Yeah, probably not REALLY worth five stars........but I have to admit, I really enjoyed it! And rarely does an ending help determine me going higher iYeah, probably not REALLY worth five stars........but I have to admit, I really enjoyed it! And rarely does an ending help determine me going higher in my ratings of a book, but I thought this one was great! Dan Brown will never be known for his writing.........sometimes his conversations are very awkward, and there's a bit of repetition (Langdon's eidetic memory.....), but his story lines are fascinating and thought-provoking, and I love the places he takes us to. I really appreciate having my iPad on hand so I can look up all these places. So much of the action here takes place in and around Barcelona, and I loved looking up pictures of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Fog Sculpture, the Head on Wolf Sculpture, etc. Plus, I had to look up various organizations/events to see if they really had taken place......and of course, they were real. I had never heard of the Palmarian church, or the superconducting Super Collider in Texas - very interesting to learn about.
Anyway, this story is probably not for everyone.......it has to do with an atheistic techie (Kirsch) who wants to reveal to the world the answers to the two basic questions the world has been focused on: where did we come from, and where are we going. He doesn't believe that scientifically advanced people can believe in God. It is true that science and religion have not often had a harmonious relationship. Religious fervor has often tried to discredit or silence scientific progress. Kirsch is planning on revealing the answers to these questions in a live broadcast to the world, but is killed right before he can do this. Langdon (his former teacher) and Ambra Vidal (fiance of the future kind of Spain) hope to see his work come to fruition, but are pursued by people opposed to this.
Being religious myself, I wasn't sure how I would respond to his reasoning - but I think overall it made me think quite a bit. And actually to be grateful for what I have learned from the Bible. As a Christian Scientist, I accept the first chapter of Genesis as the true story of creation, and also would have a difficult time believing God made Adam and Eve out of the dust. I think this book more than anything makes one suspicious of AI rather than religion!
Merged review:
Yeah, probably not REALLY worth five stars........but I have to admit, I really enjoyed it! And rarely does an ending help determine me going higher in my ratings of a book, but I thought this one was great! Dan Brown will never be known for his writing.........sometimes his conversations are very awkward, and there's a bit of repetition (Langdon's eidetic memory.....), but his story lines are fascinating and thought-provoking, and I love the places he takes us to. I really appreciate having my iPad on hand so I can look up all these places. So much of the action here takes place in and around Barcelona, and I loved looking up pictures of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Fog Sculpture, the Head on Wolf Sculpture, etc. Plus, I had to look up various organizations/events to see if they really had taken place......and of course, they were real. I had never heard of the Palmarian church, or the superconducting Super Collider in Texas - very interesting to learn about.
Anyway, this story is probably not for everyone.......it has to do with an atheistic techie (Kirsch) who wants to reveal to the world the answers to the two basic questions the world has been focused on: where did we come from, and where are we going. He doesn't believe that scientifically advanced people can believe in God. It is true that science and religion have not often had a harmonious relationship. Religious fervor has often tried to discredit or silence scientific progress. Kirsch is planning on revealing the answers to these questions in a live broadcast to the world, but is killed right before he can do this. Langdon (his former teacher) and Ambra Vidal (fiance of the future kind of Spain) hope to see his work come to fruition, but are pursued by people opposed to this.
Being religious myself, I wasn't sure how I would respond to his reasoning - but I think overall it made me think quite a bit. And actually to be grateful for what I have learned from the Bible. As a Christian Scientist, I accept the first chapter of Genesis as the true story of creation, and also would have a difficult time believing God made Adam and Eve out of the dust. I think this book more than anything makes one suspicious of AI rather than religion!
Merged review:
Yeah, probably not REALLY worth five stars........but I have to admit, I really enjoyed it! And rarely does an ending help determine me going higher in my ratings of a book, but I thought this one was great! Dan Brown will never be known for his writing.........sometimes his conversations are very awkward, and there's a bit of repetition (Langdon's eidetic memory.....), but his story lines are fascinating and thought-provoking, and I love the places he takes us to. I really appreciate having my iPad on hand so I can look up all these places. So much of the action here takes place in and around Barcelona, and I loved looking up pictures of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Fog Sculpture, the Head on Wolf Sculpture, etc. Plus, I had to look up various organizations/events to see if they really had taken place......and of course, they were real. I had never heard of the Palmarian church, or the superconducting Super Collider in Texas - very interesting to learn about.
Anyway, this story is probably not for everyone.......it has to do with an atheistic techie (Kirsch) who wants to reveal to the world the answers to the two basic questions the world has been focused on: where did we come from, and where are we going. He doesn't believe that scientifically advanced people can believe in God. It is true that science and religion have not often had a harmonious relationship. Religious fervor has often tried to discredit or silence scientific progress. Kirsch is planning on revealing the answers to these questions in a live broadcast to the world, but is killed right before he can do this. Langdon (his former teacher) and Ambra Vidal (fiance of the future kind of Spain) hope to see his work come to fruition, but are pursued by people opposed to this.
Being religious myself, I wasn't sure how I would respond to his reasoning - but I think overall it made me think quite a bit. And actually to be grateful for what I have learned from the Bible. As a Christian Scientist, I accept the first chapter of Genesis as the true story of creation, and also would have a difficult time believing God made Adam and Eve out of the dust. I think this book more than anything makes one suspicious of AI rather than religion!...more
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. I imagine this would be my reaction to seeing a stand-up comedian act. Funny, but stories seem a b3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. I imagine this would be my reaction to seeing a stand-up comedian act. Funny, but stories seem a bit embellished, and I guess I just like to get to know the main characters as people and not just as caricatures. The author does write really well, though.
Dumas tells us of her experience moving with her family from Iran to Whittier, California when she was seven years old. I believe this book was written in the early 2000's. To her father, America "was the Promised Land." And this book was almost as much about her father as it was about her. You can tell how much she loved all of her "weird" family members.
Dumas had to interpret for her mother, which seems very typical for kids at schools these days. It was interesting to learn that Persian has so many more precise words for relatives than does English. In a way, I kind of envy people of other countries that keep in such good touch with all their relatives.
Sometimes I tend to think that when someone identifies with a particular religion, they are very religious. Evidently, not always. "My parents' idea of being religious consisted of donating a part of their income to the poor and not eating ham."
How sad it was that her husband's mother never accepted their marriage. I guess prejudice happens in every culture.
So - a lot of humorous stories, but told with love. I think every family must have some "odd" relatives - and a book like this makes you realize that that is universal! ...more
What a great book! We had seen the Broadway play this past year, Come From Away and thoroughly enjoyed it, but had no idea that the play was based on What a great book! We had seen the Broadway play this past year, Come From Away and thoroughly enjoyed it, but had no idea that the play was based on this book. I'm so glad someone in my book group chose this. Since I purchased the book, I'll definitely be passing it on to others. With all the"meanness" so prevalent in the news, it is so nice to read about people doing good to help others, with no expectation of a reward.
This book was written by Defede to honor the people of Newfoundland who helped all the passengers whose planes were diverted to Gander after the airspace in the US was shut down because of 9/11. The author did a great job researching the material and contacting about 180 of the people involved. I learned a lot about Newfoundland, including the correct pronunciation, and the strange time zone it is in. Amazingly, the book was first published in 2002. The pictures in the book of some of the people (residents and passengers) was interesting to see. As was the picture of the 38 planes lined up.
The people in Gander, as well as those in some of the other nearby towns who helped out, were amazing! Once the world spread that so many planes were being diverted to their area, everybody stepped up, opening their homes, their showers, providing food, toys, blankets, clothes for all these unexpected visitors. Even the school bus drivers who had been on strike, all came back to work to help shuttle people places.
And there were even some humorous occurrences - especially the president of the Gander Airport Authority arriving home. Also, the Hugo Boss chairman. I know that there were so many other interesting people, very few of whom could be included in a small book. The people he selected to focus on were fascinating - a Rabbi, government officials, corporation executives, parents bringing home a newly adopted baby, people of color, Beatle impersonators, people who had friends/relatives in New York...... just a small slice of passengers who happened to be on a plane that day. Again, it would have been nice to have had an index of the people included, because sometimes I couldn't keep track of them by name.
anyway - a truly heartwarming non-fiction story. ...more
This is one of the many wonderful things about being in a book group. Sometimes you read a book you never would have thought of on your own, and it tuThis is one of the many wonderful things about being in a book group. Sometimes you read a book you never would have thought of on your own, and it turns out to be great!!!! This is definitely one of the those books. Two of our members lived in Minnesota for a while, where this story takes place, and it will be interesting to hear what things were taught in school to them about the Dakota Indians.
There are a few different narrators, but mainly Rosalie Iron Wing. She's about 40 years old now, but we come to learn about her ancestors and her growing up years, in which she lived in a few foster homes. After marrying John (a white farmer), pretty much to get away from her foster mother, she grows to care for him deeply and has a son. Twenty-eight years later she returns to her original home for a sense of peace, reflection, and maybe closure.
The characters were so well defined and the writing was beautiful. I kind of wish there would have been a dictionary in the back as to how to pronounce the Dakota words that were sometimes used, and their meaning. The reader definitely gets a good look at the prejudice against the Indians and the awful laws that were in place. I really appreciated learning more about the idea behind saving seeds each harvest season for a sense of continuity with your ancestors, and the practice of loving the earth.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Coming home was like swimming upstream, searching for the beginning, for the clean, unmuddied waters of my childhood."
"He didn't want to admit, even to himself, that a thin veneer of nice covered a dormant hostility in this community."
"Being Dakhóta means every step you take is a prayer."
This was a very quick book to read, chosen for our December book group. It was nice to have a Christmas story, but I wasn't all that interested in theThis was a very quick book to read, chosen for our December book group. It was nice to have a Christmas story, but I wasn't all that interested in the story itself. It did make me appreciate more The Five People you Meet in Heaven, which I read years ago.
I guess maybe this story appeared a bit more "heavy-handed"? Not sure. Anyway - a grandfather has died, and his wife asks his grandson for just one thing for Christmas, to find out who "Lillian" is. Evidently, the grandfather had kept a diary every day, and once had mentioned that he and his wife had had an argument, and he went to see Lillian.
The grandson and his wife go through some of the diaries and find out the names of about 8 people the grandpa had mentioned, and they question each of them as to what they knew about the grandpa and if they knew Lillian. Of course, they learn more of what a wonderful man the grandpa was, and find out who Lillian was at the very end of the book....more
Whew - just finished listening to this book a day before it was due. I was surprised at how long it was. I wasn't exactly excited to read this book - Whew - just finished listening to this book a day before it was due. I was surprised at how long it was. I wasn't exactly excited to read this book - I am not a big fan of "all things British". I didn't watch Downton Abbey, didn't watch royal weddings/funerals, didn't follow Harry's and Megan's lives..... I expected this to get a likely 2 star rating from me. And I have to say,I argued with a good part of it, in the notes I took. But - I also got to feel more compassion for Harry than I expected. I really wonder how much of this Harry actually wrote. He definitely says he was not much of a student. I can't imagine him keeping a diary. So, some of this I kind of rolled my eyes at.
Some people choose to be in the spotlight - actors, singers, professional sports stars. But - growing up in a royal family isn't a choice. It's too bad Diana passed on so young - she probably would have been a more stabilizing influence on him and William. Charles comes off as very remote. It was also interesting to note that a prince is really not taught anything useful in life - like managing on his own, navigating the subway (or even the world!). There is just so much protocol - very difficult for a person to think for himself. Harry also made a lot of bad choices in his life, regarding drugs, and the press seized on those indiscretions.
It's funny - in an early note I wrote I said how much Harry reminded me of Matthew Perry when he wrote his autobiography. "Chandler" came across (to me) as always blaming his family for his problems, stating that he had abandonment issues. Sounds just like Harry. (and, in fact, Harry mentioned how he watched all the Friends episodes in 2013 and saw himself as Chandler!)
I was amazed at all the "stories" that made the news which were so derogatory towards Harry and Megan. According to Harry, his family was sometimes complicit in providing info to the "reporters". I can't imagine what it would be like to have "paps" following you everywhere, always dreaming up new sordid "truths" to share with the world.
I don't understand many people's need to share private details with the world. Did I really need to know about his frostbite? or even about his drunkeness?
I had not known about Harry's military experiences, or the charities he felt so passionate about - that was great. And the fact that Megan had her own charities - and that both of them held a special in their hearts for Africa. They really seemed like an excellent match for each other.
An interesting note that Andrew, in spite of his sexual peccadilloes, was still provided security, whereas Harry and family were denied security. It seemed to me that moving away from Great Britain was the best thing he could do - to completely start fresh, which included making his own way without dependence on others' provisions.
So, I ended up being glad I read this book! It got me thinking, that's for sure. Harry's and Willie's stories actually reminded me of the story of the Prodigal Son in the Bible. Willie, the older one, lives his life pretty much by the book, whereas Harry goes off on lots of different tangents searching for love and acceptance. Who knows if Harry will ever go back to his brother and father, but Willie is depicted as being kind of jealous of Harry. Maybe, if he had a choice, William would like to live outside the public spotlight? I'd love to hear his version of the events Harry shares....more
Another slow moving book - but this one kept me going. I especially enjoyed the way Patchett crafted the novel. Lara, the main character, is now in heAnother slow moving book - but this one kept me going. I especially enjoyed the way Patchett crafted the novel. Lara, the main character, is now in her 50's, living on a cherry farm with her husband. They have three adult daughters, who happen to be back at home to help out with the farm at this particular time. We learn about life on the farm, and the girls all want to hear more about Lara's past, especially stories about her relationship with Duke. We gather bits and pieces each chapter.
Lara seems quite the homebody now, but back in the day, we learn how she came to be cast in Our Town as Emily. She goes on to play Emily in other productions, and is "discovered" and cast in a movie. Interesting question - how much of her past does she want to share with her kids? Is it possible to keep the past in the past, or does it always impact our present?
There were some excellently defined characters here, and I feel like I understood them well and could predict what would happen. But - I don't think that Lara's revelation of her next-to-last meeting with Duke was believable, and that kind of impacted my overall rating of this story. ...more
I am really surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It definitely did not start out that way. And I have a feeling some people will think it is tooI am really surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It definitely did not start out that way. And I have a feeling some people will think it is too slow -and it kind of is......but I really appreciated the thoughtfulness of the author, and the desire to do a lot of introspection.
Bringley was a recent college graduate and employee at The New Yorker when his older brother died. He gave up that job and took a job as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, giving himself time to heal, and to not have to deal with "the real world". The time spent there grew into ten years. It was fascinating to learn about the Met, and the art it contained, and the people who work there. And I also really enjoyed Bringley's observations and "epiphanies". I think that this would have been a job my father would have really enjoyed, too.
The Met opened in 1880 - and was started by John Frederick Kensett - a landscape painter. It has over 2000 employees, and over two million objects of art. There are many veteran guards who keep this job until retirement - people from all over the world. I enjoyed Bringley mentioning the diversity of friendships made there - people differing in age, culture, race... but all having something more in common. All the artwork mentioned is also listed in the back of the book - I wish I would have known that beforehand. As it was, I looked up probably 80% of the art mentioned on my phone so I could briefly enjoy comments he made about them.
To begin with, this was a perfect job for Bringley at that period of his life. As he says, he didn't have his eye on the finish line. "Art needs time to perform its work on us." He talks about grief being a loss of rhythm. "Most of the big challenges I'll face in life are also little challenges I confront in daily interactions. Trying to be patient. Trying to be kind. Trying to enjoy others' peculiarities and make good use of my own. Trying to be generous or at least humane even when the situation is rote." He stresses the importance of learning FROM art not ABOUT art. The importance of figuring out what to do with your life - not once, but often.
"The world doesn't make itself easy to draw. The safe route is to mimic others' tried-and-true formulas that limit the complexity. The dangerous route is to push the limits of your eyesight and try to invent ways for your pen to keep up." Bringley learns that life stretches beyond its present horizons, and he needs to have a say in its progression. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes in the Bible, from Romans 2 - and it is so good in so many translations: Don't let the world shape you in its mold!
So - a winner of a book in my eyes! And perhaps some day i will actually get to visit the Met!...more
This was an enjoyable book - kind of like a Hallmark movie where you just know how things are going to turn out. But - quite a harrowing overall themeThis was an enjoyable book - kind of like a Hallmark movie where you just know how things are going to turn out. But - quite a harrowing overall theme. The story takes place in 1912 and 1982. A group of young adults from Ireland are all booked on the Titanic to start a new life in America. Seventeen year old Maggie is the main character, who, after her parents have both passed on, is being taken to America by her aunt. She hates to leave Ireland as she has met the love of her life, Seamus. In 1982 we meet Maggie again, and her great-grand daughter Grace. Maggie hadn't wanted to discuss her experience on board the Titanic with anyone, but finally thinks it would be good for someone to know.
I have no idea if this story was based on real people or not, but it was mostly very well done. The main thing that bothered me, though, is the letters. So people really receive letters from people they've cared about and NOT read them?...more
I wouldn't have chosen this book on my own, but one of my book club friends chose it for September's read, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed iI wouldn't have chosen this book on my own, but one of my book club friends chose it for September's read, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! It wasn't exactly a summer read - it took me about a month to get through it. It wasn't all that long, but there was so much information! I came away with a much more informed appreciation for Merkel - and probably also for the value of having a woman in such a position of authority!
Merkel grew up in East Germany as a pastor's child, in a time when 1/63 people were "informers". The values of sacrifice and self-discipline were instilled in her. After the wall fell, she was essentially a "triple outsider" - an East German, a scientist, and a woman. I hadn't realized that the wall was 4' wide, 13.5" tall, and protected by landmines, dogs, and guards with automatic weapons. And yet - she was focused on accomplishing good on a wide level. Her training as a scientist enabled her to break down problems to their component parts. Her goal was to "merge christian ethics and science"!
Interesting observation that Merkel believed that too many East Germans felt as if they should still be taken care of after the wall came down. If that's how many East Germans felt, I can't begin to imagine how people in other oppressed countries might feel if given a chance to be free.
Merkel's style was described as humble, plain and direct, with an absence of theatrics. "This is her power move: letting an alpha male keep talking and waiting patiently as he self-destructs."
I really enjoyed learning about her encounters with various world leaders, including Putin , Obama and Trump I also didn't realize/remember a 1938 meeting when 32 nations discussed what to do about German and Austrian Jews trying to escape Hitler Ultimately they decided to do nothing. This probably influenced Merkel's decision to accept so many refugees into Germany.
Marton stated that there was no German equal to Fox news. Interesting...... Also interesting to note that there were no scandals in Merkel's life/tenure, that she "never inhaled the narcotic of power", that she believed in win/win situations, contrary to some other leaders.
So - fascinating read. Marton did a great job with her research. Some time, though, I would really like to read a book that is able to impartially (is that possible?) portray Donald Trump. I find it difficult to understand what normal, intelligent people see in him, and this book confirms my impressions. But - I believe there has to be something good that he has accomplished?
Whether it was the author - Marton - or Merkel herself - I can't remember, but I loved this description of her: "A woman in power has more urgent business to attend to than her ego."...more
Maybe 3.5 stars. Well, I enjoyed reading this book. And it was a fairly quick read. The story was interesting, but I just didn't LOVE it. There were nMaybe 3.5 stars. Well, I enjoyed reading this book. And it was a fairly quick read. The story was interesting, but I just didn't LOVE it. There were no noteworthy quotes for me, so just a good story.
The time frame essentially covers the two world wars, with the same major characters, Elinor White being the predominant one. We meet her first when she's a teenager, and her dad has just gone off to war. Her mother and sister and herself are approached by a neighbor to aid in the war effort. She ends up observing the German trains going through - and later derailing the trains. In the process, she has learned how to use a gun and ends up killing two German soldiers. The narration switches back and forth during both wars. In 1947 she befriends some neighbors. The husband is being cajoled into going back to his crime family. Elinor believes she can help him, but in the process, she deals with one of her former operatives, who is now a commander in the police department.
A lot goes on in both time periods. We learn how and why Elinor became an operative, why she was so insistent on helping a slightly known neighbor, and which people were guilty of being traitors. At this point in my reading life, I think I just prefer stories that are a bit "meatier"....more
Well, this book sure had a great opening line: "Vera Wong Zhuzhu, age sixty, is a pig, but she really should have been born a rooster." I had read SutWell, this book sure had a great opening line: "Vera Wong Zhuzhu, age sixty, is a pig, but she really should have been born a rooster." I had read Sutanto's first book, Dial A for Aunties, and thought it was great. Funny, interesting, great characters, so I was hoping this book would be equally as good. The story was interesting, that's for sure, as were the characters, but I don't think it matched Dial A.
The premise here is that Vera owns a tea shop in Sf's Chinatown. She is kind of a busybody Chinese mother, always nagging her son on the phone, always believing that she knows what is best for everyone. No one comes into her tea shop anymore, and her life seems kind of sad - until one morning, when she comes downstairs to her shop, she finds a dead body! She can't be bothered with the inefficiency of the police department, (whose officers evidently don't appreciate the help she is trying to provide, outlining the dead body on the floor for them...) so she decides to solve the mystery herself, of who killed Marshall. Of course, it helps that she took a thumb drive out of Marshall's hand before the police arrived, giving herself a head start. She assumes that the killer will come back, and the people who do visit the tea shop in the next few days become her chief suspects.
Julia is Marshall's wife - unappreciated by him, and downtrodden. Riki does something with computers and is trying to help bring his little brother to the US. Sana is an art student with a mental block. Oliver is Marshall's twin brother, who was always overshadowed by him.
Most of the story was really good and entertaining, and kept me guessing as to who was probably guilty. Three things I did not like about the story: 1. Vera is 60. Sutanto makes her characters all believe that sixty is SO old. I take offense at that! 2. Julia's daughter is two. That two-year-old has more stamina and better language than some kindergarteners. Unbelievable. 3. The ending was too tidy. I know this book is not supposed to be true, but it didn't feel as polished as her other book....more
What a wonderful book! There are a few complaints I could make - but they aren't really worth it. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Napolitano's writinWhat a wonderful book! There are a few complaints I could make - but they aren't really worth it. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Napolitano's writing, characters, and the story. It kind of reminded me some Jane Smiley books I read a long time ago. I feel like I really got to know the characters in this book. We see the world mainly through the eyes of William, Julia, and Sylvie. William came from an unloving home. His older sister had passed on at the age of three, and his parents couldn't move past that event. As he entered college "he had the strange thought that he might never see his parents again - that they'd only ever had one child, and it wasn't him." Julia was the oldest in a family of four sisters. She was closest to Sylvie (the next oldest), and Emeline and Cecilia were twins. Very different personalities, but they were a very cohesive unit. Julia met William at college. He lacked answers, she was very sure of herself, and saw him as moldable. William realizes that he has married Julia AND her family. The reader just knows that that could easily lead to disaster..... We see the shortcomings of Rose and Charlie, their parents, but we can also see the love that is behind some of their actions. The same with the sisters. It just reminds me of how easy it is to see things from only our point of view, and not realize how our words or actions affect others. There were so many beautiful passages - here are a few: After Sylvie reads William's journal (which Julia had loaned to her) she realized how different the two of them were, and that Julia probably never realized the sadness and doubt that lived within her husband. She "was like a star baseball player who lived at the plate, smacking away any uncertainties with her bat." William realized that Sylvie "was looking inside him, to the truth of him...When Julia gazed at William, she was trying to see the man she wanted him to be." "Sylvie could imagine William walking into the lake, feeling like a tablespoon of water that could no longer stay on a spoon." Sylvie "was no longer who she used to be, and she wasn't yet whoever she was becoming." "Basketball was the first thing in William's life that loved him back. The only thing that loved him, for a long time." "After a week of sleeplessness, Julia felt like a Picasso painting - her eyes didn't match, and her shoulders were at different heights." "This wasn't on her calendar, which meant this moment could exist as a barnacle on the outside of her real life." William "realized now that he must have shaped Alice by his absence, by his silence, even though he'd intended to save her by the same means." Everything about this story just flowed! ...more
What a delightful surprise this book was! I had never heard of it before, but someone in my book group chose this. She also happens to be a former speWhat a delightful surprise this book was! I had never heard of it before, but someone in my book group chose this. She also happens to be a former special education teacher, so I completely understand why she liked this book so much.
The story takes place in Bourne, a very small town that has seen better days. More than seventeen years ago, unfortunately. At that time, a chemical company opened there, promising to bring jobs and better times to this town; instead, the product they made contaminated the water, causing all sorts of physical problems for the people there and those being born. Of course, they never admitted that they had done anything wrong, but just left.
The three main character are triplets, Mab, Monday, and Mirabel (or One, Two And Three), whose voices we hear in rotating chapters. Mab is the "normal" one of the three. Monday doesn't lie, and takes everything literally. She is a bit compulsive - maybe diagnosed today as Aspergers? Miracle is the smartest person in their high school, but she is in a wheelchair and has to use an assistive device to talk. Their mother Nora is obsessed with finding information to sue the company who created these problems for the residents - and has been obsessed with this ever since the girls were born sixteen years ago and her husband died about the same time. Nothing new happens in Bourne - nobody moves out, nobody moves in. The town has more than its share of odd characters or disabled people. BUT - one day, River Templeton arrives, a new boy in their grade. His grandfather was responsible for the original contamination there, and lo and behold, his family has now moved back and intends to reopen the plant, safely this time.
Frankel's writing was beautiful. I loved all the characters and their quirks. I can understand Monday's thought processes. I loved this explanation of why looking for a needle in a haystack was not a good saying. "A better saying for something that is hard to find would be that it is like looking for an important piece of paper in many stacks of unimportant pieces of paper. This is because all pieces of paper are the same until you read them, but there are too many to read them all, and none of them will announce themselves by sticking you in the finger."
The story was fascinating. Odd, but a great mystery as well as a thoughtful family story. The question that didn't get answered til the end was: What is Belsum hiding, where is it, and why will it ruin them?
I also loved all three girls. They were so close, but so different. And it was nice to recognize that even someone without "normal" looks/voice would still have teenage thoughts and want more than what life appeared to offer her. I was a bit disappointed in one part, where Mab and River have sex, without any mention of protection. And the ending was probably the only way it could end, which wasn't bad, but I would have loved to have known more about the future....more
I sure never would have chosen this book to read on my own, but thanks to my wonderful book group, someone else chose it! The book was short, and mostI sure never would have chosen this book to read on my own, but thanks to my wonderful book group, someone else chose it! The book was short, and mostly fascinating. I ended up highlighting a lot of it, just to remind myself of particular events and people, to keep them straight. But - I highlighted so many passages, it's too overwhelming to look at them all.
Sobel has investigated the "discovery" of determining longitude reliably. The challenge to accurately determine longitude came from the needs of marine navigation. We learn of the search for determining latitude and longitude before Jesus was born! I had never thought about the difficulty of establishing longitudinal lines, because they weren't dependent on the earth's relation to the sun. "One degree of longitude equals four minutes of time the world over, but in terms of distance one degree shrinks from sixty-eight miles at the Equator to virtually nothing at the poles." Every captain at some point in his career, became lost at sea due to no reliable charts/watches.
There were two distinct schools of thought for determining longitude, one relying on astronomical charts, and one relying on an accurate clock. Each group was sure that only their system could be ultimately successful. A Royal Society was eventually set up that would award prize money to anyone who could create an accurate "instrument" for determining longitude. Like many endeavors, the people in charge of the money often were already prejudiced as to which "side" they were on.
I hadn't realized that sailors originally used sighting sticks, where they had to look directly into the sun, and often became blind.
John Harrisonspent years and years of his life developing a clock/watch that would not be dependent on climate, weather, time away, lack of landmarks...... His story and the various "bullies" that challenged his work, was fascinating.
So, other than the fact that certain portions of this story were a bit too technical for me, I really enjoyed the history. Sobel generally wrote in a way that was entertaining and yet informative....more
Well, not exactly my type of book. I love mysteries, but do not like gruesome, scary stories. I would put this one in that category.
Like so many bookWell, not exactly my type of book. I love mysteries, but do not like gruesome, scary stories. I would put this one in that category.
Like so many books these days, the chapters vary between years and the two main characters. Shea escaped a kidnapping when she was nine, and since then has written a blog: The Book of Cold Cases. she is especially enthralled with a case that took place in Clair Lake, Oregon, where she lives. This particular case involved a rich girl, Beth Greer, who was accused but acquitted of killing two men, about 4o years ago. She still lives in the same house, and this house has creepy things going on inside. Warning: do not expect to have any logical explanation for any of this creepiness.
The writing was fine, it was a quick read, but not a book I'd want to curl up with at night. I'm looking forward to something more uplifting next. ...more
I really did enjoy this book. It's so interesting how learning more about people generally makes you appreciate the person more. I definitely admired I really did enjoy this book. It's so interesting how learning more about people generally makes you appreciate the person more. I definitely admired RBG, and this tribute to her was fascinating. Nina Totenberg I knew nothing about. I enjoyed learning about her, too. The only thing that made me rate this book four stars instead of five is that I wasn't as interested in Nina as I was Ruth, and so much of the book seemed like name dropping. Totenberg is a reporter, and consequently met and interviewed many important people. It just seems a bit presumptuous to me to title it "Dinners with Ruth" when it was about a LOT of people. I'm probably being too nit-picky....... It was interesting to hear how their paths crossed at different times in their lives, and how they experienced many of the same things, especially in regards to having to overcome prejudice against women in their careers. They both were remarkably smartened persevering women, and both were supported by wonderful husbands and fathers that recognized their potential. This was such great encouragement by Ruth's father: "If you really want to go to law school and become a lawyer, you will stop feeling sorry for yourself and you will find a way."
I highlighted a lot of passages in this book - way too many to include. But - I think this book would be a great one for most people to read. It does emphasize the importance of friendships and persevering, and the possibility of achieving seemingly distant goals....more
4.5 stars This was a very interesting read. Thanks to Vicki who got us started on this book, because of a relative who had worked for one of the Vande4.5 stars This was a very interesting read. Thanks to Vicki who got us started on this book, because of a relative who had worked for one of the Vanderbilts. Cooper does a good job of distancing himself from the wealth of the Vanderbilts. Thank goodness for the family tree at the beginning of the book - it was very hard to keep track of all of the characters in spite of this tree, though. The reader learns about HOW the Vanderbilts got so wealthy - and how different generations ended up squandering it all. We also get the feeling that the V's were the epitome of conspicuous consumption. It is hard to imagine the money spent on "stuff", outdoing one another in their purchases. And yet - so many tragic events in their lives, that money couldn't solve. I enjoyed learning about their involvement in different projects. And the Truman Capote parts were interesting to me also. I read The Swans of fifth Avenue years ago, which dealt with Capote and his society women friends, and I loved that book. Both of these books left me with the feeling of being grateful for what I have, and grateful that I didn't have to deal with pitfalls of wealth!...more
This sure was a strange choice for our book group, in my opinion. And it was a strange book. I have a feeling that people who liked this book, probablThis sure was a strange choice for our book group, in my opinion. And it was a strange book. I have a feeling that people who liked this book, probably also liked The Royal Tenenbaums. Or maybe Seinfeld. Movies/shows/books really about nothing, but perhaps representing real life?
All I can say is, I'm glad this book was short and a quick easy read. It wasn't bad. The writing was pretty good, humorous in a British way - very understated. It is the story of about 6 women who work in Goode's department store in Australia, in the women's dresses department. We learn a bit about each of their lives outside the store. Patty is married to Frank, who seems like a loser. Fay, who dates a lot, but always chooses men poorly. Miss Jacobs, a mystery, we never learn much about her. Miss Cartwright, the boss, just about as much of a mystery. Magda, who works in model gowns. And Lesley/Lisa, a teenager who works there temporarily during the Christmas holidays.
Funny, on the back cover is a review from the NY Times: "A deceptively smart comic gem." Maybe a "gem" was perceived differently about thirty years ago when this book came out. ...more
Maybe 4.5? I'm undecided. I was tearing through this book at first. I had read two other of the books by Brooks and loved them. And I thought this wasMaybe 4.5? I'm undecided. I was tearing through this book at first. I had read two other of the books by Brooks and loved them. And I thought this was going to be my favorite. And it almost was.......
Brooks really is a pro at researching interesting topics and putting a fascinating story together. Here, we have a few stories going on at the same time, taking place around 1850 and around 2019. And they both revolve around a famous horse named Lexington. It was interesting to read about the actual characters in the back of the book, including Lexington. Anyway, the earlier story mainly deals with Jarrett, a slave who grew up taking care of horses. It became difficult to read about the sometimes inhuman treatment of slaves, and of the mistreatment of the horses that were bred for racing. I know I don't want to be oblivious to these historical accuracies, but it doesn't make it any easier to read about them. We get to follow Jarrett and his relationship with Lexington for about 25 years. Not all the white owners were awful, but even the better ones still couldn't relate to Jarrett as just a human being. In the 21st century we are introduced to Theo, a Nigerian/Australian young man who is in Georgetown for school, and Jess, who works with one of the museums, putting together skeletons (as I recall....) They bond over a horse picture. Theo also experiences racism in DC. The painter Jackson Pollock also shows up in this story, as does an earlier painter, Thomas Scott.
I hate to admit it, but I could tell, on page 239, that some sad things were going to be coming up. I did not feel brave enough to confront those things I was imagining, so I kind of dawdled through the rest of the book (yes, I actually flipped to the end to see if I was right in my apprehensions......I was 50% right....) I'm glad I finished it, but it is hard to read of the injustice perpetrated a few centuries ago as well as its continuation now.
I loved this description of Jarrett: "Words could be snares. Less of them you laid out there, less likely they could trap you up." I thought it was also interesting to see Jarrett grow. He grows to appreciate some people as much as he did a horse! I also enjoyed this wise counsel to Jarrett: "You have to know that bigots are unwittingly handing you an edge. By thinking you're lesser than they are, they underestimate you. Lean on that. Learn to use it, and you'll get the upper hand."
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