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Share with us what you read in May 2015 !

Please provide:

~ A GoodReads link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

This has been a rather 3-star month for me:


The Casual Vacancy, Volume 1 - my only 4-star read this month. A good story about the importance of a Community safety net and a Community's responsibilities towards it's members.

The Power and the Glory - A story that shows the best and worst of dogma, as well as the cowardice and bravery of being human and living up to a standard, whatever that standard may be.

The Almond Tree - I wanted to like this book more than I did. It had great elements but didn't come together well, I thought. The views were too one-sided and too many bad things happened to this one family. It made for a clumsy story.

The Invention of Wings - I enjoyed but didn't get fully drawn into this story. Parts of it seemed glossed over and left unexplored, while other parts seemed unlikely.

Paris - (long audio) I enjoyed this story, as I do Edward Rutherfurd's other books. This one is different and has 2 time-lines: one leading to modern times (mid-1960s by the end of the book) and one from further in history (starting at about 1300) and showing the histories of the families in the other timeline). It doesn't work as well (for me) as one timeline starting from way back in history and following the families through to more modern times.

Very nice month, Petra.

I wanted to read New York by Edward Rutherfurd and London by Edward Rutherfurd but the size deterred me.

I actually owned a paperback of London and gave it away in my book purge when I moved last year.

Maybe audio is the way to go with his books.

Alias, London and The Forest are my favorites of his. Don't let the size of his books daunt you. They read quickly and are really interesting.

Petra wrote: "Alias, London and The Forest are my favorites of his. Don't let the size of his books daunt you. They read quickly and are really interesting."

Another problem was the London book I had was a regular small paperback not the trade size. At this point in my life, my eyes would do not take kindly to big books with that size print.

So I will have to go audio, trade sized paperback book, or get it for my Kindle. It's great we now have so many options !

Good to know you enjoy his books and they are quick reads. Thank you !

I've read at least one, possibly more, of Rutherford's books. One was about the history of England, I think? Can't remember exactly--that was before I started keeping track on GR. I remember thinking it moved along quickly for such a lard book. I currently have his novel about Russia sitting in my teetering TBR pile.

Thought I might finish one more before the weekend but I probably won't, so I'll list my May reads now.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: This is not a book that you read. This is a book that you immerse yourself in. That you stagger and lurch and flounder through. That you wallow in, and then you periodically come up gasping for air, looking around in a daze and wondering how you got to wherever you are. This book is emotionally exhausting. And at many (too many) points you might find yourself asking why -- why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you forcing yourself to read about sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, substance abuse, sadism, suicidal behavior and acts of self-harm, heartbreak, depression and mental illness? WHY?? Because. It's not about all of those things. Or rather, it's not only about all of those things. It's also about loyalty, and unconditional love, and friendship, and redemption, and healing, and grace. It's honest and brutal and real and painful and bleak and hopeful and unsettling and lovely, all at the same time. It's a truly powerful and incredible piece of work. I cannot say that I enjoyed it. And I felt a huge sense of relief when I finally finished it. But I am very glad that I experienced it. 4/5 stars

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough: When I first got this book, I felt a bit disappointed. As a nonfiction fan, I like big, chunky reads. At just 262 pages of actual narrative(including the epilogue), I thought there was no way "The Wright Brothers" would have the kind of detail that I look forward to in a book by David McCullough. I am thrilled to report that I was wrong. This book is compact, but it draws you into the narrative and it keeps you there for the entire 262 pages. By the end, you feel as though you have intimate knowledge of the entire Wright family: Wilbur, Orville, sister Katharine, father Bishop Wright...even, to a lesser extent, brothers Ruechlin and Lorin and their families. McCullough teaches you about the Wright brothers' journey to building the first airplane, yes--but he also shows their human sides. Which is what I love about his books. What drove them to turn their attention from bicycles to aerial navigation? How did Wilbur and Orville--two men who never went to college-- figure out the physics that made manned flight possible? What were the key points where things might have turned out very differently? I love reading the little details that help contribute to the bigger story. And that's why I love David McCullough. Nobody does narrative nonfiction better than he. 4/5 stars

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer: This was a re-read for me, as my f2f book club is planning to see the movie "Everest" (which is based on the book) that is coming out in September. Still an engrossing example of narrative nonfiction the second time around. 4/5 stars

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett: My aunt has been urging me to read this book for years now--it's a favorite of hers. It's a story of a group of terrorists who take a group of hostages in an unnamed South American country, and what happens over the next few months. I thought it was well written, but it wouldn't make my Top 10 list. To each his/her own! :) 3/5 stars

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion: Light, fun read narrated by a socially challenged genetics professor who undertakes a "scientific" quest to find out if he is capable of love. I enjoyed the voice of a narrator who quite obviously has Asperger's, although the novelty of it wore off by the end. 3/5 stars

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng: Sobering and sad story of a family and the secrets they keep from one another--and the devastation that results. 3/5 stars

The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny: #5 in the mystery series about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and the village of Three Pines. I've loved the first few books and it kills me to give this a low rating, but this outing just strained credibility and was more confusing and convoluted than it needed to be. 2/5 stars, but I will continue reading the series.

The Garden of Letters by Alyson Richman: I loved The Lost Wife and was eager to read another book by the same author. This one is set in WWII Italy. But it skewed much too heavily toward the romance genre, which I really don't like. 2/5 stars

Petra, my husband read & really liked Rutherford's Sarum: The Novel of England. I've long said i would like to read one of his books but the size is still daunting. I'm glad you shared your comments.

Amy, thank you for the info about McCullough's latest. I just presumed the Wright brothers would be a big thick book. Since it isn't, maybe i'll actually get around to reading it this year. I agreed with your assessment of Patchett's work. I liked Bel Canto but wouldn't put it anywhere near the top of favorites. Have you read anything else by her? Previous to BC i read her Patron Saint of Liars, which i liked.

deb

Amy wrote: "Bel Canto by Ann Patchett: My aunt has been urging me to read this book for years now--it's a favorite of hers. It's a story of a group of terrorists who take a group of hostages in an unnamed South American country, and what happens over the next few months. I thought it was well written, but it wouldn't make my Top 10 list. To each his/her own! :) 3/5 stars"

I enjoyed Bel Canto very much though it wasn't a standout for me either. I usually dread reading things that have been heavily promoted - the bar starts out high so even if it meets the expectations, it lowers the impact.

Not a standout reading month for me. On the plus side, I knocked off 2 more from my DL.

The One & Only 2/5
I like Giffin in general for a light, fun read. This one was similarly compulsively readable, but the plot made me a little uncomfortable.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home 3/5
A story about a girl coming of age in the 80s as her favorite uncle dies of AIDS. The book is well written, in the voice of a 14 year old girl, but one of the main drivers of the story is that no one seems willing to just talk to her, so she's left to find things out on her own. Basically, I wanted to strangle her parents by the end. Overall a worthwhile, if sad, read.

Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter 2.5/5
I find career-building books difficult to read. They're often presented in such a way as to make the good and bad overly obvious, and they're often drainingly repetitive. In this case, being a multiplier = good, being a diminisher = bad. There were a lot of high level examples of specific executives who display traits of a multiplier, but I felt that the impact of the book as a whole could have been strengthened by shortening the length.

Orpheus Emerged 2/5
I picked this one up at the Strand years ago and it made the move to CA with us. I'm not a Kerouac fan in particular, though I've read On the Road and Desolation Angels. This was one of his earlier writings published posthumously, and it's quite possible he turned over in his grave when it was done, as it's not up to par with his later work. It's a good educational read for Kerouac fans or fans of the history of Beat literature, but not so great as a standalone work.

madrano wrote: " I agreed with your assessment of Patchett's work. I liked Bel Canto but wouldn't put it anywhere near the top of favorites. Have you read anything else by her? Previous to BC i read her Patron Saint of Liars, which i liked...."

Looking back at my lists, I see that I've read State of Wonder and also gave it 3 stars. I don't really remember a lot about it, though. So I guess I can file Ann Patchett's works under the list of "things that are pleasant enough while I'm reading them but fade over time."

Amy wrote: "Thought I might finish one more before the weekend but I probably won't, so I'll list my May reads now.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: This is not a book tha..."

Great reviews, Amy !

I'm glad to see you enjoyed the Wright Brothers by David McCullough. I didn't know if the topic would grab me. Because it is under 300 pages, I'll give it a go.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett-- I just couldn't get into this book at all. I know I am in the minority on it.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. I enjoyed this one more than you did. I have the sequel on my TBR list.

Emma wrote: "Not a standout reading month for me. On the plus side, I knocked off 2 more from my DL."

Sorry this month wasn't a winner for you. However, great job on your DL !

MAY 2015 READS . . .




�� 1. Home by Marilynne Robinson-- 5 stars!
This story is about families -- their secrets, about those they love, and about life and death. I loved the characters of Glory Boughton (38 yrs. old), who has returned to Gilead to care for her dying father. And her brother, Jack (the prodigal son of the family) gone for 20 years, who came home, looking for refuge and trying to make peace with a sad past filled with trouble and pain. Well written, couldn't put it down. In 'Home' (Orange Prize), Rev. Boughton struggles to to save his wayward son, Jack, from drinking himself into the ground. Jack is one of my favorite characters. Read Gilead awhile back.

�� 2. Lila by Marilynne Robinson--5 stars!
Review: Marilynne Robinson's trilogy focuses on faith, spiritual redemption, and agape love. The first book, 'Gilead' (won Pulitzer Prize) where her characters anticipate the glory beyond, as well as know the valley of the shadow of death. 'Lila' (longlisted for the National Book Award) discusses faith with Rev. Ames, yet he endures years of loneliness. Lila, who has struggled throughout her life, following a mother figure, 'Doll.' Later, Rev. Ames, marries Lila, late in life, and gives him a son. Lila's childhood is dark- violence, hardships, lack of trust. Her only one item that stays with her is a large knife.

�� 3. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins-4 stars.
Review: YA book, I'm not big into sic-fi, but I did read Hunger Games. Unrest in the Districts is growing at an alarming pace and Katniss unwittingly finds herself the figurehead for the movement against the Capitol; unique and engrossing storyline; real characters; it's focus on humanity, action, romance, hope, and despair.

�� 4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs -- 5 stars!
Review: I wasn't sure that I would like this book, but in the end, I really enjoyed it. Great characters, crazy situations, and strange photography images in black and white. Sixteen year old Jacob, has just lost his beloved grandfather (he died); and Jacob begins his journey in trying to find his grandfather's past life. He meets the people (well, creatures) who inhabited a part of his grandfather's life he never knew about. Overall I really liked the characters, and especially the author's comment at the end of the book. I look forward to Hollow City.

�� 5. In the Woods by Tana French -- 2 stars.
Review: Set in Dublin 1984, three children vanish in the woods. Rob Ryan raps his body around the tree trunk for fear of what happened. Twenty plus years, the detective on the Dublin Murder Squad keeps his past a secret when a 12 year old girl is killed in the same area of the woods. Detective Cassie Maddox reopens the case; determined to investigate the case once again. I was disappointed, not what I thought it would be..

�� 6. The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates-(155 pp.)--5 stars!
Review: JCO opens her writing life and so much more . . . there is so much information that this book will be on my desk for a long, long time. Excellent read!

�� 7. A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot -- 4 stars.
Review: The true story of an Irish Missionary/ writer Amy Carmichael (1867 -- 1951), who spent 53 years in south India without any furloughs. "Reach out to others. We are made for relationships." "For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." Psalm 57:10. Christian Literature.

�� 8. My Father and Myself by J.R. Ackerley -- 4 stars.
Review: Excellent memoir. British writer/editor, Joe Randolph "J. R." Ackerley (11/1896--6/1967) promoted to literary editor of 'The Listener' weekly magazine. I found the beginning strange because his parents, in younger days, hadn't been married, (WHY?) only when J.R. was thirteen years old. We learn about JR and his secretive, gay relationships.

�� 9. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough --5 stars!
Review: First, I'm a 'David McCullough" fan (I own almost all his books.) I am enjoying this real life story in Ohio during 1871. I can't imagine how challenging it was for both Wilbur and Orville; yet they persevered; putting all their effort into achieving their goal. I can't imagine what they felt when flying. I like that they were everyday type parents who encouraged their boys to achieve (and read BOOKS) while being everyday young men. audio:

�� 10. Dear Abigail: The Intimate Lives and Revolutionary Ideas of Abigail Adams and Her Two Remarkable Sisters by Diane Jacobs -- 5 stars!
Review: While I own a lot of books on Abigail (Holton's Abigail Adams, Ellis' First Family, Massachusetts Historical Society 'Selected Letters of the Adams Family, Edith B. Gelles' PORTIA, etc.) I find this book of letters very private, as well as very intimate. I also find the amount of information is overwhelming at times.

�� 11. An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor -- 5 stars!
Review: This is the fifth fictional story by Patrick Taylor. I am hooked on the characters, both the ups and downs, and I'm completely delighted that we now see the engagement of Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly and Miss Kitty O'Halloran.

�� 12. The Tattooed Girl by Joyce Carol Oates --5 stars!
Review: Really enjoyed this book. The Tattooed Girl, Alma Busch, is 27 yrs old, born in Akron, PA. Her tattoos are a mystery to her as to others. In her short life, Alma has suffered terrible abuse, she is mostly definitely damaged goods. Starving, she eats food off a tables, and Dmitri Meatte (waiter) takes her home, cleans her up, has sex with her & her sadistic pimp, who beats her viciously. Yet she is in love with him?! Joshua Seigl, 38-year-old academic, author of million-selling Holocaust novel The Shadows. Unmarried, solitary, approaching middle age, Seigl has decided that the time has come for him to take on an assistant, Alma. Sadly he comes down with a degenerative nerve disease. It progresses, and he becomes more dependent on Alma, who hates him for being a jew. In the end, Joshua and Alma are together; Alma learns more about Seigl and his heritage, and she can no longer ignore the dignity and respect with which he treats her. In the writing, many references to Dante's inferno, hell of concentration camps in The Shadows.

�� 13. Vintage Munro by Alice Munro -- 5 stars!
Review: Such a gifted writer, love her writing. This book is a collection of six Alice Munroe short stories, put together in honour of Munroe's winning of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature.

�� 14. When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro -- 4 stars.
Review: Christopher Banks, an English boy born in early-20th-century Shanghai, is orphaned at age nine when both his mother and father disappear under suspicious circumstances. He grows up to become a renowned detective, and more than 20 years later, returns to Shanghai to solve the mystery of the disappearances.

�� 15. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller -- 5 stars!
Review: It is truly a wonderful love story between photographer, Robert Kincaid, and a farm housewife, Francesca Johnson. I'm sure that most people have either read the book or watched the film. I like to read it every year.

It is interesting how we make certain assumptions. I also thought that if it was a David McCullough book that it must be huge and right now as I go through a slow year in reading and as I have a host of big fat books on my shelf I was passing on it. Now, thank you for pointing out that it is not a BFB after all.

I am also in the group that found Bel Canto underwhelming. I started it a couple of times and I am pretty sure that it still lives in my house. Maybe I'll give it another go.

Carol wrote: "MAY 2015 READS . . .

13. Vintage Munro by Alice Munro -- 5 stars!."

As always, Well Done, Carol !

Thanks for reminding me to move Alice Munro up my TBR list.

I enjoy Alice Munro's writing very much but wonder why i haven't read a story by her in a decade or so. Too much out there, i guess. Good reminder, Carol.

I'm hoping to finish one more book by the end of the month, so will wait to see how that goes before posting. As always, i appreciate the time spent sharing titles & thoughts on those books. Thank you.

I finished 6 books this month.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg was full of fascinating stories, as well as an instructive chart on habits. Part one is that we have a cue, make a routine and end with a reward. If we can figure out the cue to a habit, come up with a new routine, the reward will be as satisfying but the habit will be replaced. Not sure i'm saying that well. The stories from industry and private lives were worth the book, whether one has a habit(s) they want to change or not.

Triptych by Karin Slaughter. The first in a series of mysteries set in Atlanta about a dyslexic detective with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. I liked the way Slaughter played with the characters and our view of them but i don't think i'll be reading another in the series.

Shop Till You Drop by Elaine Viets. The first in the "Dead End Job" series. Helen skipped out of St. Louis because a judge ordered her to pay alimony to her cheating, unemployed husband. As a result Helen only gets jobs where she’s paid in cash with no records. This go 'round her boss at a high end boutique is killed & Helen researches it. Another series i will not continue reading. Nothing wrong with it, i just didn't care.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter. The first in a series of YA novels about a high school for young teens who are being trained to be spies. It was fun & interesting, including a romance where the main character, Cammie Morgan, tries to figure out what "normal" girls do. Of the series i've read, this was the best but i'm still not reading another.

Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper. I was distracted by the fact all the human title characters & author's names all had double letters. James was a coyote. Set in Canada, Etta left a note declaring her intention to walk to the ocean, which she had never seen, leaving husband Otto alone. As she has memory problems, this is an issue. Russell is a neighbor who tries to track her down because he likes tracking things, although he never really left home. It was a pleasant book of lives being swapped and love.

ALL the above books were recommended by other Book Nook Cafe members. Because most of the titles are from years & years ago, others might not recall. Still, it was nice to share the path with others here. I cannot say the same for this last one, also suggested by a long-lost group member.

Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History by Ben Mezrich. I don't know who bothered me more, the self-serving thief who stole some moon rocks, accessible to him because he was a physicist sort of trainee as NASA, or the author whose writing was truly awful. Every female was beautiful, smart and filled a bikini well. There was an admission two of them were bright (as they, too, were attached to NASA) but their characters & his depiction of them were one dimensional.

My biggest dismay is that the author didn't even manage to tell the story of anyone other than his subject, Thad. Notebooks from Everett Gibson, a scientist who studied moon rocks for over 30 years were also stolen in the same safe. The plan had been to return all material not moon rocks but, in fact, the author doesn't even tell us if they did that. The judge in Thad's case gave him 7 years, mostly due to the loss of those notebooks.

I'm still livid about this book, so if the above doesn't make sense, please forgive me. It started out well & i was learning much about NASA & some of their equipment & experiments. Bummer!

Hi Madrano! I really liked reading The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, it helped me to change my bad habits, into good ones -- like my diet.

Always happy to see what others have read!

May was a little underwhelming for me - only two books:

A Farewell To Arms - 3.5/5 stars
This was an uneven story to me - a young soldier (ambulance driver) falls in love with a nurse during war. I really enjoyed the first and last parts, but the middle seemed to drag for me. Overall, there were so many great places to go with this story and it just didn't get there for me.

To the Lighthouse - 4.5/5 stars
Lovely writing and interesting characters made this one for me. It does what I love for classics to do - tells a story on multiple levels. Really enjoyed this story of the Ramsey family and their collection of friends.

More comments for both books are in my Determination List thread.

madrano wrote: "I finished 6 books this month.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg was full of fascinating stories, as well as an instr..."

I thought this book was terrific. I listened to it on audio.

I enjoyed reading your reviews, deb. :)

Susan from MD wrote: "Always happy to see what others have read!

May was a little underwhelming for me - only two books:

A Farewell To Arms - 3.5/5 stars
This was an uneven story to me - a young soldier..."

Two classics. I enjoyed AFTA and I have Lighthouse on my TBR list.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on both.

My May Reads


Big Little Lies--Liane Moriarty
Fiction
Rate: 5/5
I loved this book ! Nice plot twists that kept me interested.

Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace--Anne Lamott
Non fiction
Rate: 5/5
I enjoyed reading these essays. Some may have appeared in other books. If this wasn't a library book, I think I would have underlined more than a dozen passages.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing--Marie Kondo
non Fiction
Rate: 2/5
I think there are a few good tips here. Like how to fold your clothes in a draw. This video isn't the author but this is the way she recommends you do it. I changed over to this method about a year ago and do think it is terrific.


As for some of the authors other tips...sorry, but this lady has a bad case of OCD. I mean that seriously. When things are not to her standard it makes her physically ill.

The book is a NY Times bestseller. So I am in the minority with my rating.

What Alice Forgot--Liane Moriarty
Fiction
Rating: DNF
I was so disappointed in this book. I think I read about 100 pages. I really didn't care about the characters enough to keep on reading. I also found it too repetitive.

The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People--Dan Buettner
non fiction
Rate 4/5
Terrific book on what common foods & lifestyles have produced people who live over 100 years and do so with vitality. I had read the authors other book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest and found this new book to cover basically the same info. So I took one star off. I would read The Blue Zones if you haven't read either one.

Alias, the GR reviews for the Moriarty novel are quite mixed. It sounds as though you are the side of the majority, though.

I'm amused that the Kondo book is on the NYT bestseller list, given this group's comments on it. I wonder if some people buy it just to say, "At least i'm not that bad!" LOL!

Glad you shared your titles.

I really liked "What Alice Forgot." Gave it 4 stars.

May was a good month for reading -- maybe I'm through the slump of bad books.

The Hermit and the Wild Woman by Edith Wharton. I find it surprising that Edith Wharton can write short stories as well as she writes novels: few authors can master both forms. Each tale has some social commentary, and a few have moral lessons. Four stars, nudgiung towards five.

The Body Artist by Don DeLillo. I gave this four stars upon finishing, but now I remember very little about it. Maybe I should downgrade that to three. It's the story of a woman who loses her husband, and how she copes with the loss. Well-written, but seems to leave no lasting impression.

The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West. A social and cultural critique of Hollywood in the thirties. Could just as easily have been written today. A solid five stars.

Amateurs by Donald Barthelme. Fantastic book of short stories which is deservedly held up as a model of the form. OK, the first one stinks, and the rest are written in the manner of a disjointed inner monologue, but as a collection they are surprisingly effective. Four stars.

The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati. An inter-war (1920s) novel in which an officer is stationed at a border post. Long years of expectation and hope that hostilities will be renewed. Paints a very good portrait of the state of mind in Europe between the two world wars. Five stars. Read this one for the Brain-Pain reading group.

Kingdom Come by J. G. Ballard. I've been wanting to read Ballard's last (2006) novel since it came out, and finally got a copy. As usual, Ballard takes what he sees around him (in this case, soccer hooligans and consumerism), and delivers a vision of contemporary society run slightly amok. Four stars at least.

Susan from MD wrote: "To the Lighthouse - 4.5/5 stars
Lovely writing and interesting characters made this one for me. It does what I love for classics to do - tells a story on multiple levels. Really enjoyed this story of the Ramsey family and their collection of friends. "

I recall hating this when it was assigned reading in a literature class, back when I was 20 or younger. I really should give it another go; I was rather impatient back then.

Mkfs wrote: "May was a good month for reading -- maybe I'm through the slump of bad books."

:) It's a terrific feeling when you climb out of your reading slump


The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West. I own this but haven't read it.


The Body Artist by Don DeLillo. I think I read this one but can't recall the plot at all. :(

Mkfs, that Wharton sounds good. Glad you are out of your slump. I keep saying i want to read the West novel but when i have the opportunity, i don't. Hmm.

4 stars-covers the 82 days that Robert F Kennedy campaigned for President. Wonderful coverage of a snippet in time and gave a great insight to the kind of person he was.


4 stars-excellent book covering a segment of Afghan society that I was unaware of-girls dressed up as boys. Was for my F2F book club and we all loved the book.


3 stars-listened to it via audio and it was ok. Not MHC's best for me.


5 stars-loved this children's/ya book about a classroom full of kids and the relationship between them and their favorite teacher. I was introduced to this book to remind each of us to remember the teacher that changed our lives. LOVED!


5 stars-sisters who found a way to stay within the Taliban's rules and create a business within their home.


4 stars-read this after I read about it on one of the boards here on Book Nook Cafe in May. Loved that someone posted the article of the girl who was giving out books since it was banned. I decided to use it as my Postal Book Club book. I got tired of his slang "res" all the time but I did love who the community came together to help him better himself.


3 stars-this was one of those light, I barely need to think type of books. I enjoyed reading up on things I didn't know about the airlines.


2 stars-this would be a great blog as it is but the book just got to be too much. "this is awesome!" " this is awesome!" Enough!


3 stars-I read this quickly and really enjoyed it. I look at my rating as 3 stars and it's funny because my memory says it was 4 but I'm wondering why?I want to read another book by the author who was new to me. I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who wants a cute Christmas read.

Gjscollins wrote: "
4 stars-covers the 82 days that Robert F Kennedy campaigned for President. Wonderful coverage of a snipp..."

I read and enjoyed this one, too.

That was a lovely idea to make the Alexie your postal book. Did you include the article about the girl and the banned book ?

Congrats on a very nice reading month!

Alias Reader wrote: "Gjscollins wrote: "
4 stars-covers the 82 days that Robert F Kennedy campaigned for President. Wonderful ..."

I did add the article! :)

I am an American History person so I've read a lot about Robert Kennedy but I have never read this particular book. And as I have actually managed and worked on campaigns, clearly I need to read this. Thanks for posting about it.

For whatever reason, when somebody posts a link to the book cover, it doesn't show up on my phone app. All I see is the text describing the books--which sound good, but I don't know what the titles are! Can everyone include a link to the title as well as the cover?

Amy wrote: "For whatever reason, when somebody posts a link to the book cover, it doesn't show up on my phone app. All I see is the text describing the books--which sound good, but I don't know what the titles..."

I've heard that complaint about phone apps and GR. Thanks for the reminder !

I do try to post the cover and the link to the title.

FYI the last book post #32 was referring to:

The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America by Thurston Clarke

I read and I am still working on Written in my Own Hearts Blood.

Sandra J. wrote: "I read and I am still working on Written in my Own Hearts Blood."

Thanks for sharing, Sandra ! Did you enjoy it?

Gjscollins wrote: "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
4 stars-read this after I read about it on one of the boards here on Book Nook Cafe in May. Loved that someone posted the article of the girl who was giving out books since it was banned. I decided to use it as my Postal Book Club book. I got tired of his slang "res" all the time but I did love who the community came together to help him better himself. ..."

I'm not sure how i feel about the use of the word "res" but it is used regularly within tribes. My husband used it often when he was required by his job (Indian Health Service) to go to a reservation. I am not even fond of the word "reservation", to be honest, but it describes the community for better or worse. And it's an excellent reminder that they were the result of forcibly moving tribal members away from their native grounds. The meaning is different today and the areas are governed by the tribes. (More than in name only, as was once the case.)

I've not read but have on my TBR the book Rez Life: An Indian's Journey Through Reservation Life by David Treuer. It's a different spelling of the abbreviation, which i find interesting. If there is a "correct" spelling, i don't know it.

ANYway, i have an article about Sherman Alexie, from The Atlantic magazine. I'm sharing it here because SA puts reservation and suburbs in a similar light. Interesting, imo.



deborah