Tess & her tomes 2024 Round 2
This is a continuation of the topic Tess & her tomes 2024 .
Talk75 Books Challenge for 2024
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1Tess_W
In the words of an American hero, "Let's roll!" Link to my introduction: https://www.librarything.com/topic/356108#n8330197
In a nutshell: avid reader, gardener, history prof, food preservationist, almost homesteader, and cook. Fav genres: historical fiction, history, general fiction. I try to have one paper book and either one ebook or one audiobook going at all times.
My rating system:
1 star--waste of paper and ink/DNF
2 stars-Is this literature? -major flaws or mind numbing boring/Should have DNF'd!
2 1/2 stars-not so bad I had to stop reading, but I wanted to!
3 stars-average
3 1/2 fun, informative, thought provoking
4 stars-excellent read
4 1/2 exceptionally good, among my favorites
5 stars-in all ways a superior read
My reading year runs from Dec. 25 to Dec. 24
I try to always read from my own TBR. I have whittled down my TBR from 1500 books to a little less than 300 in the past 10-11 years. My goal is to get down to somewhere around 100. New books are so tempting!
In a nutshell: avid reader, gardener, history prof, food preservationist, almost homesteader, and cook. Fav genres: historical fiction, history, general fiction. I try to have one paper book and either one ebook or one audiobook going at all times.
My rating system:
1 star--waste of paper and ink/DNF
2 stars-Is this literature? -major flaws or mind numbing boring/Should have DNF'd!
2 1/2 stars-not so bad I had to stop reading, but I wanted to!
3 stars-average
3 1/2 fun, informative, thought provoking
4 stars-excellent read
4 1/2 exceptionally good, among my favorites
5 stars-in all ways a superior read
My reading year runs from Dec. 25 to Dec. 24
I try to always read from my own TBR. I have whittled down my TBR from 1500 books to a little less than 300 in the past 10-11 years. My goal is to get down to somewhere around 100. New books are so tempting!
2Tess_W
Books read thus far in 2024:
January 2024
1. The Pickwick Papers 3.5*
2. The Death of a Neanderthal 2*
3. The Denisovans 2.5*
4. H is for Hawk 3*
5. Life and Death in Rebel Prisons: Giving a Complete History of the Inhuman and Barbarous Treatment of Our Brave Soldiers by Rebel Authorities, ... Ga., and Florence, S. C (Civil War) 5*
6. Come into my Cave 3*
7. Early Christian Fathers 4*
8. Andorra Revealed 4.5*
9. Bad Days in History: A Gleefully Grim Chronicle of Misfortune, Mayhem, and Misery for Every Day of the Year 3.5*
10. Helen of Troy by Margaret George 4*
11. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell 4*
12. What She Left Behind by Ellen Wiseman 3*
13. The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliffe 3.5*
14. Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy by Philip Freeman 5*
15. Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell 3* (barely)
February 2024
16. Cathedral by Ben Hopkins DNF
17. The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025 3.5*
18. Extinct Birds 5*
19. The Woman They Could Not Silence 3.5*
20. The Devil's Disciple 3*
21. To Try Men's Souls 5*
22. Ephesians 3*
23. Found Object 3.5*
24. Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues 2.5*
25. Rhinos in Nebraska 3.5*
26. Elvis, What Happened 3.5*
27. Gentleman Jim 3.5*
28. Atomic Steppe 3.5*
29. The Monster of Florence 3*
30. We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance 4*
March 2024
31. Polio 4*
32. Justinian's Flea 3*
33. The Disappearing Act 3.5*
34. I Found You 4*
35. Forensic History: Crimes, Frauds, and Scandals 3.5*
36. Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45 3*
37. The Thirty Years War by Hourly History 3*
38. The Black Arrow 3*
39. The Viscount's Sinful Bargain 4*
40. Along the Broken Bay 4.5*
April 2024
41. From Here to Eternity 3*
42. The Secret History 3*
43. Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor 3*
44. Ormond 3*
45. Globalization: A Short History
46. That Quail, Robert 3.5*
47. The Covenant of Water 3*
48. Charlotte Temple 2.5*
49. Remembrance of Letters Past: Famous Authors - Fake Letters & Other Parodies 3*
50. Who Killed Zebedee 4*
51. The Burning Chambers 3.5*
52. Lunatic: The Rise and Fall of an American Asylum 4.5*
53. On Airs, Waters, and Places 3*
54. Song at Dawn 3*
55. Sergeant York and the Great War
56. Paul Revere's Ride 5*
57. The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere5*
May 2024
Grass of the Earth: The Story of A Norwegian Immigrant Family in Dakota 3*
Work Song by Ivan Doig 3*
The Children's Blizzard 3*
Double Fold DNF
63. The Gathering Storm 4*
Napoleon’s Escape from Elba: The History of the French Emperor’s Return from Exile and the Road to Waterloo (no touchstone) by Charles Rivers Editors 3*
64. The Great Portrait Mystery by Austin Freeman
65. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 3*
66. The Trumpet Major by Thomas Hardy 3*
67. Napoleon's Hemorrhoids and other small events that changed history by Phil Mason 2.5*
68. Shakespeare's Kings: The Great Plays and the History of England in the Middle Ages: 1337-1485 by John Julius Norwich 4.5*
69. West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge 3*
70 Where here the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderhal 3*
71. The Harvest Gypsies by John Steinbeck 4.5*
72. The Storm Before the Storm 3*
73. The Reluctant Midwife 3.5*
June 2024
77. A History of Cornwall 4*
78. The Long Dissolved Parliament 3.5*
79. Humanism and Terror by Maurice Merleau-Ponty 4*
80. The King's General 5*
81. Valley Forge 5*
82. Indefensible 3.5*
83. Prisoner B-3087 3*
84. Fruit of the Spirit: 48 Bible Studies for Individuals or Groups (Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies) by Phyllis J. Lepeau 4*
85. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes 4*
86. My Evil Mother 3*
87. Persuasion 5*
88. The Kitchen Boy 2.5*
January 2024
1. The Pickwick Papers 3.5*
2. The Death of a Neanderthal 2*
3. The Denisovans 2.5*
4. H is for Hawk 3*
5. Life and Death in Rebel Prisons: Giving a Complete History of the Inhuman and Barbarous Treatment of Our Brave Soldiers by Rebel Authorities, ... Ga., and Florence, S. C (Civil War) 5*
6. Come into my Cave 3*
7. Early Christian Fathers 4*
8. Andorra Revealed 4.5*
9. Bad Days in History: A Gleefully Grim Chronicle of Misfortune, Mayhem, and Misery for Every Day of the Year 3.5*
10. Helen of Troy by Margaret George 4*
11. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell 4*
12. What She Left Behind by Ellen Wiseman 3*
13. The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliffe 3.5*
14. Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy by Philip Freeman 5*
15. Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell 3* (barely)
February 2024
16. Cathedral by Ben Hopkins DNF
17. The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025 3.5*
18. Extinct Birds 5*
19. The Woman They Could Not Silence 3.5*
20. The Devil's Disciple 3*
21. To Try Men's Souls 5*
22. Ephesians 3*
23. Found Object 3.5*
24. Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues 2.5*
25. Rhinos in Nebraska 3.5*
26. Elvis, What Happened 3.5*
27. Gentleman Jim 3.5*
28. Atomic Steppe 3.5*
29. The Monster of Florence 3*
30. We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance 4*
March 2024
31. Polio 4*
32. Justinian's Flea 3*
33. The Disappearing Act 3.5*
34. I Found You 4*
35. Forensic History: Crimes, Frauds, and Scandals 3.5*
36. Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45 3*
37. The Thirty Years War by Hourly History 3*
38. The Black Arrow 3*
39. The Viscount's Sinful Bargain 4*
40. Along the Broken Bay 4.5*
April 2024
41. From Here to Eternity 3*
42. The Secret History 3*
43. Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor 3*
44. Ormond 3*
45. Globalization: A Short History
46. That Quail, Robert 3.5*
47. The Covenant of Water 3*
48. Charlotte Temple 2.5*
49. Remembrance of Letters Past: Famous Authors - Fake Letters & Other Parodies 3*
50. Who Killed Zebedee 4*
51. The Burning Chambers 3.5*
52. Lunatic: The Rise and Fall of an American Asylum 4.5*
53. On Airs, Waters, and Places 3*
54. Song at Dawn 3*
55. Sergeant York and the Great War
56. Paul Revere's Ride 5*
57. The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere5*
May 2024
Grass of the Earth: The Story of A Norwegian Immigrant Family in Dakota 3*
Work Song by Ivan Doig 3*
The Children's Blizzard 3*
Double Fold DNF
63. The Gathering Storm 4*
Napoleon’s Escape from Elba: The History of the French Emperor’s Return from Exile and the Road to Waterloo (no touchstone) by Charles Rivers Editors 3*
64. The Great Portrait Mystery by Austin Freeman
65. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 3*
66. The Trumpet Major by Thomas Hardy 3*
67. Napoleon's Hemorrhoids and other small events that changed history by Phil Mason 2.5*
68. Shakespeare's Kings: The Great Plays and the History of England in the Middle Ages: 1337-1485 by John Julius Norwich 4.5*
69. West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge 3*
70 Where here the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderhal 3*
71. The Harvest Gypsies by John Steinbeck 4.5*
72. The Storm Before the Storm 3*
73. The Reluctant Midwife 3.5*
June 2024
77. A History of Cornwall 4*
78. The Long Dissolved Parliament 3.5*
79. Humanism and Terror by Maurice Merleau-Ponty 4*
80. The King's General 5*
81. Valley Forge 5*
82. Indefensible 3.5*
83. Prisoner B-3087 3*
84. Fruit of the Spirit: 48 Bible Studies for Individuals or Groups (Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies) by Phyllis J. Lepeau 4*
85. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes 4*
86. My Evil Mother 3*
87. Persuasion 5*
88. The Kitchen Boy 2.5*
4alcottacre
Happy new thread, Tess! I will endeavor to keep better track of you in the last half of the year than I did in the first half :)
6PaulCranswick
Happy new thread, Tess.
7Tess_W
>3 quondame: TY
>4 alcottacre: TY
>5 EllaTim: TY
>6 PaulCranswick: TY
86. My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood A short story about a mother, who claims to be a witch, but only for good. I'm not so sure she's a witch, but maybe a savvy manipulator. Meh 32 pages AOTM: Margaret Atwood
>4 alcottacre: TY
>5 EllaTim: TY
>6 PaulCranswick: TY
86. My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood A short story about a mother, who claims to be a witch, but only for good. I'm not so sure she's a witch, but maybe a savvy manipulator. Meh 32 pages AOTM: Margaret Atwood
8Ravenwoodwitch
Happy new thread, Tess!
And the cover, wow. "From the author of the handmade's tale, A DUTCH OVEN!"
And the cover, wow. "From the author of the handmade's tale, A DUTCH OVEN!"
9alcottacre
>7 Tess_W: Sounds like one I can happily live without reading (not that I knew it existed until right this minute, lol).
Have a terrific Tuesday, Tess!
Have a terrific Tuesday, Tess!
12Tess_W
87. Persuasion by Jane Austen (my first read!) The story follows Anne Elliot, minimalized by her family, who regrets breaking off a previous engagement due to family pressure. She meets up with her once-intended several years later and through a painful process, secures a second chance. I listened to this on audio. Loved this book! 7 hours 19 minutes 5 stars June Book Prizes: Booklists: 1001 Books, Guardians 1000 Books List, BBC Big Read
>8 Ravenwoodwitch: TY
>9 alcottacre: TY
>10 hredwards: TY
>11 foggidawn: TY!
>8 Ravenwoodwitch: TY
>9 alcottacre: TY
>10 hredwards: TY
>11 foggidawn: TY!
16Tess_W
>15 humouress: TY!
88. The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander A work of fiction about the Romanov's in their last days as seen through the eyes of a servant. The story picks up in Tobolsk, Siberia, the next to the last place the Romanov's were held before their execution. There wasn't anything in this book that isn't general knowledge. I thought the author made the kitchen boy very self-centered. A waste of time. This is book 1 in a series. 240 pages 2.5 stars
88. The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander A work of fiction about the Romanov's in their last days as seen through the eyes of a servant. The story picks up in Tobolsk, Siberia, the next to the last place the Romanov's were held before their execution. There wasn't anything in this book that isn't general knowledge. I thought the author made the kitchen boy very self-centered. A waste of time. This is book 1 in a series. 240 pages 2.5 stars
18johnsimpson
Hi Tess my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.
20figsfromthistle
Happy new thread!
22thornton37814
Happy new thread!
23Tess_W
89. Six Years at the Russian Court by Margaretta Eagar This was a NF account of governess Eagar's time spent with the Romanov family from 1894-1906. The writing was very elementary and seemed like a litany of: we went here, we wore this, we met these people; not to say that it was not somewhat interesting. Ms. Eagar claimed the four princesses to be well behaved and well mannered. Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna appeared to be loving and hands on parents. Ms. Eagar ended her recollections with: Due to personal and private reasons I left my employ with the royal family. She left shortly after the baptism of Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia. Speculation is that she was dismissed because England sided with Japan in the Russo-Japanese War. She did receive a lifetime pension from the emperor and regularly exchanged letters with the four girls until they were taken captive by the Bolsheviks. 153 pages 3.5 stars June 75's: Non-fiction Middle Europe.
P.S. I mistakenly read book #88 (fiction) instead of this one, but it was also off my shelf, so it was a win-win!
P.S. I mistakenly read book #88 (fiction) instead of this one, but it was also off my shelf, so it was a win-win!
24Tess_W
House was clean and I acquired some peppers from a friend's garden and I found some Polish Kielbasa for $1 per pound and bought all 8 pounds they had. Since my freezer was full I canned it, first time! It smells wonderful! I also made some pinto beans and kielbasa and some stuffed peppers for future dinners. Had 3 pounds of Pontiac red potatoes that I also canned. Quite a productive morning! And I have molasses sugar cookies baking in the oven.
P.S. The sauce on the stuffed peppers doesn't appear very red because I made an alfredo sauce with white wine with only tomato powder in it.
P.S. The sauce on the stuffed peppers doesn't appear very red because I made an alfredo sauce with white wine with only tomato powder in it.
25foggidawn
>24 Tess_W: Wow! A productive morning, indeed!
26Ravenwoodwitch
>24 Tess_W: These all look so good.
Not gonna lie, I've wanted to start canning for awhile (because I love the thought of making my own jam) but have been terrified at the prospect of accidentally making a lethal food poisoning.
Do you have any suggestions for how you avoid the spores and stuff?
Not gonna lie, I've wanted to start canning for awhile (because I love the thought of making my own jam) but have been terrified at the prospect of accidentally making a lethal food poisoning.
Do you have any suggestions for how you avoid the spores and stuff?
27Tess_W
>26 Ravenwoodwitch: There are 2 types of preservation: 1)water bathing (jams, fruits) 2) pressure canning. I prefer number 2! However, I do water bathe my jams/jellies, canned fruit, tomatoes and salsa. You have to be more careful with this than the pressure canning as the temp does not get that high and also there is no pressure involved. Botulism only grows in non-acidic foods. Temperature does not kill botulism; only pressure does. Therefore, it is safe to water bathe high acidic foods like fruits, etc. I have canned over 1000 jars of everything from jams to cherries to meats to vegetables. I have never once had "trouble." Trouble would mean you served something with botulism to people and to be honest it would be very bad. Botulism causes respiratory failure, blindness, paralysis, and sudden death. There is an anti-toxin, but it only prevents future damage and does not undo the damage caused before the injection. When there was a botulism poisoning in Ohio, they had to send to Utah for the anti-toxin. Have I sufficiently scared you away? I hope NOT! I now have about 1000 jars of canned food and never once has anything gone awry. The safest bet: FOLLOW the Ball Blue Book of Canning to a T. It is based on the USDA tried and tested methods. Where people get into trouble is all the "rebel" canners out there...."my grandma did it this way for years....." Don't rebel can! Another hint: Don't skimp on the jar lids, buy Ball or Superb, which are American made. You can buy cheaper imports (which I did when I first started), but they have a higher failure rate. Do not reuse the lids! Once the seal is broken, the lid is no good. You can reuse the rings and jars, but not the lids. A failure is when either the lid didn't seal or pops off at a later date. I've had 5-6 lids that failed to seal during canning--so we just ate that food that night for dinner! I also went to get a can of green beans out of the pantry, and the lid was just sitting on the jar, it had obviously popped off during storage. Down the disposal went those beans! To save money, buy used mason jars, pay no more than 50 cents each for them. (New they are $1). Just make sure they have no chips or cracks.
I chose to start preserving my food for several reasons: 1) I could buy in bulk 2) I could have shelf stable food (in case the electricity went out) 3) I could control what goes into my food 4) my freezer was full and it was dependent on electricty
Canned food never gets freezer burn! I can't say that all canned food is as good as fresh, because it's not. I've read that each year the jar sits on your shelf its nutritional value depletes. But then, a jar of canned carrots in a soup is better than zero carrots! A jar of canned applesauce tastes just like fresh made applesauce. Canned pie filling is better than you can find in the stores. Baked apples are the same (but better nutritionally) than you can get at the Cracker Barrel, soups and beef stews are phenomenal. (I've canned beef stew, vegetable, chili, ham and bean, green pea and ham, and chicken soups) I also make all my own broths: bone, chicken, vegetable, with no additives; which is great for someone who can not tolerate salt.
But a short summary: there is no method whereby one is guaranteed 100% that there is no botulism. Even the big canners like Hormel and Green Giant occasionally recall food for suspected botulism.
If you should have anymore questions, just ask!
I chose to start preserving my food for several reasons: 1) I could buy in bulk 2) I could have shelf stable food (in case the electricity went out) 3) I could control what goes into my food 4) my freezer was full and it was dependent on electricty
Canned food never gets freezer burn! I can't say that all canned food is as good as fresh, because it's not. I've read that each year the jar sits on your shelf its nutritional value depletes. But then, a jar of canned carrots in a soup is better than zero carrots! A jar of canned applesauce tastes just like fresh made applesauce. Canned pie filling is better than you can find in the stores. Baked apples are the same (but better nutritionally) than you can get at the Cracker Barrel, soups and beef stews are phenomenal. (I've canned beef stew, vegetable, chili, ham and bean, green pea and ham, and chicken soups) I also make all my own broths: bone, chicken, vegetable, with no additives; which is great for someone who can not tolerate salt.
But a short summary: there is no method whereby one is guaranteed 100% that there is no botulism. Even the big canners like Hormel and Green Giant occasionally recall food for suspected botulism.
If you should have anymore questions, just ask!
28Tess_W
90. Con/Artist by Tony Tetro A first person account of the life of a con artist/art forger as told by himself. This book was mildly interesting in the aspect of the different techniques used to "age" a work of art. However, the actual life of Tetro, while he thinks he is the world's cleverest art forger, not so interesting and a lot unbelievable! Small time thief that most people have never heard of. 289 pages 3- stars
30Tess_W
>29 Ravenwoodwitch: LOL you are very welcome! I love to share canning/preserving with others!
91. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thein This novel is set against the backdrop of t he Chinese Revolution, The Cultural Revolution, and Tiananmen Square. There are 2-3 timelines and there seems to be no rhyme or reason for their placement. Sometimes there are two timelines contained within one page. The times lines are not the "same", they are not continuous--One page may be 1911, the next page 1966, and the third page 2011 and the reader will not see these dates again. This reader had a hard time keeping the story in order. The writing was such that the characters were kept at bay and I never really became engaged in the story; all sort of mystical. However, the Booker Prize Committee thought otherwise. (Longlist 2016) Also won Canada's Governor General's Literary Award (Winner – Translation (English to French) – 2019. 429 pages 2.5 stars July PrizeCat--an award from a country other than your own (USA).
91. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thein This novel is set against the backdrop of t he Chinese Revolution, The Cultural Revolution, and Tiananmen Square. There are 2-3 timelines and there seems to be no rhyme or reason for their placement. Sometimes there are two timelines contained within one page. The times lines are not the "same", they are not continuous--One page may be 1911, the next page 1966, and the third page 2011 and the reader will not see these dates again. This reader had a hard time keeping the story in order. The writing was such that the characters were kept at bay and I never really became engaged in the story; all sort of mystical. However, the Booker Prize Committee thought otherwise. (Longlist 2016) Also won Canada's Governor General's Literary Award (Winner – Translation (English to French) – 2019. 429 pages 2.5 stars July PrizeCat--an award from a country other than your own (USA).
31thornton37814
>30 Tess_W: I liked it better than you did when I read it.
32Tess_W
92. Victory at Yorktown by Newt Gingrich et.al. This was book 3/3 in the George Washington series. To be honest, when I read the first book in the series, I didn't expect anything but mediocre. I was pleasantly surprised. This book included personalities such as Comte de Rochambeau, Benedict Arnold, and Alexander Hamilton. Best historical series I've read in awhile. 367 pages 5 stars Paul's War Room July: Colonial Wars
34BLBera
Happy new thread, Tess. Persuasion is my favorite Austen. I am glad you got to it.
Your canning is inspiring!
>24 Tess_W: My mouth is watering.
Your canning is inspiring!
>24 Tess_W: My mouth is watering.
35Tess_W
93. I listened to The Great Courses series titled Why insects matter : Earth's most essential species by Dr. Scott Solomon, which offers a compelling exploration into the critical roles insects play in our ecosystem. The course delves into their impact on pollination, agriculture, decomposition, and biodiversity. Each lecture focused on a specific insect to prove its thesis. My favorite was the bedbug and the honeybee. The only drawback was most chapters contain statements such as "350 million years ago..." (an actual number used) This was my first ever Great Courses. I liked the format whereby if you purchased the lecture (this one was free with Audible membership), the reader received an accompanying PDF. 4.5 stars 23 lectures, 12 hours 11 mins 75's NF Group July: Insects
36Tess_W
94. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai This is an autobiography of Malala, which recounts Malala's childhood in Pakistan and the Taliban's attempt on her life in 2012. What a testament to resiliency! Wish there were more Malala's in the world! I could almost swear I had read parts of this before, but I can find no record. 289 pages 4 stars I read this to preview for the suitability of the ELA teacher assigning this for 8th grade students (13-14 year olds). She wanted a second pair of eyes. I see nothing objectionable!
37Tess_W
95. The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill told of 76 British pilot officers who attempted an escape from a German POW camp. It is unsure how many actually made it to freedom, but the estimated numbers range from 3-22. Not only was the purpose to escape, but also to tie up German resources in the manhunt. 50 of those caught were executed on the orders of Hitler. Non-fiction. 349 pages 4 stars (only $1.49 on Kindle)
38hredwards
>37 Tess_W: That sounds good. My wife loves WWII history.
39Tess_W
96. The Fortunes of the Rougons by Emile Zola. This is the first novel in Zola's 20 novel series about the Rougons and the Macquarts following the downfall of the Second French Empire (circa 1850-1870's) The Rougons were a pretty miserable lot until the Coup d'Etat by Louis-Napoleon. Napoleon's success was also the success of the Rougons, thieving scoundrels that most were. I can't say this book was terribly interesting, it was a bit mediocre. However, I have read that this book is the historical foundation(s) for the coming novels. There was a plethora of characters, but a family tree was provided. I may have enjoyed this book more had I known more about the history of this period. I think I will read up on it before I go on to read book two. 392 pages 3.5 stars
40hredwards
Per some threads on other conversations, it seems to me some people just like to argue. Personally, I come here for the books not to discuss Politics, there is enough of that on other sites.
I enjoy your posts.
I enjoy your posts.
42Tess_W
>41 hredwards: Hello! Nothing about arguing! No, no new thread. I'm finding it overwhelming to try to maintain a thread in this group--way too large for me. I think I will participate in the War Room and the Non-Fiction group and leave it at that. My "home" group is the 2024 Category Challenge Group here: https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24125/2024-Category-Challenge.
Maybe I'll come round and visit every now and then!
Maybe I'll come round and visit every now and then!
43hredwards
>42 Tess_W: I understand. Just wanted to make sure you were ok.
I enjoy your posts.
I enjoy your posts.
44PaulCranswick
I also enjoy your posts Tess, wherever you choose to make them. I will pay visits if I see any updates.
I would selfishly for my stats purposes seek an update on your reading progress from time to time. xx
I would selfishly for my stats purposes seek an update on your reading progress from time to time. xx
45Tess_W
>44 PaulCranswick: Stats purposes!?
Well, I'm currently on book # 136. Since I've last posted in here, the following are the 4/5 star reads for me:
107. Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World by Lawrence Goldstone. The author and his wife were just middleclass Americans who liked the modern classics and liked to read. They knew nothing but Amazon and Barnes and Noble. They did like hardback books, though. They stumbled upon a rather odd, decrepit bookstore and an even odder owner who taught them a thing or two about first printings, editions, etc. For a few years they were "wooed" into spending more than they normally would have on collector's editions. However, this is their ending comment, "We loved our $700 Bleak House and our $650 Martin Chuzzlewit, but we also love our $10 Josephine Tey, our $20 Andersonville, our $10 War and and Peace..........the more we thought about it, the more we came back to our original view. You don't really need first editions at all. They are just affectations.........still....Great book by level-headed people. 215 pages 4.5 stars
First book of September was The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora by Stephanie Thornton. Earlier this year I had read a non-fiction of Theodora and Justinian written by historian Procopious. It was the one that was not published until after his death because of the scandalous material it contained. When I ran across this novel, I thought I would get a different perspective. What this novel did was give context to some of the material contained in Procopious' account. Thornton's account tells the story of Theodora from the time she was an actress and a prostitute until her death. It was obvious that she and Justinian loved each other greatly. Thornton's narrative was both informative and immersive. I did some additional research after reading this novel and it would appear the novel is probably more accurate the Procopious' account. The author had an afterward where she explained what characters were real and which were a combination of several historical figures. The author has written several other novels in the same vein and I will be seeking out the one about the women of Genghis Khan. 445 pages 5 stars
114. The Emperor's Tomb by Joseph Roth. This is Roth's work that followed The Radetzky March. It does not have to be read sequentially, but it makes sense to do so. The following quote sums up the book succinctly: "We all had lost our position, our rank, our house, our home, our money, our worth, our past, our present and our future. Each morning when we got up, each night when we went to bed, we cursed death who had invited us in vain to her grand party. " This book picks up post WWI until the Anschluss. This book is narrated by Franz Trotta in first person narrative in which he bares his soul. Franz is trying to stay afloat, one day at a time. He is not equipped to survive in the new post war world. Of course, Trotta is just a symbol for Austria, too focused on what was lost instead of looking forward. 208 pages 4 stars
116. The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis. This book was gut-wrenching. It was a dual timeline and worked quite well--although they weren't removed too much in time. Ashlyn, owner of a book repair shop, finds a bound book with no title, author, cover page, etc. It is a "love" letter that is quite painful. Then she finds the response to that letter. The remainder of the book alternates between the writers of the letters and Ashlyn's research. This is a tear-jerker, but tastefully done. Highly recommended. 431 pages 4.5*
121. The Mysteries of the Court of Louis Napoleon by Emile Zola. I didn't mean to read this NOW! I'm part of the Zola reading group and it has sparked my interest in the second empire/republic history, of which I know nothing! I came across this book and thought I would read up on this time period. However, about half way through, I discovered that this book also has two alternative titles: His Excellency, Eugene Rougon and Clorinde (no touch stone). His Excellency was to be the group read for November. I read it under another name not realizing it, therefore the "accident!" Guess I'm ahead of the reading schedule. In this book Zola writes of the several political ascents and descents of Eugene Rougon. Rougon is manipulative and deceitful, as are his "friends." This book tells of the corruption and intrigue at Court. Better than book one! 392 pages 4 stars
Two Essays (Kindle Single) (Ploughshares Solos) by Georgi Markov Markhov was the self-exiled Bulgarian who was assassinated on London Bridge on Sept 11, 1978, by an umbrella dart. He was a writer and was often critical of those in power. However, I can't imagine that either of these essays would be the cause of said assassination. The first essay, "Prostitution" explored the social, economic, and psychological components of prostitution. There might have been a slight hint of criticism of law enforcement for their part in perpetuating this practice. The second essay, "Wastewaters" brought together technology, public health, and environmental ethics. Markov highlighted the lack of funding and outdated technology which can lead to public health outbreaks of disease. These two essays were quite mild by any standards. Markov did not write these in a militant or demanding style. They were originally radio broadcasts from the BBC in London. 52 pages 4 stars
129. Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency by Bill O'Reilly What a great trip down memory lane! This book offers a thorough look at Ronald Reagan's life, starting from his days in Hollywood and concluding with his death and burial. I appreciate O'Reilly's "Killing" series for its informative and mostly factual narrative.
The book delves into Reagan's relationships (or lack thereof) with figures like Carter, Nixon, Bush, the Kennedy brothers, Margaret Thatcher, and Leonid Brezhnev. Reagan was a compelling orator, but Nancy Reagan's portrayal is quite troubling—depicted as an emotionally distant mother. For instance, when Reagan was married to Jane Wyman, they had both a biological and an adopted child. After their divorce, Ronald married Nancy, and during family vacations, they took only his biological child, leaving the adopted child at camp. Nancy once made a hurtful comment about Patti’s looks, saying, "How did your father and I birth such an ugly daughter?" It’s no surprise that Patti later posed for Playboy to combat those insecurities.
The dysfunction in this family is shocking, but perhaps not surprising given Reagan's father's alcoholism and Nancy's mother’s neglectful behavior, leaving Nancy with relatives for six years while she sought a new husband. The book also covers John Hinckley Jr., Reagan's would-be assassin, who had scary connections, including correspondence with Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, Sarah Jane Moore, and Charles Manson.
130. I listened to a Great Courses free with my Audible subscription. It was 39+ hours and I was leery of starting it due to its length, but it was so absorbing that I'm glad I did. I listened to How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3rd Edition written and taught by Robert Greenberg. Greenberg studied at Princeton and UC-Berkley. I find him to be delightful with a great sense of humor. I think he would be a great teacher no matter the subject, if he had the passion for it.
This particular course began during the ancient world and ended with the early 20th century. Greenburg explained the greatest "invention" or movement of each time period with accompanying musical clips. My favorite unit was the Ancient Greeks. The Greek culture was humanistic. They believed music was able to create miracles and was omnipresent. Their belief in the power of music was so strong that they believed it could create moral character (Doctrine of Ethos).
To sum it up in Greenburg's words: "Concert halls and opera houses are not museums or mausoleums!" and........"One era's popular music is another era's concert music." 36 hours 18 min 5 stars
P.S. Only one boring section--Renaissance--Pythagoras had to get involved in music!;)
131. Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes by Robert Louis Stevenson This was a short travelogue memoir of the author's trip through the Cevennes Mountains in France in 1878. This was a 12 day trek undertaken only by Stevenson and his donkey, Modestine. The reader gets descriptions of the landscapes and the people, oftentimes with humor. 82 pages 4 stars
135. The Gentleman From Peru by Andre Aciman. Wow-what a read. This book was sensual and spiritual. It started out slow and built to a great crescendo. The story is about the past, the present, chance meetings, and the impact of yearning and desire through time. Do such relationships exist or are they only in fairy tales? Beautiful prose! My eyes were watering at the end! 176 pages 5 stars
136. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson This book follows the adventures of David Balfour, a young Scottish boy who, after the death of his father, seeks his inheritance. He is betrayed by his uncle and kidnapped on a ship bound for the Americas. Escaping, David teams up with Alan Breck Stewart, a Jacobite fugitive. They travel the Scottish highlands with its dangers of the warring clans, the Stewarts and the MacGregors. It had been 50 years since I had read this and I had remembered nothing! 156 pages 4 stars Monthly Author Reads/November
That's all my 4-5 star reads. Everything else was mediocre!
Well, I'm currently on book # 136. Since I've last posted in here, the following are the 4/5 star reads for me:
107. Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World by Lawrence Goldstone. The author and his wife were just middleclass Americans who liked the modern classics and liked to read. They knew nothing but Amazon and Barnes and Noble. They did like hardback books, though. They stumbled upon a rather odd, decrepit bookstore and an even odder owner who taught them a thing or two about first printings, editions, etc. For a few years they were "wooed" into spending more than they normally would have on collector's editions. However, this is their ending comment, "We loved our $700 Bleak House and our $650 Martin Chuzzlewit, but we also love our $10 Josephine Tey, our $20 Andersonville, our $10 War and and Peace..........the more we thought about it, the more we came back to our original view. You don't really need first editions at all. They are just affectations.........still....Great book by level-headed people. 215 pages 4.5 stars
First book of September was The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora by Stephanie Thornton. Earlier this year I had read a non-fiction of Theodora and Justinian written by historian Procopious. It was the one that was not published until after his death because of the scandalous material it contained. When I ran across this novel, I thought I would get a different perspective. What this novel did was give context to some of the material contained in Procopious' account. Thornton's account tells the story of Theodora from the time she was an actress and a prostitute until her death. It was obvious that she and Justinian loved each other greatly. Thornton's narrative was both informative and immersive. I did some additional research after reading this novel and it would appear the novel is probably more accurate the Procopious' account. The author had an afterward where she explained what characters were real and which were a combination of several historical figures. The author has written several other novels in the same vein and I will be seeking out the one about the women of Genghis Khan. 445 pages 5 stars
114. The Emperor's Tomb by Joseph Roth. This is Roth's work that followed The Radetzky March. It does not have to be read sequentially, but it makes sense to do so. The following quote sums up the book succinctly: "We all had lost our position, our rank, our house, our home, our money, our worth, our past, our present and our future. Each morning when we got up, each night when we went to bed, we cursed death who had invited us in vain to her grand party. " This book picks up post WWI until the Anschluss. This book is narrated by Franz Trotta in first person narrative in which he bares his soul. Franz is trying to stay afloat, one day at a time. He is not equipped to survive in the new post war world. Of course, Trotta is just a symbol for Austria, too focused on what was lost instead of looking forward. 208 pages 4 stars
116. The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis. This book was gut-wrenching. It was a dual timeline and worked quite well--although they weren't removed too much in time. Ashlyn, owner of a book repair shop, finds a bound book with no title, author, cover page, etc. It is a "love" letter that is quite painful. Then she finds the response to that letter. The remainder of the book alternates between the writers of the letters and Ashlyn's research. This is a tear-jerker, but tastefully done. Highly recommended. 431 pages 4.5*
121. The Mysteries of the Court of Louis Napoleon by Emile Zola. I didn't mean to read this NOW! I'm part of the Zola reading group and it has sparked my interest in the second empire/republic history, of which I know nothing! I came across this book and thought I would read up on this time period. However, about half way through, I discovered that this book also has two alternative titles: His Excellency, Eugene Rougon and Clorinde (no touch stone). His Excellency was to be the group read for November. I read it under another name not realizing it, therefore the "accident!" Guess I'm ahead of the reading schedule. In this book Zola writes of the several political ascents and descents of Eugene Rougon. Rougon is manipulative and deceitful, as are his "friends." This book tells of the corruption and intrigue at Court. Better than book one! 392 pages 4 stars
Two Essays (Kindle Single) (Ploughshares Solos) by Georgi Markov Markhov was the self-exiled Bulgarian who was assassinated on London Bridge on Sept 11, 1978, by an umbrella dart. He was a writer and was often critical of those in power. However, I can't imagine that either of these essays would be the cause of said assassination. The first essay, "Prostitution" explored the social, economic, and psychological components of prostitution. There might have been a slight hint of criticism of law enforcement for their part in perpetuating this practice. The second essay, "Wastewaters" brought together technology, public health, and environmental ethics. Markov highlighted the lack of funding and outdated technology which can lead to public health outbreaks of disease. These two essays were quite mild by any standards. Markov did not write these in a militant or demanding style. They were originally radio broadcasts from the BBC in London. 52 pages 4 stars
129. Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency by Bill O'Reilly What a great trip down memory lane! This book offers a thorough look at Ronald Reagan's life, starting from his days in Hollywood and concluding with his death and burial. I appreciate O'Reilly's "Killing" series for its informative and mostly factual narrative.
The book delves into Reagan's relationships (or lack thereof) with figures like Carter, Nixon, Bush, the Kennedy brothers, Margaret Thatcher, and Leonid Brezhnev. Reagan was a compelling orator, but Nancy Reagan's portrayal is quite troubling—depicted as an emotionally distant mother. For instance, when Reagan was married to Jane Wyman, they had both a biological and an adopted child. After their divorce, Ronald married Nancy, and during family vacations, they took only his biological child, leaving the adopted child at camp. Nancy once made a hurtful comment about Patti’s looks, saying, "How did your father and I birth such an ugly daughter?" It’s no surprise that Patti later posed for Playboy to combat those insecurities.
The dysfunction in this family is shocking, but perhaps not surprising given Reagan's father's alcoholism and Nancy's mother’s neglectful behavior, leaving Nancy with relatives for six years while she sought a new husband. The book also covers John Hinckley Jr., Reagan's would-be assassin, who had scary connections, including correspondence with Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, Sarah Jane Moore, and Charles Manson.
130. I listened to a Great Courses free with my Audible subscription. It was 39+ hours and I was leery of starting it due to its length, but it was so absorbing that I'm glad I did. I listened to How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3rd Edition written and taught by Robert Greenberg. Greenberg studied at Princeton and UC-Berkley. I find him to be delightful with a great sense of humor. I think he would be a great teacher no matter the subject, if he had the passion for it.
This particular course began during the ancient world and ended with the early 20th century. Greenburg explained the greatest "invention" or movement of each time period with accompanying musical clips. My favorite unit was the Ancient Greeks. The Greek culture was humanistic. They believed music was able to create miracles and was omnipresent. Their belief in the power of music was so strong that they believed it could create moral character (Doctrine of Ethos).
To sum it up in Greenburg's words: "Concert halls and opera houses are not museums or mausoleums!" and........"One era's popular music is another era's concert music." 36 hours 18 min 5 stars
P.S. Only one boring section--Renaissance--Pythagoras had to get involved in music!;)
131. Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes by Robert Louis Stevenson This was a short travelogue memoir of the author's trip through the Cevennes Mountains in France in 1878. This was a 12 day trek undertaken only by Stevenson and his donkey, Modestine. The reader gets descriptions of the landscapes and the people, oftentimes with humor. 82 pages 4 stars
135. The Gentleman From Peru by Andre Aciman. Wow-what a read. This book was sensual and spiritual. It started out slow and built to a great crescendo. The story is about the past, the present, chance meetings, and the impact of yearning and desire through time. Do such relationships exist or are they only in fairy tales? Beautiful prose! My eyes were watering at the end! 176 pages 5 stars
136. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson This book follows the adventures of David Balfour, a young Scottish boy who, after the death of his father, seeks his inheritance. He is betrayed by his uncle and kidnapped on a ship bound for the Americas. Escaping, David teams up with Alan Breck Stewart, a Jacobite fugitive. They travel the Scottish highlands with its dangers of the warring clans, the Stewarts and the MacGregors. It had been 50 years since I had read this and I had remembered nothing! 156 pages 4 stars Monthly Author Reads/November
That's all my 4-5 star reads. Everything else was mediocre!
46PaulCranswick
>45 Tess_W: For reasons I cannot remember and now cannot fathom I keep stats for the number of posts to an individual's threads and also on number of books they have read.
Thanks for humouring me. x
Thanks for humouring me. x
47quondame
>45 Tess_W: The Tiger Queens was a good read but felt stretched thin after reading The Secret History of the Mongol Queens.
48Tess_W
>47 quondame: Thanks! I may switch....I don't have the Tiger Queens yet, so I might go with your suggestion!
49hredwards
>45 Tess_W: Good to see you here! You do read some interesting books!!
51Tess_W
137. The Professor by Charlotte BronteThis was certainly not Jane Eyre! I understand this book was rejected by the publishers (first novel she wrote) and only published posthumously. This was the story of William Crimsworth, an Englishman who goes to Belgium to teach English. He certainly seems to encounter people who would do him harm! He finds the love of his life and they all live happily ever after?! Like Villette, too many French passages! Meh 410 pages 3 stars
138. The Dream Job by Kirsten Modglin Billed as a psychological thriller. It was a mini-thriller, up until the end, which was such a let down! Also, one really had to suspend belief to go along with the plot. A more sophisticated Hunger Game. Listened to this on audio 7 hours 22 mins 3 stars meh
139. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys A YA novel about 4 people trying to make their way to the MV Wilhelm Gustloff to evade the advancing Soviets. IMHO the teens I know would not enjoy/read this. It's too choppy and doesn't flow easily. Each person's perspective is 1-1 1/2 pages and then it's on to the next, over and over again. Each person's 'secret' is discernible fairly quickly. Reading this book caused me to purchase another about the MV Wilhelm November PRIZEKAT: Children's Award Winners
140. Anthem by Ayn Rand What an odd little book! This book examines individualism vs. collectivism in the form of a dystopian novel where the word "I" is forbidden (and has been for hundreds of years). The protagonist, Equality 7-2521, rebels against a society that prioritizes the group over the individual. The author criticizes collectivism as stifling creativity and innovation. Not a surprising topic for Rand, as she was born and educated in Russia before coming to the U.S. (1920's--the height of the revolution) 104 pages 4.5 stars
141. You Can't Catch Me by Catherine McKenzie Two women walk into a bar.......one for a drink and one to carry out a con. The remainder of the book is self-explanatory. The ending was a bit of a let-down. 333 pages 3 stars
142. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand I tried! This book is a philosophy book masquerading as a novel. Rand is laying our her philosophy of objectivism very meticulously in a dystopian novel. I did read her Anthem, which I liked, and she seems to be recycling some of those ideas. Rand is championing rational self-interest and individualism. I find her militancy to be extremely irritating and needlessly exaggerated. I find that Rand leaves no role for societal responsibility. Perhaps she did address that later in the book. DNF Listened to 4+ hours/51+ hours. (About 108 pages)
138. The Dream Job by Kirsten Modglin Billed as a psychological thriller. It was a mini-thriller, up until the end, which was such a let down! Also, one really had to suspend belief to go along with the plot. A more sophisticated Hunger Game. Listened to this on audio 7 hours 22 mins 3 stars meh
139. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys A YA novel about 4 people trying to make their way to the MV Wilhelm Gustloff to evade the advancing Soviets. IMHO the teens I know would not enjoy/read this. It's too choppy and doesn't flow easily. Each person's perspective is 1-1 1/2 pages and then it's on to the next, over and over again. Each person's 'secret' is discernible fairly quickly. Reading this book caused me to purchase another about the MV Wilhelm November PRIZEKAT: Children's Award Winners
140. Anthem by Ayn Rand What an odd little book! This book examines individualism vs. collectivism in the form of a dystopian novel where the word "I" is forbidden (and has been for hundreds of years). The protagonist, Equality 7-2521, rebels against a society that prioritizes the group over the individual. The author criticizes collectivism as stifling creativity and innovation. Not a surprising topic for Rand, as she was born and educated in Russia before coming to the U.S. (1920's--the height of the revolution) 104 pages 4.5 stars
141. You Can't Catch Me by Catherine McKenzie Two women walk into a bar.......one for a drink and one to carry out a con. The remainder of the book is self-explanatory. The ending was a bit of a let-down. 333 pages 3 stars
142. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand I tried! This book is a philosophy book masquerading as a novel. Rand is laying our her philosophy of objectivism very meticulously in a dystopian novel. I did read her Anthem, which I liked, and she seems to be recycling some of those ideas. Rand is championing rational self-interest and individualism. I find her militancy to be extremely irritating and needlessly exaggerated. I find that Rand leaves no role for societal responsibility. Perhaps she did address that later in the book. DNF Listened to 4+ hours/51+ hours. (About 108 pages)
52Tess_W
143. The Blood of the Fifth Knight by E.M. Powell is a historical fiction/thriller set in 12th century England. Of course, the protagonist is the good swashbuckling knight who has to save his king and his own family. Interesting backstory of Rosamund Clifford, one of Henry II's lovers while he had his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, imprisoned. Great read--held my attention 100%. Book 2/3 in a series. 374 pages 4.5*
plus I reread the preface and first 3 chapter of Zola's His Excellency Eugene Rougon for the group read/chat for November. I had just read the entire book in September and didn't feel that I wanted to read it again, although it was good!
plus I reread the preface and first 3 chapter of Zola's His Excellency Eugene Rougon for the group read/chat for November. I had just read the entire book in September and didn't feel that I wanted to read it again, although it was good!
54Tess_W
144. Men in German Uniform by Antonio Thompson A very interesting book about which I knew nothing! Eight years studying history at universities and never knew that there were about 400,000 German POW'S in the U.S.! Most of these men were caught in Africa, Greece, or Turkey, and many surrendered and wanted to be taken prisoner by the U.S., rather than the Soviet Union. There were 70 camps in the US, primarily in the south and southwest. I was surprised but the camps really did attempt to follow the Geneva Convention(s). Great read! P.S. Few men were actual Nazis as the Germans had conscripted and forced conquered territories into the Wehrmacht. 194 pages 5 stars
55Tess_W
>53 hredwards: I plan to get book 3 after the first of the year.
56thornton37814
You are reading up a storm!
57PaulCranswick
>54 Tess_W: I also didn't realize that it was quite on that scale, Tess.
58RebaRelishesReading
>54 Tess_W: That sounds really interesting. I (sort of vaguely) knew there had be pow's in the U.S. but had no idea there were that many nor much about their camps. I think I'll look that one up.
59PaulCranswick
Tess, I have made my selections for the Grand Tour Challenge which I mooted earlier.
I have tried to accommodate a month for European languages spoken elsewhere.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/365712#8675746
I have tried to accommodate a month for European languages spoken elsewhere.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/365712#8675746
60Tess_W
147. Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey by Kathleen Rooney This is a historical novel that intertwines the stories of two World War I figures: Cher Ami, a pigeon who served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and Major Charles Whittlesey, the leader of the Lost Battalion. The story alternates between the story of the pigeon (narrated by herself) and Major Whittlesey. I am at a loss as to the first chapter--Major Whittlesey's trysts, not sure if they occurred before or after the war--definitely were not needed. Think I might be better off reading a NF about this! 336 pages 3 stars Paul's War Room: Great War
P.S. Cher Ami tells her story as a taxidermied pigeon at the Smithsonian! Some amusing initial parts.
P.S. Cher Ami tells her story as a taxidermied pigeon at the Smithsonian! Some amusing initial parts.
61hredwards
>60 Tess_W: Interesting.
Don't think I've ever read a book from a pigeon's point of view.
Don't think I've ever read a book from a pigeon's point of view.
62Tess_W
148. The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy, and the Wrecking of Henry I's Dream by Charles Spencer While Charles Spencer is clearly knowledgeable about this time period/incident, I felt there was no delivery of any engaging material, especially about the titular subject. I felt like I was reading a bad history text, with lists and lists of people; irrelevant because their character was never developed or linked to the story in any meaningful way. This would better be described as a biography of Henry I or a broad sweeping history of England from the Norman Conquest through the Anarchy. I would guess that 75% of the book is about the lineage of Henry I. 352 pages 3 stars RTT: Medieval Ages
63Tess_W
149. When a Nation Forgets God: 7 Lessons We Must Learn from Nazi Germany by Erwin Lutzer I decided to reread this upon seeing the movie "Bonhoffer" last week. The movie was "okay." There was a 2013 version (Bonhoffer, Agent of Grace) that I thought was better. The 2024 version was more sanitized. Lutzer draws parallels between the moral decline in Germany and the erosion of ethical values in contemporary cultures. He identifies seven crucial lessons, including the consequences of ignoring moral absolutes, the power of propaganda, and the role of the church in resisting evil. Lutzer warns against complacency and encourages vigilance against the gradual undermining of religious and moral foundations. The author draws upon writings and speeches (sermons) by Hitler, Bonhoffer, and Niemoller. 160 pages 5 stars
64PaulCranswick
>63 Tess_W: That looks very interesting, Tess.
I keep going back to Kamala Harris' unfortunate off the cuff riposte at one of he rallies when someone shouted "Jesus is God" and she replied "You are at the wrong rally". Certainly didn't help her and I actually think that she misheard the remark.
I keep going back to Kamala Harris' unfortunate off the cuff riposte at one of he rallies when someone shouted "Jesus is God" and she replied "You are at the wrong rally". Certainly didn't help her and I actually think that she misheard the remark.
65PaulCranswick
I don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Malaysia but I did want to say a little thank you for your lovely presence in this group this year and in particular in the War Room.
I do hope that you'll be touring Europe with me next year!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
I do hope that you'll be touring Europe with me next year!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
66Tess_W
>65 PaulCranswick: Thank you so much, Paul! Of course, the tour is on; both with you and in real life. My sister and I are going to Auschwitz (Warsaw, Krakow, & Gdansk) with the final destination Berlin. We have not yet decided what is to be in between-Prague? Vienna? Pottsdam? Budapest? Brataslava?
67PaulCranswick
>66 Tess_W: My wonderful family doctor when I was a youngster and my trip to Auschwitz are probably what has imbued me with profoundly pro-Jewish sensibilities, Tess. One of the most moving experiences of my life.
Haven't been to any of the other cities you mention although I had promised to take Hani to Vienna. She has been to Prague and thought it beautiful.
Haven't been to any of the other cities you mention although I had promised to take Hani to Vienna. She has been to Prague and thought it beautiful.
68booksaplenty1949
>67 PaulCranswick: Prague always receives good reviews, and of course the historic centre was untouched by world wars. But most of us know much more about historical and cultural events connected with Vienna. Personally I find that this adds a lot to my touristical experience. Took some teenagers once to the Prater fairground in Vienna and when we were on the Ferris wheel one of them realised that this was where Orson Welles, in The Third Man made his scary speech about the people far below being like ants and who would care if one of them stopped moving. Pretty cool. Also the birthplace, obviously, of Wiener schnitzel.
69Tess_W
My sister, in a surprise move is moving to Frankfurt, Germany, in mid 2025. Therefore, we are going to have an easier (cheaper, less travel time) time visiting everything we want! It's only 4 hours on the train from Frankfurt to Auschwitz. We also plan on Prague, Vienna, Berlin, Munich, and Amsterdam for starters. Can't wait!
70EllaTim
>69 Tess_W: Sounds like great plans. Prague, Vienna, Berlin, all great, and now you don’t have to choose among them.
Have fun planning.
Have fun planning.
71Tess_W
"Found" more reading time than usual over the Thanksgiving holiday by listening to two audiobooks whilst cooking and cleaning for 8 hours a day!
150. A Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell I've read most of what Orwell has written, and this is my least favorite. I think it is because there are so many political parties, groups, and cities/areas of which I was unfamiliar that it just seemed so jumbled. This was Orwell's experiences during the Spanish Civil War, where he fought for the Republican (Socialist/Communist) side against Franco's Fascists. Interesting that he used the word Fascists and the history textbooks (at least in the US) use the word Nationalists to describe Franco's forces. Orwell spent a lot of time describing the in-fighting of the Republicans and what he finally saw as a betrayal by the same. He also addresses loyalty and the propaganda of the leftist press. The book ends with Orwell's escape from Barcelona into France when the POUM (Workers' Party of Marxist Unification) was suppressed. 8 hours 25 mins 3.5*
151. Madame President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson by William Hazelgrove This book is fatally flawed by a confusing and disorganized chronology. The structure is chaotic, jumping between years without clear order—one chapter starts in 1921, the next in 1911, followed by 1919, and so on. At times, it feels disorienting, especially when the narrative shifts abruptly between events, such as moving from President Wilson courting Edith to her working on League of Nations papers in the span of a few pages. Much of the information is not new, and can be found in other sources. I had previously read Starling of the White House, which provided similar details from a Secret Service agent's perspective on the Wilsons. 8 hours 8 min 2.5*
150. A Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell I've read most of what Orwell has written, and this is my least favorite. I think it is because there are so many political parties, groups, and cities/areas of which I was unfamiliar that it just seemed so jumbled. This was Orwell's experiences during the Spanish Civil War, where he fought for the Republican (Socialist/Communist) side against Franco's Fascists. Interesting that he used the word Fascists and the history textbooks (at least in the US) use the word Nationalists to describe Franco's forces. Orwell spent a lot of time describing the in-fighting of the Republicans and what he finally saw as a betrayal by the same. He also addresses loyalty and the propaganda of the leftist press. The book ends with Orwell's escape from Barcelona into France when the POUM (Workers' Party of Marxist Unification) was suppressed. 8 hours 25 mins 3.5*
151. Madame President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson by William Hazelgrove This book is fatally flawed by a confusing and disorganized chronology. The structure is chaotic, jumping between years without clear order—one chapter starts in 1921, the next in 1911, followed by 1919, and so on. At times, it feels disorienting, especially when the narrative shifts abruptly between events, such as moving from President Wilson courting Edith to her working on League of Nations papers in the span of a few pages. Much of the information is not new, and can be found in other sources. I had previously read Starling of the White House, which provided similar details from a Secret Service agent's perspective on the Wilsons. 8 hours 8 min 2.5*
72Tess_W
152. A Promised Land by Barak Obama. I read this sometime earlier in the year, and marked it as read, but never listed it or reviewed it. I was hyped for this biography, but was ultimately let down. Firstly, it was overly long (700+ pages) and could have used a good editor, especially in the chapters of policy making, which are minutely detailed and oftentimes slow. I think Mr. Obama might have wanted to make this a "feel good" book and hence refrained from addressing some of his administration's failings, such as handling the financial crisis, drone warfare, or the shortcomings in his relationship with Congress. While Obama does lightly touch upon what he considers his own flaws, he glosses over issues where he played the main protagonist such as healthcare reform and racial tensions. The tone of the writing was a problem for me. Obama comes off either aloof or pseudo-intellectual (he's trying too hard); it's not a natural tone. It doesn't flow well. Despite my dislike of the book, I am able to see its value as a perspective of America's first black president. 732 pages 2*
73booksaplenty1949
>71 Tess_W: Elsewhere I have recommended The Spanish Labyrinth as a first-rate introduction to the complex issues in the Spanish Civil War. Still in print 70 years after its first publication—-an irreplaceable analysis by a gifted writer associated with the Bloomsbury Group who lived most of his adult life in Spain.
“Nationalists” was the term chosen by the right-wing groups participating in the coup in 1936 that led to the civil war and eventual collapse of the Second Spanish Republic. Those fighting against them called them Fascists, identifying their views with those of Mussolini’s political party.
“Nationalists” was the term chosen by the right-wing groups participating in the coup in 1936 that led to the civil war and eventual collapse of the Second Spanish Republic. Those fighting against them called them Fascists, identifying their views with those of Mussolini’s political party.
74BLBera
>69 Tess_W: That sounds like a great trip, Tess.
75SirThomas
>71 Tess_W: Congratulations on reaching the magic goal twice, Tess!
76Tess_W
>73 booksaplenty1949: Yes, previously noted and put on WL!
77booksaplenty1949
>76 Tess_W: I think you will enjoy it.
78figsfromthistle
>69 Tess_W: Sounds like you have an interesting trip planned.
>69 Tess_W: All of those cities are quite nice to visit. One thing is that Prague is only 3.5 hours away from Vienna via train and there are great connections to get there. So close by! Vienna definitely needs more time to explore than Prague does so it all depends on what you want to see and how much time you want to spend in the city.
>68 booksaplenty1949: Technically ,Schnitzel originally comes from Italy ( a surprise for sure!)
Happy rest of the week :)
>69 Tess_W: All of those cities are quite nice to visit. One thing is that Prague is only 3.5 hours away from Vienna via train and there are great connections to get there. So close by! Vienna definitely needs more time to explore than Prague does so it all depends on what you want to see and how much time you want to spend in the city.
>68 booksaplenty1949: Technically ,Schnitzel originally comes from Italy ( a surprise for sure!)
Happy rest of the week :)
79quondame
>78 figsfromthistle: I believe Wiener schnitzel technically has an egg on it. I order other schnitzel dishes. Veal parmigiana has a schnitzel base. I've never thought about what the breaded veal base for Italian dishes was called though. Outside our house the first place I had it was a Swiss restaurant.
80figsfromthistle
>79 quondame: It is interesting how many variations there are. The traditional schnitzel changes based on what region in the country you are in as well. Sometimes when I order, I am not sure which variation I am getting and let myself be surprised ;)
82Tess_W
>78 figsfromthistle: Well, we have actually put Vienna and Prague on hold for this trip. She will be there for 3-4 years, so I will probably make 2 trips over. First trip is Auschwitz/Poland, Germany, and Amsterdam. We will see how the money holds out before we commit to anything else this trip!
83booksaplenty1949
>78 figsfromthistle: Vienna has always been Vienna, of course, but national boundaries are rather fluid. Finally dawned on me that that is why European forms want you fill in the city you were born in, not the country. Have no doubt mentioned before hearing a lecture from someone who noted that his father was born in Austria, his mother was born in Italy, and he was born in Yugoslavia—-all three in the same town. Had he stuck around, a fourth generation could have been born there, in Croatia.
84booksaplenty1949
>79 quondame: No egg on a classic Wiener schnitzel. Story that it originally came from Italy is a myth, according to the scholars of Wikipedia. .
85booksaplenty1949
Frankfurt-am-Main itself was pretty thoroughly bombed by the Allies and rebuilt in a style that leads locals to refer to it as Mainhattan. So not a great tourist destination. But day trips possible to many other interesting German towns and cities: Würzburg, Darmstadt, Heidelburg, Baden-Baden, for starters.
86quondame
>84 booksaplenty1949: The Wiki article is more about what data doesn't exist than what does. Admittedly cook books are some of the earliest documents detailing aspects of ordinary life, but still very spotty coverage. This gives it a Venetian origin.
87Tess_W
153. The Last White Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir. This book focused on Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV (Elizabeth Woodville), niece of Richard III, sister to the princes in the tower, wife of Henry VII, and mother or Henry VIII. Elizabeth walked a very fine line as with the princes missing, rightfully she would be the heir to the English crown; but there had been no women on the throne yet who had ruled in their own right. She was the unifying force behind the blending of the Houses of York and Tudor. 545 pages 4.5* RTT Medieval Ages/Vikings (on the cusp)
154. Felix Holt, The Radical by George Eliot A rabid fan of Eliot, but not so much in this case. The story takes place in the mid 19th century in a fictional industrial town in England, Treby Magna. Felix is an idealistic radical young man seeking changes, yet he is often disillusioned by politics. Felix is tempered by Esther, a more moderate (need be a woman in that day!) whose moral integrity and personal growth is another side of social reform. I think Eliot was trying to show that idealism without practical wisdom can lead to failure. I got the feeling that Ms. Eliot was not a fan of radicalism, which surprised me with her being a female at this time in history. This was my least favorite of all the Eliot's I have read (which are most of them). I felt this was hardcore politics. While most of Eliot's work contains politics of some sort, this was just too detailed and too drawn out. 578 pages 3- stars 99 cents on Kindle (US)
154. Felix Holt, The Radical by George Eliot A rabid fan of Eliot, but not so much in this case. The story takes place in the mid 19th century in a fictional industrial town in England, Treby Magna. Felix is an idealistic radical young man seeking changes, yet he is often disillusioned by politics. Felix is tempered by Esther, a more moderate (need be a woman in that day!) whose moral integrity and personal growth is another side of social reform. I think Eliot was trying to show that idealism without practical wisdom can lead to failure. I got the feeling that Ms. Eliot was not a fan of radicalism, which surprised me with her being a female at this time in history. This was my least favorite of all the Eliot's I have read (which are most of them). I felt this was hardcore politics. While most of Eliot's work contains politics of some sort, this was just too detailed and too drawn out. 578 pages 3- stars 99 cents on Kindle (US)
88booksaplenty1949
>86 quondame: I see “might have” in this interesting but rather unfocussed article. It does make the point that food, like most aspects of human culture, doesn’t know fixed boundaries.
89booksaplenty1949
>87 Tess_W: I have heard many people name Middlemarch as the greatest novel in English, but fans of Eliot’s other novels are in much shorter supply. The Mill on the Floss is probably the best-liked of the rest of her oeuvre. Personally I think that if George Eliot had been Mr Eliot fans would be less rabid. I think feminist pride accounts for a lot in her case. But I also feel this way about Virginia Woolf, so maybe I have a blind spot.
90Tess_W
>89 booksaplenty1949: Not a fan at all of Woolf!
91booksaplenty1949
>90 Tess_W: Me neither, so your secret is safe with me.
92Tess_W
Hymns, Prayers and Songs: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Lyric Poetry by John L. Foster This anthology includes prayers, hymns, and poetry from various periods of Egyptian history. Some of the themes are devotion to god(s), requests for divine favor, and thoughts on life and death. These works are both historical and culturally revealing. 230 pages 3 stars---off the shelf (from a 2005 course I took!)
93Tess_W
156. Unanswered Cries by Thomas French is a true crime book about the rape and death of Karen Gregory of Gulfport, Florida, in 1986. The book was dated as far as DNA and blood sampling, but the story was still good. Many neighbors heard a few loud screams on the night of her death, even looked out their windows, but none called the police. A 22 year old firefighter was eventually found guilty after many false leads. A bit too long. 402 pages 3 stars
94thornton37814
Dropping by to say hi. You didn't catch me with a book bullet this time, but I've got a list longer than I'll ever be able to read anyway.
97PaulCranswick
Thinking of you at this time, Tess.
98Tess_W
158. How the Body of Christ Talks by C. Christopher Smith The author writes about the importance of language within Christian communities, emphasizing how words shape the life and mission of the church. The book suggests that Christians must pay attention to the way they speak, ensuring their words reflect the gospel message and promote reconciliation and understanding. Finally, the book challenges readers to be intentional in their language aligning it with love that is central to the body of Christ. The first two chapters was about the biology and neurology of communication and I felt that it didn't really belong, but I persevered. I also think that "society"
could be substituted for "church" in this book and still be applicable. 199 pages 3 stars
could be substituted for "church" in this book and still be applicable. 199 pages 3 stars
