Shawneinfl
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Posts posted by Shawneinfl
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I'll repost this later when the new thread starts.
A currently free classic ~ (this may be today only; I'm not sure)
Anthem by Ayn Rand
"Ayn Rand’s searing portrait of a dystopian future in which all ego has been erased
In a world where science and learning are banned and the simple utterance of the Unspeakable Word, I, is punishable by death, a man named Equality 7-2521 struggles with his unquenchable desire to investigate, to think, to know. His instincts are a “curse†that threatens to bring him to the attention of a government dedicated to the elimination of the self. But Equality 7-2521 cannot ignore his true nature, just as he cannot ignore the fruits of his curiosity: the discovery of the mysterious “power of the sky.†His great awakening—in heart, mind, and soul—represents the inevitable triumph of the individual over the collective.
A riveting, thought-provoking parable based on the author’s experience of life in a socialist state, Anthem serves as an invaluable introduction to Ayn Rand, her fiction, and her philosophy."
Regards,KareniGot it! Thanks.
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I love the cover art! It's funny that you say that because it should have occurred to me that it's a sunflower or some variation thereof because of the Van Gogh connection.... But, ever since the first time I've seen the cover (years ago), I've thought "rooster". So that is what I always see. :lol:
Stacia, I just thought I was a little weird, but "rooster" was what I saw as well. I wonder if it's kind of like a Rorschach test.
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Hi Shawne! Glad you popped in. I was curious about your book when I noticed the Oprah's book club. An acquaintance was one of the first on her show with the book club. Back when she flew people places for dinner...... I think her club is more a recommendation now????
I don't keep up with Oprah or her book club. The only book I ever intentionally read that was part of her book club was waaaaay back when it first started. The book was Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi. I remember reading it on a plane to Europe.
I picked up Love Warrior as a thrift store find (it looked brand new) and I was compelled by the book flap description. I can definitely see why it was an Oprah pick though.
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I haven't had time to catch up with the New Year "megathreads" but just popping in to say I finished my first book of 2017 Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton. This one really spoke to me in some unexpected ways.
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PS Forgot to mention what I am currently reading. It is "Surviving Survival: The Art and Science of Resilience" by Lawrence Gonzales. I loved his previous book, "Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why". He looks at data and pulls it together in unusual ways, which I always enjoy a great deal. (This is also what I love about Malcolm Gladwell, for instance.) I'm about halfway through it, and it's really engaging. It covers the brain chemistry and function that enables people to survive and also tends to influence how they recover from past trauma. I think it's a good book in general about coping skills and how to encourage them, even though it's not structured or presented that way. Resilience seems like a great thing to start a new year with!
This sounds like one I would like since I loved all of Malcolm Gladwell's books.
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Oh ladies, what are we going to do with my husband? Here's your New Year's Day book chuckle -
We share a Kindle account. Sometimes we read the same books but mostly we don't, yet we started out with one account and now it would be too difficult to separate it. Even when I tell Amazon to send a book to a particular device it doesn't always listen, and sometimes my books go to dh's Kindle when he turns on the wifi. It can get annoying.
I usually have to help him with Kindle books. The man who launches rockets into space for a living is sadly inept at dealing with personal technology. He's been reading the Jack Reacher series and I've been telling him that this last one is it - it was published in 2016 and there are no more yet.
This morning-
"I don't know what book I'm reading. I guess I finished Jack Reacher. This one I think is set in the 1800's in London. It's a detective or something. It's not bad."
I had a feeling I knew what it was, but I took a look at his Kindle anyway. It's By Gaslight - the book Stacia is reading. I read the sample and ended up buying it. Now dh is "accidentally" reading it. :lol: :lol:
Kathy, I totally understand...I'm married to an engineer.
I'll join in, if I may. I'm going to take advantage of having two young adults in or recently graduated from college and I'm going to select some of my first readings from the books they have used in classes. DS just finished a Japanese Lit course and speaks highly of some of the readings. I'm looking forward to reading some of those. I'll have to pick them up when I take him back to school.
DD completed a theater class this past semester and Fences (August Wilson) was one of the plays she read. It's short (~100 pages) but I would like to read it before going to see the movie so that will be my first book.
I had a Goodreads bookshelf once that consisted of books from my older daughters' bookshelves. Some of their college reads were eye-opening, especially those of my oldest who majored in English.
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Does anyone else feel a weird satisfaction that this year ends on a Saturday and we start fresh with a seven day week? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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Thanks. Quite honestly, most of the truly local authors are pretty bad. I've tried a few in the past. :tongue_smilie:
I could probably re-read A Land Remembered. It's been a few years since I assigned it to ds, and probably close to 20 years since I initially read it. The author Patrick Smith, lived in my county for years. He used to show up at various pioneer demonstrations and seafood festivals to sign copies of that and his other books. I'm just not sure I can take reading (again) about the destruction of Florida's fragile land at this time.
John Green grew up in the Orlando area (at least for a while) and Dave Barry - a Miami based writer - is one of my favorite humor writers. Then there's WTM's Katie Meyer who writes Harlequin romances. She lives probably less than an hour from me even though it's another county. I was hoping to stretch the miles a bit on the definition of local. :D
ETA: Can you tell what I'm working on tonight? Yep. I'm fleshing out the last few squares on BaW 2017 bingo. I don't think I've done it like this before. Usually I fly by the seat of my pants. Of course, all of my choices are subject to change. And I'm not filling in every square because some are my usual type of reading, so I know I'll get them done without prior planning.
I'm a Florida girl and I love A Land Remembered. My dad was a history professor and he always recommended that one to his students.
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Since the topic of games has come up, let me mention that my husband and I enjoyed playing a game that I received as a gift. Like Patchwork, it's a two player game ~
MorelsIt also appears to be available, with slightly different artwork and using scientific names, under the name
Fungi.I recommend it.
Regards,
Kareni
Karen, You may appreciate this book I picked up at a thrift shop. I bought it because all the illustrations were done by Beatrix Potter.
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This is the end of my 2nd full year with BaW, and I'm so grateful to have found you all - you brighten my days and weeks. I wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year!
You've only been here two years Rose? It seems like longer, and I mean that in a good way :).
I've got another to add: Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren. I listened to the audio book, read by the author. I loved it, and it moved me, and it made me cry. It's a memoir about being a scientist, being a woman, being a friend, being a mother, being someone with a mental illness. Someone I'd love to sit down with and have a long conversation. What a lovely and inspiring book, highly recommended. The audio book is especially recommended in this case - she's a fantastic reader and the emotion she brings to the story, at some points, adds so much to the appreciation while reading it. Definitely a top book of 2016.
I've got some audible credits so I may take you up on this suggestion. I still need to finish a crochet project - I'm making leg warmers for my two ballet dancers and I need a good book to listen to while I work.
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Here's what I've come up for 2017 so far and will work on it some more next week. All the stones lead back to ancients and middle ages so lots of opportunity for books during that time period. Plus if look at where they are found on map, more opportunity for translated books.
Let me know if you have any additions or suggestions or alternates.
Jubilant January: Garnet / Ancients / Haruki Murakami
Festive February: Amethyst / Literary Women's Festival
Mystery March: Aquamarine / Scandinavian authors
Artistic April: Diamond / National Poetry Month / Somerset Maughan Razer’s Edge
Eastward May - Emerald / Eastern European authors
Fanciful June: Pearl / 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter
Scifi July: Ruby / Science Fiction / Author Flavor ???
Adventurous August: Sardonyx / Dorothy Dunnett
Stifled September: sapphire / Banned Books /
Spooky and Spectacular October: Opal / 100th Anniversary Russian Revolution? Russian reads or prefer something different
Nonfiction November: Topaz / Non Fiction
Decidedly December: - Turquoise / Winter / Author flavor?
I may have missed the original post. Are we just supposed to do our birth month or do we try to accomplish each stone in the appropriate month?
I'm doing my best to catch back up with the group and hoping next year is a good year of reading for me. Here's to a year of good intentions in 2017!
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My recent college grad is a girl after my own heart. She just asked for more classic books for Christmas to help round out her collection. :)
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Since dd had to do one extra semester of college, we are cash-strapped this Christmas. Today I spent a lovely hour at my library shopping in their Friends of the Library bookstore. All books are $1-$2 and the lady who stocks it is super picky. All the books are in brand new condition. I spent $20 and was able to find something for everyone. I'm thinking of doing big gift baskets for everyone with books and hot chocolate, etc.
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Since dd had to do one extra semester of college, we are cash-strapped this Christmas. Today I spent a lovely hour at my library shopping in their Friends of the Library bookstore. All books are $1-$2 and the lady who stocks it is super picky. All the books are in brand new condition. I spent $20 and was able to find something for everyone. I'm thinking of doing big gift baskets for everyone with books and hot chocolate, etc.
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Anyone else up for reading The Razor's Edge in 2017? If yes, perhaps you might want to suggest a month for doing so. I know that it will take less than a month to read but this gives us the opportunity to discuss the book in sections if we are so inclined.
Yes, me! That was one of my husband's favorite books that he read while in college and sadly, I have never bothered to read it.
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Hi everyone, I've been super busy this month, with dance and music recital's and my daughter's college graduation (Yay!!!).
Anyway, my daughter told me now that she's free from schoolwork she's doing the Rory Gilmore Book Challenge. Thought the Gilmore Girls fans on here might like this book list. I love how diverse it is.
http://www.listchallenges.com/rory-gilmore-reading-challenge/checklist/2
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I homeschooled to keep my daughters away from Plath! I don't think she is a great influence on a certain sort of girl prone to brooding.
Ahem, not that it comes from personal experience or anything!
I agree! My oldest became a fan of Plath when she was in high school and it was of great concern to me. She was moody enough without Sylvia.
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I just got my library reserve copy of Before the Fall. I wanted to get in a spooky October read so I was able to nab the audio version of We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Thanks to those of you who recommended this one. My Bible reading this morning was Psalm 31:11 which reminded me so much of Mary Kat:
Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!â€
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.-
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Ah, nice! I saw that it was on the shortlist but hadn't seen the final result. I read this when it was published in late 2015 and enjoyed it - irreverent satire, with a kick. In the teeth. Definitely uncomfortable fiction, but also definitely thought provoking.
I'm glad this book won, although mostly for the selfish reason that it's the only one on the shortlist that I've read, although I've had His Bloody Project on hold every since the shortlist came out.
So Rose, who do you think would enjoy The Sellout?
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A book-ish post ~
The 40 Books That Saved My Life by James Altucher"Oh my god, another list of books I should read! I can’t help it, though.
These are the books I return to when I need help, guidance, solace in my life.
I’m going to cheat. I’m not going to look at my kindle to see what I’ve read. Forgive me if I get a title or an author’s name wrong.
If I can remember the books, then it means they had some impact on me. If I can’t remember them, then why would I recommend them?
For each one of these books: either they made me a better person, or I felt, even as I was reading them, that my IQ was getting better. Or, in the case of fiction, I felt like my writing was getting better by reading the book."
Anyone here have a list of books that made a similar impact in their own life?
Regards,
Kareni
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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I've started another one that came in for me at the library: Before the Fall by Noah Hawley.
NY Times: Review: Noah Hawley’s ‘Before the Fall’ Is One of the Year’s Best Suspense Novels
Stacia, I had just looked at this one and I think I downloaded the sample on my Kindle. Read fast and let me know what you think. Started A Tale of Two Cities on audible today because my son has to read it before next week and we had a fairly long car ride to see the hurricane damage to our property in Fernandina Beach. Not too bad but the top of two trees came down and it will take several visits to get it all cleaned up. At least it was a picture perfect day.
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I like The Stand too. A few years ago I bought the expanded 1991 copy, with an extra 400 pages. (The original I think is 1978.) In the intro King writes about how the accountants decided the length of the initial book, rather than the editors, so he added it all back in. I guess that's the prerogative of a writer who is more successful!
I know I read Childhood's End but it was probably 30 years ago or more and I really don't remember it very well. I might reread it sometime.
The Miss Julia series looks interesting so I think I will try to read it.
I am a Stephen King fan and my favorite book is The Stand. It is an apocalyptic book and very long. There was a tv miniseries mad of it too which was good but the book was better.
I've never actually read an entire Stephen King book. I tried The Green Mile when it came out in serialized form, but I was never able to get the right issue of the book in the right order at the right time. So, I gave up after about three of them.
I also tried 11/22/63 because the premise seemed interesting & not scary. I made it through 100 pages before I put it down in disgust. I think King seriously needs an editor because it took him the first 100 pages (of repeating & repeating & repeating & repeating himself) to set-up the premise of the story. :willy_nilly: Seriously, he could have set-up the premise in ten well-written pages rather than the way he did. It drove me absolutely bonkers. I guess he's famous enough & has enough clout that no editor is going to tell him to knock it off or go in & seriously slash his text. Plus, in those first 100 pages he also repeated (ad nauseam) about the guy who kept coughing up blood. Seriously, after about the third description of it -- I get it already! Just stop. I figured there was no point in torturing myself with repetitive text for yet another 600-700 pages. Ugh. Just ugh. Not impressed in the least.
Just inserting my (grumpy) two cents. Give me Hemingway's concise prose any day!
I was a huge King fan as a teenager and read most of his earlier books beginning with Carrie. I stayed up reading his books many a night - too scared to turn out the lights and try to sleep. After I became a Christian I couldn't tolerate them anymore and donated my huge stack of King books. My favorite, however, has always been The Stand. I had no idea there was an expanded version and would love to read that one. I may look for it. I've always told my kids if they want to read a Stephen King book, that is the one to read. I did try to get through 11/22/63 but it didn't hold my interest.
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Hello BaW Friends. I'm back after evacuating for Hurricane Matthew. We drove all the way to NC from FL and waited it out up there. I'm so glad we did - we are right near the St. Johns River and surrounded by massive trees. We were very, very lucky. The storm jogged slightly east as it passed our house. We lost two trees but amazingly our power never went out. I'm sad for the devastation up and down the coast. We are so much more fortunate though than the people in Haiti. Praying for all those affected by the storm. St. Augustine, Flagler Beach, Jacksonville Beaches, Amelia Island - all have major damage.
You would think I would have gotten some reading done but no, we were glued to the Weather Channel.
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This hurricane is starting to look scary - anyone in the southeast want a family of 5 to visit them this week? :001_unsure: We may need to evacuate tomorrow.
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Book a Week 2017 - BW5: festive february
in The Chat Board
Posted
Robin, I hope everyone is feeling better. My 14 yo just started coming down with it and I thought she was going to be the only one in the family to avoid the crud. We also have to make sure to buy "dye-free" but our issue is with RED #40.