I read The Physician - 4 Stars - This is simply beautiful historical fiction and I was hooked right from the get-go. The plot was exciting throughout. The protagonist was one that I rooted for – something that I seem to need in books and movies. I have to root for somebody! It’s the story of an English orphan and the trials and difficulties that he had to endure to become a physician in 11th century. I hardly knew anything about the book before reading it and was pleasantly surprised to read all that about the early Persian Empire – my place of birth. My dad spent some of his happiest childhood years in in some of the places mentioned. One of the characters, Avicenna (Ibn Sina – 980-1037), is someone that Persians revere. He was an absolute genius, a polymath, the father of early modern medicine, and one of the most significant astronomers, thinkers, and writers of the Islamic Golden Age. The book has been made into a movie, which I have yet to see. I felt that at times it was a bit too wordy and it seemed to stagnate somewhat in the middle, but it picked up wonderfully later. I won’t be reading the rest of the books in this trilogy, since I have read the reviews and it seems that they’re quite disappointing, or at least the third one is. If you like historical epics and sagas, the sort of books like “Pillars of the Earth” and “Gone with the Wind”, you may enjoy this one also. Some of my favorite quotes: “Mankind is close to savagery and must live by rules. If not, we would sink into our own animal nature and perish.” “Even for a child, he felt, involving oneself with the world’s suffering had to be a voluntary act.” I also read The Hostage - 3 Stars - In 1997, an NGO worker, Christophe André, was held hostage in Chechnya. His horrifying story is told in this book in a graphic novel format. The art and storytelling are both wonderful. It did get a bit repetitive, but that’s done intentionally, in order to show how repetitive and painful his days were. It perfectly matches his own experience. I have such admiration for his strength and perseverance, how he was able to keep himself together, and not break down mentally. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I haven't yet had time to read everyone's posts. Kindle book on sale today - if you happen to like her point of view. I do.

Kindle book on sale today.

Kindle books on sale today. The Word is Murder (mystery/crime/thriller) The Great Alone (historical fiction) My Family and Other Animals - (autobiography/memoir/humor/animals) The Weight of Ink - (historical fiction)

That is a gorgeous cover. I read Between Two Worlds - 2.5 Stars (rounding up to 3 Stars - since I'm feeling generous) - As someone born in Iran and especially as a Baha’i, I was looking forward to reading this book. I knew the basics of the story. Roxana Saberi, an American journalist, the daughter of an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, moved to Iran in 2003. She worked as a journalist until her press credentials were revoked. She continued to remain in Iran, while working on a book about Iranian society, which has yet to be published. In 2009, she was arrested on charges of espionage, and was released a few months later. While in prison, her cell mates for some time were two Baha’is. That’s the part that interested me the most. One remembers to not only appreciate the freedom that we all have, but I also felt inspired by their strength and fortitude, not just the Baha’is, but also other fellow prisoners. This book could have been written in a more compelling style. There was an overall sense of detachment and blandness. Pictures would have helped. There were parts that were just irritating me for some reason. Maybe it was all the back and forth about whether she should tell the truth or not. It got quite repetitive. The afterword was interesting. All in all, there are some things about this book that don’t sit right with me. I believe that any non-Iranian, who chooses to live in Iran, never mind visit, can’t be too right in the head. With an Iranian father who has obviously preferred living in North Dakota, and being fully aware of the instability there, she was stupid and naïve. Who does that? Who in their right mind goes to Iran, then after having one’s press credentials confiscated, chooses to still remain? I mean, come on! If I was willingly living in a society like that, then had my press credentials taken away, I’d be on the first flight out. Something wasn’t right. She could have worked anywhere. I have little compassion for any non-Iranian who willingly goes to Iran, just as I have little compassion for those who are stupid enough to go to North Korea and other risky locations. I had similar feelings when I read “A House in the Sky” a few years ago, although that was far worse than this. Why visit and remain in a country that lacks human rights, has no clear legal system, and imprisons people for the most arbitrary reasons? Not only do I think that it’s naïve and stupid, but I also get frustrated by people like this, who put their families and loved ones through unnecessary hardship and worry. I think that it’s selfish and irresponsible. My favorite quote: “I envied her for her faith, which had kept her strong and helped her resist the same pressures I had surrendered to … This woman, I realized, loved God so much that she feared disappointing Him more than she feared death.” MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

Never Mind - I posted about a book on sale, but chose not to. Apparently, the afterword in that book is a bit controversial politically and divisive. Ugh.

I used to be able to have a much easier time focusing. I used to read classics like you wouldn't believe, but now I struggle with that genre.

Nothing to report this week. I started and gave up on a few books. I'm getting more selective as I get older, or at least I like to think that I'm getting that way. I finally made an "abandoned" shelf on Good Reads. Took me long enough! One of my pet peeves, and I'm sure that I've done it many a time, is rating a book which I don't actually finish reading. I don't think that's really being fair. I sometimes see others, and again I'm quite sure I've done it, giving 1 or 2 stars or whatever, to a book and then saying that they only read a few pages or whatever.

Kindle book on sale today

Robin, that sounds like fun! It might look as if I read a lot, but I'm actually catching up on rating and reviewing books. Two of the books were quick reads. The Wit and Wisdom of Oscar Wilde - 3 Stars - This was a quick read. I started and finished it while waiting in the bank the other day. There were some funny and insightful quotes and here are some of my favorites. “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” “When I am in trouble, eating is the only thing that consoles me. Indeed, when I am in really great trouble, as anyone who knows me intimately will tell you, I refuse everything except food and drink. At the present moment I am eating muffins because I am unhappy. Besides, I am particularly fond of muffins.” “I don’t desire to change anything in England except the weather.” “I only care to see doctors when I am in perfect health; then they comfort one, but when one is ill they are most depressing.” “You believe good of everyone, Jane. It is a great fault.” “It is only about things that do not interest one that one can give a really unbiased opinion, which is, no doubt, the reason why an unbiased opinion is always absolutely valueless. The man who sees both sides of a question is a man who sees absolutely nothing at all.” “Thinking is the most unhealthy thing in the world, and people die of it just as they die of any other disease. Fortunately, in England at any rate, thought is not catching.” The Third Target - 4 Stars - Although a bit wordy and predictable at times, this was an enjoyable thriller. I love that Rosenberg writes about such timely and relevant subjects. They Came Like Swallows - 4 Stars - This is the second book that I have read by William Maxwell and I have to say that I simply love his writing. If you have read and liked books such as “Stoner” and “Mrs. Bridge”, then his books may be worth looking into. These are books that are more about the beautiful and elegant prose, rather than being plot-driven. They are all books that are subtle and simply remain with you. The story here is about a family during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918. A quote about siblings: “There was no time (no time that Bunny could remember) when Robert had not made him cry at least once between morning and night.” An Age of License - 3 Stars - This book, the third one that I have read by Lucy Knisley, focuses on her twenties and all the angst and worrying about one’s path that often come with it. Someone described it as a sort of “Eat, Pray, Love” for that generation. I was hoping that this would be more of a travelogue than a memoir, but it wasn’t. Her illustrations are charming and the overall style is delightful. There are a few more books in the series. I’m not sure if I will continue reading them. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

Kindle book on sale today.

Me too, Robin. So many. Clocks don't change here in this part of the world. I read Journey to a Mountain - 4 Stars - This book would only be of interest to Baha’is. It’s the first in a series of three, about the establishment of one of the shrines in Haifa, Israel. The shrine and the gardens surrounding it, which I’ve had the bounty of visiting a few times, are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The story is moving and dramatic. I knew much of it already, but there were also things that I didn’t know or had forgotten. Why is it that one can read the silliest, most trivial books and remember pointless details, and then one reads the meaningful, deeper books, and one forgets things over time? Grrrr … Annoying! Anyway, I enjoyed reading this so much. I would give it 5 stars. Honestly, I would. I have to give it 4 stars, since I get irritated by too many endnotes. At least my edition wasn’t on the Kindle. If it was, I would probably lose my mind. Me, the Kindle, and endnotes do not agree. Back to the book, it was thoroughly researched, compelling, and beautifully written. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

Happy Belated Birthday Kathy! Nice to know that it's not just me with regards to Shirley Jackson. I've only read one Robert K. Massie book so far. I definitely plan on reading more. Like you, Larson is a hit or miss for me also. Wow. Seems like I'm just agreeing with you on everything this morning ?!

I read Origin - 1 Star - I keep wondering why I waste my time and energy on Dan Brown books. They’re formulaic and I should know better. The only reason that I read this was because of the setting (Barcelona). I need to give up on his books altogether. Brown definitely has a bone to pick when it comes to faith and religion, most especially Catholicism. Yes, it is fiction, but it also got excessively preachy for my liking. I’m not Catholic and I don’t have a horse in that race, but I can easily imagine that this book would upset those who are. Some quotes that I liked: “Remember death. Even for those who wield great power, life is brief. There is only one way to triumph over death, and that is by making our lives masterpieces. We must seize every opportunity to show kindness and to love fully.” “The most self-righteous in life become the most fearful in death.” “There has never been an intellectual advancement that has not included God.” “There is nothing more damaging for children than the loss of hope, Valdespino thought, recalling how the combination of God’s love and the promise of heaven had been the most uplifting force in his own childhood. I was created by God, he had learned as a child, and one day I will live forever in God’s kingdom.” The Bat - 2 Stars - I’ve read one other book by this author, “The Snowman”, and I remember liking it enough to want to read the rest in this series. This book, the first, wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t great either. The story started out strong and I was hooked, but I started to lose interest by the time I was about halfway through. I’ve heard, and I also hope, that the other books are better. The Park Bench - 4 Stars - This is the second graphic novel that I have read by this author. If you can call it reading, that is. His books are far more visual than anything. It wasn’t as much of an emotional read as his first one, “Alone”, but it’s still a beautiful story nonetheless – the sort of book that makes you think and appreciate the world around you. It’s a story is about a park bench and the various people who visit it at different times. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

Free Kindle book today (autobiography/memoir/holocaust)

Kindle book on sale today .

Robin, I love both of your siggy quotes, and thank you, as always, for this wonderful thread. I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle - 1 Star - I'm sure that I'm the only one here who didn't care for this book at all. Oh my! I would give less than one star if I could. It's most probably not the book. It's me. I was looking forward to reading it. I mean, it’s October. I don’t usually do Halloween reads, and wow, just look at that cover! It turns out that for me the only scary thing about this book was the cover. I thought that there would be a plot, but it seemed lacking in that area. I thought that it would be horror/thriller, and it wasn't those at all. I became bored of all the silly and pointless descriptions of what everyone’s going to eat and clean. What I couldn’t believe was that it was only 146 pages, yet I got to a point where I honestly thought that the book would never end and I kept wondering if maybe I had the wrong book. It was the oddest thing. I’m usually a fast reader, but this started to feel like drudgery. I kept waiting for something to happen. I thought that it was not only boring, but also left me hanging with many unanswered questions. Definitely overrated. Again, it's probably just me. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I read The Complete Peter Rabbit - 5 Stars - What a treat! I wish that I had had this collection when my children were young. We had a few of the Beatrix Potter books, but certainly not all of the stories here. I also like the fact that there’s a map at the beginning of the book. I love books with maps. This collection is simply charming. The illustrations and stories are delightful. At the beginning of each story, I enjoyed learning something about Beatrix Potter and how that particular story came to be. I also read Shirley Jackson's: The Lottery - The Authorized Graphic Adaptation - 1 Star - It’s October and I figured that I’ve never read anything for Halloween, so I decided to give this a try. I haven’t read the original short story, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. This version is a graphic novel adaptation created by her grandson. I was looking so forward to reading this, having heard so much about her books. Since I haven’t read the original, I cannot compare the two, but honestly, I thought this book was mundane and really quite boring. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

I read Israel and the Palestinian Nightmare - 5 Stars - If you wish to understand the truth behind the Arab-Israeli conflict, I highly recommend this book. As with all books like this, those who need to read it the most won’t. For me, it was both an eye-opener and frustrating. I’ve had the bounty of visiting Israel four times and love that country. As much as I love it, I cannot stand anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. To me, there is a very fine line between the two. Many years ago, while in college, I remember a biased college professor (surprise!) who was anti-Israel and one of my friends reminded her that if Israel called a ceasefire today, and said that it would no longer fight, it would be destroyed immediately. If, on the other hand, the Arabs declared a ceasefire and said they would no longer fight, there would be peace. That’s quite a difference. Here are just some of my favorite quotes – there are many. I’m only listing a few here. If anyone’s interested in seeing more, you can visit my review on Good Reads. “I believe that it is impossible to understand the current situation in the Middle East if one thinks that there is a territorial Arab-Israeli conflict at hand, when in fact, it is clearly a war of religions that unfortunately has no end in sight. To think that this conflict is about land, occupation, racism, apartheid or any other nonsensical media-based and politically created jargon is to play into the hands of those who for so long have taken advantage of the prevalent ignorance of the majority of the world’s public. Make no mistake, this conflict is a religious one, and although Israel is a secular state, it is its ‘Jewish character’ that has the Muslim world up in arms.” “The ‘atrocities’ that are occurring or are alleged to have occurred in Israel are overshadowed by the myriads of killings of innocents in Syria, Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan, Egypt, Afghanistan and Iraq to name a few. So what makes this particular conflict so outstanding? The most logical explanation is that the Arab-Israeli conflict is not about land, occupation, politics, or a dispute over historical legitimacy and ownership of a tiny corner of real estate -especially one that lays within a sea of sand and has virtually no natural resources. This conflict is rooted in a much more encompassing issue: it is the battle between Islam and Judaism. Judaism and Islam are indeed at odds.” “There are 56 countries have a Muslim majority, dozens that have a Christian majority, and even four nations that have a Hindu majority; there is only one country that has a Jewish majority and although Israel is only the size of New Jersey, it seems that one country is apparently one country too many for the world to bear. The rejection of a Jewish state is at the center of the most intensely monitored conflict in the world. Many believe that this volatility could spark the next world war." “One of the great problems with Americans is that - being a decent people - they assume that everyone else is equally decent.” Rabbi Meir Kahane MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

If you like true crime/mystery, this Kindle book is on sale today.

Thanks, Aggieamy! It had been on my wish list a few years ago. I must have accidentally deleted it or something. I've heard about it from time to time. Going to look into it once more. Thank you for the reminder.

Happy Sunday Robin, and thank you, as always for this wonderful thread. I read Hand of the Cause of God: Furutan - 5 Stars - This book, being a Baha’i book, would only be of interest to Baha’is. It’s a thorough and detailed biography of an incredible man, but also a history of the Baha’i Faith during his lifetime. I feel blessed to have met him a few times and to have sat with him for a short while. At the time, I was thinking of studying medicine. Looking back now, I know that it would have been a huge mistake. He discouraged me from doing so and I am forever grateful. Sweet, kind, humble man – what a blessing he was to Baha’is everywhere. He simply emanated love. That’s really all I have to say. I also The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World's Most Beloved Neighbor - 4 Stars - Not having grown up in the U.S., I didn’t know much about Mr. Rogers, him and have never seen a complete episode of his show. We recently saw the movie about him and it brought me to tears. If you haven’t yet seen it, I highly recommend it. This was an enjoyable and quick read with some beautiful reminders as to how to live. The author shares what she learned from her friendship with Mr. Rogers. Some of my favorite quotes: “If you ever fall into quicksand, the most important thing to remember is this: take your time. Quicksand, unlike water, will not move out of the way to let you pass. Instead, it resists movement. Flailing about will only cause you to sink deeper. But slowly gets you safely to shore. It’s no accident that each episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood opens with a shot of a traffic light flashing in yellow caution mode.” “‘Now, you know prayer is asking for something, and sometimes you get a yes answer and sometimes you get a no answer,’ he carefully explained. ‘And just like anything else you might get angry when you get a no answer. But God respects your feelings, and God can take your anger as well as your happiness. So whatever you have to offer God through prayer—it seems to me—is a great gift. Because the thing God wants most of all is a relationship with you, yeah, even as a child—especially as a child. Look how Jesus loved the children who came around Him,’ he told her.” “‘Almost everybody gets angry once in a while, and certainly I do. There are times when maybe a light will go out, you know, or the microphone will go off, or something might happen at home. But do you know what I do when I’m angry? I like to swim, and so I swim extra hard when I’m angry. And also when I was a little boy, about five years old, I learned that I could go to the piano and play real hard on the piano, and that helped me; it really did. There are many things that you can do when you’re angry that don’t hurt you or anybody else.’” “And so, for me, being quiet and slow is being myself, and that is my gift.” “If there’s anything that bothers me, it’s one person demeaning another. That really makes me mad!” “There is one thing that evil cannot stand, and that’s forgiveness.” “If parents can remember what it was like to be a child, they are going to be much more empathic with their own children.” and Aging Backwards - 2 Stars - I’m happy that I never paid for this book. It came free with an order of some of the DVDs. The DVD workout program is wonderful, the book not so much. I wouldn’t bother with it really. I really didn’t learn anything new. MY RATING SYSTEM 5 Stars The book is fantastic. It’s not perfect, since no book is, but it’s definitely a favorite. 4 Stars Really Good 3 Stars Enjoyable 2 Stars Just Okay – nothing to write home about 1 Star Rubbish – waste of my money and time. Few books make it to this level, since I usually give up on them if they’re that bad.

Sue, an hour is far, at least by my standards, since we live on a small island, but I hope that you do get to go to classes eventually, or at least find something to help relieve the pain. Thank you for the YouTube suggestion. I'm going to look into it. I'm always looking for good YouTube workouts. Chatter annoys me also. It's one reason that I can't do Leslie Sansone as much as I used to be able to. I have all her workouts memorized now and it can be annoying! If I do decide on streaming, it may be for a short while. I have most of their DVDs. Another reason that I'm not a huge fan of streaming - the cost. It's almost like paying rent and then you have nothing to show for it. At least with DVDs, which are sadly on their way out, we can have them forever.

Sue, you've received wonderful tips already. I'm 50 and my body is definitely changing. I feel more pain and am dealing with neck and hand issues at the moment. The physiotherapist I'm seeing is superb. Hoping that things continue to improve. He has instructed me to not lift weights for now. Nothing strenuous whatsoever. I can't even get a massage that's too firm. Have you heard of Classical Stretch? You may have seen some episodes on PBS. I used to do her workouts far more regularly. I'm now starting again. I don't know why I stopped. I've decided now that I'm 50 and feeling some pain, to have CS be the core of my workout, to try to do at least one routine (25 minutes) every day. Trying anyway. I'm not trying to be pushy or anything. Just a program that may be of interest to you or others who are experiencing pain. The DVDs seem expensive at first, but many workouts are included in each one. I am considering streaming. Here are some short video clips, but I don't think that these really do justice. I wasn't crazy about CS at first. There's a bit of a learning curve involved, but after a short while, every time I return to it, I have always noticed a difference in so many ways. Again, I don't know why I stopped! Hoping that your pain eases soon.

Nothing to add to this. I just smiled, since Nima is my dh's name :).