Loved it! A favorite of the year. For years I wanted to read this one. Always interested in hearing about people and their travels. But to be honest, Loved it! A favorite of the year. For years I wanted to read this one. Always interested in hearing about people and their travels. But to be honest, wasn't sure I was a Steinbeck fan. Read his big ones earlier and just kinda eh, not my thing. I got this one a few times for the library and would return thinking he's probably not for me. But something this time pushed me and I started in still being a naysayer (not for me) but I was soon sucked into the story and just didn't want it to end.
In the 1960's, Steinbeck decides he wants to travel the states, meet people, talk with them, and just learn about his surroundings. He gets his wheels, where he sleeps and dines, which he names Rocinante and brings along his travelling companion, Charley. His French poodle who frequently says 'ffftt' to him and gets his meaning across. Steinbeck travels and meets many different types of people or characters, telling you the story, the interactions, and all about what he sees as he travels all over the place. Who doesn't love a travel story of someone just getting in their car, taking the dog, and travelling the open road.
I grabbed the audio and LOVED IT! Gary Sinise narrated and it was awesome and he added so much to it. Would it had been a 5 star for me without the narration....really can't say as the two were just a perfect marriage. I enjoyed the story and would love to read it again, in print. But it was one of the better narrations I've listened to. In my overall top 5 ever. I will have to say, Steinbeck's observations in the 60's are sometime relevant now (funny how things don't change) but also towards the end, think might be an issue for what is going on in the world these days. But if you want a good story, hear about the open road, and want to be drawn into an amazing narration....I highly suggest this one! I'm off to look for another Steinbeck. Maybe he is for me now....more
I think I've mentioned once, or many, times I'm a fan of Joyce Maynard. I've read a number of her books and find them comforting. I know that if I jusI think I've mentioned once, or many, times I'm a fan of Joyce Maynard. I've read a number of her books and find them comforting. I know that if I just can't get into a book, if I pick up one of her books, I'll be fine. But with this one, I was a bit hesitant to read it. I'm not sure why. I checked it out numerous times from my library, sending it back, unread. This time, I was determined.
I was going on a two week vacation and I couldn't drag lots of books with me. Well, it's a matter of how much I wanted to carry. So I knew I wanted a book I knew I would like. I turned to this one. I jumped in and was enthralled with the story of the author. She tells the story of essentially her growing up and finding her place. She also talks about how she met and her "relationship" with J.D. Salinger. I do think this was a big part of the book, but he was a big part of her life, so it's only natural this is discussed. She also talks about her life of getting married, having children, getting divorced, and writing this book.
Overall, I'm very glad I read this one. I jumped in and couldn't put it down for most of the book. I wanted to hear what happened next. At times, I felt bad for Ms. Maynard. Other times, I wanted to smack her and wished she stood up for herself. I'll not comment on what I think of the J.D. Salinger relationship or Ms. Maynard herself. I was agitated at some point and set the book aside for a few days. But I had to see where things ended. I found it most interesting when she talked about growing up, her parents, her relationship with her parents, the Salinger relationship, all the wonderful opportunities that presented themselves to her. But when she talked about her marriage, kids, and divorce...I just didn't want to hear about this. Is this my favorite of this authors? No. But it's a very interesting read and examination of ones early life. If anything, now I think I want to read Franny and Zooey. But I'll skip Catcher in the Rye....more
There is a lesson in this one...or two. Don't let anyone tell you can't do something. And once you set your mind to something, you can do anything. WeThere is a lesson in this one...or two. Don't let anyone tell you can't do something. And once you set your mind to something, you can do anything. Well, in this case, said person was almost killed....multiple times. But he DID IT! He did what he set out to do which seemed like an impossibility.
OK, this tells the story of Mokhtar Alkhanshali. A young Yemeni growing up in San Francisco, just running around, being a punk, not caring about much of anything. But he begins to see the way (after being talked to) and tries to better himself. He tries to go school, but a mistake where he looses a lot of money he was given for school, is lost. So he goes to work, really pushing hard and learning. He sells shoes, sells cars, and then is a door man in a luxury apartment building. His girlfriend makes a passing statement to him about a statue and that sets Mokhtar on his next path, er,.. quest, er ....obsession, er ...goal. He wants to bring Yemeni coffee to America. You learn about coffee cultivation, roasting and importing and so much about coffee. I'm not a coffee drinker at all, never had the desire. But I found this utterly fascinating. You hear of harrowing stories of his time in Yemen and trying to get out Yemen when violence erupts. On multiple occasions he thinks he is about to die. A great story...and in the end, he brings his dream to life. Yemeni coffee can be found many places in the US these days. And along the way, helping the coffee farmers and workers back in Yemen.
For years I have been wanting to read Eggers works. Many rave about them, there have been movies (which I have not seen) of his works, I even own a book of his, but I just never plucked him from my TBR pile. I don't know what it was about this one that when I saw it, I had to read it immediately. OK, cover love drew my attention first. I'm so glad I read this one and ignited my desire to read more of his books. And, I found out he is coming, along with Mokhtar, to a local author speaker series that I attend. So I get to hear more of this fascinating story by these two men. The only downfall....it will not turn me into a coffee drinker. I just can't. So I'll just drink my tea while I read his books and wait for his talk. Sounds perfect to me....more
Hmmm....I'll just say the title is misleading. I wanted to hear all about French food and just drool over the recipes. I wanted French bakerRating 2.5
Hmmm....I'll just say the title is misleading. I wanted to hear all about French food and just drool over the recipes. I wanted French bakeries, bread, and hear all the specific details of what the author ate. Instead it was more about the author moving to Paris with her husband for three years, but no sooner they arrived, he was transferred to Bagdad for his diplomat position. And she missed him, LOTS, she was lonely. The audio narration made it seem 'whiny' also.
Anyway, this was a buddy read with Dana! We like to read book about food where we can compare what we want to make. Sorry to say, this just did not fit that bill for us....more
OK, this might sound really weird....but I've been to a lot of funerals. And I mean a lot. As a very young girl, I used to go church on weekends with OK, this might sound really weird....but I've been to a lot of funerals. And I mean a lot. As a very young girl, I used to go church on weekends with my grandparents, and they would always go to the funeral home after church. It was always the funeral home three day viewings followed by a church service and grave site service. Many, many years later a family member passed and was cremated. I thought it the oddest thing, completely unheard of. I had many long discussions with my husband about it as I was so confused. I didn't know there was anything different. This book was an eye opening experience to see different countries and cultures and their methods of burying the dead.
I found it fascinating to learn of so many different methods from an open air funeral pyre, to cultures who keep a body in the house for 5, 10+ years mummifying the body, to Indonesia where they prop up their bodies, to Japan where they have very ultra-modern places to sit with the deceased and where relatives use chopsticks to pluck their loved- ones’ bones from cremation ashes, to homes that store skulls, and many more. Finally, to the one I found most fascinating....the FOREST. The Forensic Osteology Research Station in North Carolina. Here, bodies are placed on the grounds of a research facility and 'composted' providing a green burial. The author is a mortician and is fascinated by how people fear dead bodies. She is also quite rough on the American funeral industry and doesn't hold back. It is a huge area that makes tons of money. Your basic American funeral can start at around $20K and go up substantially from there.
I find it odd to say I 'enjoyed' reading this book, but I learned a lot about how many in the rest of the world view death and how they bury their dead. The book includes illustrations that show many of the rituals and images of Mexico's Dias de los Muertos. I have not read the authors first book but it is one I plan to pick up soon. I can't say this is for everyone. Some might find it quite macabre. I found it a bit educational and it's one that can lead to many in-depth discussions....more
Lies, greed, murder, cover-ups....what a frightful Halloween read. Except this one is a true story, which makes it even more frightening. This is the Lies, greed, murder, cover-ups....what a frightful Halloween read. Except this one is a true story, which makes it even more frightening. This is the true story of the Osage Indians. How they were taken advantage of and belittled by everyone. In the early 19th century, they were forced from their lands and eventually ended up taking up residence on Indian territory, which is now known as Oklahoma. Then, in the early 20th century, there was found to be oil on those lands. They had a headright on the lands, which is a legal grant of land to settlers. (Yup, I looked it up.) Leasing land allowed the Osage to become some of the wealthiest people in the country. But the white people did not like this, referring to them as 'filthy redskins' and other remarks. The government even thought they were not educated enough to manage their own money, appointing trustees for each Osage Indian. The Osage had an allowance, very small, in which they could spend each month. When they needed money for something...sending a child to a better school, medicine for a sick child, they had to ask their trustee, who often told them no. And then, if it was not bad enough, they were being murdered.....for their land. It is one of the most chilling, true stories I have read (well, except Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders.)
The book details all of this and the many murders of the Osage. It seemed everyone was against them. The government, even local officials, everyone. They could not stand that they had this wealth. It was found that the trustees appointed to them were often stealing money from them, in large amounts. And after a number of years, when the murders were not solved, and more were being committed, the federal government got involved. Oh, but what became the FBI CHARGED the Indians a large fee to actually investigate the murders. Nothing that was done in any other investigation. Sometimes I thought, how could this happen, how could our government do this, how could this greed and corruption go on....and then I turn on the news. Yeah, nuff said.
Anyway, an incredible book about a time in our history. An utterly fascinating story that I'm so glad I read. When the book was released, the title alone hooked me. So I immediately requested the audio. Now, the bad part...one of *the worst* audio narrations I have come across. There were three narrators in total. The first narrator, read like she was telling a bed-time story, with over the top embellishments. Like she was telling me a story about a fuzzy monster under my bed when she was describing how a person was murdered. I wanted to stop, I really did. But the print version at my library....yeah, I would have been #72 in the queue. At this point, I was hooked, and just tried to put the narration out of my head. I looked at a preview of the book and saw it has tons of photos. So I have it on order and plan to revisit this one after I get the book.
A highly recommended read! But read the print, your missing pictures pertaining to this history. And the narration is just dreadful. Plus, there are a lot of people involved in this story, and print can help keeping track, you can go back easily and re-read portions. I plan on reading more from this author and perhaps reading more non-fiction in general....more
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