Posted: 2018/07/03 | Author: gr4c5 | Filed under: Book Reviews, BookLust I, NonFiction | Tags: 2018, book lust i, book review, june, Michael Oren, middle east, NonFiction, war |
Oren, Michael B. Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Reason read: the Six Day War took place in June.
Oren’s challenge was to weave together an accurate account of the Six Day War that covered many different perspectives from a myriad of sources. All sides of the conflict needed to be represented and not just from the perspective of battles and conflict. He needed to produce an account that was not only balanced and unbiased, but thorough in its investigation and analysis. This was accomplished through meticulous and extensive research.
Author fact: Oren is a former ambassador to the United States
Book trivia: Six Days of War includes a fair collection of black and white photographs as well as maps to orientate you.
Nancy said: Six Days of War is “massively thorough and equally readable” (Book Lust, p 154).
BookLust Twist: from Book Lust in the chapter called “The Middle East” (p 154).
Posted: 2018/07/01 | Author: gr4c5 | Filed under: E-Books, Early Review, Fiction, NonFiction | Tags: africa, Alice Adams, Arnaldur Indridason, audio books, autobiography, books, Dan White, e-books, edith wharton, Elizabeth Lowell, evolution, Fiction, hiking, homosexuality, Iceland, Janet Frame, jon kabat zinn, Julie Foudy, Kuki Gallman, lists, meditation, memoir, Michael Oren, middle east, mystery, New Zealand, Nicholas Drayson, Paul Monette, romance, self help, series, short stories, war |
So June went by lightning fast, as I expected. Had good shows with Imagine Dragons and Dead and Company. Spent quality time with family and friends. Ran next to nothing for miles. But, the books! Thanks to not running (still) and all the travel I was able to get a lot of reading done…
Fiction:
- Confessing a Murder by Nicholas Drayson (EB & print)
- Stories of Alice Adams by Alice Adams (EB & print)
- Afterlife by Paul Monette (EB & print)
- Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason (AB)
Nonfiction:
- Six Days of War by Michael Oren (print) – confessional: did not finish
- Cactus Eaters by Dan White (print)
- I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallman (print)
- Mindfulness Meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn (AB)
Series continuations:
- Pearl Cove by Elizabeth Lowell (EB & print)
- Envoy From Mirror City by Janet Frame (EB & print)
Short Stories:
- “Xingu” by Edith Wharton (EB)
- “Verlie I Say Unto You” by Alice Adams (EB)
- “Roses, Rhododendrons” by Alice Adams (EB)
For fun:
- Choose to Matter: Being Courageously and Fabulously YOU by Julie Foudy
Posted: 2018/06/01 | Author: gr4c5 | Filed under: audio book, E-Books, Fiction, NonFiction | Tags: africa, Alice Adams, Arnaldur Andridason, audio book, autobiography, books, Dan White, e-books, Elizabeth Lowell, Fiction, hiking, homosexuality, humor, Iceland, Janet Frame, jon kabat zinn, Kuki Gallman, lists, meditation, memoir, Michael Oren, middle east, mystery, New Zealand, Nicholas Drayson, NonFiction, Paul Monette, romance, self help, series, short stories, war |
June is going to go by lightning fast. For starters, there is a concert in Bangor, Maine that I cannot wait for! Then, a concert at home. After that, a week later, an art show reception for my talented sister’s work. Then, a vacation with my best friend (Maine for the third weekend in a row). I will have many opportunities to read. Hence, the huge list:
Fiction:
- Confessing a Murder by Nicholas Drayson – in honor of the first month of boating weather (EB & print).
- Stories of Alice Adams by Alice Adams – June is short story month (EB & print).
- Afterlife by Paul Monette – in honor of gay and lesbian pride month (EB & print).
- Jar City by Arnaldur Andridason – National Icelandic Day is in June (AB).
Nonfiction:
- Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Middle East by Michael B. Oren – the Six Day War started in June.
- Cactus Eaters: How I Lost My Mind and Almost Found Myself by Dan White – June is national hiking month.
- I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallman – in honor of Gallman’s birth month.
- Mindfulness Meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn – in honor of Zinn’s birth month.
Series continuations:
- Pearl Cove by Elizabeth Lowell – to continue the series started in April in honor of Lowell’s birth month.
- Envoy From Mirror City by Janet Frame – to finish the series started in April in honor of New Zealand’s Anzac Day.
Posted: 2018/04/02 | Author: gr4c5 | Filed under: Early Review, Fiction, NonFiction, Poetry | Tags: africa, Andre Norton, Anthony Graves, autobiography, books, David Giffels, death, death row, Early Review, fantasy, Fiction, Freya Stark, humor, Laura Lindstedt, librarything, lists, Michael Gruber, middle east, murder, mystery, Nevil Shute, Nigel Dennis, NonFiction, Nora Roberts, Pakistan, play, prison, real estate, Richard Dooling, romance, Rome, satire, series, Steven Saylor, travel, voodoo, witchcraft, women |
March was one of those weird months. A few Nor’Easters. A few miles run. A few books read. We had two school closings in back to back weeks so that helped with the reading, but not the run. I finished the St. Patrick’s Day Road Race just two minutes off my time last year. Considering I didn’t train (again) I’m alright with that. There’s always next year! Here are the books:
Fiction –
- The Good Son by Michael Gruber
- Roman Blood by Steven Saylor
- White Man’s Grave by Richard Dooling
- Witch World by Andre Norton
- Cards of Identity by Nigel Dennis
Nonfiction –
- All the Way Home by David Giffels
- Slide Rule by Nevil Shute
Series Continuations –
- Coast of Incense by Freya Stark – to finished the series started in honor of her birth month in January.
- Entranced by Nora Roberts
Early Review for Librarything –
- Oneiron by Laura Lindstedt (started)
- Infinite Hope – Anthony Graves
Poetry –
- New and Collected Poetry by Czeslaw Milosz (not finished)
Fun – I’m not finished with either fun book so I won’t list them here.
Posted: 2018/03/28 | Author: gr4c5 | Filed under: Book Reviews, BookLust I, NonFiction | Tags: 2018, autobiography, book lust i, book review, Freya Stark, march, middle east, NonFiction, travel |
Stark, Freya. The Coast of Incense: Autobiography 1933 – 1939. London: John Murray, 1953.
Reason read: to finish the autobiography of Freya Stark, started in January in honor of her birth month.
Freya Stark was born to travel. Unafraid. Unconcerned with custom, tradition or the assumed proper behavior of the single woman, Stark was a woman who did as she pleased. Long fascinated with maps she set out to be a lady “traveller” in the middle east. She thought it fun to be “a speck on the map of Arabia” (p 58). The only reoccurring obstacle in her way was illness, whether it be dysentery or the measles, or her heart, she was frequently bed ridden. Never the less she traveled throughout the Hadhramout of South Arabia. As with her other autobiographies, Stark introduces each chapter with a present day impression followed by alternating letters from the time frame. She is careful to weave memory with retrospection to build a compelling portrait of her life.
Personally, I loved her descriptions of Himyar, her pet lizard the best.
Best quotes, “…for no iron curtain yet discovered will stand against the pressure and persistence of life, and I still hope to live long enough to write about an opening door” (preface, p xiii), “..and again astonished me with the strangeness of being rewarded for what one likes to do – although it is, perhaps the best thing to be rewarded for” (p 15), and “A young Yemeni teacher comes three hours a week and Arabic is pouring back into my brain” (p 40).
Author fact: Stark was one feisty woman. Take these quotes for example, “I spent a long time the night before wondering whether I should take our little revolver and shoot the Duce as he came by” (p 6). Then there is this: “Little details one would never think of, such as one’s hostess stopping in the middle of dinner to see if there is vaseline on your knife, as it has just come out of someone’s waistband” (p 72) and “…”but I walked on, stolid and angry, with an occasional remark, on the wickedness of robbing travellers, thrown behind me” (p 246).
Book trivia: The Coast of Incense has a great collection of photographs. There is one of Freya looking like a model in Athens that I just love.
Nancy said: nothing that hasn’t already been said somewhere else.
BookLust Twist: from Book Lust in the chapter called “Lady Travellers” (p 142).
Posted: 2018/03/22 | Author: gr4c5 | Filed under: Book Reviews, Fiction, Lust To Go | Tags: 2018, book lust iii, book review, Fiction, march, Michael Gruber, middle east, Pakistan, thriller |
Gruber, Michael. The Good Son. Read by Neil Shah. Blackstone Audio, 2010.
Reason read: The history of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan begins in March.
From the very beginning you cannot help but root for Theo. He is an ex-Delta soldier trying to be the sensitive tough guy while is mother is being held captive. But, he is only part of the story. Let’s talk about the mother, Sonia Laghari, for a moment. She, along with eight other members of a symposium on peace, have been kidnapped by armed terrorists. Being a deeply religious Jungian psychologist, Sonia becomes the leader of the abducted group. Using her knowledge of the kidnapper’s language and religion she uses her Jungian psychology to interpret their dreams if only to get in their heads. She wants to instill the premise that you can simultaneously hate the war but love the soldier. Despite her own life being in danger, she attempts to generate harmony to “protect” her fellow captives. A sort of reverse Stockholm syndrome. Meanwhile, in Washington there is a Vietnamese National Security translator listening in…The Good Son combines psychology, sociology, religion, and relationships into a thriller well worth the read.
Quotes to quote, “It is easier to tell the truth to the world than to people you love” (p 125) and “Hope and some slight relief from the worst are the best weapons of any tormentor; the torturer smiles and offers a a cigarette” (p 158).
Author fact: Gruber used to be a marine biologist, a restaurant cook and a federal government official. A man of many varying hats. He could be called one of the most interesting men in the world…
Narrator fact: Shah has appeared on the television series, Law & Order.
Book trivia: Due to the nature of Sonia’s character, be prepared for a few didactic moments as Sonia interprets the dreams of her captors and recites poetry.
Nancy said: Nancy called The Good Son a “riveting thriller” (p 214).
BookLust Twist: from Book Lust To Go in the chapter called “Sojourns in South Asia: Pakistan” (p 212).
Posted: 2018/03/02 | Author: gr4c5 | Filed under: audio book, E-Books, Early Review, Fiction, NonFiction, Poetry | Tags: africa, Andre Norton, Anthony Graves, audio book, autobiography, books, Czeslaw Milosz, David Giffels, Early Review, Fiction, Freya Stark, humor, librarything, lists, Michael Gruber, middle east, Nevil Shute, Nigel Dennis, NonFiction, Pakistan, Poetry, real estate, Richard Dooling, Rome, series, Stephen Saylor, travel, William Oughtred |
The only run I have planned for March is St. Patrick’s Day. No surprise there. Here are the books planned for March:
Fiction:
- The Good Son by Michael Gruber (AB) – in honor of the start of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
- White Man’s Grave by Richard Dooling – In honor of Dooling’s birthplace (Nebraska) becoming a state in March.
- Roman Blood by Stephen Saylor – in honor of Saylor’s birth month in March.
Nonfiction:
- All the Way Home by David Giffels – in honor of Ohio becoming a state in March.
Series continuations:
- Coast of Incense by Freya Stark – to continue the series started in January for Stark’s birth month. This will end the autobiography.
- Entranced by Nora Roberts (EB) – to continue the Donovan Legacy started in February in honor of Valentine’s Day.
Early Review:
- Infinite Hope by Anthony Graves
Poetry:
- New and Collected Poems by Czeslaw Milosz – in honor of National Poetry Month.
If there is time:
- Slide Rule: the Autobiography of an Engineer by Nevil Shute – in honor of the birth month of William Oughtred
- Which Witch? by Andre Norton – to remember Norton (who died in the month of March).
- Cards of Identity by Nigel Dennis in honor of Reading Month.
