Summer 2007 Reading List

[NoHall]

NoHall - I am with you. give me fiction! any kind of fiction! but love historical fiction of any kind. For example, Colleen McCullough's First Man in Rome series of immense novels about roman civilization. Uncle Timmy and I both read all of them - you are reading and learning about real people, events, cultures, history, but they are woven into a beautiful tale that you just cannot stop reading. much detail and depth.

also love science fiction. just finished two incredibly wonderful books by Mary Doria Russell that I highly recommend (The Sparrow, Children of God)...

Ah, Toots--you are a kindred spirit. (I already knew that!) I'll be checking on those Russell books. I LOVE Historical fiction! Love Eugenia Price, Francine Rivers, Larry McMurtry's stories about the West. I read Gone With the Wind every few years because it taught me more about Georgia history than any class I ever sat through. I learned a lot about South Africa's structure and history (also a lot about Beethoven and succulent plants) from The Power of One and fell in love with New Zealand reading Green Dolphin Street.

I also have to say that the biography I'm whining about is, for the most part, written as a story. That makes it much easier for me. But it also goes into some drawn-out sections on the history of Classical vs. Romantic music. Yawn.

As for missing out as an undergrad, I'm not so sure. I still own all of the books that I didn't read. They're wonderful for reference. But gifted thinkers are not always gifted writers. Maybe I'm just a moron, but give me a gifted thinker who can tell me a story. Then I can understand his thoughts. I don't know how many times I've been asked about specifics of theology and recommended The Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis was clearer (to me) in his stories than he was in his non-fiction. (I still believe that's why Jesus spoke in parables rather than in lectures.)

 

[NoHall]

Majority of what I read is fiction as well, I just didn't want NoHall to dismiss all non-fiction.

I also have been forced to slog through some horrible non-fiction and fiction books/texts as part of school and I didn't want it to ruin reading for NoHall.

Oh, don't worry about that! You can't ruin it for me. I read constantly.

The other thing that I love about fiction is that you can't really argue with it. A story is what it is. My undergrad degree is in philosophy. When I had to read Bertrand Russell, (for instance,) every sentence had to be run through the wringer--is this true? what is the other side of this? etc. I read all non-fiction the same way. In the end I feel like what they say in 300 pages could be said in 30.

(kind of like my posts! )

On the polar opposite end of everything I just said, I've read a couple of decent non-fiction books this summer, especially if you have any interest in education. One is Frank McCourt's Teacher Man. It's a memoir, and I loved it. The other is something I'm having to read for a class, Your Child's Growing Mind by Jane Healy. She does tend to be redundant in places, but it's pretty interesting. (My professor for that class is assigning selections from it rather than the entire text, which is nice.)

 

[Rudyjohn]

Larry McMurtry's stories about the West.

I love every one of McMurtry's books! He makes the most simple story sound interesting. Such characters too! Also love Tom Wolfe.

 

[NoHall]

You know your musicians AND McMurtry...I think we are friends now!

 

[NoHall]

Has anyone read the newest Einstein biography? I hear it's pretty good...

 

[Cil]

Haven't read it, Nohall. Would like to, though.

I am in the final throes of an incredible novel: Suite Francaise, written by Ir?ne N?mirovsky while WWII was going on, rediscovered years later by her daughter (after N?mirovsky's apparent death in a camp).

Maybe I shouldn't have, but I read the afterward about N?mirovsky's upbringing and her later fate *before* I began her novel. It just makes everything so much more poignant. Her writing is brilliant and the fact that she wrote this work while the events were actually going on just blows my mind.
I really enjoyed Russell's "A Thread Of Grace" (I posted about it in '06) and perhaps should not compare the two but Suite Francaise is gorgeous prose with an incomparable You Are There feel--its substance, vivid imagery, and simple humanity are simultaneously heartbreaking and inspiring.

N?mirovsky lost her life in what she foresaw as "Captivity." The improbable survival of her two novellas is a cause for celebration and also for grief at another reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust. She wrote what may be the first work of fiction about what we now call World War II. She also wrote, for all to read at last, some of the greatest, most humane and incisive fiction that conflict has produced.

 

[Jdarg]

Checked out a huge stack of books a few weeks ago. They are still sitting next to my desk, since one of the books was Amy Sedaris' I Like You.

OMG- a true SoWal wench book if I ever read one. I can't stop laughing.

Definitely not for those who don't appreciate sick humor or inventive ways to wear and use pantyhose.

 

[DD]

Checked out a huge stack of books a few weeks ago. They are still sitting next to my desk, since one of the books was Amy Sedaris' I Like You.

OMG- a true SoWal wench book if I ever read one. I can't stop laughing.

Definitely not for those who don't appreciate sick humor or inventive ways to wear and use pantyhose.

Now this sounds interesting!

 

[Jdarg]

Now this sounds interesting!

She gives instructions on how to make tampon cat toys. Almost as good as the tampon angel Christmas ornaments from the Merry Christmas from the Family book.

I have read as far as what to feed lumberjacks for lunch, how to decide who to invite to your parties, how to be a good houseguest and how to be a good hostess for guests staying with you.

 

[DD]

She gives instructions on how to make tampon cat toys. Almost as good as the tampon angel Christmas ornaments from the Merry Christmas from the Family book.

I have read as far as what to feed lumberjacks for lunch, how to decide who to invite to your parties, how to be a good houseguest and how to be a good hostess for guests staying with you.

I'll get it tomorrow.