Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion

Another year. Hope you reach all your reading goals.

The Dust Bowl: An Illustrated History by Ken Burns

I am going to watch the doco film as well. Heartbreaking. I liked the Worst Hard Time but seeing the photos was also eye opening, and this book also talked about what happened after the dust storms abated. It seems many people didn't learn the lesson of the 'Dirty Thirties' and they came back in the 'Filthy Fifties'. Those that left the dustbowl for California or elsewhere were also described.

My copy of Patient Zero and the Making of the AIDS Epidemic just came in at the library. It was described as a full biography of the much-maligned "Patient Zero," Gaetan Dugas, but the opening pages make it look as if it may be something completely different. We shall see.

A Woman's Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World by Katelyn Beaty

Sort of like a Christian response to Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

The author is the managing editor for Christianity Today. She's unmarried, so it might be a good book for single professional women Christians to relate to, but I did think it didn't really address what workplaces are doing with working mothers or how husbands can step up to support mothers who work outside the home. Or maybe have homebased businesses when children are growing up. I think its good to do work that you are gifted in rather than work you are not, but maybe it doesn't address how one can lead especially if leading takes up much of your time. I don't understand the whole 'mommy guilt' how both sides kind of hate each other - stay at home mums feel isolated and discouraged, and so do professional women surrounded by people saying when are you getting married. And then working women who are mothers who cant' fit everything in. Maybe cos the men aren't working with them????

It has a few good points for consideration, and anecdotes, and is much more realistic than Sandbergs priveliged 'I can afford home help' rant. Paid work outside of home isn't the only work thats out there. And not everyone is or wants to be a 'leader' but everyone can be good at doing their own work whether thats looking after children (your own, or others) or being a creative artist or editing a magazine. or even gardening.. But I do think there could be better books that address this specific issue in a better way, possibly around time management? In a place like suburban america, it just seems there's this disconnect between work and home. Not everyone will work in an office. What about homework???

Cowboy Charm School
Margaret Brownley
3/5 stars
Kate Denver is about to be married to long time beau Frank when Texas Ranger Brett Tucker storms the wedding to arrest Frank. Unfortunately, it is all a mistake. Frank is no criminal but it sets into motion in Kate’s mind about whether she and Frank should get married and it doesn’t help that the handsome Brett Tucker is hanging around the town looking for the real criminal Frank Foster. Typical romance novel but sweet.

The Woman Who Fooled The World: Belle Gibson’s Cancer Con, and the Darkness at the Heart of the Wellness Industry

This book is not like an expose, but is really good at discussing the business practices of former Instagram “wellness warrior” Belle Gibson

Making progress on One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway

Just started Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail: Can a Punk Rock Legend Find What Monty Python Couldn't? Right at the start the author mentioned Ratty's high-speed drumming at the start of "New Rose," an early single by his band, and now it's playing in my head.

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Book 8! Now I thought I had finished reading the series, but wait there's more.
I found there's Little House on Rocky Ridge that continues on with the story with daughter Rose...hmm why do I start reading series books...? It was like Babysitters Club or Sweet Valley High...but the good thing about Little House books is the characters actually do grow up, they don't stay 13 or 16 for 100 books or so.

The Grand Sophy
Georgette Heyer
4/5 stars
This is the classic 1950 story from the romance writer Georgette Heyer. Set in 1816, Sophy’s father, the diplomat is traveling so she is sent to stay with relatives with whom she barely knows and vice–a-versa. During her time there she manages to upend all of their lives for the better with all her schemes and finds love herself.

Women of True Grit: Intimate, Informative, Inspirational: 40 Famous and Infamous Women Share Real Life Stories with Secrets to Success for All Generations by Edie Hand and Tina Savas
3 stars

Short stories by women who made a difference.

Sea Prayer by Kahled Hosseini
5 stars

I saw this book at the library and wondered why it was in the adult section when it appeared to be a children's book. The Kite Runner is a favorite book so I checked this out. It takes less than 5 minutes to read but what a beautiful story. It is really just a poem or short letter to his son. The father and son are waiting on the shore for a boat to take them from their war-torn country to an unknown land as refugees. It really moved me when he told his son that he knew they were not welcome where they were going but perhaps if those people knew just a little of what they had been through....Pretty powerful stuff in such a little book.

Sounds like it sums up the entire refugee dilemma. They're -- often literally -- between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Fishface wrote: "Sounds like it sums up the entire refugee dilemma. They're -- often literally -- between the devil and the deep blue sea."

I read the book three times while I sat there. It was so powerful to me.

Wow!

Fishface wrote: "Wow!"

It looks like a children's book. It only takes about 2 minutes to read.

I also always like to read a few children's books every year- here are a couple that were so sweet.

Alma and How She Got Her Name
Juana Martinez-Neal
5/5 stars
Sweet picture book with wonderful drawings about a young girl who’s name will be a reminder of her family and their stories.


Elmore
Holly Hobbie
4/5 stars
This is a wonderful picture book about making friends when it is hard to make friends. Great drawings!

A House That Once Was
By Julie Fogliano
5/5 stars
This is a lovely picture book about children exploring an abandoned house and imagining what had happened there. Wonderful writing and illustrations.


We Don't Eat Our Classmates
Ryan T Higgins
3.5/5 stars
Penelope is a dinosaur, who is starting to go to school with a class full of humans. Unfortunately, she likes to eat humans but an incident with the school fish turns her attitude around and she learns how to make friends.


The Midas Box
by G.P. Taylor
3.5/5 stars
Mariah Mundi is sent away from home to work in The Prince Regent, a hotel. His job is to assist the magician in the magic show. Unfortunately, the previous assistants have all disappeared and it takes Mariah and Sacha, a co-worker to find out what happened in this sinister and magical tale.

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
5 stars




Read this as a child. Needed a book for a challenge that was part of a series so I chose this. Enjoyed it just as much as I did as a kid but it was a little sad knowing that their married life was not easy.

Koren wrote: "These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
5 stars




Read this as a child. Needed a book for a challenge that was part of a series so ..."

Have you read The First Four Years? The next one? It's quite hard going.

Little House on Rocky Ridge was good I enjoyed it. I'm not sure how the author is related to the Wilders though. I might be reading all of them this year, all the Rose books, and Laura's mother, grandmother, and great grandmother!

Selina wrote: "Koren wrote: "These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
5 stars




Read this as a child. Needed a book for a challenge that was part o..."

I might have read it many years ago. I just ordered it so will be reading it. I haven't read the Rocky Ridge. I believe their are some others that have her name on them but weren't written by her.

Milk!: A 10,000-Year Food Fracas
Mark Kurlansky
4/5 stars
Kurlansky noted for his non-fiction writing doesn’t disappoint in this book on the history and science of milk. Never boring, he makes the topic of milk extremely interesting from its very beginnings up until today. The studies they did on homogenized milk before allowing the public to drink it were interesting and I learned that the yogurt I thought I was eating is actually a cheese product. There are recipes scattered throughout the book and the older ones are quite shocking, making me feel happy I was not born several centuries ago. Highly recommended!

That Kurlansky! He changed my life with Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World.

I finished a romance for a challenge where I needed a romance or a beach read. Now I remember why I dont particularly care for romance.

Big Little Lies
Liane Moriarty
4/5 stars
A young, single woman with a child comes to a new town to rebuild her life but things go awry from day one. Her child is accused of hurting a girl in class and the school becomes divided with those on her side and those against her. Did he do it? It was compelling till the very end. I had seen the mini-series previous to reading this and thought that they did a great job in staying within the story line of this book.

All My Sons
Arthur Miller
4/5 stars
Based on a true story, this Miller play relates the tale of a manufacturer of plane parts who knowingly sent defective plane parts to be used in the WWII which resulted in pilots dying, his partner being sent to jail and the effects of that action on his family. Well-written and compelling!

Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna Gaines
5 stars



I saw this book in the store but was unable to take a peek inside as it is wrapped in plastic. It looks like a good quality book with lots of pictures. I was able to get the e-book from the library, but think holding the actual book would be more satisfying. That said, if you are a fan of Fixer Upper you will at least enjoy reading the book even if you dont try the recipes. Most recipes are prefaced with Joanna writing something about why she likes this recipe or some little story about it. As you might expect, as the mother of 5, most of these recipes are simple and have simple ingredients. The instructions are written so that even if you are a beginner cook you should be able to easily figure the directions out. This would be a great shower gift for a bride-to-be.

Not sure if this would be considered a memoir. In a way it is a memoir of books she has read. Anyway, here is my review:

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by Annie Spence


Have you ever finished a book and felt like you are leaving an old friend? If you are truly a book lover you have done this many times, I'm sure. The author takes this a step further by writing letters to books. As a librarian she has had to discard many books and has also purged her own shelves and fantasizes about purging others. In this book she writes letters to those books. Sounds strange? Well, it is a little, but also hilarious! Witty, sassy, and a little irreverent (read that as a liberal sprinkling of the F word) and you will be smiling and nodding your head through a big portion of this book.

Koren wrote: "Not sure if this would be considered a memoir. In a way it is a memoir of books she has read. Anyway, here is my review:

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by ..."

hmm sounds like my type of book I could write one like that lol.
I've picked up The Bookshop That Floated Away about a someone who buys a houseboat and creates a floating bookshop. I'm sure it must be better than The Diary of a Bookseller I really didn't like the owner of that one I think there's certain types of people that own bookshops who can be quite snobby about books I've certainly met a few

Can't finish The Bookshop That Floated Away even worse than Booksellers Diary...because the author has aboslutely no business sense and doesn't even want to actually sell her books. She blags off everyone and just comes across as incredibly naive and foolish....back to the library it goes..

Part of Your World
Liz Braswell
4/5 stars
This book was inspired by the Walt Disney animated fairy tale film, The Little Mermaid but with a twist. What if Ursula, the evil sea creature/octopus, defeated Ariel, the mermaid; married Ariel’s love Prince Eric and captured her father? Brazwell explores this idea in this wonderfully written tale of underwater intrigue about how Ariel grows up and reclaims her life. Geared to teens but I think adult fans of the movie would appreciate this too. Fairy Tale

Am reading RetroSuburbia by David Holmgren
A much easier, updated look at 30 years of permaculture written by one of it's founders, and how it can apply to the suburbs.
I'm thinking as I read it, some of it sounds eerily similar to 'prepping' for the coming apocalypse. I'm also wondering if Mr Holmgren has a car, and whereabouts exactly does he live he says Mellidora, Melbourne, but is that in the suburbs or out in the country.
Is permaculture just a philosophy for city rat racers who want to go back to the land but can't really afford to? I don't know. But I get the impression some of the 'peak oil' predictions didn't happen and impressionable people (urban hippies who rebelled against baby boomers) got stuck with a lifestyle they couldn't handle.

Angels of the Appalachians by Deanna Edens
5 stars


I read this thinking it was nonfiction, but it reads more like fiction so I will post it here.

The word I saw over and over while reading the reviews for this book was 'sweet' and that seems to be appropriate. It is the story of a woman who meets two charming elderly ladies and tells their stories of growing up in Appalachia in the early 1900's. One of the girls' father was killed in a coal mine disaster, which brought them to a home for people that had no where to go. This girl meets a girl from town and they become lifelong friends. Their story makes you wish you could have met them. It is a short story that can be read in one sitting.

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks was quite funny. A quick read, recommended for anyone whos worked in a public library. The author really likes the Virgin Suicides but I've never read them. I do recall two actual suicides of library workers (both men) in my career though, and I often wonder whether its because of the really low pay. Or maybe the library just attracts those with mental illness. Maybe I could write a book about it...

Grasp the Nettle: Making Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Work by Peter Proctor

All about biodynamic farming and gardening which some people regard as organics plus. It contains some very useful tips and how to make the preparations which activate the microbes in the soil. I saw One Cow One Planet documentary and wanted to read a bit more about it. I am not versed in all Rudolf Steiner's theories though so some of the references are lost on me. Cultivating by the moon however is something I've recently embraced. If the preparations were more readily available to the home gardener (who does not have access to cows) it would be well to heal some of our terrible soils ruined by earthworks and development.

The title "grasp the nettle" makes biodynamic gardening sound remarkably unappealing.

Fishface wrote: "The title "grasp the nettle" makes biodynamic gardening sound remarkably unappealing."

Googling it, its actually a British phrase meaning to tackle something difficult boldly.

Also composted nettle is used in one of the preparations to spray on the land.

Yesterday's Sun by Amanda Brooke

A friend gave me this to read, its a novel about a young couple, but mostly focusing on the wife, who is fearful about having a baby and becoming a mother cos her own parents weren't that great. She finds this moondial in the garden of the place she's just bought and renovating, and has a scary vision of the future in which she dies in childbirth and her husband has to bring up the daughter on his own.

Hmm could either go two ways, as she's pregnant at the time, to have the child and die (if the vision is correct) or not have the child..and live. Well I don't know about that but I think I can see where it may go. Although I don't know how she can not have the child unless she kills it via abortion.

Or maybe just crush the moon dial for giving her silly scary visions. Moral of the story, it's better not to know the future...?

Or better not to read so much into your superstitions!

I finished the book but I got confused, I thought she was already pregnant at the time of the vision but she wasn't, so she could just decide not to conceive.

Well, does anyone want to know what she does decide in the end??

I want to point out a lot of plot holes, but must refrain myself because I'm thinking well, most novels like these are " what if "scenarios for the author, and, well if you married and want children you going to risk childbirth anyway. Nobody's ever guaranteed a long life. Apparently the author's child did die of cancer at age 3.
I just don't know why the wife in the story didn't tell her husband any of this. You would think she could just casually remark, 'I'm a bit afraid of dying in childbirth' and see how he takes it.

Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and Why 29 Men Died by Rebecca Macfie

I was going to read this and then a few days later heard of the Christchurch tragedy..the Pike River Mine tragedy was back in November 2010, the coal mine exploded and 29 men were lost, only 2 survived.
This book was investigating what was behind the tragedy and makes harrowing reading because the mine was never really properly built in the first place. It only had one exit, ventilation was dodgy and the coal was notoriously gassy, the risks were overlooked and the health and safety was constantly ignored, in favour of production, because the investors wanted their return and the over promised the on what the mine could produce.

The management and miners were inexperienced and it operated as more of a start-up rather than listen to the advice of established mining technicians and geologists. It was a disaster in the making, many people quit because their concerns over the mine weren't listened to by management in the drive to produce.

Later the mine kept exploding, meanwhile families of the loved ones were kept in the dark and given false hope that maybe their miners would still be alive, or their bodies recovered, but the mine was just too unsafe to go and get them.

I'm just ashamed this happened in my country where potential profits came before anyone's health and safety, and everyone's concerns and whistleblowing were dismissed/ignored. And the management showed no remorse to any of the families affected, after the mine went into receivership they only got $5000 each as compensation. This was a mine that the National Gas and Oil and international stakeholders in India had invested millions of dollars in, and millions more to keep it running when budgets overran, in the hope it would produce enough coal for 18 years. Well it only was open for barely 2 years!

The Final Confession of Mabel Stark
Robert Hough
3/5 stars
Fictional dark story based on the true life story of Mabel Stark which covers her tragic life including her many husbands and her work with tigers and other animals for over 57 years with circuses around the world. And if you can find it there is a DVD about the true Mabel Stark called Mabel, Mabel Tiger Trainer which is very interesting too.


The Alice Network
Kate Quinn
4/5 star
Wonderful fiction book based loosely on the true tales of the "Alice Network" from WWI about the men and women who fought the German occupation in France amid the story of a young pregnant girl in post WWII looking in France for her cousin who became pregnant out of wedlock and sent to Europe to take care of the situation. The story bobs between looking for the Rose and what happened to Eve (who is helping with the search of Rose) in WWI. I enjoyed it.

The Golden Tresses of the Dead
Alan Bradley
4/5 stars
Flavia and Dogger, her estate gardener, start their own private agency business in this newest addition to the series. Along the way they have to deal with a finger in the wedding cake at her sister’s wedding, missing letters from the home of a Mrs. Prill and female missionaries that have their own agenda which is not on the up and up. Always entertaining!

Selina wrote: "Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and Why 29 Men Died by Rebecca Macfie

I was going to read this and then a few days later heard of the Christchurch tragedy..the Pike River Mine trag..."

Sounds like the moral to that story is "anything that's worth doing is worth doing well." Wow.

Terra Preta: How the World’s Most Fertile Soil Can Help Reverse Climate Change and Reduce World Hunger Ute Schueb

Amazing claims, but would be better explained with more photos especially regarding the amazon where the terra preta soils were first found.
Basically its making charcoal as a soil amendment, fermenting compost and human feces as well as urine, to create rich black soil. Apparently the charcoal - named 'bio char' activates microbes in the soil, preserves carbon, and raises fertility of the soil. I'm not sure if one could just use charcoal you can buy to make bbq, and just chuck it on the ground. In the book there seems to be more of a process, and making it yourself with a special kind of kiln, but the annoying thing is the kilns aren't shown.

I've just finished an Anthony Hopkins biography - The Biography - by Quentin Falk - so now have even more admiration for him. I feel certain that there is more to his story yet but it is lovely to get greater insight into a genuinely private and even quite introverted great of the screen. I've written a review which I hope does some justice to this immeasurable talent. 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anthony a Hopkins - The Biography by Quentin Falk

There is a level at which I already love the man I affectionately nickname "Uncle" Anthony due to the shared surname and the uncanny similarities he has to both my father and my grandfather (in so much as I knew him - it is inevitably harder to know someone hard of hearing well when they are also well into their dotage.) I therefore view this book with complete bias toward him.

I sympathise that his intelligence was underestimated and not well recognised in a school system that did not respond well to someone who does not particularly excel on paper academically or in the field at sport. His musical ability was not channeled and so opportunities were missed.

Overall in the book he comes across as someone, though he has had some struggles, who can be quite a kind, lovely gentleman, an advocate for other actors and good at supporting them whilst standing up to directors. He is keen to get on with work and it is astounding how much work he has done actually, particularly against the odds in later years and, more discretely, with his musical success. It seems he can be quite fun on set, lightening the atmosphere with impersonations, whilst being well prepared and professional. For someone who did not particularly excel at school, he is well read and has built good memory skills. He doesn't like wasting time on takes so tries to get his lines right first time as he would on stage.

There are elements of him that remind me of my Hopkins heritage, such as some melancholy, some liking for solitude, some questioning of purpose. However, he tries to be an inspiration to others and has done much to help others such as through his support of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I feel, as I see some of the films I have not yet seen and re-see others, that his parts are often an extension and expression of himself and yet he makes each individual. It seems he finds what he can relate to in the character, makes them human and, even with the darker ones, quite likeable and then puts an entertaining element in, such as a hint of an accent, subtle defining mannerisms and adapted appearance.

I feel a sadness for him at his relationship losses and appreciate these can be difficult to negotiate due to distanced lifestyle, personality and location. I believe he is somewhat a lone wolf and yet he would be there to support others where he can.

His natural nature has so much of my Dad about him (particularly in the "Fastest Indian" - a lovely film) and, with regard to "Hitchcock" in particular, I see my Grandad, that I feel we must link up further back in genealogy. I read how even mannerisms may be rooted in genes and the more I see him, the stronger I feel this is so and there must be historic links.

What gives me great hope is that he has worked against his more challenging history positively to put lack of recognition at school and alcohol ridden times behind him and enjoy some sobriety and impress with his often described as "intelligent" performances.

He is now a positive role model and, particularly perhaps because much of his fame was attributed to him more so mid-way though his life, it seems to me that he would make a marvellous mentor.

A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman
5/5 stars
Lovely book about a anti-social man who struggles with living by himself when a new neighbor intrudes into his life forcing him to become more social. Great book and a favorite author for me! I had seen the movie earlier and enjoyed that too.

Anything Backman writes, contains a unique character who leads you on a wild ride.

Just finished The Boys in the Cave by Matt Gutman. I was surprised and pleased with the combined journalist/story teller writing. Emotions were felt, difficulties tense and humanity portrayed at it's best.