---the Restoration, the Second Dutch War, the Great Plague of London, the Great Fire of London---but he also speaks of the intimate details of his life. ...more
Adrian Mole has trouble. His mom isn't home much...his dad is struggling at work...school is terrible...the girl of his dreams likes someone else...anAdrian Mole has trouble. His mom isn't home much...his dad is struggling at work...school is terrible...the girl of his dreams likes someone else...and his body is changing. But Adrian presses on, adhering to a personal list of books to read that would be daunting to any adult, continuing to work to help out his clueless parents and to win the heart of his favorite girl.
I listened to this on audio, and it was, as you might expect, both funny and sad. You have to admire the character of Adrian Mole for not giving in to depression despite all the struggles he faces, for his maintenance of a positive, moving-forward attitude....more
The diary of Sallie McNeill, a member of the household at the Levi Jordan Plantation in Brazoria County, Texas, during the 1800s, has been transcribedThe diary of Sallie McNeill, a member of the household at the Levi Jordan Plantation in Brazoria County, Texas, during the 1800s, has been transcribed and annotated in this book. McNeill kept the diary from the end of her last year at university until the month before her death, and she writes her thoughts about the war, slavery, and life on the plantation.
McNeill writes frankly, "I never had a confidant; never told my inmost thoughts & feelings to anyone. They have never found utterance---perhaps, are not worth it, and even if I could find words, would shrink from writing them here. It matters little however...Am not remarkable for anything, least of all for personal beauty. Have what is called a good education; possessed of no accomplishments. And am generally considered a plain, matter-of-fact young lady, already looked for an old maid; that despised title, to so many. It is well this lot in Life does not disturb my equanimity."
And later: "I like good company...but solitude better I believe. But I wish I could live in a city awhile or see more of the world, than here. I am not learned. I feel keenly my deficiencies away from home, though here literary subjects are entirely put aside. I must keep all thoughts to myself. This is one great reason, why I stay so much a la maison."
Oliver the tortoise has had his pet, Ike the human, for many years. Both Oliver and Ike are the same age---80---and they both enjoy doing many of the Oliver the tortoise has had his pet, Ike the human, for many years. Both Oliver and Ike are the same age---80---and they both enjoy doing many of the same things, especially sitting in the garden together. But one day Ike does not come to sit with Oliver; Ike never comes back. Oliver looks to his mother for advice.
A genuinely sweet story about loss and friendship, perhaps more for adults than children....more
I recently read Anne Frank's diary for the first time, and when I posted my review, several people urged me to read the graphic novel.
I'm so glad theI recently read Anne Frank's diary for the first time, and when I posted my review, several people urged me to read the graphic novel.
I'm so glad they did, and I'm glad I was able to read it.
The illustrations add vibrancy to the story. Anne imagines herself grownup and condescending toward those who were cruel toward her, and we see her as she will never be but might have been, a strong and productive woman. The hostility on the faces of those in the community toward the Jews heightens the fear surrounding the family. The diagram of the shelter helps make the setting clear. The depictions of the people around Anne in the shelter as wind-up dolls...the very Anne-centric pictures of the famous actresses of the day...animals around the dinner table...the Anne-Margo contrasts as seen in paintings...wonderful, wonderful.
How is it that I have never read Anne Frank's diary? I've read parts, little pieces, snippets, and, of course, I know the story of her life. But what How is it that I have never read Anne Frank's diary? I've read parts, little pieces, snippets, and, of course, I know the story of her life. But what was she like as a person? How did the confinement affect her and her family? What was it like while she was in hiding?
Anne is feisty, speaking up to her teachers, her parents, her friends, and yet this did not have the effect of putting others off her. No, her honesty and forthright manner seemed to draw others to her. It also led to lots of conflicts with the adults in her life. Her entire time in hiding seemed to be spent in conflict with one or more of the others with her.
As Anne gets older, she learns to moderate her anger and she eventually finds ways to get along with others, though she always wishes she had a different sort of mother and she still finds fault with all the people she shares the hiding space with. Anne's sharply critical nature surprised me, yet it seemed to serve her well during her short life.
It's the deep sadnesses of the if-only and how-it-could-have-been of Anne's life that reminded me all through the book that this is all Anne Frank would ever have to share with the world. And yet we do have this, a completely honest picture of a desperate time from a girl who made the most of her life while she had it and who dared to share every detail of her thoughts....more
I could literally tag this book with every single tag I have for my books. Books-about-books? Yes, of course. Manguel's format is to take a book a monI could literally tag this book with every single tag I have for my books. Books-about-books? Yes, of course. Manguel's format is to take a book a month and write down quotes and his thoughts and other people's thoughts on the same subjects as the book. Then he takes off from there and shares anything and everything that seemingly comes into his mind, and, trust me, his is a brilliant and thoughtful mind. So I could easily tag this book for Happiness and Philosophy and Justice and just about every single tag I've listed; it's a book that takes on the world. I felt exhausted at times while reading this book, as I wanted to think carefully about everything he said and to do so would have taken me a year or two. Sigh. A wonderful book for all of us who are passionate about reading....more
Emily Nunn loses her brother to suicide and breaks up with her fiancé, and in one night she finds herself without a family or home or income. She setsEmily Nunn loses her brother to suicide and breaks up with her fiancé, and in one night she finds herself without a family or home or income. She sets out on a quest to put her world back together again by visiting friends and learning how to cook their favorite comfort meals.
I loved the stories, and I loved her quest, and I loved the recipes she discovered. It’s a comfort of a book, and I think you will find yourself happier just for reading it, and even happier if you try a few of the recipes, especially Great-grandmother’s Mean Lemon Cake or Aunt Mariah’s Rolls or a Pot of Pinto Beans. ...more
Good grief, it's about time I read this book. The author has since written ten more in this series, and has started a new (oh-so-similar) series with Good grief, it's about time I read this book. The author has since written ten more in this series, and has started a new (oh-so-similar) series with a male teen protagonist.
What's it about? It's about the day-to-day trials of a young teen girl, in school, with her friends, with her enemies, with boys. It's about as readable as a book can get, with fun illustrations, and contemporary vocab, and struggles every girl can relate to.
So, if you, like me, have somehow managed to skip this one, I'm afraid it's required reading these days. I had no idea so much drama went on in junior high....more
I'm turning sixty this year, and my husband did so last month, and all my old friends either just have or are just about to, so how could I pass up thI'm turning sixty this year, and my husband did so last month, and all my old friends either just have or are just about to, so how could I pass up this little memoir?
Ian Brown decides to keep a journal of the year he turns sixty and that's this book. He's balding and he tires more easily and he worries about whether he can still write and he knows he's slowing down; Brown shares all the aches and pains of his new life as an old man, and interweaves the information he's learned from the thorough research he's done about the changes our bodies undergo as we age.
You will want to read it, too, if you are approaching this pivotal age yourself or you are on the other side of it.* It's good preparation. It's good fun, too.
*One small footnote: It's written by a man and it's from a man's point of view and most of the facts are about men at sixty. Just know that going in....more
Initial thoughts: On to Arizona territories. Diary. So real it could have been so.
Second read:
These Is My Words is the story of Sarah Prine during herInitial thoughts: On to Arizona territories. Diary. So real it could have been so.
Second read:
These Is My Words is the story of Sarah Prine during her time in the Arizona Territories from 1881 to 1901. It's a moving story, an emotional story, full of action and adventure, of joy and woe, of gain and loss. I had to add this to my favorites shelf....more
If I was more clever, I'd rate this a five and if I went by what a struggle it was to get through it, I'd rate it a three, so I suppose this is a spotIf I was more clever, I'd rate this a five and if I went by what a struggle it was to get through it, I'd rate it a three, so I suppose this is a spot-on rating for me. I was inspired to read it after seeing it on a list of the 50 best books for Christians, and I do think it's a book that's filled with lots of insight, especially for Catholics. This book is a diary of a very humble country priest, a man that grew up quite poor, a man with a deep desire to work for God among the rather shallow people in a country parish. The priest struggles, with those who don't believe, with those who don't believe much, and with those who love to deride those who do believe. He has lots of fascinating conversations with those of his parish, thoughtful conversations, asking questions we all ask questions about, speculating on things we all speculate about.
****WARNING...SPOILERS BELOW....**** The priest feels led to intervene in a family dispute and it is during the course of this dispute that the priest experiences some of his most intense feelings about God and about his own purpose on earth. He then comes face to face with death, the death of a parishioner, the impending death of a friend, and his own death, and he confronts hard and deep truth in the process....more
I am amazed at how much this book has helped me become a better and calmer cook. Davies advocates using what you have to make your meals. How creativeI am amazed at how much this book has helped me become a better and calmer cook. Davies advocates using what you have to make your meals. How creative is that! And it is astonishing how much easier it seems to prepare supper when the pressure is off to reproduce something from a gourmet cookbook.
Mr. Pooter keeps a diary in which he recalls all the events of his days. He seeks to attain social status, but, time and agaA 1001 Books You Must Read
Mr. Pooter keeps a diary in which he recalls all the events of his days. He seeks to attain social status, but, time and again, finds humiliation instead.
The copyright date on this book is 1892, but the story feels as fresh as yesterday. Funny. A little sad. And, most of all, insightful. ...more
Deb (Readerbuzz)
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