Book Nook Cafe discussion

Share with us what you read in February 2017 !


Please provide:

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

February was a very good reading month for me. I enjoyed every one of the books I read.

Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies--Ross King
Nonfiction
Rate: 4/5
I really enjoyed this bio on Monet's later years The author links Monet as he creates his masterpieces and the unfolding of WWI. I will be reading more by this author.

No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon--Buzz Aldrin
Nonfiction
Rate 5/5
Well done memoir by the second man to walk on the moon. Each chapter gives a life lesson that he ties in with his own life.

Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story--Lang Lang
Nonfiction
Audio book - Narrator Feodor Chin
Rate: 4/5
Fascinating autobiography of the world-renowned classical pianist Lang Lang. The book details the sacrifice and daily hours of practice demanded by his father. For his father only being number one will suffice. Even killing oneself is preferable to the disgrace of being number two. It almost reminded me of the autobiography by the world champion tennis player Open by Andre Agassi Another excellent book that I highly recommend.

Summer and Smoke---Tennessee Williams
Fiction
Play
Rate: 3+/5
Interesting play where one can almost see the characters that later formed A Street Car Named Desire

The Pearl--John Steinbeck
Fiction
Rate: 4/5
Well done novella by Steinbeck. I read this for my library group and also here with the BNC group.

The Price---Arthur Miller
Fiction
Play
rate 4/5
I am going to see a Broadway production of this play in April. It stars Mark Ruffalo, Danny DeVito, Jessica Hecht & Tony Shalhoub. The play is a very poignant look at the choices we make in life and the consequence.

Here is my February reading summary:

by Giles Kristian
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: B
Review: An action-packed historical novel of the Early Middle Ages Norsemen. For the most part the book dragged a bit, and that is why, up until the last 40 pages, I wanted to give it a C+, but the last pages were much more interesting, so I decided on a B. The religion was a very important part of the story, and it was interesting to read how men justified murder (and still do, unfortunately) with faith in their respective god(s).

by Georgette Heyer
Genre: Regency romance
Rating: B+
Review: This is re-read as part of a group read. I find the book equally as funny and equally as exasperating as last time, though this time I have less patience for Miss Farlow. The ending was abrupt, and all of this is reason for lowering the grade.
A lot of things in the book remind me of Jane Austen, and I wonder if she had any influence of Heyer.

by Georgette Heyer
Genre: Regency romance
Rating: A-
Review: I find Heyer's books very interesting and funny. I've read only 3 books so far, but this one was my favorite. There are quite a few similarities with Lady of Quality, but this one was much better. I also like that the characters are a bit older, 28+, and not in their teens or early 20's. I find I can't connect with that age group anymore. I wonder why!! :D :D

by W. Bernard Carlson (no photo)
Genre: Biography
Rating: B
Review: I wrote the review for this on in my Determination list thread. Loved the parts about Tesla's life and thought process, but the technical parts were a bit too much for me.

by Vladimir Nabokov
Genre: Fiction
Rating: F
Review: I do not think I've ever given an F to a book. Never again! Ugh!

by J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: A++++++++ :D
Review: Pure love! :)

Nice month, Samanta.

Alias, The Pearl was the first Steinbeck book I ever read. We were assigned it in high school.. I can't remember what I thought of it and want to reread it one day. Steinbeck's works are wonderful.

Mad Enchantment sounds interesting. I will look that one up.

Samanta, I'm not a fan of Lolita either but didn't give it an F. LOL!

I had a mixed bag of a month for reading:

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi - this was a very personal journey. It isn't fair to rate something this personal and individual. Paul had some interesting things to say about morality, mortality, meaning and purpose. (4 star)

Early One Morning by Virginia Baily - the synopsis of this book sounded really good but that turned out to be the history of the main character and what formed her for the story told in the book and that story has been told many a time (an end-of-life coming of age & acceptance). (1 star)

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë - wonderful! Deliciously twisted story showing how an isolated, contained world can twist and warp a person. (4 star)

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate - I've taken quite a liking to books told in verse. This YA story of emigration and acceptance is really well told. (5 star)

Two-Gun & Sun by June Hutton - very uneven story. Sometimes it was entertaining, sometimes slow, sometimes calm, sometimes wild. In the end, I didn't find that it pieced together well. (2 star)

All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews - I'm a big fan of Miriam's writing and each book I read makes me more of a fan. This is her best so far, I found. Very autobiographical and touching. (5 star)

Sizzling Sixteen & Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich - these are fun audios to listen to during the commutes. These were fun stories. Nothing new in the world of Stephanie Plum but fun anyhow. (2 star.....I always give Stephanie Plum 2 star; they may be fun stories but they are really cheesy....therefore, they are just "okay")

Almost Forever by Maria Testa - another YA, told-in-verse story. About a six-year old girl's thoughts when her father is sent to the Vietnam war for a year. (3 star)

But You Did Not Come Back by Marceline Loridan-Ivens - a Holocaust story with an interesting perspective: after returning from a camp. In this story, the family was split up at the time of arrest. The father and daughter were captured & sent to the camps; the father never returned. The rest of the family were either hidden for the duration of the war or fought in the French Resistance. This is her look back at her father's absence in her & her family's life and how the camps changed her. (5 star)

Marking Time by Elizabeth Jane Howard - the second of the Cazalet Family Chronicles. I really enjoyed this continuation of the family's story. It's more focused than the first book where everyone's story was told (probably as an introduction to everyone). This book focused mainly on the three teenage girls. This is a nice family saga and I look forward to the rest of the series. (4 star)

Petra wrote: "Alias, The Pearl was the first Steinbeck book I ever read. We were assigned it in high school.. I can't remember what I thought of it and want to reread it one day. Steinbeck's works are wonderful...."

I felt queasy the whole time. :(

Samanta wrote: "I felt queasy the whole time. :( ..."

Huh.....I have no recollection of the story, so this is an interesting reaction.

Petra wrote: "Samanta wrote: "I felt queasy the whole time. :( ..."

Huh.....I have no recollection of the story, so this is an interesting reaction."

You are not the first one to say that. Funny how people react differently to the same thing.

I can't really say whether I reacted differently. I truly don't remember the story. It's just that few stories leave one feeling queasy.

Nice eclectic mix Petra :)

Petra wrote: "I had a mixed bag of a month for reading:

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi - this was a very personal journey. It isn't fair to rate something this perso..."

Great mix Petra! I've stolen a couple of titles of you.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is one of my favorite books, I read it and reread a few times, nice to see you enjoyed it too :)!

Wuthering Heights will be a definite reread in the future, Francesca. It was wonderful. (I'm not sure why Heathcliff is considered a "catch", though :D)

Thanks, Barbara!

Petra wrote: "Wuthering Heights will be a definite reread in the future, Francesca. It was wonderful. (I'm not sure why Heathcliff is considered a "catch", though :D)

Thanks, Barbara!"

I know what you mean about Heathcliff Petra :D! Yet a friend of mine is still convinced all her misfortune with men are because of the influences of this book...so I guess she definitely found him a 'catch' ;)

Francesca, what a funny friend you have. I wouldn't have thought to relate my life to some book i read in my youth, although, to be fair i only read about ghosts and ESP when i was younger, so that would be a weird influence.

My reading history of the Bronte classic is mixed. Originally, i thought it was wonderful & wild and so contemporary. When i reread it in my 30s i still thought it was powerful. By my 50s, i was appalled by almost ALL the characters. What the???? I guess that makes it a book for the ages, eh?

Alias, you had a good reading month. I'm glad you liked the Ross King book. As i mentioned last month, i like the books i've read by him. We own another which i haven't gotten around to reading yet, Michelangelo & the Pope's Ceiling. Someday.

Samanta, the Raven series sounds good, particularly as the religion aspect is one of interest to me. Also a new-to-me author is Heyer. The series sounds like one i would enjoy, too.

Petra wrote: "Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate - I've taken quite a liking to books told in verse...."

I see you mentioned another in-verse YA book from the February list. Do you know of many others? I think you were the one who mentioned earlier the one i read about the dust bowl, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. I like the idea of these and thank you for the two titles you shared here.

The Holocaust story sounds particularly good. I cannot say that i remember reading a story along that line but i may have just forgotten. I'm glad you shared.

Indeed, thanks to all who shared in this thread. It's always my favorite! My next post will have my list.

madrano wrote: "Samanta, the Raven series sounds good, particularly as the religion aspect is one of interest to me. Also a new-to-me author is Heyer. The series sounds like one i would enjoy, too."

I discovered Blood eye by accident. I haven't yet started the next book, but I plan to eventually. Heyer is a great author. Her Regency Romances are very funny and clean, perfect for those who do not like smut (as Teri calls it :D), but enjoy a good Romance novel.

I'm not sure why my list is so short, given half are fiction. Too much internet time, i suspect.

Long Upon the Land by Margaret Maron continues the story of Judge Deborah Knott, mentioned last month. I like the series and the setting in North Carolina. Oddly, Maron's other series was set in NYC and was a police procedural, for the most part. https://www.goodreads.com/series/5835... links to the series titles but it began with One Coffee With.

The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality by Chris C. Mooney was informative, if not overload. He stated that he titled the book to gather attention (more or less) and that he could just as easily titled it The Democratic Brain. It explores why one side rejects facts, especially once their minds are made up; it also explains the preponderance of liberals in the sciences.

Arson! by Cap Iverson is about a gunslinger in the old West. The main character, Dakota Taylor is gay but sexuality is mentioned about the way it would be were he not. The story was interesting but not great. I doubt i'll read the other two in the series, although they are so hard to find, i probably would just in celebration. :-) The story is set in the desert and much is made of the cattle vs. sheep raising differences. It is pretty light-hearted, given the tragic beginning.

My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir. What an effusive account of nature. Most of the time i was charmed but some times it just felt like overkill. Shame on me, right?! Overall, i liked it because he looks at nature the way i sometimes do but with better skills and knowledge. I liked that he referred to insects and sometimes even plants as "people". And what descriptions!

madrano wrote: "I see you mentioned another in-verse YA book from the February list. Do you know of many others? I think you were the one who mentioned earlier the one i read about the dust bowl, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. I like the idea of these and thank you for the two titles you shared here...."

No, that wasn't me, Madrano. But I will put that book on my list.
I have a "told in verse" shelf, if you're interested in having a peek. I add to it as I find books of interest.

By my 50s, i was appalled by almost ALL the characters. What the???? I guess that makes it a book for the ages, eh?

Re Wuthering Heights: I am in my 50s, so these characters came across as delightfully twisted. :D

madrano wrote: "My reading history of the Bronte classic is mixed. Originally, i thought it was wonderful & wild and so contemporary. When i reread it in my 30s i still thought it was powerful. By my 50s, i was appalled by almost ALL the characters. What the???? I guess that makes it a book for the ages, eh?
..."

Ahh Hah! That's the reason I could hardly stand Heights! I didn't read it until I was in my early 60's. :) I hated disliked each and every one of the characters.
Otoh, I've read that if one really loves Jane Eyre, one will dislike Wuthering Heights. Pick a reason!

Samanta.....wow! Lolita and Nabokov are my all time favorites. Sorry you had such a bad experience! I've only read about half of his books, and I keep meaning to get back and finish them off.

madrano, love the idea of something explaining the Republican Brain. /giggle/

Ok, now for the February reads. It was a productive, if sometime so-so month.

The Night Manager by John le Carré 5/5

The story begins with a man, a very precise man, acting as a Night Manager of a hotel. But he is much more than that, he has a bit of a checkered past with the Army and has certain loyalties and qualities that serve him well in the book. There is a woman, of course, there always is. Her fate hurtles him into a hunt for justice that takes him to and beyond his physical, emotional and psychological bounds.

The story takes the reader from Egypt, to Switzerland to the deepest jungles of a certain South American land. Stopping on the way in England and Ireland for a legend (cover story created for a spy).

The recent film series made of it followed the book quite closely in most respects. The book contains more in depth characterization, more detail of course. Although I have to say the actors managed to project the same vibes as the book. The ending is quite different though. The film version is more.....action packed. Both equally satisfying in their own way.

Still, when all is said and done, I'll always love the Smiley books more than any other LeCarre's. Just because. :)

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

I didn't finish this book. It is beautifully written, but unremittingly depressing. One horror after the other, from citizens dragged from their homes in the night to graphic descriptions of limb amputations. I know these things happened, do happen, and will happen. I just don't want to read about it.

It's gotten good reviews, so it's some quirk of mine it seems.

I read 36% of it, that's more than enough of a chance, imo.

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood 3/5

Dystopian, New Age(y) in a peculiar way. For the most part it follows a couple that has been living out of their car and are given the chance to live in a prison....in this time frame the prisons are not as now. They seem to be a place that one goes voluntarily and there are all sorts of nefarious plots and sub-plots going on.

It was originally put out on kindle as 4 novellas/long short stories, and when the 5th came out they published a hardback.

I have to rate it 3/5, perhaps not entirely fair as I read the first 4 parts (of 5) quite a while back and only got around to reading the last part in hardback a week or so ago.

I just couldn't get into the last part and found myself skimming, hoping to hurry up the process. In fairness I should go back and reread the thing in it's entirety. Ain't gonna happen.

The Perseid Collapse and Event Horizon by Steven Konkoly 3ish/5

The first two of a trilogy, they cover the first 70-odd hours after an event that is still uncertain. Both the characters and the reader are not sure exactly what the heck happened. It is certain that there was an *EMP event, but there seems to be more than that happening. In any case, a tidal wave is involved along with all electronics being ruined, and no electricity. No one seems to be in charge and all the crazies have come out to play.

The focus family has just dropped their oldest, a son, at college in Boston so the Father is working to retrieve the young man. The entire book(s) are one big struggle to survive. There is a military aspect, and the acronyms are dropped throughout, making it somewhat cumbersome, imo. The action is detailed and can be gruesome.

Not sure if I will follow up on the third book, it's on my kindle though so I expect I will sooner or later.

*EMP-https://en.wikipedia...omagnetic_pulse electromagnetic pulse

The Edge by Dick Francis still a 5/5 :)

Another British horse racing entry by the loveable Dick Francis. He has the most honorable heros, and miserable and dishonorable villains. Everything comes out in the wash in the end, for the betterment of all. This is one of his best, imo.

Hawaii by James A. Michener 5/5 again!

From the very creation of the islands, to the histories of her peoples ending just prior to Statehood, Michener weaves a magical blend of the personalities that shaped the islands. Panoramic, generational and gorgeously written, this tale of Hawaii is never mundane, never boring.

I believe that Michener makes a good case that all nationalities, races and creeds to be both alike, and compatible. I know some politicians that could take some lessons from it.

Watchman by Ian Rankin 4/5

A different sort of spy story, Miles Flint is a watcher of spies. Its hard to tell anything much about this as almost anything could be a spoiler, but suffice it to say there are slippery characters, murders, and traitors. Interestingly done, a nicely paced story.

Assignment Amazon Queen by Edward S. Aarons 3/5 (for old times sake)

Somewhat dated, but interesting spy thriller with the usual madman trying to, in this case, sterilize the Earth. Sam Durrell, our hero/spy eventually trekking up the Amazon River in an old riverboat Captained by an ornery sod known/hated to/by Durrell's grandfather.
I read it decades ago, many of that Assignment series actually. It was good back then and nostalgically interesting now.

Cateline wrote: "madrano wrote: "My reading history of the Bronte classic is mixed. Originally, i thought it was wonderful & wild and so contemporary. When i reread it in my 30s i still thought it was powerful. By ..."

Cateline, I think what you read 'if one really loves Jane Eyre, one will dislike Withering Heights’ it’s actually true. I hated Jane Eyre, even if I recognize the potential of the book, I think I still gave it an high rating, but loved the other. I was always on Bertha’s side and enjoyed reading Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys for this reason!!!!!

Also I read last time Withering Heights when I was still in my 20s...maybe I should give it a go now that I crossed the 30s line and see if I still feel the same about it...you made me curious ladies:)!

Cateline wrote: "Otoh, I've read that if one really loves Jane Eyre, one will dislike Wuthering Heights. Pick a reason! ..."

Interesting. I loved Jane Eyre and was totally entertained with Wuthering Heights.

I liked Heights because of the twisted characters. It was their twisted thinking and actions that made this story fun to read. It's such a microcosm of what happens if/when a group is totally isolated from the world, other people and other thoughts. They just spin around in smaller and smaller circles until the world of Wuthering Heights happens.

Cateline, I've read so many of Michener's books (way back in the day). Hawaii was one of my favorites. Glad to see that he's still being enjoyed.

Petra wrote:Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate - I've taken quite a liking to books told in verse. This YA story of emigration and acceptance is really well told. (5 star)

Interesting.

I see GoodReads has a list of such books.

YA Novels in Verse
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Petra wrote: "Cateline, I've read so many of Michener's books (way back in the day). Hawaii was one of my favorites. Glad to see that he's still being enjoyed."

This was a......second, maybe third rereading for me. But it had been a looooong time. The first time was soon after the film came out.

Thanks, Alias! The YA books in verse are interesting, once in awhile. I prefer the adult told-in-verse books (which are rare, I find). Beyond the old timers (Iliad, Odyssey, Dante's Divine Comedy, etc), they are hard to find.

Wow ! Thanks for sharing everyone. I enjoyed reading the comments very much.

The only Michener I've read was one of his lesser known titles: The Covenant (about the Boers in South Africa). I read the Judge Knott series for a while, but eventually lost interest.

February was a slow month for me, so only two books that stood out:

The Hummingbird - first in a mystery series (police procedural style) set in Finland. The detective, Anna, immigrated there as a child from the Balkans, so we see the country from both an insider and outsider point-of-view.

Medicus - another series first, this time a doctor in Roman Britain. Tried the Marcus Didius Falco series for ancient Rome, but couldn't get into it. The protagonist here, Dr. Ruso, is very likeable and the author does a terrific job of showing the day-to-day life as being not all that "remote" with people being people just the same. Only aspect I didn't care for was the slavery thing, which is necessary for the plot.

Cateline wrote: "Ahh Hah! That's the reason I could hardly stand Heights! I didn't read it until I was in my early 60's. :) I hated disliked each and every one of the characters.
Otoh, I've read that if one really loves Jane Eyre, one will dislike Wuthering Heights. Pick a reason! ..."

Interesting ideas about the Bronte books. Cateline, i wondered how i would feel about WH if i first read it when i was older, now i feel i know--i wouldn't like it. While i like filmed versions of the book, the reason is more because the atmosphere is well presented.

My subsequent readings of Jane Eyre didn't diminish the book much for me. I found it interesting the parts of the story i'd forgotten, which in later readings better marked her character. Overall, though, i agree with Francesca--Jean Rhys presented the book best. LOL! Such a contrast and deeper sense of loss.

John, both series sound interesting. I'm curious, will you be reading further in either series? Many's the time i've stopped at the first mystery in a series because they just don't work for me, due to writing or characters. I can see why one would get tired of the Judge Knott books. One reason they still call to me is due to the colloquial terms used. They remind me of several of my deceased relatives.

Thank you for the list of YA books in verse. I had no idea there would be so many. Like you, Petra, the "old timers" verse can be a pleasure. Of course i'm a sucker for myths, so that explains a big chunk of that fascination. I was surprised at the number of books in verse you listed, Petra. I didn't realize some were in verse.

Cateline, seeing a Dick Francis mystery on your list is amusing because i was just thinking of him when i posted about Willie Shoemaker on the obituary thread. I've not read any books by WS but am wondering how they compared to DF's books.

Yes to both series.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
I really enjoyed this book. Some things were predictable, I could piece things together a bit before the main character could. It felt a little average story-wise, though I did enjoy the ending a lot.
4 out of 5 stars

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
Super cute and funny adult contemporary. I relate to the main character so much and I love the humor and her struggles, how they're so real. Would read again for sure.
5 out of 5 stars

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
I had read this book once before, either right before or right after the movie came out. This time I reread it, as I want to read through both The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series. Because I had read it before, this made it harder to read. I remember why it took me so long to read it in the first place. A bit hard to digest but a great story overall. A bit wordy as well.
4 out of 5 stars

Angelfall by Susan Ee
I love love LOVE this book so much! An amazing story about an angel apocalypse. Not exactly dystopian as there's no real government controlling anything, but it gets very creepy and there's some great wit. I would definitely read this again.
5 out of 5 stars

World After by Susan Ee
This is the sequel to Angelfall. I loved it so much, a little better than the first one. Things get even creepier and more intense! I love this series so much, can't wait to finish it.
5 out of 5 stars

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
This is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I really loved this book! A little bit predictable, as it's aimed more around kids/preteens, but I enjoyed it so much that I don't care if it's predictable.
5 out of 5 stars

Jaci wrote: Sophie Kinsella..."

Thanks for sharing, Jaci !

I see Kinsella's name all the time but I've never read one of her books. I'll have to check them out. I think her books might be a good change of pace between heavier nonfiction books.

madrano wrote:

Long Upon the Land by Margaret Maron continues the story of Judge De..."

I've read a few books in this series and liked them. I should get back to it.

The Cleft by Doris Lessing
This book was so hard for me to get through. I felt like this book could have been much shorter as the author keep repeating the same thing over and over. I am afraid that most of the message was lost to me as I was muddling through the repetitive and somewhat childlike writing.
2 out of 5 stars

What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross
I was very emotional over this book. This is about a baby that is stolen out of shopping cart. It breaks into three main voices following the kidnapper, the child and the birth mother. I would suggest not reading this if you just had a baby (which I did) as it will leave you a simpering mess. However still loved it!
4 out of 5 stars

Morning Star By Pierce Brown
This is the third installment of the Red Rising series. (I hear that a fourth book is coming out, however you could finish with this one as it has a well tied up ending) I loved this series! While it is a pretty common theme of a character from a downtrodden race rising up and working to overthrow the oppressor, the setting and imagery were different than any I have encountered yet. This was my least favorite of the three as it seems almost lazy in content compared to the first two. Still a great read.
4 out of 5 stars

Oh, Kelly, that must have been a tough reading. My youngest is 35 and i still find it difficult to read a book about stolen childhoods. Tears and all. Thanks for sharing with us.

John, thanks for answering my question. I'm not one to often keep with series unless they really grab me. Naturally i wonder if others do or not.

Jaci, i was thinking i read City of Bones but am now believing i just saw the movie. Weird how that happens. I'm glad you shared your list with us.

Kelly wrote: "The Cleft by Doris Lessing
This book was so hard for me to get through. I felt like this book could have been much shorter as the author keep repeating the same thing over and over. I..."

Thanks for sharing, Kelly.

Sorry to hear you didn't like the Doris Lessing book. I read her The Grass is Singing---Doris Lessing and enjoyed it a lot and found the writing to be excellent.

I haven't read any other books by her, but if I do I'll not start with the one you mentioned.

Kelly wrote: "
Morning Star By Pierce Brown
This is the third installment of the Red Rising series. (I hear that a fourth book is coming out, however you could finish with this one as it has a well tied up ending)

I like this series too. Good story with interesting (sometimes backstabbing) characters...."

This was a slow reading month for me, in terms of completing books since I was working my way through The Gene: An Intimate History, which I finally completed yesterday.

Completed during February:

- The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I gave this book three stars. Hearing a story from a dog's point of view was interesting and sometimes funny, however I wasn't engrossed in the family drama running in the background.

- Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. This was easily my favorite book of the month. I wasn't expecting the free verse writing style for this historical fiction novel but greatly enjoyed it. Four stars.

- The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Although I am not a big Steinbeck fan and this book this didn't end up making my "favorite classics" list, I did enjoy reading it. A really interesting take on a Mexican folk tale. Three stars. Thanks for posting the buddy read, Alias.

- The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher. This was the first book I read by Fisher and wasn't certain what to expect. I was impressed with her writing, especially the older diary excerpts that were included. I also appreciated Fisher's candor but didn't feel all that excited about some of the Hollywood gossip sections of the the book. It was a quick and engaging read though, so I gave it four stars.

Nice reading month, Lisa. I look forward to your thoughts on the Gene. I've enjoyed interviews with the author on Book TV.

Lisa, i couldn't agree more about the Hesse book. I don't remember if i knew it was in verse or not when i picked it up. My mother grew up during the Dust Bowl, so i thought it would give me a sense of her time then. Really liked the writing and the story. I'm tickled when others like it too.

Thanks, Alias and Deb.

I really enjoyed The Gene and will post my thoughts in the March topic. It was a tough one but well worth it. Alias, I bookmarked the interview with Mukherjee that you had mentioned in another comment. Now that I am finished with the book, I plan to go back and view it sometime soon.

A friend on Goodreads was reading The Dust Bowl, so on a whim I joined in with her. Although some of the story was gloomy, it was like finding a hidden little gem. So glad you loved the book too, Deb.

Between Shades of Gray 5/5
The story of a Lithuanian teenager and her family who are forced into Soviet work camps during WWII. I appreciated this for highlighting true events often overshadowed in U.S. history lessons by the Holocaust in Europe. I found this to be a well-written, heartbreaking story.

Baby Minds: Brain-Building Games Your Baby Will Love 4/5
A reread for fresh ideas for the kiddos. Contains a nice summary of activities by age at the end which is a very useful reference.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance 1/5
This book single-handedly destroyed any chance of continuing my streak from January. Would have been better read as part of a philosophy class, maybe. I found the author's third-person references to himself pre-psych ward as an ancient Greek strange and distracting. The better sections for me were when more direct correlations were made between philosophical points and their journey / the motorcycle.

Emma wrote: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance 1/5
This book single-handedly destroyed any chance of continuing my streak from January. Would have been better read as part of a philosophy class, maybe. I found the author's third-person references to himself pre-psych ward as an ancient Greek strange and distracting. The better sections for me were when more direct correlations were made between philosophical points and their journey / the motorcycle. ."

I know this would not be my type of read. It keeps being suggested for my library group. I keep hoping it's not selected.

Zen/Motorcycle has been around a long time. Adherents are crazy for it, which is how i ended up reading it. My opinion wasn't as bad as yours, Emma, but it was pretty bad. To be fair, as Alias knows, i'm not one for philosophical works, so i'm unwilling to blame the author, Robert M. Pirsig alone. Although, a better writer could have presented the work with a more appealing framework, which might have at least made reading less a chore.

When my daughter was a newborn i had a book similar to the Linda Acredolo book. It had sensory things to amuse in the early stages of life, then progressed to others, as the child grew. It was a fun, informative book. It sounds as though the one you reread, Emma, is akin to that. Good ideas abound.

I never head the original Zen, but really liked Zen and Now: on the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Intriguing, John, that you found that book not having read the original. However, the GR synopsis makes the one you read sound good. Thanks for the note on this. When i saw Pirsig's photo i realized he must be up there in age. Naturally my mind wondered if he still rode. Probably not!

"Historical footsteps" travel is a favorite of mine. My sole purchase on a trip to Dubai last year was a copy of In America: Travels with John Steinbeck.

I haven't read many of that sort of travel book but what i have read is a pleasure. I must add a bit of a footnote, having read The Other Side of Eden: Life with John Steinbeck by his son, John Steinbeck IV. Both of JS's sons believe their father made up most of the interactions he claimed to have had on that road trip. They said he wasn't that sort of traveler and didn't really like talking to people. As i understand it once they made that comment public others researched & tend to agree.

For me, that wasn't the point but i thought i'd throw that into the mix. I know as i read Travels with Charley: In Search of America it was the writing which impressed me, partly due to his descriptions of the land. That he happened to find the people he did seemed remarkable but i was okay with that.

I hasten to add two things. I am not one to usually read those sort of "children of" books. Indeed, i wouldn't have read this one except the coauthor, Nancy Steinbeck, his widow, asked if she could join our AOL classics chat. So, of course, we read it...and did not view it favorably but were (of course!) gracious to her. :-)

Second point, JS's other son, Thomas Steinbeck, wrote a number of novels. I don't think he wrote a book about his father, although i wouldn't swear to it.

madrano wrote: I hasten to add two things. I am not one to usually read those sort of "children of" books.."

I own but not read yet a son of book.

An untold story; the Roosevelts of Hyde Park Elliot Roosevelt

There is a co- author listed with Elliott a Mr. James Brough.