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I just started "One Summer, America 1927" by Bill Bryson and think I will really like it. Amazing what went on in the US just in that one summer. Who knew there had been a weather event and terrible flooding much like Katrina. It also is giving me much better insight to the Lindbergh flight, the Chicago mobsters of the day and what went on in Washington. All this in the first 80 pages. There are 30 chapters, and each on pretty much stands on it's own, so you can just skip around and read it that way. I have read many other of Bryson's books and do like his style.
Just finished “A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the World’s Largest Experiment Reveals About Human Desire” by Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam (2011).
The authors draw conclusions about "turn-ons" based on analysis of (anonymous) internet search histories.
A few excerpts:
Intellectually, I realize there's a lot of diversity to what humans find sexy/attractive-
it sure made me feel relatively conventional and pedestrian in my, ummm, "interests".
How much one enjoys this book may depend on how much of the material one relates to or identifies with.
I think I'd have found it more compelling & validating if I were more "unusual" or niche in my tastes/preferences.
I think I am pedestrian in my thoughts on the topic, too, but I did think this quote was interesting:
“The subject frequently leads to defensiveness: getting excited by a fantasy is not the same thing as wanting it in real life.”
My first thought on reading it was how many people I encounter that seem to be living their fantasies, making me wonder who defines "real life"?
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Originally Posted by Newdaawn
I just started "One Summer, America 1927" by Bill Bryson and think I will really like it. ... I have read many other of Bryson's books and do like his style.
I like Bryson's talent and I like the ideas of his books. I have a number of them downloaded, but because he jumps around so much he tires me easily and I never seem to read one completely. It's like having a conversation with someone with ADD. Or, as I've heard said: "taking a sip from a firehose."
I've reached chapter nine of "The Evolution of God" and am convinced it is recommended for anyone serious about their Bible studies. It's a great, sweeping view of the evolution of mankind's philosophy "one the ground" and is of great interest to me because it is the first writing I've ever found that discusses my particular view that there is no separation between God and science, other than that timeline that humanity drew at the advent of their particular espoused prophet/messiah. I was thrilled to learn in yesterday's listening that my thoughts are not new, but described by the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria, contemporary with Jesus, the Christ. Of course, now I've had to reserve a book on Philo!
I may never get to my reading of the sequel to Mantel's "Wolf Hall."
As for "On an Irish Island," I am only so-so interested in the discovery of the island off the coast of County Kerry where REAL Irish was "discovered" by Synge, and later linguists who began a school of Irish on the mainland. I love listening to Irish spoken, but it's history -- not so much.
Yes I read one I think called Tourist Trap maybe? something about and alligator and a murder
it was pretty good and witty, got any specific recommendations for me?
I've read three of Hiaason's books: Lucky You, Sick Puppy and Basket Case. I liked all three, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be Sick Puppy. One of the story lines is about fake big game hunters. The ones who frequent hunting compounds where the animal doesn't have a chance, and it's great to see them get their just desserts. The good guys always win in Carl's books so unlike real life. Hiaason used to write a column for one of the Florida papers which was quite good. I haveTeam Rodent: How Disney Devours The World on my reading list. Hiaason does have a new book coming out the end of January.
a new one came in and I was not expecting it the title is "The invention of wings "by sue monk kidd yes she wrote the secret life of bees and Im starting this one too ...I will let you guys know on this one too .
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Originally Posted by tigerlily
I have the new one on hold although I wasn't that crazy about The Secret Life Of Bees.
I'm curious about "The Invention of Wings." I loved "The Secret Life of Bees" but absolutely HATED "The Mermaid Chair." So she's only batting 50% with me. This one sounds interesting though.
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Originally Posted by fromupthere
I've noticed with my Kindle Fire that occasionally I will download a book and it doesn't show up for a bit, but others are there instantaneously. It doesn't happen often but enough times that I've noticed. I have no answers, though.
I've noticed that with my Kindle Fire as well and the Kindle app on my phone (first with a Droid3 and now a MyTouch). I haven't played with it enough to see if there's a way to change how frequently it syncs.
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Originally Posted by tigerlily
I've read three of Hiaason's books: Lucky You, Sick Puppy and Basket Case. I liked all three, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be Sick Puppy.
I would love to sit down with him and ask how he comes up with some of his plot lines! I've read "Sick Puppy", "Skinny Dip", "Basket Case" and "Star Island". I didn't really care for "Sick Puppy", but enjoyed the others.
Currently reading "The Smoke" by Tony Broadbent. My friend and I stumbled across a mystery bookstore in Seattle and decided to randomly grab a book to buy. I bought "Shadows in the Smoke" not realizing it was the 3rd book in a series. It seemed I could read it on it's own but I decided to start at the beginning.
I've read three of Hiaason's books: Lucky You, Sick Puppy and Basket Case. I liked all three, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be Sick Puppy. One of the story lines is about fake big game hunters. The ones who frequent hunting compounds where the animal doesn't have a chance, and it's great to see them get their just desserts. The good guys always win in Carl's books so unlike real life. Hiaason used to write a column for one of the Florida papers which was quite good. I haveTeam Rodent: How Disney Devours The World on my reading list. Hiaason does have a new book coming out the end of January.
I don't recall which one it was, but DH loved the one with the "blue tongued voles." It was years ago that we listened to it on a vacation drive, and he still comments on it.
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Originally Posted by NWGirl74
I'm curious about "The Invention of Wings." I loved "The Secret Life of Bees" but absolutely HATED "The Mermaid Chair." So she's only batting 50% with me. This one sounds interesting though.
...
Currently reading "The Smoke" by Tony Broadbent. My friend and I stumbled across a mystery bookstore in Seattle and decided to randomly grab a book to buy. I bought "Shadows in the Smoke" not realizing it was the 3rd book in a series. It seemed I could read it on it's own but I decided to start at the beginning.
I've been to that store. Very fun.
I still miss the old Seattle bookstore that used to be down by the market, then moved to Fremont. It was called "Shorey's" and very much like Powell's in Portland. Three floors of books on every imaginable subject.
okay picked up some more good ones today " My family for the war " by Anne VoorHoeve , divining women by kaye gibbons I hope these are as good as the bully pulpit was for me .
a new one came in and I was not expecting it the title is "The invention of wings "by sue monk kidd yes she wrote the secret life of bees and Im starting this one too ...I will let you guys know on this one too .
I downloaded it and started to read but Oprah's notes are annoying the hell out of me and don't know how to get rid of them, I bookmark where I left off but keeps bringing me to her notes...grrrrrr.
That's it for Oprah's picks I don't need or want her dam notes in my book ( and I don't order a book because she endorsed it)
Oprah's notes are annoying the hell out of me and don't know how to get rid of them, I bookmark where I left off but keeps bringing me to her notes...grrrrrr.
That's it for Oprah's picks I don't need or want her dam notes in my book ( and I don't order a book because she endorsed it)
I agree. I don't dislike Oprah as a person. I admire what she's accomplished and done for others, but I have a deep-seated dislike for anyone that over-reaches themselves, thinking others need to have their opinions to think.
(Embarrassingly, I do recall a time when I was so filled with myself, which may be why I so dislike it now! )
In the middle of Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam. It's the third in a trilogy (after Oryx and Crake, and The Flood).
Kind of entertaining, but I'm not sure why Atwood is trying to be Kurt Vonnegut. I like Margaret Atwood and I like Kurt Vonnegut. But I'd prefer that Atwood be herself and not try to imitate Vonnegut, because it falls a little short. If I want Vonnegut, I read Vonnegut.
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