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Half way through "The Winter of our DISCONNECT" by Susan Maushart.
Great book that I reccomend to any teenage parent. It is the journal of a single mother of three teenagers who decides to remove every electronic and technological gadget (TV, computer, ipod, wii, playstation, etc.) from the house for 6 months and the effects this decision has on the family and on each individual.
SORRY, I meant parents of teenagers and NOT teenage parents. Although any parents would find it interesting.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
17,330 posts, read 32,521,793 times
Reputation: 28896
Quote:
Originally Posted by netwit
I was blown away by The Life of Pi. I didn't expect to like it but it engaged me with the very first page. However, I would really like to know what you think of the ending when you've finished the book. I don't want to post any spoilers.
Oh my gosh, I absolutely LOVED this book. I just finished it and am speechless, so I'll say this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ketabcha
I just finished Life of Pi.
All I can say is WOW! The ending just blew me away. That's all I'll say about that.
It's a wonderful book and had me laughing in so may places. I consider this book to be a fine piece of literature. It's beautifully written, informative, funny, sad and just a total delight.
I'd like to thank everyone who mentioned it in this thread. I never would have read it if not for you.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
17,330 posts, read 32,521,793 times
Reputation: 28896
Well, after finishing Life of Pi, I had to choose something that I knew would be terrific.
So, tomorrow I'll start on Helene Hanff's Letter From New York. She's the author of 84 Charing Cross and I find her "voice" utterly charming. I'd love to have known her in real life.
Went to the library yesterday for the first time in weeks! Brought home two bags of books to help guard against this rabid case of Spring fever I have going on. First read- Backup Plan by Jim Butcher. It's one of the "mini" books in the dresden files I haven't read. I need to go do some research online and see when he's doing another book in that series.....I sort of forgot about them it's been so long since I've read the last one.
Dawn, we can trade opinions on the book you are reading and the one I will soon be reading. I have a feeling they will both be outstanding. Yours is after 84 Charing Cross Road and and mine is before.
This woman was truly a gifted writer. Plus, she is so easy to read.
84 Charing Cross Road was made into a movie with my favorite actress, Anne Bancroft, as Helene and Anthony Hopkins as Frank. Brilliant casting. They were opposites in so many ways but their love of books, both the physicalness (is that a word?) and the spirit of the books, was identical.
Talking about the physical book.....this is why I won't use an electronic reader. There is something about the feel of the book....fingers running over the pages, the smell of the ink....wow....I once ordered a copy of Plath's The Bell Jar and when I opened it I nearly cried (no lie). The paper was a very fine linen finish. I ran my fingers up and down and across those pages...the feel was so good. That is what I would miss with an electronic reader.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
17,330 posts, read 32,521,793 times
Reputation: 28896
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ketabcha
I've just ordered Q's Legacy by Hanff.
Dawn, we can trade opinions on the book you are reading and the one I will soon be reading. I have a feeling they will both be outstanding. Yours is after 84 Charing Cross Road and and mine is before.
This woman was truly a gifted writer. Plus, she is so easy to read.
84 Charing Cross Road was made into a movie with my favorite actress, Anne Bancroft, as Helene and Anthony Hopkins as Frank. Brilliant casting. They were opposites in so many ways but their love of books, both the physicalness (is that a word?) and the spirit of the books, was identical.
Talking about the physical book.....this is why I won't use an electronic reader. There is something about the feel of the book....fingers running over the pages, the smell of the ink....wow....I once ordered a copy of Plath's The Bell Jar and when I opened it I nearly cried (no lie). The paper was a very fine linen finish. I ran my fingers up and down and across those pages...the feel was so good. That is what I would miss with an electronic reader.
I told you, right, that I got her Apple of My Eye? Don't bother with it -- it reads like a tourist's travel guide; I didn't like it at all.
I started Letter From New York and am enjoying it. It's scripts from monthly newscasts that she did for the BBC. It's a quick read that will take me far too long to get through because I'm reading it between tasks and errands and chores and such. But at least it always provides a pleasant break.
I'm with you on the e-reader. Because I'm on my computer all day, I want PAPER in the evenings. I bought a Kindle, I tried it, and I returned it the very next day. I think it's a terrific gadget -- just not terrific for me.
Theodore Roosevelt
A strenous life
Kathleen Dalton.
I've read a few bios of TR and this is one of the best. Americans that are caught up in the politics of today would be wise to read this book. TR faced many of the same kinds of problems that the country faces today. He was a great man and a greaat President. And a republican at that,LOL
Theodore Roosevelt
A strenous life
Kathleen Dalton.
I've read a few bios of TR and this is one of the best. Americans that are caught up in the politics of today would be wise to read this book. TR faced many of the same kinds of problems that the country faces today. He was a great man and a greaat President. And a republican at that,LOL
Just wondering....I read recently that Teddy tried his hardest to get the words "In God We Trust" taken off US coinage. Have any of the bios explained why?
I don't know what his bios say, but one historian I read said that it was because money and religion don't mix. The idea was that it was almost blasphemous or sacrilegious to integrate money (and therefore government) with religion. Think "the love of money is the root of all evil" and the teachings of Jesus about rendering unto Caesar and rendering unto God. I think TR was onto something, but that's a political/religious debate.
In a letter to William Boldly on 1907-NOV-11, he wrote:
"My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege...It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in building such as those at West Point and Annapolis -- in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements."
TR was a deeply religous and moral man. I suspect that the answer in the previous post is likely correct.
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. Although any parents would find it interesting.
