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Do you have to be very knowledgeable to understand the science parts?.

I don't think so. (You certainly don't have to know much math, as I don't.)

Perfect.

Chrissie wrote: "Jennifer, sounds good. How far have you come? Aynthing you can tell me about it?"

I'm at 20-some-odd percent and had to set it aside because I have a weeklong challenge deadline this weekend for which I stupidly picked a 700-page book!!! The other two in the series were only 400-some-odd so who knew!!!!!!!!! Anyway. The tone is very engaging and not at all dry. The author looks at characteristics of his relationships with the important women in his life and is making an interesting case that some of the characteristics that made him both a successful politician and so maddening to biographers may have been been born out of the influence of those women. It's actually pretty fascinating, and so far we've really only covered the early years with Eleanor and his mother, and some women he dated during his formative years, and Lucy Mercer has been mentioned but not really explored yet. Of course, I read Ellen Feldman's fabulous novel about Lucy Mercer Lucy and can't wait to get to that part of the story!

Jennifer, what a bummer to have to stop a book you are enjoying. I had not heard about the book "Lucy". Added that too. I can highly recommend No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. I am going to bump up Franklin and Lucy. I cannot read all the books I am interested in fast enough. thank you for your help.

I can also recommend Eleanor & Franklin: The Story of Their Relationship Based on Eleanor Roosevelt's Private Papers, by Joseph P. Lash; a Pulitzer winner for biography back in the 70s.

Thank you, Susanna, I have found several good ones. Where can I pick up some more time.

Snort!

:0) It doesn't even have to be on sale!

Just imagine the money you could make if you could sell extra time!

Chrissie wrote: "Jennifer, what a bummer to have to stop a book you are enjoying. I had not heard about the book "Lucy". Added that too. I can highly recommend No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. I am..."

I have "no ordinary time" on my TBR but may have to bump it up now! Lucy is one of a handful of novels that have either been out awhile or don't get a whole lot of "play" (that I've seen) that I always like to recommend. Others are The Age of Desire , Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper, and The Josephine Bonaparte Collection: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and the Last Great Dance on Earth .

Jennifer, I thought the trilogy by Gulland was excellent too! I agree, they should all be read one after the other. I bought three separate books because they were actually cheaper that way, but read one after the other.

Have any of you read Too Close to the Sun: Growing Up in the Shadow of my Grandparents, Franklin and Eleanor? It looks good, doesn't it?

Jennifer, Edith Wharton is one my favourite authors. Thanks for the recommendation about The Age of Desire. I'd love to learn more about her life. I've had that Lydia Cassatt book on my to-read shelf for a long time too. Must take a look!

I'm reading The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

I just finsihedBomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon. My review: /review/show...

It gave me very good background information. It is clear and concise. Adults can easily read this, as a starting point. I would not classify it as YA literature. With this under my belt I have already begun American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer is a truly fascinating person. For me the more little details I know about a person the easier it is for the standard facts to stick. At Harvard, for lunch he liked eating "black and tan", ie a piece of toast slathered with peanut butter and chocolate syrup. I will stick with my peanut butter on wholewheat bread covered with a very thick layer of iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach. Yum. But we both like peanut butter. Oh, his first love affair will make you laugh. I like knowing about famous people's idiosyncrasies, things that make them like other normal people.

Lee wrote: "I'm ripping through The Silver Linings Playbook which my fried Joy recommended to me. It's completely different that what I was expecting, not exactly a comfort read but interesting! I had the im..."

I loved the movie, never thought to look for the book. Yes, not necessarily comforting...

I am doing what I call a DIScomfort read -- Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. Its painful to read about how much further women have to go before equality (pay, promotions, etc). But its had one really positive effect. My husband read the first 3 pages, where the author talks about workplaces needing special parking places for pregnant employees. He is now leading a campaign at work to establish at least one reserved space. The book is slow going so I'm going to try shifting to listening to it in my car.

Well, I'll start my next book this evening. I finished Mort by Terry Pratchett on Saturday and enjoyed it. There were quite a few lines that made me chuckle.

I don't know whether it'll be a re-read of Fool by Christopher Moore, Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, or Lucy's Bones, Einstein's Brain by Harvey Rachlin (non-fiction). That last is a library book, so I would like to get on with it but I would like some nice comedy and Fool has a preview of Serpent of Venice. However, I was putting Black Swan Green on my wishlist or so I though but I accidentally 1-clicked it. I've honestly never done that before and I'm going to let it stand because I loved Mitchell's "Jacob de Zoet" and Cloud Atlas and have been meaning to pick up "Black Swan" for some time. Anyway, it may have to be "Black Swan."

Leslie wrote: "I am doing what I call a DIScomfort read -- Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. Its painful to read about how much further women have to go before equality (pay, promotions, etc). But its had one really ..."

That's pretty cool about your husband, Leslie! I hope he succeeds with his campaign.

So, I finished The Shuttle and kept going with another old fashioned comfort read by the same author - The Making of a Marchioness. I'm enjoying having access to the free classics on my new kindle.

Today I started Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold who writes great adventure/sci-fi/romance! I'm ripping through this one even though it doesn't feature the always amusing Miles Vorkosigan but his cousin instead.

I am currently reading "Toghe Elegance of the Hedgehog" by Muriel Barbery for a book club

I am currently reading "The Elegance of The Hedgehog" by Muriel Barbery

Lee wrote: "I'm ripping through The Silver Linings Playbook which my fried Joy recommended to me. It's completely different that what I was expecting, not ayexactly a comfort read but interesting! I had the im..."

Read the book and saw the movie - The Silver Linings Playbook

I ended up watching the movie after I finished the book and I definitely preferred the book. I think that's usually the way it goes though, isn't it?

Lee wrote: "I ended up watching the movie after I finished the book and I definitely preferred the book. I think that's usually the way it goes though, isn't it?"

Totally, Lee! I read the book before seeing the movie and, while both were good, I like the movie better.

I've seen the movie and really liked it. I'm sure I would like the book better. I hope to eventually get to it.

Chrissie wrote: "Jennifer, I thought the trilogy by Gulland was excellent too! I agree, they should all be read one after the other. I bought three separate books because they were actually cheaper that way, but re..."

No but I'm blaming you for the addition to my TBR, you enabler, you.

Lee wrote: "Jennifer, Edith Wharton is one my favourite authors. Thanks for the recommendation about The Age of Desire. I'd love to learn more about her life. I've had that Lydia Cassatt book on my to-read ..."

Age of desire was an accidental find for me and a real pleasure to read. I think you'll enjoy it.

This month I'm moving from fantasy to science fiction. Now I'm reading The Complete Moon Trilogy: The Moon Maid, The Moon Men & The Red Hawk, the complete "Moon Trilogy" of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Just started on Kindle "When Summer Comes" number #3 in the Whiskey Creek Series by Brenda Novak

Jennifer wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Jennifer, I thought the trilogy by Gulland was excellent too! I agree, they should all be read one after the other. I bought three separate books because they were actually cheaper..."

:0)

You guys, I am in Sweden now. No problem with the storm! Only the moving company is delayed b/c of the storm. They say they will arrive at 7PM which is ridiculous....

Oscar and I took a long walk this morning without a leash, which he loved!!!! :0)

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer is a must read five star book! Loed it and much better than Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, but I don't regret having read that either.

I just started , a funny book by the couple Gaiman/Pratchett. I am curious to see the result of this alliance.

Chrissie, Glad to here you're in your favored place, one of the two. That is late! Wow! As long as it's the right stuff!

Lisa wrote: "Chrissie, Glad to here you're in your favored place, one of the two. That is late! Wow! As long as it's the right stuff!"

I had a fit on the phone and told them they could not come at night! He interrupted me finally and just said he had to park the van somewhere over the night. I hadn't understood him. There were two guys and they were very strong and very nice. They started unpacking at 6:30 the next morning and worked until about 4PM! Since then we have been unpacking and unpacking and unpacking, both yesterday and today. Slowly and surely we will get it all done. Moving is good because it makes you dump stuff. Now the kids have to come and get there stuff.

And yup, the right furniture and boxes seems to have come to the right place. I am really, really happy.

Chrissie wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Chrissie, Glad to here you're in your favored place, one of the two. That is late! Wow! As long as it's the right stuff!"

I had a fit on the phone and told them they could not come at..."

I really hate moving, but for you it's a bit different because you are actually returning home so to speak. And I hate dumping stuff, especially books.

Well, Gundula, my husband and I have been keeping stuff all our lives and now things have to go. I don't dump book though. That is part of the problem. But we have bookshelves everywhere and it is lovely with Kindle and audiobooks. I never thought I would say that!

Chrissie wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Chrissie, Glad to here you're in your favored place, one of the two. That is late! Wow! As long as it's the right stuff!"

I had a fit on the phone and told them they could not come at..."

Oh, that's such great news. I was wondering how that was going. Yay! :D

Chrissie wrote: "Well, Gundula, my husband and I have been keeping stuff all our lives and now things have to go. I don't dump book though. That is part of the problem. But we have bookshelves everywhere and it is ..."

I should figure out how to use mu kindle, but I just don't like e-books (or rather the concept of e-books) all that much.

Chrissie, I'm glad it's going as smoothly as it is. Wow! That's a LOT of hours. You must have a LOT of stuff. Now, hopefully everything that should be will be at your other place.

Gundula, paperbacks are my favorite if I could choose, but it is nice not to have to lug around books on vacations or when traveling. And actually some books are improved through listening to them, if you have a really good narrator.For example the one I am listening to now Ride With Me, Mariah Montana, excellently narrated by Scott Sowers.

Lisa, the problem was moving stuff around. I mean we already had an ancient IKEA soffa, which now has to be dumped. That is the kind of problems that arise.

Well, I hope you get settled soon, in both places, Chrissie. I need to do my place over, actually, after 26 years and a major earthquake, my place could do with a makeover. It's probably not going to happen though.

Lisa, I do understand and wish you had less problems with our living arrangements!!!!

Just started in paperback, "Unexpected Family" by Molly Okeefe

I have finished two audiobooks.

One I loved: American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
My review: /review/show...

The other was just OK, although is is supposedly a classic: The Case of Comrade Tulayev
My review: /review/show...

Now I am listening to Ride With Me, Mariah Montana. It is kind of cute, but really I am getting a bit bored...... Series rarely work for me.

Chrissie wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Jennifer, I thought the trilogy by Gulland was excellent too! I agree, they should all be read one after the other. I bought three separate books because they were..."

Excellent choice of place. (My maiden name is Hagstrom.)

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

I've read both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, and I liked both of them, but neither were comfort reads for me, and I don't expect this book will be either.

I just finished Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch and I was very satisfied with the collaboration of these two great authors. Now I'm reading Shards of Honour, the first novel of the "Cycle of Vor" which, as I discovered, is composed of 19 books. For now, start with that, then we'll see.

Jennifer wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Jennifer, I thought the trilogy by Gulland was excellent too! I agree, they should all be read one after the other. I bought three separate books ..."

Do you mean with two dots over the o in Hagström, like this? Then you must have Swedish background. :0)

Lisa wrote: "And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

I've read both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, and I liked both of them, but neither were comfort reads for me, and I don't expect this bo..."


But it is good!

The Pericles Commission, a historical mystery set in ancient Athens.